Hatake Sakumo thought of himself as a simple man. Just a little more powerful and skilled than others. He never bothered with training someone since he felt like he wasn't meant to give instructions to someone.
Many times he had given suggestions to his friends. The suggestions which would get rejected by their reasoning, "Don't think that we are as talented as you. Give us instructions so that even normal people like us can do it."
He had no idea how to give them instructions. He had always found many things extremely easy. How could he think of them from the perspective of an ordinary person or an ordinary shinobi?
So, Hatake Sakumo never bothered to have students. Yet, after he returned home. He was surprised to see two young kids in his house. They were entirely unfamiliar to him.
He then stared at his wife, who was looking at him with a mischievous glint. Oh damn… He hated that glint in her eyes.
She would have that glint when she was about to throw him into a trap with a smile on her face.
The two went to their own personal room before his wife told him about what she had talked with Araki and Kushina.
Knowing that it was the Senju Clan head and the Uzumaki Clan Member wanting to receive training from him, Hatake Sakumo couldn't help but feel a little happy.
However, he still remained adamant and planned on turning them down.
At that moment, his wife held his hand and started debating with him that he should accept them as his apprentice.
She even gave him multiple reasons to accept them. Firstly, he wouldn't need to stay there and monitor them while they were training, giving them instructions was fine.
Secondly, they could receive a vast sum of money from this.
Thirdly, she said it would be an excellent chance to form relations with the Senju Clan head. In the future, if they ever need his help, he wouldn't turn them away, right?
Hatake Sakumo was not entirely convinced, but he was also not very against it now. He did believe his wife was right in this regard. It wouldn't hurt to form good relations with Senju Clan Head and maybe get a lot of money in return.
It might help in the future…
Anyway, with this, Hatake Sakumo had made up his mind over training these two children.
Currently, they were standing in the middle of a training ground. It was generally used by Team 10, but it was out on a mission so Hatake Sakumo felt like it wouldn't be an issue if they used it today.
The first thing he asked the two was, "How good is your Chakra Control?"
Araki thought for some moments before replying, "I can barely do the Kunai Balancing Exercise with my chakra."
"I can do the Water Walking Exercise, dattebane!" Kushina said a little excitedly. She didn't even notice it when her verbal tic slipped out of her mouth.
Sakumo blankly stared at her for some seconds before he started chuckling. Even Kushina realised that her verbal tic slipped out and was embarrassed.
Sakumo then said to them, "This is quite good for your age. But, before we start, I want to ask you the reason why you don't want to become Konoha's Shinobi. Depending on the reason, I might not teach you no matter how much you pay me."
Araki blankly stared at Hatake Sakumo before facing Kushina, he gave her a silent nod and said, "Alright, I will tell you of our reason."
"Frankly speaking, I am quite disgusted at the mere thought of serving Konoha. Their actions have been nothing but hypocritical and seem to mock the efforts of my grandfather. Taking the orders from the Third Hokage would be a humiliation." Hatake Sakumo's eyes widened when he heard Araki's tone, which was filled with disgust and hate for the Third Hokage.
He was curious about the reason why Araki would hate the Third Hokage.
"Hatake Sakumo, I am sure you have heard of the news about Uzushio's destruction."
Naturally, Hatake Sakumo was aware of it. He knew that this village was Konoha's greatest ally. He even wanted to take a few thousand shinobi from the battlefield and to go and assist Uzushio. However, the Hokage ordered him to stay put.
The Hokage gave the reason that he didn't want his Shinobi to put their life on the line for Uzushio. He also mentioned that Uzushio was beyond saving, so Sakumo must not think about it too much.
At that time, Sakumo did believe his words and didn't overthink about it. And sometime later, another small scale battle broke out on the borders, and he was busy with those matters again.
It had been quite some time since someone mentioned the Uzushio's destruction to him.
Araki, though wasn't finished speaking, he continued with a grave tone, "Maybe you aren't aware of it but do you know, there are special seals placed around Uzushio to misdirect someone and prevent them from reaching the island? Only a few people in the world were aware of the secret passage between the seals. And, I highly suspect that it was Konoha who gave the passage to the Three Great Villages. "
"This… Do you have evidence about this claim?" Hatake Sakumo naturally wouldn't believe the words from Araki's mouth.
Araki shook his head and replied, "Currently I don't. But, I do not need evidence to remain cautious of Konoha, do I? Do you find my reason acceptable now?"
Hatake Sakumo thought for some time before nodding, "Alright. If this is your reason, then it's all the more reason for me to not leave you alone. At the very least, I will make sure you don't harm Konoha."
Araki and Kushina nod their heads. Currently, even though they knew of Konoha's treacherous deeds, they weren't planning on doing anything against them, for now, that is.
"We have chosen to become your apprentice not only because you are a strong ninja. But also you are someone who gives more importance to righteousness and comradeship." Araki solemnly spoke to Hatake Sakumo.
"Heh… Thanks. But, since you are cautious of Konoha, don't become too attached to me. At the end of the day, I am Konoha's Shinobi. There are some orders I cannot defy." Hatake Sakumo had a smile on his face before his gaze slowly turned serious.
"Alright, enough talk now. Let's start your training…"
With that, Araki and Kushina's training with Hatake Sakumo started.
Kurama let out a yawn as he stared at the scene from Kushina's mindscape. He wanted Araki to grow strong quickly so he could leave this damn place for good.
Though, Kushina's mindscape had seemingly improved from before. Araki would enter the mindscape and use his chakra to grow a few trees for Kurama.
However, these trees were created from Araki's chakra, which seemed to restrain Kurama's chakra. Meaning they weren't as good as the real trees.
And just like that, 4 years passed by in the blink of an eye…