Chapter 10

"Everyone gather, line up properly!"

After arriving at the entrance of Konoha, several team leaders organized the squad, began to count heads, and confirmed if there were any stragglers.

There weren't many people, so it didn't take long to confirm everyone's arrival.

Takumi was standing in the crowd, lost in thought, already considering whether to go for barbecue or ramen for his first stop.

"Takumi!"

Suddenly, a voice pulled him back to reality.

"Here!"

Takumi responded instinctively, a bit dazed. Didn't they just call my name a moment ago?

"The Hokage has ordered you to go to his office," the jōnin said.

"Huh?" Takumi was taken aback.

What does that old man Sarutobi want with me?

"Everyone else, dismissed!" The jōnin shouted to the remaining people, ignoring Takumi's surprise.

He didn't know why the Third Hokage specifically wanted to keep Takumi.

"Phew, finally can go home."

"Can eat Okasan's tamagoyaki!"

"Well, the Chunin Exams are approaching, so we can't slack off..."

"I heard a new sukiyaki restaurant opened in the village. Want to try it?"

"Compared to sukiyaki... teppanyaki is more delicious, I think."

...

The young genin cheered and dispersed in small groups. After a bloody battle, they were most looking forward to this brief respite.

Only Takumi, who stood out, walked alone in the opposite direction toward the Hokage Tower.

At the door of the Hokage's office, Takumi knocked listlessly.

Knock, knock.

"Come in."

A hoarse voice came from inside.

Takumi opened the door and entered the office. He immediately saw an old man with a goatee, wearing the Hokage's robes, sitting at his desk, processing paperwork, and smoking a pipe.

The room was filled with the smell of smoke.

Takumi coughed and walked forward, bowing. "Hokage-sama."

This was the first time Takumi had met Sarutobi after his穿越 (穿越 means "穿越" in Chinese, but it's not clear in this context, so I'll translate it as "arrival in this world").

The old man's eyelids drooped, and his gaze was very calm. On the surface, he looked like a neighbor's grandpa who spent his days drinking tea, walking birds, and playing chess.

"Oh, it's Takumi." Sarutobi smiled, the wrinkles on his face deepening. "Just back from the Land of Grass?"

"Yes, just returned to the village," Takumi nodded.

Sarutobi stopped his work, stood up, took a deep puff of his pipe, and then came to Takumi, looking him up and down. "Not bad, you've matured... Have you seen your teacher recently?"

Hearing this, Takumi was taken aback and replied, "It's been half a year."

A year ago, Takumi found Tsunade's trail through a mission, made a bet, and became her student. For the next half a year, he trained under Tsunade.

Until half a year ago, due to the war, Takumi received orders to return to the village.

At the beginning of his training, Tsunade had already informed Sarutobi about Takumi's apprenticeship, otherwise, without the Hokage's permission, Takumi wouldn't have been able to stay outside the village for so long.

"Half a year...," Sarutobi nodded, suddenly remembering that he had indeed issued an order half a year ago for Takumi to return to the village to participate in the war.

For the next half a year, most of the time, Takumi mainly followed Kushina, participating in the defense of Konoha. During tense times, he occasionally supported other battlefields with other reserve genin.

Although he was busy, the danger wasn't great.

If not for getting separated from the main force and being attacked while supporting the Land of Grass, he wouldn't have been in such a sorry state.

If not for that, Tsunade probably wouldn't have been too comfortable letting Takumi return.

Sarutobi then asked, "Does your teacher plan to return to the village?"

Takumi shook his head. "This... I haven't heard her say anything."

At this point, Takumi thought to himself, Tsunade wouldn't return at this time. Given her disappointment with the war and with me, she wouldn't come back to Konoha.

Unless...

You die.

Takumi's gaze fell on Sarutobi, full of meaning.

"Tsunade... is she still the same?" Sarutobi hesitated, "About the 'blood' issue."

Takumi knew what he meant and replied, "Still the same. According to Shizune, my teacher's condition hasn't improved."

"Ah..." Sarutobi sighed, slowly exhaling a puff of smoke. "The events of those years hurt her deeply."

Takumi coughed.

He wanted to say, "Hey, old man! Do you know that secondhand smoke can stunt a child's growth?!"

Keep smoking, keep smoking!

But Takumi didn't say it, and Sarutobi didn't seem to have any intention of stopping.

Sure enough, like father, like son.

Takumi thought of Asuma Sarutobi.

This guy is two years older than him, and although he doesn't smoke now, he will be a chain smoker in the future.

Even his jutsu, "Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning," is related to smoking.

What a guy.

"How about it? What progress did you make training with Tsunade for half a year?" Sarutobi suddenly changed the subject, looking at Takumi with a kind expression.

Takumi snapped back to reality and smiled. "Ah, of course, my teacher is very responsible."

Sarutobi shook his head and smiled. "I have three students. In terms of teaching, Jiraiya is the best. Tsunade... if she focuses more on teaching and less on gambling, she's still okay."

"Um, yes, yes," Takumi didn't know what to say, his lips curling into a fake smile.

He didn't know what the old man wanted to say by calling him here.

Seeing Takumi's weary face, Sarutobi felt a bit embarrassed. "I'm old, seeing you young, energetic people makes me talk more."

"Not at all, Hokage-sama, you're just being funny," Takumi laughed, waving his hand, his eyes forming a pleasant arc.

The fake smile was even more obvious.

Sarutobi didn't mind and continued, "By the way, have you gone to see Kushina yet?"

Takumi shook his head. "Not yet."

Although he was temporarily reassigned during the war, his team leader was still Kushina, and administratively, he still belonged to Kushina's team.

Sarutobi said, "When you have time, go see Kushina. She's very worried about you... Oh, right, there's a mission for you that I've already assigned to Kushina. She'll explain it to you in detail."

"Yes, Hokage-sama," Takumi nodded in response.

As for the mission Sarutobi mentioned, Takumi didn't really care much.