"Oh? Grandpa, did you really like barbecue that much when you were younger?"
"It wasn't that I loved barbecue," Isamu replied with a smile.
"This was simply the first place where the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, ever treated me to a meal."
"I was only ten years old back then."
"I was training under him, and his lessons were so brutal that I wanted a little revenge."
"So I made sure to eat until I emptied his wallet."
"Hahaha…"
"Thinking back on it now…"
"Those really were unforgettable days."
"So that's what happened."
Mikoto smiled.
"I never imagined you and the Third Hokage shared that kind of history."
"Were you two master and disciple?"
Isamu shook his head.
"Not at all."
"After Madara defected from Konoha…"
"My status became extremely awkward."
"As Madara's son…"
"No one dared accept me as a disciple."
"Hiruzen was only my jonin instructor."
"Just your jonin instructor…"
Mikoto nodded.
"Well, since we're already here…"
"Let's eat here."
No one objected.
The four entered the barbecue restaurant and ordered a large assortment of meat.
Isamu wasn't particularly hungry.
After only a few bites, he set his chopsticks down.
Mikoto also ate very little.
Only Garuda and Itachi were enthusiastically devouring everything placed on the grill.
"This is delicious!"
Garuda's eyes sparkled.
"I never imagined food could become this good after a thousand years."
"It's wonderful!"
"It really is!"
Itachi nodded repeatedly while stuffing another piece into his mouth.
The two of them were eating so quickly that the meat couldn't be grilled fast enough.
Watching them, Isamu chuckled.
"Of course it's different."
"In your era, barbecue meant roasting plain meat over a fire."
"Today's meat is marinated with countless seasonings."
"Even the charcoal has changed."
"Naturally it'll taste much better."
Mikoto looked at him in surprise.
"I didn't expect you to know so much about cooking, Father."
"Most people with your strength wouldn't pay attention to these things."
Isamu smiled faintly.
"My mother died when I was very young."
"After that…"
"I lived alone."
"If I wanted to eat…"
"I had to cook for myself."
"So naturally…"
"I learned."
"I see…"
Mikoto nodded.
"But…"
"Senba once told me that Mother Tsunade spends money very freely."
"Your family should have been quite wealthy."
"Why did you have to cook for yourself?"
Isamu laughed softly.
"We became wealthy later."
"When I was a child…"
"Our household barely had enough to survive."
"The property…"
"The ninjutsu scrolls…"
"Everything Madara left behind…"
"Was confiscated by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju."
"He left me almost nothing."
"What?!"
Itachi immediately slammed his hands on the table.
"That's robbery!"
"Those were your family's belongings!"
"He's a bandit!"
The sudden outburst caused nearby diners to turn and stare.
People began whispering among themselves.
Mikoto hurriedly scolded him.
"Eat your food."
"When adults are talking…"
"Children shouldn't interrupt."
Ignoring the surrounding gazes, Garuda frowned.
"I never imagined your childhood was so difficult."
"That Tobirama…"
"He truly went too far."
"Living poorly wasn't the hardest part."
Isamu shook his head.
"I've never cared much about material things."
"What I hated most…"
"Was losing my freedom."
"A difficult life can still be endured."
"But living without freedom…"
"That was miserable."
"No freedom?"
Mikoto looked confused.
"But you always seemed free in Konoha."
"That was only after I grew up."
"Before I turned ten…"
"Because Madara defected…"
"I was watched by the ANBU every single day."
"I had no privacy."
"Even going to the bathroom…"
"They monitored me."
"Those years…"
"Were unbearable."
Garuda's expression darkened.
"How excessive."
"How could Ashura's descendants behave like that?"
"They're truly infuriating."
"It's over now."
Isamu smiled calmly.
"Tobirama has long since passed away."
"I forgave him years ago."
"The dead deserve peace."
"There's no point continuing to criticize him."
Then he looked at Itachi.
"And you."
"You must never speak badly about Tobirama."
"…Why?"
"If he was wrong…"
"Why can't I say so?"
Mikoto immediately tapped his forehead.
"When Grandpa tells you something…"
"You listen."
"No arguing."
"Hmph…"
"So everyone else can say it…"
"But I can't."
"That's unfair."
Before Mikoto could continue scolding him, Isamu raised a hand.
"It's alright."
Then he looked directly at Itachi.
"Today…"
"I'll explain why."
"This has nothing to do with fairness."
"Tobirama Senju…"
"Was your Grandma Tsunade's great-uncle."
"As Tsunade's grandson…"
"You're also Tobirama's younger relative."
"Do you understand?"
"I do."
"Good."
"Then let me explain further."
"The Second Hokage…"
"Is your maternal great-granduncle."
"And you…"
"Are his maternal great-great-grandson."
"No matter what mistakes an ancestor made…"
"A descendant has no right to insult them."
"Doing so would be disrespectful to your own family."
"Do you understand?"
Itachi thought carefully before nodding.
"I understand now, Grandpa."
"I won't speak badly about…"
"…Great-Granduncle Tobirama anymore."
"Very good."
Isamu smiled warmly.
"I'm glad you understand."
He picked up a piece of grilled meat and placed it into Itachi's bowl.
Garuda suddenly looked at Isamu with an amused smile.
"Wait a moment."
"After listening to everything…"
"I've realized something."
"Your wife…"
"Was from the Senju Clan."
"The Senju are Ashura's descendants."
"And you're a direct descendant of Indra."
"In other words…"
"Your relationship was actually…"
She couldn't help smiling mischievously.
"…rather complicated, wasn't it?"
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