"Huh?"
The Third Hokage blinked in confusion.
He hadn't expected Tobirama to suddenly lose his temper.
Following his teacher's line of sight, he instinctively said,
"Teacher, that short-haired boy over there is Nawaki—Senju Nawaki, the grandson of the First Hokage.
Oh, and Tsunade has resumed using the Senju surname, even though she doesn't use it personally."
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
Tobirama was on the verge of exploding.
Was that what I asked?!
Of course, Tsunade would eventually get married and take her husband's surname.
Whether she used "Senju" or not was irrelevant.
But that wasn't what he was asking about!
"You told me that kid and Tsunade were… close, right?
Then what the hell is this?!"
Tobirama was gritting his teeth as he glared at Takuya—
Who was casually holding Kushina's waist.
While Kushina clung tightly to his arm.
The Third Hokage's brain short-circuited.
It took him a long moment to realize—
Tobirama wasn't asking about Tsunade.
He was questioning why Takuya was this close with someone else.
After a long internal struggle, the Third Hokage sighed and said bitterly,
"This red-haired girl is Kushina, a direct descendant of the Uzumaki Clan.
She has strong ties to Lady Mito, and her relationship with Takuya… is exactly what you see."
"She is also Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."
"That's not what I'm asking!!!"
Tobirama nearly snapped.
"If he's close with Tsunade, then why is he holding this Uzumaki girl like that?!"
"What kind of nonsense is this?!"
—
"Takuya, Nawaki's granduncle looks really scary… He's staring at us."
Kushina whispered nervously, shrinking behind Takuya.
Takuya pulled her closer and scoffed.
"What's there to be afraid of? If he tries anything, just have the Nine-Tails punch him in the face.
Well… except for the other one. You wouldn't stand a chance against him."
Kushina + the Nine-Tails?
That was doable against Tobirama.
But against Hashirama?
Forget it.
Even the Nine-Tails knew its place.
Despite its usual arrogance, the beast was currently curled up in the seal, staying completely silent.
The last thing it wanted was for Hashirama to notice it.
The fox could never forget two things:
The time Madara stormed its den, activated his Susanoo, and beat it into submission before forcing a summoning contract.
The time Madara summoned it to fight Hashirama—
Only for Hashirama to grab it like a baby chick and casually say:
"Nine-Tails, you're too dangerous. I'll have to—"
MMP.
Even thinking about it made the Nine-Tails furious.
"What do you mean I'm too dangerous?!
YOU'RE the real monsters!!!"
One could paralyze it with a single glance.
The other could hold it down with one hand.
How am I the problem here?!
—
"Hey! That brat named Takuya—get over here!"
Tobirama was furious.
A young man like this—going around playing both sides?!
Absolutely unacceptable.
—
If Tsunade wasn't involved, Tobirama wouldn't care how many women Takuya had.
But since she was, this couldn't be ignored.
When did the women of the Senju Clan ever need to compete for a man?!
This was unacceptable.
With an icy glare, Tobirama decided he needed to teach Takuya a lesson.
Takuya had better rethink his choices.
—
"Not good."
Tsunade's face darkened.
She had just barely started catching up with Hashirama—
And she had planned to take both Hashirama and Tobirama to the Hokage Office to talk privately.
But the moment she heard Tobirama's voice, her expression changed.
Because she knew exactly how much Takuya despised her granduncle.
—
"What's wrong?"
Hashirama looked over curiously.
Then he blinked.
A second later, his expression turned… smug.
"Tsunade, are you and that kid… y'know, a thing?
But, uh, doesn't he seem a bit too friendly with that other girl?"
…
Then.
Hashirama.
Had the nerve to look jealous.
—
Tsunade's forehead veins bulged.
She wanted to kick him across the village.
"Are you serious?! You're already dead—why are you still acting like this?!"
—
"Hahaha, I was just kidding, just kidding!"
Seeing that she was about to explode, Hashirama quickly tried to play it off.
—
Tsunade sighed, feeling exhausted.
"Grandfather, this isn't the place to talk.
Take Granduncle and head to the Hokage Office.
There are serious threats lurking in the ninja world right now—it's a massive problem."
"Take him away immediately."
—
"Why the rush?"
Hashirama was confused.
He was about to ask another question—
But then Tsunade shut him down.
"If you don't go now—
They're going to fight."
—
Tobirama's strict and unyielding nature applied to everyone.
Except for Uzumaki Mito.
Because even he wasn't stupid enough to cross her.
Other than her, however, he was as unyielding as ever.
And Takuya?
Takuya was the exact opposite.
—
Because of Tobirama, Takuya had suffered countless grievances.
His hatred for the man was beyond words.
Calling it a "grudge" would be an understatement.
—
Now—
One wanted to discipline the other.
The other couldn't care less.
Put them in the same room—
And a fight was inevitable.
—
Tsunade used to joke,
"If Takuya ever met my granduncle, he'd probably beat him up."
Takuya's response?
"Like hell I'd be afraid of him. If he pisses me off, I'll fight him."
…
She never expected it to actually happen.
—
"A fight? Seriously?"
Hashirama blinked.
—
Tsunade's instincts were right.
Takuya—holding Kushina—didn't even react.
It was as if he hadn't heard Tobirama at all.
He completely ignored him.
—
"Not good!"
The Third Hokage immediately realized the problem.
Everyone else did too.
If these two clashed—
It would be a disaster.
—
"He didn't hear me?"
Tobirama frowned.
He thought maybe Takuya just hadn't heard him—
So he called out again.
—
"That brat named Takuya!
I'm talking to you—yes, the one holding the Uzumaki girl!
Get over here!"
—
Now there was no way he hadn't heard.
—
Kushina blushed, hiding her face in Takuya's chest.
But… Tobirama was scary.
Was he about to discipline them?
—
Takuya patted her back to reassure her.
Then, he lazily glanced at Tobirama—
And said, in the most indifferent tone possible—
"…Who the hell are you?"
—
Silence.
—
Everyone froze.
—
Tsunade sighed.
"Here we go."
___________________________
(P)(S): If you're interested, you can read the rest of the Chapter at Patreon com/ Emik01.
DO NOT FORGET POWER STONE AND CHATTING