"Mmm..."
A boy who had just been kicked in the arm by his companion during sparring groaned comfortably.
He could clearly feel that his arm, which was still a bit sore, was recovering at an incredible speed under the nourishment of that warm chakra.
The soreness was fading, and the tight muscles were relaxing.
That feeling was a hundred times more comfortable than soaking in the best hot spring inn in the village.
"So... so comfortable..."
The frustration and depression the boys felt from being one-sidedly crushed just now vanished instantly under this care.
Watching the Clan Head's shadow clones treating them, besides awe, a deep sense of emotion and closeness grew in their hearts.
So, the Clan Head... was not just that high and mighty Hokage with unfathomable strength.
He was also a gentle elder who cared about them and worried about leaving hidden injuries.
Sarutobi Hasumi stood aside, watching this heartwarming scene, his heart filled with mixed feelings.
He finally deeply realized the gap between himself and this legendary Ninja Professor, a gap like a chasm.
It was not just a gap in strength.
It was an all-around gap in perspective, character, and understanding of the word "strength."
"Come here, Hasumi."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice pulled him back from his thoughts.
"Yes, Lord Clan Head."
Hasumi hurried forward.
A shadow clone walked up to him and also extended a hand glowing with green light.
"No need, Lord Clan Head, I'm not injured."
Hasumi said somewhat embarrassedly.
Although the fall just now was ugly, the Clan Head controlled his strength extremely well. Apart from eating a mouthful of mud, he basically didn't suffer any substantial damage.
"When I tell you to come, you come."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's main body walked over and pressed his shoulder without explanation, making him sit down.
Then, the shadow clone began to examine his body meticulously.
"Although there are no external injuries, your body was under a heavy load just now."
Sarutobi Hiruzen also sat down beside him and said gently.
"By the way, let me give you a massage. Young people should remember to cherish their bodies."
The technique was professional, and the force was just right.
Warm chakra flowed slowly along his sore muscles, completely relaxing Hasumi's body, which had been tense all morning.
He leaned against the tree trunk behind him, looking at the Clan Head beside him, feeling a bit unreal.
Neither of them spoke. On the training ground, there was only the rustling of the wind blowing through the leaves and the satisfied hums of the teenagers.
The atmosphere was warm and peaceful.
After a long time, Sarutobi Hiruzen turned his head, looked at the boy beside him, and asked as if chatting casually:
"Hasumi."
"Here, Lord Clan Head."
"Let's go, I happen to be free today."
"Take me to... your captain, Uchiha Yagen's house."
"Go... to Captain Yagen's house?"
Sarutobi Hasumi's face was written with surprise.
Uchiha Yagen was the captain of their squad and one of the people he admired most.
In the Real Battlefield Simulation System, it was Captain Yagen's calm and composed command, and those Sharingan that could always see through everything at critical moments, that led them out of desperate situations time and time again.
Hasumi learned a lot from him.
He didn't expect that Lord Hokage, who was busy with a myriad of affairs every day, would take the initiative to propose visiting an ordinary Military Police Force squad captain.
"What? Is it inconvenient?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at his surprised appearance and asked with a smile.
"No, no, no! Of course it's convenient!"
Hasumi waved his hands hurriedly, a slight blush appearing on his face due to excitement. "It's just... just too sudden. If Captain Yagen knew you were going, he would definitely be too excited to speak!"
"Haha, then don't tell him, give him a surprise." Sarutobi Hiruzen said in a good mood.
"Um... Lord Clan Head,"
Hasumi scratched his head and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Captain Yagen... shouldn't be at home at this time."
"Oh? On a mission?"
"No."
Hasumi shook his head. "I heard from the Captain that ever since he awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan in the simulation system to protect his teammates, his state of mind has been somewhat unstable."
"So, in order to settle his mind, and also to... spend more time with his family, he has been taking his son, Uchiha Obito, fishing by the lake in the clan compound every morning recently."
Fishing?
Hearing this, a flash of understanding crossed Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes.
Uchiha Yagen, Uchiha Obito.
It seemed that his trip to slack off today was going to turn into a real fishing trip.
It was good to go and see.
In the original story, Obito was raised by his grandmother, and the love of his parents was missing, but he still loved life and was full of energy every day.
Later, Rin's death, Uchiha Madara's deception, and the extreme emotionality brought by his bloodline led him down a path of no return.
But in this world changed by his own hands, the Uchiha clan had completely integrated into the village, and Yagen had grown into an outstanding ninja with responsibility and accountability.
He wondered what the young version of Obito, growing up in such a family environment, would be like?
A trace of curiosity and expectation arose in Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart.
"That's perfect, we'll go find him by the lake."
"Alright, you guys stop practicing too, go back and rest today."
Sarutobi Hiruzen waved to the other young people still standing on the training ground. "Remember the feeling today, go back and digest it well."
"Yes! Thank you, Lord Clan Head!"
The teenagers responded in unison, their faces full of excitement and gratitude.
Today's guidance lesson was simply immensely beneficial to them.
Before leaving, Sarutobi Hiruzen seemed to remember something. He took out a few large, red, very tempting-looking tomatoes from his storage scroll and stuffed them into Hasumi's arms.
"Take these, eat them on the way."
"Specially supplied from our farm, they taste good, very sweet."
These tomatoes were brought from home as snacks before he went to work today.
"Ah? This... how can I accept this..."
Hasumi was flattered and hurriedly wanted to decline.
He knew how popular the things from Manager Sakumo were in the village now.
"Take them, consider it a reward for accompanying me, the Clan Head, to relieve boredom today."
Hasumi took the heavy tomatoes, looked at Lord Hokage's smile that allowed no refusal, and a warm current surged in his heart.
He held the tomatoes carefully, as if holding some peerless treasure.
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