At the Fumori residence, Satomi and Uchiha Mirai's wife, Maki, were chatting about household matters, while in an adjacent room, the three children, Akemi, Asuna, and Mizuki, were happily playing a card game.
This game was created by Fumori Masaki for their entertainment, as he believed that children so young should not be exposed to the harsh realities of the ninja profession prematurely, but should instead enjoy a healthy and joyful childhood.
Satomi, coming from a traditional ninja family, didn't entirely agree with Fumori Masaki's viewpoint.
Even though she herself had begun learning basic ninja knowledge at Akemi and Asuna's age due to health reasons, Fumori Masaki dismissed her concerns, insisting that the times were different and that Akemi and Asuna should not learn ninja knowledge too early.
When Satomi asked Fumori Masaki for an explanation, he replied, "Children at this age, if taught gently, cannot truly grasp what the ninja profession entails.
And if we adopt strict training methods, it will cause unnecessary psychological trauma, which might affect their lives in the future.
If it were a time of war, I would consider it unavoidable, but since we have entered an era of peace, we don't need to force our children to grow up so quickly, do we?"
Fumori Masaki felt that the traditional method of training ninjas from a young age was a form of "pulling up seedlings to help them grow," which might quickly create a fighting force but could not foster a well-rounded personality.
The example that stood out in his mind was that of Uchiha Itachi; during the Third Great Ninja War, a mere three-year-old Itachi accompanied his father onto the battlefield, and the brutal, bloody scenes left a profound scar on him.
Fumori Masaki had reason to believe that Itachi's later decision to exterminate his own clan to maintain the peace of the village was partly influenced by his childhood trauma, leading him to despise war from the bottom of his heart and vehemently oppose the Uchiha rebellion, which could very likely lead to another ninja war.
Satomi, being the mother of two children, had not considered this point before due to tradition, but after Fumori Masaki's reminder, she felt that she should indeed look after her two children's physical and mental well-being.
When the Medical Department's psychological testing program began its trials, she had heard from Senju Risa that even seemingly normal ninjas harbored unsettling psychological shadows.
Thus, Fumori Masaki and Satomi agreed that while Akemi and Asuna were young, they would receive basic ideological education and cultural learning.
Once they had a foundational understanding, they would then be taught how to use chakra, which would be equivalent to physical training.
Only when their minds had gradually matured would they be taught the true professional qualities of a ninja.
In Fumori Masaki's heart, it would be best for Akemi and Asuna to receive ninja training at seventeen, eighteen, or even twenty years old.
However, unfortunately, the current ninja world did not have that much time; even in times of peace, they should start learning how to become true ninjas by the age of twelve at the latest.
Thinking about it, if ninja training could wait until they were twenty, the ninja world would probably have other career paths for them to choose from by then.
"Why aren't they back yet? Maki, didn't you say Masaki had already entered the village?" Satomi asked, looking at the sky.
Uchiha Maki had just arrived with her daughter, and it was then that she told Satomi that she had learned through the Police Force that Fumori Masaki had entered the village.
So Satomi was eagerly awaiting her husband's return, but there was still no sign of Fumori Masaki.
"I don't know," Uchiha Maki couldn't possibly know why Fumori Masaki hadn't returned yet.
She could only speculate, "He's probably discussing some important matters with the Second Hokage.
You know, ninjas of their status are always needed by the village, and when they're busy, they might not even have time to come home."
Satomi immediately felt a sense of resonance; just like her husband, Uchiha Maki's husband, Mirai, was also a busy man.
The Police Force managed many areas, and Uchiha Mirai also had to worry about the image of the Uchiha clan.
To ensure supervision and checks, he basically monitored the Police Force constantly, sometimes even disguising himself as an ordinary civilian to observe the effectiveness of the Police Force members' law enforcement.
If there was anything amiss, he would sternly criticize it at the Police Force meetings.
"Our family should learn from your Masaki," Uchiha Maki said unhappily.
"Your family is very good at setting a broad direction, and then delegating the details to subordinates, only needing to inquire about crucial points.
But our family manages everything; every time he comes back, Mizuki is already asleep.
How many days has it been since she last saw her father?"
"Ah, that's true.
