"Hoshino, your performance just now was incredible! You should've seen their faces — everyone was completely stunned."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's mouth was like a kunai launcher, words firing nonstop.
Beside him, Shimura Danzō, his closest friend, looked thoroughly embarrassed. He tugged at Hiruzen's sleeve and muttered, "Can you calm down? It wasn't you who fought out there."
Unfortunately, his words had zero effect. Danzō finally turned away, deciding it was better not to watch.
Seeing that Hiruzen was still brimming with excitement, Kaede quickly cut in to change the topic.
"Hiruzen, how about I treat everyone to dinner?"
Hiruzen blinked, then clapped his hands together in sudden realization. "Right! Why didn't I think of that first?"
At that moment, Danzō took the chance to jab him. "It's normal for your brain to skip that part."
Hiruzen shot him a glare, then raised his arm grandly with a confident grin. "Fine! Tonight's on me. Let's celebrate my junior's victory! Everyone, move out!"
Kaede could only smile helplessly as Hiruzen grabbed his wrist and dragged him along. The others exchanged resigned looks and followed behind.
---
They soon arrived at a small yakiniku restaurant and sat down — seven of them in all.
As the group settled in, Uchiha Kagami noticed Danzō scanning the menu like a hawk, writing down items rapidly. He hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "Maybe… we should order less? I'm worried Hiruzen—"
Before he could finish, Hiruzen overheard him and pouted. "Kagami, don't worry! I'm not that easy to bring down."
Danzō smirked, leaning back casually. "Yeah, I know Hiruzen well. Don't worry — I made sure to calculate everything."
That grin sent a bad feeling crawling up Kagami's spine.
But since Hiruzen looked so confident, Kagami could only sigh and stay quiet — though his eyes occasionally darted to the prices on the menu.
When the final order was placed, Danzō nodded in satisfaction.
Half an hour later, the table was overflowing with plates of meat — stacked high like a feast.
Kaede didn't know the exact prices, but he understood enough: meat was rare and expensive these days. Just a glance told him that Hiruzen might very well end up washing dishes to pay for this meal.
"Uh… Danzō, how much did you order?" muttered Koharu Utatane, staring at the mountain of food.
Danzō's lips curved into a sly smile as he glanced at Hiruzen, who had frozen in place. "Not too much. Just enough to wipe out all the money he's saved this month."
The others fell silent, then simultaneously gave Hiruzen sympathetic looks.
"I can chip in," Kagami offered softly, unable to watch Hiruzen's pained expression.
Danzō didn't stop him — he knew Hiruzen's pride too well. And sure enough, Hiruzen's competitive nature instantly flared.
"No need, Kagami. This is nothing. I've got it covered," Hiruzen said firmly, forcing a grin that was way too casual to be convincing.
To prove his point, he stood up and marched to the counter to pay.
Homura Mitokado sighed. "You guys are impossible."
Danzō chuckled under his breath, his expression saying it all.
Kaede, meanwhile, simply watched their banter, lost in thought.
Is it me… or am I really behind the times?
When Hiruzen finally returned, he wore his usual calm expression — though Kaede couldn't help noticing a faint shadow of heartbreak in his eyes.
Once the meal began, everyone dug in with gusto. Since Kaede was the youngest, the others made sure he got the best portions.
By the end, his stomach felt like it might burst.
"Ugh… that was amazing. Thanks, Hiruzen."
"Yeah, thanks, Hiruzen." Danzō said too — only to receive a sharp glare in return.
Even Hiruzen couldn't pretend any longer; the pain of that bill ran deep.
---
Just then, a cheerful voice called out from the doorway.
"Well, if it isn't my little Kaede!"
Everyone turned at once and immediately stood.
"Teacher!" Kaede greeted.
"Lord Hokage!" the others chorused.
Hashirama Senju walked in, his laughter booming through the restaurant when he saw the pile of empty plates.
"Hahaha! What's this? Did you all starve for a week?"
The group blushed, looking away in embarrassment.
Sensing the awkwardness, Kaede quickly changed the subject. "Sensei, are the council meetings finished?"
"Hmm? Oh, yes — everything's settled. Just need a few days for implementation."
At those words, the group's reactions varied.
Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, both commoners, didn't seem particularly affected — politics were far above their concern.
Uchiha Kagami, however, looked visibly relieved.
If the Hokage said things were proceeding smoothly, it meant the Uchiha Clan had agreed to cooperate — and that eased his worries. For weeks, Kagami had been disturbed by the rising extremist voices within his clan.
Hiruzen and Danzō wore similar expressions of reassurance.
Kaede, observing quietly, found it fascinating.
So at this point, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō really were idealists — both genuinely devoted to the village.
No wonder they became the shinobi they're known as later.
Hashirama, meanwhile, took in everyone's faces — and smiled with quiet satisfaction.
This was exactly the peace he had dreamed of: a village where future generations could live free from endless war.
Today's meeting had been only the first step, but it was a meaningful one.
"Ah, right," Hashirama said suddenly, turning to Kaede with a smile that instantly made the boy uneasy.
"I just remembered — it's been three months, hasn't it? You're already a Genin now."
Kaede nodded slowly, unsure where this was going.
"Well then," Hashirama continued cheerfully, "after thinking it over, I believe it's time for you to attend the Konoha Academy."
He said it so casually, like he was suggesting lunch.
Kaede froze as if struck by lightning.
"What?!"
Hashirama chuckled. "It'll be good for you to spend time with children your own age. Better than being surrounded by old men like us, don't you think?"
Kaede stood there, stunned. Going to school — after surviving battles and time manipulation — felt almost like a punishment.
He tried to protest vehemently, but Hashirama had already decided. Once the First Hokage made up his mind, there was no escape.
"I've already spoken with the headmaster. You'll start tomorrow," Hashirama said firmly, patting Kaede's shoulder.
Kaede sighed in despair. For him, "school" sounded less like a class and more like a sentence.
"Come on, Kaede," Hiruzen said, trying to comfort him. "It's not that bad. We all went through the Academy."
"Yeah," Kagami added kindly. "You'll actually enjoy it. You can learn a lot there."
The two of them took turns trying to reassure him, while Kaede could only stare blankly at the ceiling.
He couldn't decide what was worse — fighting rogue shinobi… or attending school.