Hearing Mito's words, Hashirama looked at the two of them with heartfelt satisfaction.
He still remembered the scene back then when Tobirama clung to him, begging him to send Renya back.
But no matter how much Tobirama tried to persuade them, they never agreed.
Thankfully, he had refused back then—otherwise, he would've missed out on a child like Renya.
Who could've imagined that Tobirama, who had always been so guarded against the Uchiha since childhood, would get along so well with Renya?
But now, Renya had already left the Uchiha clan and joined the Senju.
Hashirama couldn't help but wonder… did Tobirama brainwash him?
Thinking that, he stared intensely at their every move.
"Try this one, it's really good," Renya pointed at a dish on the table.
Senju Tobirama nodded and picked up a bite with his chopsticks, placing it in his mouth.
"Mm, it really is delicious."
Seeing that, Hashirama scratched his head. It seemed… pretty normal.
Renya didn't look like he'd been brainwashed by Tobirama.
It seemed Tobirama really did have some talent when it came to teaching children.
Noticing Hashirama's gaze, Tobirama frowned.
"Big Brother, what are you doing?"
"Haha, I'm just glad to see you two getting along so well," Hashirama laughed heartily, clearly happy for them.
Uzumaki Mito covered her mouth and chuckled softly.
"It's more than getting along—this feels warmer than most father-son relationships."
"Big Brother, Sister-in-law..." Tobirama's face flushed slightly.
To hide his reaction, he instinctively turned his head away.
Seeing this, both Hashirama and Mito couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Tsunade didn't know what was happening, but seeing her grandparents laugh, she beamed and joined in with a big grin.
Renya's mouth twitched.
These two were seriously bored, huh?
Then he suddenly noticed Tobirama's slightly reddened cheeks and looked stunned, even a bit shocked.
Wait, what the hell is this old man blushing for?!
...
After the meal, Renya stood up and prepared to clear the dishes.
His practiced movements made people feel sorry for him—it was obvious he'd done this plenty of times before.
Uzumaki Mito quickly stopped him.
"Renya, sit down, leave this to me."
She didn't want to trouble Renya any more than he already had been. The boy had cooked so much that afternoon—he must've been exhausted.
Let her handle the clean-up.
Just as Renya was about to speak, Hashirama suddenly spoke up.
"Renya, let Mito take care of that. I have something I want to discuss with you."
Everyone instinctively looked toward Hashirama.
Even Mito slowed down her movements, curious about what her husband had to discuss with Renya.
Renya looked intrigued, not sure what Hashirama could possibly want to talk to him about.
"Renya, I need you to help look after Tsunade for a while," Hashirama said slowly. "I'm planning to accompany Mito on a trip to the Land of Whirlpools."
At those words, Uzumaki Mito looked at him in stunned silence.
Since marrying into the Senju clan, she had barely returned home.
The only time she had gone back was for her father's funeral, and she had never returned since.
Over the years, it wasn't that she hadn't thought of going back.
She still remembered the day she married into the Senju, clutching the wedding dress her father had sewn for her. Through the veil of the bridal carriage, she took one last look at the green hills of her homeland.
What's more, she had carried the duty of a political marriage on her shoulders.
Once married into the Senju, Mito was considered one of them.
Everything she did had to be for Hashirama and for the family. Going home would've been a complicated matter.
After Hashirama founded Konoha, he became endlessly busy with village affairs.
Watching her husband run himself ragged every day, she had kept her desire to return home buried deep in her heart.
Later, even when Hashirama wasn't as busy anymore, his health had started to deteriorate.
And so, she never brought it up again...
She never expected that Hashirama would bring it up himself today.
"Mito, I know you've wanted to return to the Land of Whirlpools..." Hashirama reached out and held her hand. "These past years, I've been so caught up in everything that I never stopped to consider how you've felt."
During the Warring States Era, he was always either fighting battles or rushing to the next one.
After founding Konoha, he spent every day bogged down in administration.
It wasn't until he and Renya passed through the Land of Whirlpools that he remembered—his wife hadn't been home in a very, very long time.
Especially since Mito's uncle was still waiting, hoping his niece would one day come home...
Hashirama decided he wanted to make the trip while his health still allowed it.
That's why he asked Renya to watch over Tsunade for a while.
"Hashirama..." Uzumaki Mito's eyes turned red with emotion.
She hadn't expected him, even in this condition, to be thinking of her.
Hashirama gave her a gentle smile, then looked at Renya with hopeful eyes.
"No problem, Hashirama-san," Renya nodded in agreement.
He was staying at home these days anyway. Taking care of a kid on the side wasn't a big deal.
"Haha, then I'll leave it to you," Hashirama chuckled. "But little Tsuna is really attached to me, you know."
Ever since her parents had left her here, Tsunade had clung to her grandfather every day.
If she couldn't see him, she would cry her lungs out.
Hashirama was planning to give her a bit of mental prep—let her know she'd be staying with Renya for a while.
"Little Tsuna..." Hashirama had only just begun when Tsunade's excited voice cut him off.
"Yay! I finally get to live with Renya-san!"
She knew that living with Renya meant eating delicious food every day.
She had always been so envious of Second Grandpa—he could eat whatever he wanted just by asking Renya to cook it!
Now she was finally going to experience that life too!!!
As for Grandpa and Grandma leaving for a while?
Totally not a problem!
She still had Second Grandpa and Renya-san at home.
When it came to choosing between delicious food and her grandparents… Tsunade didn't hesitate one bit.
In her mind, it wasn't like Grandpa and Grandma were going away forever anyway.
Seeing her so excited, Hashirama looked a bit embarrassed.
He had just been boasting about how attached Tsunade was to him—only to be immediately slapped in the face...
Uzumaki Mito couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh at her husband's expression.
"Tsunade really is a little glutton," Mito teased with mock annoyance. "You'd give up your grandparents just for good food?"
"Grandma, nooo... I love you both the most," Tsunade said shyly as she shook Mito's hand.
Mito gently flicked Tsunade's nose. "That's more like it."
Senju Tobirama furrowed his brows upon hearing that Hashirama was planning to leave the village.
Given his current condition, what if something happened on the way?
But looking at Mito's joyful face, the words stuck in his throat and never came out.
After all, she had been married into the Senju for so many years. She really deserved a visit home.
In the end, Tobirama said nothing and continued quietly eating his food.
He had arrived late and still wasn't full yet.
Hashirama noticed and looked a bit surprised.
He had fully expected his brother to object...
He had even prepared a whole speech to persuade him, but Tobirama stayed silent.
And from what he knew of his brother, silence meant agreement.
Still, he couldn't help but ask:
"Tobirama, you don't object to Mito and me leaving the village?"
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