Masaki says he's not good at that aspect, so he should let those who are good at it handle it, instead of having amateurs constantly instructing experts."
Satomi recalled, then laughed, "Because of this, Koharu sometimes asks me if your family's person can take on more responsibility."
Satomi imitated Koharu Utatane's tone, that feeling of suppressed anger, which made Uchiha Maki cover her mouth and chuckle lightly, saying, "It's so accurate!
Koharu must be really angry.
Didn't your family do their best?"
"How could that be?
Masaki says he did his best, but he really isn't skilled in medical ninjutsu.
He might be able to offer some suggestions on systemic matters and even lend a hand, but medical-related things aren't his strong suit.
If he were to force his involvement, would he be saving lives or treating them like dirt?" Satomi said.
"Then what does Koharu mean?" Uchiha Maki frowned slightly.
"She's just complaining.
Actually, she knows that some things Masaki can't get involved in, and the Medical Department has the most of these kinds of tasks.
As the person in charge of the Medical Department, isn't her pressure immense?
Masaki understands this, because the village is indeed short-staffed right now.
Excluding ninjas responsible for investigations and other missions, the remaining numbers are very limited," Satomi said.
"Indeed, the new generation of ninjas are still studying at the Ninja Academy.
Once they graduate, the demand for personnel within the village should be alleviated," Uchiha Maki said.
"That's for sure.
Masaki's original suggestion for specialized learning was for this very purpose.
It would be a huge waste to put people with talents in other areas into combat roles," Satomi said proudly.
"That being said, Masaki is truly a very far-sighted person, no wonder the Second Hokage values him so much," Uchiha Maki said.
"From this perspective, our family can't compare to him.
There are still some people within the clan encouraging Mirai to contend for the position of Third Hokage.
If it were Hiruzen, he might have a chance, but if it's Masaki, I think Mirai should step aside."
"That's true.
I wonder what the Second Hokage is thinking.
He should still be able to serve as Hokage for now.
The Third Hokage probably won't be chosen anytime soon," Satomi shrugged.
"I think your Masaki has strong competitiveness because his background isn't particularly high, and in the eyes of those commoner-born ninjas at the Ninja Academy, he's an object of admiration," Uchiha Maki chuckled.
"If you ask me, my Masaki is naturally the most suitable person to be Hokage." As a wife, Satomi naturally stood by Masaki, and besides, she genuinely believed Fumori Masaki was the most outstanding person.
Putting everything else aside, could anyone else have come up with those systemic suggestions?
While the two women were talking, Fumori Masaki entered the house and said, "I'm home.
Oh, Maki is here too.
Did you bring the children to play?"
"Long time no see, Masaki," Uchiha Maki greeted him.
"Mizuki really loves playing with Akemi and Asuna, and the card games you made are very interesting."
As soon as she finished speaking, the cheerful voices of the little girls came from the adjacent room.
They were probably too engrossed in their game, as Akemi and Asuna didn't notice that their long-awaited father had returned.
Listening to their voices, Fumori Masaki smiled, put down his luggage, and took off his jōnin vest, placing it aside.
Satomi, at the opportune moment, handed him a cup of warm water.
"Thank you, I was just thirsty." Fumori Masaki took the warm water, drank it while chatting, mainly asking about the recent situation in the village and other people's affairs.
After a while, they heard a surprised cry of "Father!" Akemi and Asuna ran out of the room and threw themselves into Fumori Masaki's arms.
Holding his adorable daughters, Fumori Masaki spoke to Mizuki, who had followed them out, and the little girl shyly ran into her mother's arms.
Uchiha Maki, seeing that it was getting late, felt that Fumori Masaki had been away for many days and that the couple surely had things to talk about, so she stood up to leave.
After she departed, Fumori Masaki and Satomi continued to play with their daughters for a while, reading them storybooks until they were tired and went to rest.
"Tobirama-sensei told me he wants to choose me to inherit the next Hokage position." As the two returned to their bedroom, preparing for an intimate conversation between husband and wife, Fumori Masaki suddenly uttered this sentence.
"Ah?" Satomi turned around, staring blankly at Fumori Masaki, and asked, "Really?"
Fumori Masaki nodded.