Starting From Being Adopted by the Second Hokage!

"Urp~ That was so delicious."

Senju Hashirama patted his round belly and let out a satisfied burp.

Renya's cooking was still as amazing as ever, and he couldn't help but feel a little envious that Tobirama got to eat meals made by Renya all the time.

Unlike him… every time he wanted a bite, he had to shamelessly ask Renya to cook.

Little Tsunade in Hashirama's arms fell fast asleep after enjoying the delicious food.

"Aren't you going back yet?" Senju Tobirama urged.

He was worried that if his big brother stayed any longer, he might discover that he'd been researching forbidden jutsu. That would be a serious problem.

What he didn't know was that the reason Hashirama had come in the first place was exactly to confirm that suspicion...

"Haha, soon." Hashirama laughed, then suddenly shifted the topic. "Tobirama, you haven't been secretly researching jutsu, have you?"

At those words, cold sweat instantly appeared on Senju Tobirama's forehead. Why was his big brother suddenly asking this?

Had his research into [Edo Tensei]been exposed?!

But based on what he knew about his big brother, if he had discovered anything, he wouldn't ask in this way—he'd ban it outright!

So, this was clearly a bluff.

Senju Tobirama put on a calm front and replied without any change in expression,

"I haven't. Don't falsely accuse me."

"Really?" Hashirama dropped his smile and narrowed his eyes, staring closely into Tobirama's.

Tobirama felt uneasy under his brother's gaze and swallowed unconsciously.

"I'm not lying."

Suddenly, he seemed to think of something and quickly added,

"If you don't believe me, you can ask Renya."

Renya, who had just been happily eating melon slices, froze at that.

He stared at Senju Tobirama in disbelief.

Why the hell did you drag me into this?!

His instincts screamed that this old guy was definitely researching forbidden jutsu.

But as he caught Tobirama's threatening glare, he gulped instinctively.

"Little Renya, have you seen Tobirama researching jutsu?" Senju Hashirama asked with a warm smile.

"Tell me the truth now—don't lie to me."

Renya swallowed hard and had just opened his mouth when—

"Brat, think carefully before you speak!" Tobirama suddenly let out a cold snort.

Renya: "…"

He glanced at Senju Hashirama's smiling face, then at Senju Tobirama's menacing expression.

What kind of mess is this?

"Don't be afraid, Little Renya. Just tell me the truth." Hashirama reassured him.

"That's right, brat. Just speak the truth!" Tobirama chimed in at the side—though everyone could read between the lines with that expression of his...

"Hashirama-san, I haven't seen Tobirama-san researching jutsu." Renya replied with a smile.

"Are you sure?" Hashirama looked suspicious.

He didn't believe Tobirama would behave so obediently. After all, this guy had been caught researching forbidden jutsu many times before.

"Of course I'm sure." Renya blinked. "Since I returned, I really haven't seen Tobirama-san studying any jutsu."

That was technically the truth. After all, since he came back, he really hadn't seen Tobirama doing any jutsu research.

As for whether he'd done any before Renya got back—that, he had no idea.

The highest form of lying is selective truth-telling. It's the best way to avoid detection.

Sure enough, Hashirama didn't see any signs of deceit on Renya's face. He scratched his head and laughed,

"Hahaha, I see. Looks like I falsely accused you, Tobirama."

Senju Tobirama instantly let out a breath of relief and shot Renya a look of appreciation.

Smart kid. If he had said the wrong thing…

Satisfied with the answer, Hashirama stood up with little Tsunade in his arms.

"Well, I'll head out now."

Tobirama was practically beaming—finally, he'd managed to bluff his big brother into leaving.

[Edo Tensei]was a crucial jutsu, deeply tied to Konoha's future. Hashirama absolutely must not find out about it.

...

Just as Hashirama reached the doorway, he stopped—and turned around again.

"Why are you back?!" Tobirama stiffened and looked at him nervously, his heart practically leaping into his throat.

The scroll for [Edo Tensei]was hidden on him—what if his brother tried to search him?!

Hashirama extended a hand, smiling sheepishly. "Umm… Tobirama…"

Tobirama's face went pale, his voice trembling. "… when did you find out?"

"Huh?" Hashirama looked puzzled. "Find out what?"

"N-Nothing. I meant—what do you want?"

Hashirama didn't press the issue and stammered a bit.

"Tobirama, can you… can you lend me some money?"

"Borrow money?" Tobirama's voice shot up. "Did you go gambling again?!"

"Shhh—shhh—!" Hashirama quickly covered his brother's mouth. "Keep your voice down… if Mito finds out, I'm dead!"

Tobirama shoved Hashirama's hand away and frowned.

"Listen to me. Please stop gambling."

No one knew exactly when, but at some point, Hashirama had developed a bad gambling habit.

The problem was, he was terrible at it. Every time he went to the casino, he lost everything.

As the Hokage of Konoha, he was now buried in debt.

Once, his creditors even came knocking—and Uzumaki Mito found out.

Since then, Hashirama had no source of income…

He had some private savings—but he lost those too.

"Tobirama, please just lend me a little," Hashirama begged. "I haven't gone in ages—my skills are getting rusty!"

"You've lost millions of ryō! Isn't that enough?!" Tobirama's eyelid twitched wildly.

"I'm begging you, Tobirama! Just ten thousand… no, five thousand ryō!"

Hearing their conversation, Renya was stunned.

He looked at little Tsunade in Hashirama's arms and finally understood where the nickname "Fat Sheep of the Ninja World" came from.

So it was hereditary...

After much begging, Tobirama reluctantly handed over 30,000 ryō to get his brother to leave.

"Hahaha, Tsunade, Grandpa's taking you to earn some big money!"

Tobirama shook his head helplessly. He didn't know which bastard had introduced his big brother to gambling, but if he ever found out…

He looked toward Renya. "Kid, if my brother ever asks to borrow money—don't lend him a single ryō."

"I got it, Tobirama-san." Renya nodded.

Lending money to a gambler? Might as well throw dumplings at a dog. No return.

...

Outside the casino.

Senju Hashirama held Tsunade in one arm and clutched his 30,000 ryō tightly in the other. He muttered under his breath:

"Madara, I swear my gambling skills will surpass yours one day!"

He still remembered how, years ago, Madara had activated his Sharingan and absolutely dominated the casino—chips piled up in front of him.

That was the moment Hashirama developed a strong interest in gambling.

He stepped into the casino with little Tsunade in his arms.

A few minutes later, he walked back out, head hanging low.

"Sigh… Lost again..."

In the baby wrap, Tsunade looked at her grandfather with a face full of disdain.

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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