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

"It seems I can rest assured about Kushina's situation."

"Thank you, Xiao Qingyu, you've done me a huge favor."

Qingyu nodded upon hearing this, knowing that the family dinner was about to end.

This family dinner actually started because of Kushina Uzumaki.

Now that the matter has been resolved, it's time to part ways.

Hiruzen Sarutobi put down his chopsticks and glanced at the sky outside the window.

At this moment, he was filled with mixed emotions.

On the surface, Konoha appears to be thriving, but the burden on the Hokage is anything but thriving.

He would be reviewing documents until nine or ten o'clock every day, and by the time he got home, the food that Biwa Lake had left for him was already cold.

If this family dinner continues any longer tonight, we'll have to finish all the egg dishes on the table.

There's no one to help him read tomorrow's report on the Land of Fire's borders.

None of his three apprentices could help him share his burdens; in fact, none of them could make his life easy.

Jiraiya had just returned from outside, looking travel-worn but having accomplished nothing.

The search for the prophesied child has been fruitless, and they often cannot even find him.

When he occasionally comes back, he's either writing his "Biography of Perseverance" or spying on women's bathhouses.

He was being chased all over the village.

Luckily, he wasn't caught, otherwise he, as the master, would have lost all face.

Tsunade stayed at Konoha Hospital and with her newly accepted apprentice.

Getting yourself out of the cesspool and the casino is already a huge step forward.

The main reason was that he did not approve Tsunade's proposal "On the Construction of a Medical Ninja System".

During this time, Tsunade continued to have conflicts with him, and they wouldn't even greet each other when they met.

She had a stern face, as if someone owed her millions of taels of silver.

Hiruzen Sarutobi also wants to criticize!

Unfortunately, there's another money-devouring behemoth waiting behind.

That person is Orochimaru. Since ancient times, conducting research has been an extremely expensive endeavor.

This is also why Orochimaru and Danzo later became allies.

Danzo gave more.

Orochimaru now spends most of his time in the village, but he also spends most of his time in the laboratory.

Research funding, however, is being spent at a rate that seems to flow away like water.

Each time they applied for funding, their reports were written meticulously, and the reasons given were always plausible.

Hiruzen Sarutobi always felt that the things contained in those bottles and jars would one day make him, as his master, restless and uneasy.

However, Orochimaru still knew what was important...

Danzo was willing to help, but he was too extreme in his actions, and some things couldn't be discussed openly.

Those shady dealings were left to Danzo, who handled them more efficiently than anyone else.

But it was precisely this decisiveness that made Hiruzen Sarutobi even more hesitant to let go.

If one thing isn't handled carefully, it could lead to disaster.

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu are too worldly-wise; they won't budge unless you push them.

They are more concerned with balance and dignity, with those invisible and intangible political considerations, rather than what Konoha truly needs.

Therefore, he still has to do most things himself.

That's how Naruto is.

Everyone thinks you're in control, but you're just the one cleaning up after everyone else.

Therefore, he still has to do most things himself.

That's how Naruto is.

Everyone thinks you're in control, but you're just the one cleaning up after everyone else.

The banquet ended.

The Third Hokage donned his divine robes and walked towards the Hokage Building.

His steps were a bit heavier than when he came, but the smile on his lips hadn't faded.

Nawaki, Orochimaru, and Aoba left together.

As soon as he stepped out of Sarutobi's house, Nawaki slowed down.

He turned around, his face slightly flushed with excitement, and then hugged Qingyu tightly.

The force came suddenly, and the tightening was somewhat clumsy.

It's like one kangaroo trying to stuff another kangaroo into its pouch.

His smile was plastered on his face, without any attempt to hide it.

"Qingyu! From now on, we're brothers! I'll take good care of you!"

Qingyu's ribs tightened from his grip, but she remained calm and pinched Shengshu's wrist, prying it open one by one.

But the rope tree's fingers are like vines; once you break one off, another wraps around it again.

"Okay, okay, I understand, let go for now."

Is this also part of the bond between Konoha and its people?

That's a bit scary, bro.

Aoba couldn't understand Nawaki's excitement at all; it was just a matter of becoming fellow disciples.

Why are they hugging?

Even though Aoba pried her hands apart, Rope Tree didn't get angry; she remained excited.

Because Nawaki was protected too much by her family from a young age.

It's not the kind of protection that's "locked in a cage," but rather the kind of protection where "everyone stands in front of him."

Her two grandfathers were Hokage, her older sister was Tsunade, and her master was Orochimaru.

Everyone who wants to get close to him is first blinded by his charisma.

People praised him, respected him, feared him, and took advantage of him, but no one spoke the truth to him.

Only Qingyu.

Among all those accolades, I saw him not as someone's grandson or apprentice.

It is only as Senju Nawaki that she is.

Those words that sounded somewhat harsh became the most direct truth.

Qingyu may have just been applying pressure out of habit.

Unexpectedly, they accidentally stumbled upon the deepest door in Rope Tree's heart.

On the other side of the door is a child who died in the war in the original story.

A child who was rarely truly understood and lived a lonely life until his death.

Orochimaru stood aside, watching this scene unfold.

The usual coldness was absent from those golden vertical pupils; a slight smile played on his lips, revealing great satisfaction.

Rope Tree is a good kid in every way, except he's too naive.

Like a little sun, it is warm and bright, and has no defenses against strangers.

The halo surrounding Rope Tree was so overwhelming that it made it hard for his peers to breathe, which is why he could never make friends with his own age.

Now Nawaki finally has someone he doesn't need to be wary of.

Even the infamous cold-blooded Orochimaru has his own true friends.

Of course, it would be even better if one of them went to casinos less often and the other went to brothels less often.

Perhaps this is what the old man meant by "bond".

It's not about blood ties, nor about a sect, but something that's constantly entangled and hard to let go of.

"Rope Tree, Blue Feather".

Orochimaru's voice drew their attention back.

"Come see me around 11 a.m. tomorrow. My research has recently come to an end."

"It's a good opportunity to see your current strength so we can formulate a training plan for the future."

Those snake-like eyes narrowed slightly in the moonlight.

His tone returned to its usual steady rhythm.

"Judging from the information Jiraiya brought back this time, the ninja world is probably going to be in turmoil again."

"During this time, you need to grow as quickly as possible."

For Orochimaru, there were no secrets in Konoha at the end of the year.

Even the forbidden techniques left behind by Tobirama Senju, he could read them whenever he wanted, just like borrowing a book.

"Okay!" Senju Nawaki and Aoba answered in unison.

Rope Tree was still grinning foolishly.

Qingyu pulled her hand out of Shengshu's grasp and bent down to move her wrist.

I thought to myself that tomorrow's training plan should ideally not include the exercise of "holding onto my junior brother and not letting go".