Konoha Forest, training ground.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was so excited he couldn't sleep all night, and he arrived at the training ground before the appointed time.
The moon was obscured by clouds, and visibility was very low.
He could only grope his way towards the direction of the training ground he remembered.
When he got closer, he noticed a dark figure standing in the center of the training ground.
Due to the dark environment, he couldn't recognize the figure's identity.
Hiruzen Sarutobi prepared to get closer to see.
As his footsteps sounded, the person in the center of the training ground suddenly turned his head and coldly shouted, "Who?"
Hearing this familiar voice, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes lit up. Wasn't the owner of this voice his good friend, Danzo?
Just as he was about to reveal his identity, a Shuriken grazed his ear and embedded itself in a tree trunk.
Cold sweat immediately ran down Hiruzen Sarutobi's face, and he swallowed with difficulty.
If it weren't for the dark environment and Danzo's Shuriken missing its mark, he would be a corpse now...
"Dan... Danzo, it's me, Hiruzen..."
Danzo Shimura came closer, and after seeing the person's face clearly, he frowned and put away his weapon. "Hiruzen, why is it you?"
What was Hiruzen doing in this place so late at night?
Could it be... he also became Tobirama-sama's disciple?
Sure enough, Hiruzen's next words confirmed his guess.
"Danzo, Tobirama-sama accepted me as his disciple, and he told me to gather here," Hiruzen Sarutobi explained.
Danzo heard this and showed an 'as expected' expression.
He should have guessed it earlier. If he, who was fifth, could become Tobirama-sama's disciple, then Hiruzen, who was first, naturally could too.
He subconsciously clenched his fists. The fact that Hiruzen was also Tobirama-sama's disciple was not good news for him.
He had originally thought that with Tobirama-sama's guidance, he could widen the gap between himself and Hiruzen, but it turned out that Hiruzen was also Tobirama-sama's disciple.
His wish could only fall through...
Danzo's face grew uglier. Hiruzen's talent was higher than his, and with Tobirama-sama's personal guidance, the gap between the two would only grow larger.
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't notice his friend's expression. He put his arm around his shoulder and laughed, "That's great, Danzo! I didn't expect us both to become Tobirama-sama's disciples. We can train together from now on!"
The fact that Danzo could come here so late at night indicated that he was also Tobirama-sama's disciple.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was genuinely happy for his friend.
Danzo Shimura forced out a smile. "Haha, you're right. Let's work hard and become stronger together."
"Mm, let's become stronger together!"
"Oh, you two are here too?"
Just then, a female voice came from behind them.
The two turned around and saw Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado walking side by side.
Danzo frowned unhappily and looked at Utatane Koharu. "You're also Tobirama-sensei's disciple?"
In this era, were Tobirama-sama's disciples so cheap?
How could any random cat or dog become Tobirama-sensei's disciple?
"Mm-hmm, Tobirama-sama said I had a talent for being a Medical Ninja, so he took me as his disciple," Utatane Koharu said with a smile.
"Haha, congratulations, congratulations," Hiruzen Sarutobi said cheerfully.
Soon after, a figure emerged from the darkness and walked towards the training ground.
Only when he got closer did the few of them clearly see who it was.
"Kagami, I knew it was you!" Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed.
Uchiha Kagami smiled slightly, "Hello, everyone."
Danzo Shimura breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that it was Kagami.
Thankfully, it wasn't that Uchiha Renye guy...
He was already traumatized by Lianye. As long as it wasn't that bastard, it was fine.
Thinking of the scene where he was violently beaten by Lianye, Danzo subconsciously clenched his fists, his face ashen.
He swore in his heart that when he became stronger in the future, he would definitely make Uchiha Renye pay the price!
"Hmph, Uchiha Renye, just you wait!"
It was already this late, and there was still no sign of Lianye.
It seemed he hadn't been accepted as Tobirama-sama's disciple.
How pathetic!
Hearing Danzo mention Lianye, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly thought of something. "Do you think Lianye was accepted as Tobirama-sensei's disciple?"
Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged glances.
Lianye's combat strength was unquestionable, but his theoretical scores were hard to describe.
Uchiha Kagami said, "If Tobirama-sama only looks at practical combat scores, Lianye would definitely be accepted as a disciple. If he looks at overall scores..."
He didn't finish, but the few of them understood.
"Alas, Renye-kun is such a pity," Hiruzen Sarutobi said with some regret.
"Haha, serves him right! Who told him not to study normally?" Danzo Shimura said, gloating.
He believed that with Tobirama-sensei's guidance, his strength would definitely grow stronger and stronger until he surpassed Uchiha Renye.
By then, he would return the humiliation he had suffered earlier to Lianye twofold.
He seemed to see himself trampling Lianye underfoot.
He believed that day would not be too far off...
"Hey, hey, hey, are you talking trash about me behind my back again?"
Lianye's voice came from afar. Danzo's body stiffened, and he turned his head with difficulty to look.
He saw two figures, one large and one small, slowly walking out of the darkness.
It was none other than Senju Tobirama and Uchiha Renye.
"Good evening, Sensei!" The five bowed respectfully.
Senju Tobirama nodded and praised, "Good, no one is late."
Lianye looked at the five of them and finally understood why Senju Tobirama wanted him to train here.
So, this Old Man had secretly taken on disciples behind his back...
"You all warm up first."
After Senju Tobirama finished speaking, he leaned against a tree and closed his eyes to rest.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others' gazes fell on Lianye in unison.
"Renye-kun, have you also become Sensei's disciple?" Uchiha Kagami asked softly.
"No," Lianye said.
Senju Tobirama at most guided him in training; he couldn't be considered his teacher.
"Hmph, if not, please leave. Sensei is about to guide us in training," Danzo Shimura said coldly.
Lianye began to warm up while saying, "What you've always hoped for is just my daily routine."
He paused, then held up a finger. "I've been training every day starting at the Hour of the Tiger for a year now."
Upon hearing this, the pupils of the few of them constricted sharply.
So Lianye had already been training with Sensei for a year?
Danzo Shimura then remembered that Uchiha Renye had already been adopted by Sensei.
It was perfectly normal for Sensei to guide him in training when he had nothing else to do.
Thinking of this, his eyes were filled with jealousy.
Why?
What kind of dumb luck did this damned guy have to be adopted by Sensei?
Seeing Danzo's envious, jealous, and hateful expression, Lianye felt completely refreshed.
He wanted to laugh just thinking about Danzo's pathetic state during the upcoming training.
Did he really think Senju Tobirama's training plan was easy?
"Warm-up is over. Kid, you take them to train first."
Lianye: "???"
No, is this right?
Damn it, this Old Man was treating him as free labor?!