Chapter 5 Never stop Grinding

"Shinnosuke, take me to see Master Hokage," Hatake Sakumo sighed and said to the "companion" he saved by giving up the mission.

"No need; help me convey a message to your dad, and he'll understand what I mean right away," Tatsuya stopped him in time.

He had no desire to see Sarutobi Hiruzen's old wrinkled Monkey face again, just like when he was six years old student who recently joined Ninja Academy. Hiruzen came to Academy to tell children about the will of fire. Children might not understand what will of fire is but he can.

Just look at it in canon Shishui and Itachi trusted Surtobi and followed his will of fire and sent all Uchihas to the pure world.

Tatsuya bowed his waist and whispered something in Sarutobi Shinnosuke's ear. Immediately afterwards, Sarutobi Shinnosuke's expression changed suddenly.

"Don't worry about the compensation method, brother; I will handle it myself. Don't be foolish enough to think of suicide," Tatsuya gave his brother a contemptuous look.

Hatake Sakumo looked guilty. The thought of suicide was an impulse caused by his weak heart and the heat of the moment. He knew that if he calmed down, he wouldn't entertain such foolish thoughts again.

The psychological pressure of society is a real thing. Just remember all laws in countries all followed because we always think about what other people will say and what will be the consequences of breaking the law. What if we let our impulsive thoughts win?

"I'm going back," Tatsuya turned around, ready to return to his hut on the outskirts where he had lived for 20 years.

"Wait, Tatsuya, it's rare for you to visit us. Let's have a meal together," Sakumo persuaded.

"Alright, there is something I want to tell you too," Tatsuya hesitated for a few seconds, nodded, and agreed. "But come to my house to eat."

...

Half an hour later, in the Hokage's office at the administration building.

"We do not have threatening thoughts towards you, but your friend might become an enemy for you without us," Sarutobi Shinnosuke led the Sarutobi clansmen who had previously provoked Hatake Sakumo. Their legs trembled, and fear filled their eyes.

"Dad, no, Hokage-Sama, Hatake Tatsuya just asked us to convey this sentence to you," he said, recalling how the S-level ninjutsu power knife nearly swept past their foreheads.

The terrifying feeling was something many ninjas would unlikely experience in their lifetime.

"Your friend might become an enemy for you without us," Sarutobi Hiruzen repeated the second half of the sentence in a low voice, lowering the Tabboco pipe from his mouth.

Then, Sarutobi Hiruzen got up again and looked out of the window. Turned into powder by the sword energy slashed by that kid, and watched his own Hokage face on Hokage Monument now in ruins nothing more than Charred rocks.

Among the 7 Hokages in history as depicted in the original book, Sarutobi Hiruzen's strength could only barely compare with Kakashi. However, in terms of political manoeuvring and playing with deception, he might even outshine his teacher, Senju Tobirama.

Tatsuya had asked Sarutobi Shinnosuke to convey to Sarutobi Hiruzen that there was only this simple sentence. But in that simplicity, there was a lot of meaning conveyed.

"Well, all of you can retreat, and Shinnosuke, don't continue to do the things Danzo told you to do," Sarutobi Hiruzen pointed out.

Sarutobi Shinnosuke's eyebrow jumped, and after replying "yes," he left the Hokage's office with his entourage.

"Tatsuya..." Sarutobi Hiruzen continued looking at his missing face from the Hokage Rock, his mind drifting back to the past.

The entire Konoha Shinobi circle regarded Tatsuya as an eternal genin of the same type as Might Duy. However, they forgot that Tatsuya, just like the legendary Sannin—Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya—graduated from the Ninja Academy just one year after enrolling.

Only a few people, like Sarutobi Hiruzen, still remembered this fact.

At that time, Sarutobi Hiruzen was newly appointed to Hokage's position, and his position was not secure. The major clans like the Senju and Uchiha were very dissatisfied with him taking over the position of Third Hokage, and they kept a close eye on him.

The Hatake family, though small, was unique at that time it had produced two genius shinobi—Hatake Sakumo and Tatsuya.

At just 11 years old, Hatake Sakumo was already very skilled and resembled another Uchiha Kagami. Tatsuya, on the other hand, showed a talent that faintly surpassed his brother's.

The two brothers were known as the "Double Blades" of the Hatake family, drawing comparisons to the two Hokage brothers, Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama.

Konoha at that time speculated that the Fourth Hokage might emerge from the two brothers.

This made Sarutobi Hiruzen very uneasy, as the Hatake family and the Sarutobi family were in a hostile relationship. The patriarch of the Hatake family, the grandfather of Hatake Sakumo and Tatsuya, had been killed by Sarutobi Hiruzen's father, Sarutobi Sasuke during the Sengoku era.

These two brothers were the most troublesome individuals for Sarutobi Hiruzen, second only to the Senju and Uchiha clans.

At that time, Sarutobi Hiruzen formed a team of early graduates, taking in Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya as his disciples.

Back then he accepted Tsunade as his apprentice just to appease the Senju clan. If you are Hokage's Student the chances of becoming Hokage are very High. He himself was the biggest example he studied Ninjutsu under two previous Hokages.

Orochimaru was selected for his true talent, and Jiraiya was included just to keep Tatsuya away. This was because Tatsuya and Tsunade were close during their time in the academy, which greatly disturbed Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Afterwards, Tatsuya repeatedly refused to take the Chūnin exam and moved to the outskirts of Konoha, seemingly living a low-key life.

But now...

Looking at the deep ravine cut out by Tatsuya's sword, Sarutobi Hiruzen took another heavy puff of his cigarette.

"It seems that you haven't slacked off in your training in the past few years, Tatsuya."