Chapter 28: Mito's Gift & Nawaki's training

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Yuta opted for a small full moon celebration, inviting a few close friends for a gathering at "Taste of Shinobi."

After Kiko departed with the twins, Shingo and Kyoko, Yuta and the others began the informal banquet.

Later, having seen off the guests with their parting gifts, Yuta and Kiko started unwrapping their own.

"That Duy is something else. Why did he send two more sets?" Yuta stared at the two identical sets of vibrant green tights, utterly bewildered.

"I remember when Ganta and the others turned one month old, Duy gave them three of the same things, didn't he?" Kiko remarked, a hint of amusement in her voice.

They decided to keep the outfits, though the thought of their children wearing them felt peculiar.

"Huh? Who sent this? It feels… odd." Kiko opened a box and retrieved a pair of aged dice.

"No need to guess, that's Tsunade. Probably another 'priceless heirloom' from the First Hokage." Yuta said with certainty, glancing at the dice.

Tsunade, likely strapped for cash, had resorted to her "inheritance" for a gift.

"This is for you." Kiko handed Yuta a small bundle. "Put it on the children tomorrow, or they'll outgrow it quickly. Finally, Shingo and Kyoko won't have to wear Ganta and the others' hand-me-downs all the time."

Hearing Kiko's slightly disdainful tone, Yuta retorted, "All children are the same! Besides, Ganta and the others only wore those clothes for a few months. It'd be wasteful to throw them away!"

"Tsk, just admit you don't want to buy new ones. But Ryuken's wife is such a talented seamstress. Why don't we ask her to make some clothes?"

"Whatever you want." Yuta picked up Hatake Sakumo's gift, revealing a small sword crafted from chakra metal.

"Sakumo, this is too generous! Such an expensive gift? But it works out perfectly. My practice sword will go to Jiro, and I can help the little ones practice with this one first."

The sword Yuta had attempted to forge for Jiro had been a failure, leading him to abandon the idea of crafting his own ninja tools. Jiro was about to begin swordsmanship training, so Sakumo's gift would serve him well.

"As if." Kiko rolled her eyes, then suddenly exclaimed, "What's this?"

Yuta looked up to see Kiko holding a scroll. He hadn't noticed who had given it to her earlier.

"Let me see." Yuta took the scroll and unrolled it.

"I know who this is from. It's likely from Lady Mito," Yuta said, closing the scroll and placing it carefully beside him. He rubbed his forehead, feeling reluctant to open any more gifts.

Seeing Yuta's sudden solemnity, Kiko set down the remaining box. "Look at you. What is it? You look so troubled."

"Alas! It seems I'm destined for more hard work."

Yuta slapped his thigh, understanding Mito's intention. Sensing her time was limited, she sought to secure a new protector for the Senju clan before Nawaki matured. 

Tsunade was unreliable and lacked sufficient strength. Thus, Yuta was her chosen successor.

Ask Sarutobi Hiruzen? That was like putting wolves in charge of sheep.

Mito wouldn't have sent all of the Second Hokage's Water Style ninjutsu otherwise. She clearly intended for Yuta to take Nawaki as his disciple.

"Dealing with these old foxes is exhausting." Yuta gave up on further contemplation, collapsing onto the bed, pulling the covers over his head, and drifting to sleep.

Seeing her husband's worry, Kiko tidied the scattered gifts, turned off the lights, and joined him in slumber.

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The Senju clan territory.

Mito sat alone in her room, the muffled sounds of a heavily intoxicated Tsunade's complaints about her teacher and Nawaki's indignant retorts drifting in.

She sighed, a whisper escaping her lips, "This is all I can do. I hope Hashirama won't blame me when I join him."

Her thoughts drifted to the Third Hokage's proposal to use her husband's remains for experimentation. 

While she trusted Sarutobi's moral compass, Danzo's involvement cast a long shadow.

Given Danzo's nature and his obsession with Wood Release, she shuddered to imagine what he might do to the Senju clan once she was gone.

"I hope Yuta understands my feelings."

...

Yuta proved Mito's faith well-placed. Two weeks after the twins' full-moon celebration, he sought out Mito in the Senju compound and discussed taking Nawaki as his apprentice.

Seeing the relief in Mito's expression, Yuta's respect for the old woman deepened.

And so, Nawaki's apprenticeship began.

Having accepted Mito's gesture, Yuta intended to be a dedicated teacher.

Now, alongside his academy studies, Nawaki underwent specialized training under Yuta's guidance.

...

"Hoo... hoo!" Nawaki leaned heavily on his knees, gasping for breath as he watched Yuta and his three younger sons disappear into the distance. "That squinty-eyed guy is still so infuriating!" he muttered. "And those three little brats! They're younger than me; how can they run so fast?"

After a brief respite, Nawaki resumed his run. By the time he reached their training spot, Yuta had already begun instructing Ganta and his brothers in basic exercises.

Yuta offered Nawaki a cursory glance. Seeing he was unharmed, he paid him no further attention.

Nawaki's current temperament was too impulsive and arrogant, and unlike Naruto Uzumaki, he lacked any obvious protagonist-like resilience.

Yuta deliberately ignored him, tasking him with training alongside his three sons. 

This was intended to show Nawaki that he wasn't invincible, that others, even younger ones, surpassed him. 

This humbling experience would hopefully encourage introspection and harder training.

Nawaki watched Ganta, Jiro, and Yuto training diligently under Yuta's patient instruction. A sudden feeling of being superfluous washed over him.

...

Months passed.

After a grueling day of training, Nawaki remained alone on the practice grounds, relentlessly throwing kunai. His movements were precise, his gaze fixed.

Several months under Yuta's tutelage had stripped away Nawaki's illusions of effortless genius. He couldn't even match Ganta and his brothers, who were years his junior.

But as the Senju clan's heir, he had to be the best. His great-grandfather and second great-grandfather were Hokage. The Senju clan was as renowned as the Uchiha. He, too, must become Hokage.

Lacking natural talent, he would compensate with relentless effort, forging strength through sweat.

"Swoosh—chi!" Nawaki poured more force into his throw. The kunai's trajectory was noticeably more powerful, whistling through the air before embedding itself deeply into the scarecrow target. 

The impact resonated clearly.

Yuta watched Nawaki's training from a nearby tree, Tsunade standing beside him.

"How is he? Calmer now?" Yuta asked, a hint of pride in his voice.

"How dare you say that, you bastard?" Tsunade retorted, arms crossed, her gaze worriedly fixed on her brother below. "Nawaki's been withdrawn and listless. If Grandma hadn't stopped me, I would have beaten you senseless long ago."

"That was your grandmother's choice, and it's the path he's chosen. You can't expect a simpleton to become Hokage, can you?"

Tsunade struggled to find a rebuttal.

"He was just naive before. Don't call him stupid." She offered a weak defense of her brother.

"Haha! As long as you're happy. But I won't change Nawaki's training. I don't know if he'll become Hokage, but I can ensure he'll be strong enough to live well."

With that, he left, ignoring Tsunade's reaction.

"Did I... did I really use the wrong method before?" Tsunade wondered aloud.