Starting with the troublemakers of Konoha, the pressure extends throughout the entire ninja world.

"Qingyu, come here right now!"

Senju Nawaki came to find Aoba; he had come with a mission today.

Under the somewhat gloomy gazes of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, Nawaki took Aoba away.

Lately, Qingyu has felt that Minato, the little sun, has become a bit darker.

However, being pulled away by the rope tree at least provides some peace and quiet for a short while.

"Qingyu, we can begin the matter of Master promising to take you as his disciple."

"My master said he had something to do a while ago, which caused a delay. Today there is a family dinner, so I'll take care of it now."

Qingyu was somewhat surprised upon hearing this.

It seems Orochimaru didn't tell Nawaki about their last meeting.

Is it because he felt ashamed that his request to take on apprentices was rejected?

Probably not.

There are also aspects of Rope Tree's words that are worth studying.

He used the term "family dinner".

Qingyu originally thought it was a family banquet of the Senju clan.

When they arrived, they discovered it was Hiruzen Sarutobi's family dining table.

It's not big, and four people sitting around it don't feel crowded.

The table was full of egg dishes: tamagoyaki, chawanmushi, and sashimi, with apples arranged in a fan shape next to them.

It's all stuff Orochimaru loves to eat.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in the main seat and chuckled as he gestured for Aoba to sit down.

My gaze lingered on his face for a moment, and his eyes were filled with satisfaction.

"That Kushina kid, she's caused you a lot of trouble, hasn't she?"

"How could that be? Kushina is so cute, I'm happy to be with her."

The third generation let out a deep laugh.

He was aware of Kushina's behavior at school.

It's not that it's been fully accepted by everyone.

At the very least, it could be said that he was isolated by everyone.

Therefore, Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally wouldn't believe his polite words.

However, he could still tell from the other party's words that they were very cooperative.

After exchanging pleasantries, everyone took their seats.

Orochimaru's flavor is a staple on the dining table in this family.

Even Asuma in the future didn't receive this treatment.

Orochimaru is more like the son of this family.

He grew up under the tutelage of three generations.

He knows the Hokage's route better than his own.

They even know exactly which seasonings are in which drawer of the kitchen.

Hiruzen Sarutobi put down his chopsticks and slowly said, "Aoba, I've called you here today because there's something I want to ask you."

Hiruzen Sarutobi tried to soften his tone to avoid giving Aoba the feeling of being ordered around.

Upon hearing this, Qingyu put her chopsticks on the rim of her bowl and sat up straight.

In Konoha, there aren't many people who can get the Hokage to use the word "please".

"The Hokage's affairs are my affairs!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, his face full of satisfaction.

"Don't worry, it's not anything particularly difficult."

Then, Hiruzen Sarutobi began by talking about Kushina Uzumaki's performance at school.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was somewhat exasperated by Kushina Uzumaki's display of violence throughout the school.

After all, Kushina is just a child, and she needs others to set an example for her and take good care of her.

After much buildup, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally revealed the key point.

Kushina Uzumaki was the next generation of Jinchūriki brought to the village from the Land of Whirlpools.

Tailed beasts are dangerous, but the human heart is even more dangerous.

The identity of a Jinchūriki will bring fear, fear will turn into rejection, rejection will turn into isolation, and isolation will turn into hatred.

Once she develops hatred for the village, the tailed beasts will have an opportunity to exploit it.

Her heart needed to be filled with something else.

That thing is love...

"I hope that person is you, Qingyu."

Qingyu looked down at the untouched tamagoyaki in the bowl.

He remained silent for a moment before answering.

"I will try my best to do it."

This was the most honest answer he could give.

The third generation didn't urge him on; he simply revealed a faint smile behind the smoke.

He had already seen through the telescope technique those things that Qingyu thought were just trivial daily troubles:

They scramble for seats, grab food, and sit between two people to act as a living barrier.

