The Eight-Year-Old Me Became Hokage

Graduating from the Ninja Academy and passing the jonin instructor's assessment would allow one to become a genin. After completing enough missions, a ninja could participate in the Chunin Selection Exams, which were held twice a year. Passing the chunin exam would grant them a promotion to chunin. As for the gap between chunin and jonin, one not only had to complete a certain number of missions but also needed recognition from Konoha's higher-ups.

However, due to Might Bai's lack of proficiency in ninjutsu and genjutsu, he struggled to complete many types of missions. As a result, his contributions to the village had always been considered insufficient.

"So what exactly counts as making him go all out?" Kazekaze pressed further.

He disliked vague goals that had no clear standards.

"As long as you can force Might Bai to open the Sixth Gate, you'll pass." Tobirama thought for a moment before giving a definitive answer.

Deep in Tobirama's subconscious, he had already convinced himself that Kazekaze had been secretly training in the The Eight Inner Gates technique for two years. And the person he imagined to have taught him? His elder brother, Hashirama. So to Tobirama, Kazekaze must already understand what the Sixth Gate entailed. There was no need to explain any minor details of the The Eight Inner Gates. As for Might Bai's absolute limit—it was the Sixth Gate, the Gate of View.

'Even though Kazekaze is only seven, he has both Regeneration Ability and the Senju's monstrous strength. Forcing Might Bai to open the Gate of View isn't entirely impossible.' Tobirama mused internally, anticipating Kazekaze's performance in a month.

"For the next month, you'll undergo training under Might Bai." Tobirama added another condition.

He highly respected Might Bai's taijutsu skills. In fact, he believed that, in the field of taijutsu, no one in the entire village could rival Might Bai. Making him Kazekaze's taijutsu instructor was undoubtedly the best choice.

"Understood." Kazekaze nodded slightly.

If the requirement was only the Gate of View, then even if his next check-in didn't grant him a useful reward, he still had a fair chance. And based on the check-in system's cooldown pattern, he would have at least two more check-ins within the month. Forcing Might Bai to open the Sixth Gate? That was entirely doable. Winning against him might not even be impossible.

'If Might Bai's full strength was the Seventh Gate, the Gate of Wonder, and I didn't draw a powerful jutsu, then that'd be a real problem.' Now that he knew Might Bai's limit was the Sixth Gate— Kazekaze felt much more at ease. After all, Tobirama was his great-uncle. There was no way he would set up a genin test that was impossible to pass. With their new agreement in place, Kazekaze headed home for dinner.

As for Tobirama… He was on his way to confront Hashirama!

That Evening

With a stormy aura, Tobirama kicked open the door to Hashirama's house. Uzumaki Mito was preparing dinner for her beloved husband. Seeing Tobirama, she immediately set another bowl and chopsticks on the table.

"I'm not here to mooch off a meal!" Tobirama snapped before she could even say anything, then promptly shut the door behind him. Hashirama looked completely bewildered. His younger brother seemed way more serious than usual.

"Uh… since you're already here, why don't you sit down first and then talk?" Hashirama gave an awkward yet polite smile.

"I already told you—I'm not here to eat!" Tobirama's imposing presence filled the room as he barked out the words again.

CLANG!

Hashirama visibly deflated.

Five minutes later…

"Sister-in-law's cooking has improved a lot. Another bowl, please." Tobirama handed his empty bowl to Mito, expressing his gratitude.

"Right? Right? Ever since I retired as Hokage, Mito has been researching new dishes every day. Hahaha! This must be what people call the joys of retirement!" Hashirama let out a hearty laugh.

For him, this peaceful life was the greatest happiness. No more wars. Children could run around the village and play freely. His younger brother was still by his side. The only downside was that Mokuken's family wasn't around. But there was nothing they could do about that.

Ayako was dealing with morning sickness, so she could only visit occasionally.

"By the way, what do you think of the name Yuyue?" Hashirama suddenly asked.

"Yuyue?"

"Mm-hmm! Since Ayako is pregnant, I thought of giving the child this name. Ah… that means Kazekaze is about to have a younger sibling to protect too." Hashirama couldn't help but sigh.

In his mind, an image of Uchiha Madara appeared.

"Right now, I no longer have a younger brother to protect." That line from Madara had left a deep impression on him.

Many times, he had wondered— If Tobirama hadn't killed Izuna, would things have turned out differently? Would Madara be sitting right here at this table, praising Mito's cooking? Would they be drinking together, discussing Konoha's future? Would they be talking about Kazekaze?

"Hashirama, you have a fine grandson. It's wonderful… He might even become a greater Hokage than you one day. Hahaha! How about I become his godfather?"

Unconsciously, a smile crept onto Hashirama's face as he imagined Madara sitting across from him.

"How do you know it'll be a boy? What if it's a girl?" Tobirama sipped his sake and casually retorted.

Hashirama slammed his hand on the table. "Wanna bet, Tobirama? What if it is a boy?"

"What do you want to bet?" Tobirama was unfazed.

After all, his brother had never won a single bet before.

"Heh heh." Hashirama suddenly pulled Tobirama into a headlock. "I think that girl from the Uchiha clan, Kaoru, is quite nice. And let's be honest—you're not getting any younger. It's about time you settled down and enjoyed life."

Both Hashirama and Mito had been worrying about Tobirama's marriage for years. And this time, Hashirama was absolutely convinced that Ayako's second child would be a boy. After all, the Senju almost always had sons. Their father, Butsuma, only had sons. It was practically an inherited trait at this point. In other words—Tobirama had just walked into a trap! At least, that was what Hashirama thought.

"Hmph." Tobirama snorted coldly. "I've never been interested in women, let alone an Uchiha woman. Hmph… If Ayako's child is a girl, then she will be named Tsunade."

When it came to gambling, Tobirama never once believed he would lose. As for the girl named Uchiha Kaoru— Tobirama vaguely recalled who she was. She was the youngest daughter of the Uchiha clan leader. She had graduated from the Ninja Academy and became a chunin within three years. Wait… Three years to reach chunin? That means she's only sixteen!

"Big brother, that Kaoru girl is only sixteen this year, isn't she?" Tobirama shot Hashirama a glare. "Forget it, I'm not talking about this anymore." Before Hashirama could open his mouth again, Tobirama quickly changed the subject.

"Big brother, did you teach Kazekaze the The Eight Inner Gates technique? Teaching him the The Eight Inner Gates at just seven years old is way too reckless! Even if he inherited your Regeneration Ability, this is still too reckless! From now on, I'll be responsible for Kazekaze's training. I don't want you doing anything like this again!" Tobirama acknowledged Hashirama's strength, but when it came to teaching the next generation, he found his brother utterly irresponsible!

However, upon hearing Tobirama's accusations— Hashirama was completely dumbfounded.

"Wait… You're telling me Kazekaze inherited my Regeneration Ability and learned the The Eight Inner Gates?" Hashirama's eyes widened in shock, his mouth forming a perfect "O" shape.

He couldn't help but reach out and feel Tobirama's forehead. "Tobirama, are you running a fever?"