"Ashina, are you heading back to the Village Hidden in the Whirlpools this time?"
"No, I'm not. I'll stay here and wait for Kushina to grow up. The Land of Whirlpools is too small; I don't want her to be confined there her whole life."
Tobirama nodded in understanding. Living here was a good idea; the brothers could chat whenever they wanted. Kushina would also have more friends, which was much better than the small world she knew in the Land of Whirlpools.
At that moment, Kushina was in another room, playing with Tsunade and Nawaki, not participating in the adults' conversation. Her own parents weren't particularly attentive to her, but Ashina was exceptionally protective. In times of danger, his first priority was always to get Kushina to safety. He came rushing here in a panic because he was afraid the imposter would hurt Kushina. He wasn't worried about Hashirama at all because he knew this brother's strength all too well.
However, Kushina was just a little girl. If the imposter had used her to threaten the Hidden Leaf Village, Ashina couldn't have been sure that anyone would care about a girl from another country. Thankfully, everything worked out in the end; no one was hurt, and Kushina was safe.
Originally, Torifu had planned to go straight home, but his Sensei's wife, Mito, insisted he stay for lunch. The food was just as delicious as he remembered, and the flavor brought tears to Ashina's eyes as he took a bite.
"I haven't tasted this in over thirty years. No chef, no matter how good, can replicate this flavor."
Mito's eyes welled up as well. "Eat up. From now on, we'll be living together, and we have many years ahead of us. It's just a shame that your wife isn't with us anymore."
"Ah, she was a person without fortune. If only she had lived for a few more years, she could have enjoyed the conveniences of this new era."
Kushina's spirits also dampened at that, as if she was thinking of her grandmother. Hashirama quickly changed the subject, making the atmosphere lively again.
"Ashina, that Amado made a new invention called a mobile phone. I bet you haven't heard of it yet, have you?"
Ashina gave Hashirama a heavy glare. "What a thing to say. How could I know what's happening in your Hidden Leaf Village from all the way in the Land of Whirlpools?"
Then, he asked with some curiosity, "Tell me about it. What is this 'mobile phone'? Is it these little square things you have in your hands?"
"Exactly! That's it! After we finish eating, we'll have Kushina teach you. She's already learned how to use it."
Ashina immediately looked at Kushina, his face beaming with pride. "My granddaughter, of course she's a smart one. Will you teach grandpa later, little one?"
"Of course! I'll definitely teach you, Grandpa!"
Kushina had been overjoyed ever since the real Ashina arrived. When the White Zetsu had been impersonating him, she always felt that her grandpa was acting strange, as if he didn't like her anymore or didn't want to talk to her. Now it was clear that the grandpa she knew then had just been an imposter. It was a shame she had gone to so much trouble trying to make him happy.
After some friendly chatting, lunch was almost over, with only Ashina and Hashirama still drinking and exchanging stories.
Torifu didn't want to disturb the two old brothers, so he said to Mito, "Auntie Mito, I'll head back to the office building now. I have some official duties to attend to there."
Mito smiled and waved her hand. "Go on. If you get hungry, come back for a meal."
"I will."
After saying his goodbyes, Torifu left the Senju Clan compound, activated his Concealment Jutsu, and headed straight home. Official duties? Did he say that? He had forgotten. In any case, his clone had been working in the office building all along, never having left, so "official duties" was just an excuse.
Torifu returned to his clan compound and hadn't been relaxing in his rocking chair for very long when his phone rang. He pulled it out and saw it was Naori's number. He immediately answered. "What's wrong, Naori?"
"Where are you? I'll be at your place in three minutes."
"I'm home. Come on over."
Torifu ended the call. Less than three minutes later, Naori walked in, looking quite flustered.
"What's the matter? Why are you in such a hurry?"
Naori ignored Torifu's question and got straight to the point. "Was yesterday's fight with Uchiha Madara? Are you hurt?"
At that, Torifu's heart warmed. "I'm fine. Kagami told you, didn't he?"
He then pulled out another rocking chair and motioned for Naori to sit and rest.
"My brother did tell me, but I was afraid you weren't telling him the whole truth."
When she heard that Madara had attacked the Hidden Leaf Village, Naori had rushed straight to Torifu's place. The name Madara was enough to strike fear into the hearts of the entire Uchiha clan, and she couldn't believe he had survived death with Izanagi.
Torifu waved his hand dismissively. "I'm fine. You know my strength. Don't forget, Madara is very old, and his power must have weakened."
Torifu was right, but Naori was worried, and her anxiety was overriding her judgment. As soon as she heard that Madara had fought Torifu, she panicked and ran over without a second thought. This was a normal reaction; they were a couple, and it was only natural for them to care for and love each other.
"Phew. It's good to see you're okay. I wanted to go help in last night's fight, but it was over by the time I put on my combat gear."
Torifu reached out and stroked Naori's head. "Don't worry. I'll be okay. I have a protagonist's halo, and I'll always be able to turn danger into good fortune."
Naori pushed his hand away. "You'd better be."
"I just feel like the ninja world is getting messier and messier. It seems like something big is about to happen. First, there was that rain from who knows where, which could control an entire island's people. Then there's the resurrected and amnesiac Uchiha Setsuna, and now Uchiha Madara."
Just listing these things made Torifu's head spin, let alone having experienced them all firsthand. He wondered if even more formidable enemies were still to come. Torifu only hoped there weren't. He didn't ask for much, just a peaceful life for seventy or eighty years. After he died, all those other things could cause whatever chaos they wanted. He didn't care.
But wishes are often beautiful and hard to fulfill. One incident after another made Torifu feel as though an even greater crisis was brewing. He wondered where the next storm would blow in from.
He only hoped he could protect his family.
"Oh, right, Torifu. Did you go to the office in person this morning?"
Torifu nodded. "Of course. This was a big deal, so I had to personally go and inform the villagers and your Uchiha clan. If I sent a clone, describing all the details would have been a pain, so I just went myself."
"And you came right back after? Only you would be so dedicated to slacking off."
Torifu thumped his chest. "That's right. Who do you think I am?"