These small things might be troublesome and bothersome to Qingyu.

However, in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes, these things had a different meaning.

That was a symbol of the Jinchūriki beginning to integrate into the village.

It's the bond between Jinchūriki!

The Third Hokage's tone returned to its usual gentleness: "Nonou went with Tsunade, and Minato also informed Jiraiya."

"You're the only one who doesn't have a place to go yet, and this family dinner is precisely for that."

"So I'm not asking you to help for nothing; I've brought you a good teacher."

Orochimaru put down his chopsticks and nodded to Aoba.

"Has Jiraiya-sama found out about Minato's situation?"

"Hehe, I have to thank Nawaki for this. He begged Jiraiya for a long time before Jiraiya finally agreed to come and see him."

Jiraiya is always stuck in the search for the Child of Prophecy. Finding him a disciple might help him settle down.

Qingyu pressed her hands to her knees, utterly shocked.

I thought it would just be simple pressure, but I didn't expect that he would gather all three legendary ninjas.

I'd go through fire and water for you, Brother Rope Tree!

Then Aoba leaned slightly towards Orochimaru.

"That's quite a coincidence. Lord Orochimaru contacted me a while ago, saying he wanted to take me as his apprentice."

"It's a pity I didn't agree right away; I've regretted it ever since."

"Now that the Hokage has asked me to become Orochimaru's apprentice, it has truly saved me from my urgent predicament."

Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately burst into laughter, "It seems it really is a perfect coincidence."

Orochimaru was his most prized disciple, and Aoba was his most promising talent.

Now these two people have become master and apprentice, their two threads twisted into one rope.

A faint hint of satisfaction flashed in Orochimaru's golden vertical pupils.

He saw it that day at the bottom of the waterfall.

The child's eyes held a thirst for knowledge, honesty with himself, and something he admired.

Saying these words in front of my teacher today gave him a way out and saved him face.

He hadn't misjudged this apprentice.

Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up another piece of steamed egg custard and gently placed it into Orochimaru's bowl.

He was reminded to pay attention to his meals when he was taking care of his apprentices.

"Don't spend all your time in the lab; you need to get some fresh air occasionally."

Orochimaru, unusually, did not refute, but simply responded with a low murmur.

Rope Tree looked left and right, twirled the chopsticks halfway in his hand, and finally couldn't help but speak.

"What about me? Orochimaru-sensei is taking in Aoba, Tsunade-neechan is taking in Nonou, so what about me?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand landed on Nawaki's shoulder.

"You'll soon have a new junior brother. As his senior, you must take good care of him."

"This is the tradition of the Senju clan, and the duty of the Will of Fire."

Rope Tree stared at him blankly, then turned to look at Qingyu.

Qingyu was putting a piece of steamed egg custard into her mouth when she noticed his gaze and stopped eating, glancing at him.

Suddenly, Rope Tree straightened his chest, as if he had fulfilled his long-cherished wish.

Having a junior brother is like transforming him from a child into an adult.

"Okay, Grandpa! I'll take good care of Qingyu!"

The third generation looked at the few young people sitting around the dining table.

Orochimaru quietly ate the egg in his bowl, his movements a little slower than when he first took on his disciple, but his eyes were still as sharp as before.

Rope Tree was serving food to Qingyu when her chopsticks slipped and she dropped half a piece of tamagoyaki. She hurriedly wiped the table clean.

Qingyu expressionlessly picked up the piece he had dropped and put it back in the bowl, then spoke with a hint of helplessness.

"Brother Rope Tree, please stop adding more; the bowl is already full."

"Besides, it would be such a waste if it fell on the ground."

Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed heartily as he watched the scene unfold, his loud laughter dispersing the surrounding smoke.

Bonds.

Hiruzen Sarutobi used this word his entire life.

It is the connections and entanglements between people that create bonds.

Therefore, his choice was correct; sending Kushina Uzumaki to the Ninja Academy was the right thing to do.