Three months had passed since Kaede's collapse.
In that time, his life had become an endless cycle of exhaustion. The intensity of his training had reached heights few could imagine.
Six hours of sleep — that was all he allowed himself. The rest of every day was consumed by training.
Mornings were for ninjutsu. Afternoons for physical conditioning. Nights for swordsmanship.
By the end of each day, he could barely stay awake — but the results spoke for themselves.
After three months of relentless work, his once-slim frame had grown lean and defined, his movements sharper, his eyes steadier.
When he returned to the Hatake clan to retrieve his custom-made blade, Hatake Isshin began inviting him over regularly. Their relationship deepened quickly.
Sometimes, when Kaede practiced swordsmanship at night, Isshin would drop by to offer advice.
At first, Kaede had suspected ulterior motives. After all, word had spread through Konoha that he was now the Hokage's only student.
The suspicion gnawed at him — until Isshin, seeing through his guarded look, spoke plainly.
"You're right. I do have a personal reason for teaching you," Isshin had said, smiling.
"But mostly, it's because I think we're connected by fate. That's all."
That simple honesty disarmed Kaede completely. From then on, he regarded Isshin as a genuine mentor figure.
---
Time slipped by quickly. Three months wasn't long, but it was enough to transform him.
His chakra control had improved dramatically. His mastery of time manipulation — smoother, sharper, and far more precise.
If he were to face the version of himself from three months ago, he could have crushed that boy effortlessly.
Even without relying on his Kekkei Genkai, his growth in ninjutsu and taijutsu alone was staggering.
From the level of an elite Chūnin, Kaede had now reached the strength of a Jōnin.
Only Hashirama and Tobirama knew this. To the rest of the village, he was still just "the Hokage's student."
But Kaede knew that his growth rate would slow from here on out. Age was still his greatest limitation.
In his mindscape, the mysterious clock dial that represented his power had changed too — the once-blurred markings were now one-sixth clear.
His chakra reserves had surged dramatically, reaching a capacity of one "Kakashi" unit — an internal benchmark Tobirama used to measure chakra (as a joke, one "Kakashi" = one standard Jōnin's chakra).
His eyes had also evolved again.
Now, in addition to accelerating or slowing time, they could completely freeze a target — though only for a few seconds.
It wasn't much, but it was a terrifying ability in the right hands.
---
That afternoon, Kaede was running laps around the village as usual, his training weights now heavier than ever — always keeping him right at the edge of his physical limits.
Sweat rolled down his forehead as he finished a circuit. He wiped it away, breathing evenly, when he suddenly sensed a faint movement behind him.
He twisted instantly, his body reacting before his mind did — spinning and whipping his leg in a fierce roundhouse kick.
The strike was full of force — but just as his foot neared its target, he saw the face.
"Lord Tobirama!"
Startled, he pulled back his kick mid-air, lost his balance, and crashed to the ground.
Tobirama looked at him thoughtfully, rubbing his chin. The boy's taijutsu — the speed, precision, control — had advanced to an unbelievable level.
In just three months… this much progress? Could the Time Kekkei Genkai really be this potent?
He fell into silent contemplation until Kaede's voice snapped him back.
"Lord Tobirama, is something wrong?"
Tobirama coughed lightly to cover his momentary lapse, then his expression turned serious.
Kaede immediately straightened up, sensing the shift in tone.
"You've heard the rumors spreading lately, haven't you?" Tobirama asked with that half-smile that always made people uneasy.
Kaede tilted his head, looking genuinely puzzled.
"Rumors? I've been training nonstop for three months — I barely have time to sleep, let alone gossip."
That actually caught Tobirama off guard. He raised an eyebrow.
"…Is that so? Then I suppose I was worried for nothing."
Deciding to drop the subject, he shifted topics.
"Come with me. There's a meeting you need to attend."
"A meeting?" Kaede blinked. "Surely I don't need to be there, do I? I'm not even officially registered as a shinobi yet."
Tobirama's lips curled faintly.
"Don't underestimate yourself. Your current status already outranks several clan heads."
Kaede took an uneasy step back. "That… can't be right."
"Enough talk," Tobirama said impatiently. "Let's go. Don't keep people waiting."
"Oh, and this—"
He reached into his robe and tossed something to Kaede — a gleaming Konoha forehead protector.
Kaede stared at it. "You're… just giving this to me?"
Tobirama shrugged. "I already know your strength. You don't need a formal test. No one will question it."
As if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Kaede silently tucked the protector into his bag. Tobirama gave a brief nod, then performed the Flying Raijin Jutsu, teleporting them instantly to the doors of the council chamber.
Kaede blinked as the world snapped back into focus.
"The Flying Raijin really is convenient… perfect for travel," he muttered under his breath.
Tobirama ignored him — though the twitch in his forehead suggested he'd heard every word.
He set Kaede down and strode into the room. Kaede followed close behind.
---
The Council Hall was filled to capacity.
Every clan leader in Konoha was present, seated along a long rectangular table.
As soon as Kaede entered, dozens of eyes turned toward him.
He swallowed hard but forced himself to stay composed and followed Tobirama's lead.
At the center sat the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, flanked by the most powerful figures in the village.
To his right sat Uchiha Madara, still serving as the Uchiha clan head at this time.
The Senju and Uchiha — the twin pillars of Konoha — occupied the central seats, while the lesser clans filled the edges of the room.
"Kaede! Sit here," Hashirama said, smiling warmly as he waved him over to the seat beside him.
Kaede nearly sighed in relief. He hurried forward and sat down next to his teacher.
Instantly, murmurs rippled through the hall.
Kaede glanced at Hashirama, who remained perfectly calm, smiling as if nothing were amiss.
He swallowed again. This seat's way too hot for me…
Just look at who he was sitting with:
To his right — the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju.
To his left — the Ghost of Uchiha, Uchiha Madara.
And behind them stood Tobirama Senju, the master of forbidden jutsu.
A lineup of living legends… and one awkward rookie stuck in the middle.
Even as the Hokage's disciple, he was far below these men in strength and experience.
Every clan head present was at least Jōnin-level — veterans who had survived countless battles.
Among such titans, Kaede's presence felt out of place.
Still, he sat straight, forcing himself to breathe calmly.
Whatever this meeting was about — it was clearly going to shape Konoha's future.