If he had the chance, Torifu wanted to face the Nidaime Raikage, that big oaf, to see if he had improved over the years and what his true strength was like.
"When I go back tonight, I'll make sure to explain this clearly to your master. I imagine the combat duties should fall to the two of us."
Torifu half-jokingly said, "Hehe, I don't need to participate in the battle?"
Tobirama's eyes narrowed. "What? You want to participate too?"
He knew Torifu was hiding his strength, but this time, he still didn't intend to let Torifu join. After all, in his eyes, Torifu was still just a child. He hadn't experienced war, and rashly participating could easily lead to injury. Thinking of this, Tobirama shook his head. "It's better not to. You're too young; you don't understand the cruelty of war. It's not as simple as the missions you perform." He continued, "Once war breaks out, it's a river of blood! Dismembered limbs are everywhere, like hell itself."
Although what Tobirama said was indeed true, Torifu wasn't afraid of it. After all, he had already witnessed such things back in Takigakure, though that couldn't exactly be called a war. Still, it was the bloodiest scene he had ever seen. However, since Torifu had already decided to secretly go to the battlefield behind Tobirama's back, it was best to simply agree obediently now to reassure him.
Torifu feigned disappointment. "Alright, then I'll stay in the village."
"I'll also stay in the village. The Edo Tensei corpses can handle the battlefield's lesser shinobi, and your master will handle the enemy's stronger ones." He added, "In short, there won't be any problems this time, rest assured. Konoha doesn't need a child like you on the battlefield yet."
Torifu nodded, obediently agreeing, and Tobirama smiled contentedly, without suspicion. After all, Torifu was usually very well-behaved and had never done anything out of line.
"Oh, by the way, Hokage-sama, Tsunade should have started school by now, right? How is she adapting?"
Hearing Torifu ask about Tsunade, Tobirama said, "So far, she hasn't caused any trouble, and her relationship with her classmates is decent."
Torifu thought for a moment. "Hokage-sama, you might want to keep an eye on Orochimaru and Jiraiya from this graduating class. Both of those children have good talent and disposition."
"Oh?" Tobirama was quite surprised. If this young man in front of him recommended them, then they must truly be quite good. "Then I'll have the Monkey (Hiruzen) guide them more. His recent idea is good; it would be perfect to put Tsunade in a team with those two children."
Torifu had thought that since Hiruzen hadn't become Hokage yet, Jiraiya and Orochimaru wouldn't become his disciples. After all, in the original world, as soon as Hiruzen Sarutobi proposed the three-man squad system, he took Orochimaru and Jiraiya as his students, serving somewhat as a leading example. Moreover, even though Hiruzen was already Hokage at that time, he was quite young, and many people weren't particularly convinced. Taking Tsunade as a student might also have been to stabilize the relationship with the Senju clan's lineage, after all, although the Senju clan had integrated into Konoha, Uzumaki Mito was still alive. Uzumaki Mito was undoubtedly Konoha Village's top combatant at the time, and the various clans certainly wouldn't disrespect Mito. Hiruzen also successfully solidified his position as Hokage this way.
But the current Hiruzen was still only a Konoha elite Jonin. Although he was Tobirama's student, he hadn't reached the point where he could casually take Konoha's princess as a disciple. This might just be fate, a subtle connection. And this time, neither Jiraiya's nor Orochimaru's parents participated in the First Great Shinobi War, so they wouldn't sacrifice their lives. Their fates in this world would probably change as a result.
"Having Hiruzen Nii-san as a mentor is certainly good; it will allow those two children to fully develop their talents."
Afterward, Torifu and Tobirama chatted for a long time, mainly about the various systems currently in place in the village. Tobirama wanted to see if Torifu could offer any useful suggestions. Torifu provided answers to the village's current situation one by one.
"Well then, Hokage-sama, I'll be heading back now. It's getting late."
Tobirama turned and looked out the window. Indeed, it had grown dark. "Yes, you go on back. I need to return too; I'm tired after a day of reviewing documents."
After bowing to Tobirama, Torifu turned and left. The Senju clan compound and the Kumotsuru clan compound weren't on the same road, so Torifu didn't wait for Tobirama to leave together.
Upon arriving home, Torifu heard from Snowflake that the craftsmen had just left. Torifu walked to Amado's house. Just a few hours ago, it was a ruin, but now it had mostly been cleared. He figured construction could begin tomorrow. He turned and walked to Amado's temporary room, seeing the light still on inside. He said from outside the door, "You have school tomorrow; don't stay up late."
"Got it, Nii-san! I'm going to sleep now."
Torifu shook his head and chuckled. Why did he feel like an old father, constantly nagging his child about school? Since Amado was obedient, Torifu decided not to bother him anymore. He went home, washed up, and prepared for bed. He still had to smelt ores for Amado tomorrow.
The next morning, Torifu stretched lazily and got out of bed. It was around nine o'clock. For some reason, he really wanted to sleep in today. After the system's notification sound woke him up, he slept for a few more hours. He probably hadn't slept enough the past few days and was catching up today. Torifu looked at a very ancient-looking clock hanging on the wall and saw it was almost ten o'clock. Perfect; no need to eat breakfast; he'd just wait and eat with lunch. This clock was something Torifu had exchanged Peace Points for; it had been hanging in his house for a year, costing about five thousand Peace Points, which had been quite painful to spend. But it was very practical, saving Torifu from having to constantly estimate the time.
After a quick wash, Torifu grabbed a bag of ores and headed out. The streets were quite busy; everyone was working at this hour. As he passed the Oyashirō clan compound, he saw Oyashirō Tsuki strolling in the courtyard, but Torifu had unfinished business, so he didn't go in to chat with him. He then headed straight for the blacksmith's shop.
Tsuki vaguely felt a familiar figure in his peripheral vision, but when he looked closely, he saw no one. Torifu moved swiftly and had intentionally suppressed his presence. This technique he had learned from the Aburame clan, and it seemed to be very effective. As bug users, the Aburame clan's bodies were quite fragile, so their presence concealment techniques were very powerful, capable of greatly reducing a person's presence. Torifu was now moving through the crowd, and everyone seemed to ignore him, a result of the Concealing Presence Technique. Otherwise, a simple trip out would take over an hour just to greet villagers, which was simply too overwhelming.
Upon arriving at the blacksmith's shop, Torifu placed the ores on a wooden table, then released his Concealing Presence Technique.