After protecting Konoha for a lifetime, couldn't he enjoy himself? He didn't have the means when he was young, so now that he was old and had the resources, he should certainly enjoy the experience. Moreover, Torifu believed Hashirama simply liked playing games; he wasn't addicted. It was purely a hobby.
Just as Torifu and Tsunade resumed the conversation that had been interrupted, Torifu's phone rang. He pulled it out and saw it was a call from Naori.
"Hello, Naori. What's up?"
"Have you already arrived at Sensei's house?"
Torifu affirmed, "Yep, I'm already here. When are you coming? Do you need me to pick you up?"
Naori sounded a little conflicted. "Hmm... My father said he wants to come too. Can you ask Sensei if that would be inappropriate?"
Torifu was quite surprised. Hadn't Naori's father said he didn't like these kinds of gatherings? Especially a Senju family gathering. Although there was no feud between the Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan, Torifu felt it was still a bit sensitive.
"Hold on, don't hang up. I'll ask Sensei. Your uncle can definitely come."
Naori breathed a sigh of relief. "That's what I said, but my father won't listen. He insists that Sensei confirm it personally."
No sooner had Naori finished speaking than a slightly older voice emerged from beside her. "You little girl! Don't sell me out!"
That voice was definitely Uchiha Teruya. Torifu pretended not to hear and opened the door behind him, shouting into the house.
"Sensei, Naori's father wants to come for dinner too!"
Hashirama, who was playing a game, immediately put it down. "What? You said Teruya is coming too? That's wonderful! Tell him to hurry up and come!"
Torifu then spoke into the phone. "Naori, you should have heard what Sensei said, right?"
Naori chuckled. "I heard it, I heard it! We'll be there right away." She then ended the call.
"See, Old Man? How could Sensei possibly say you couldn't come?"
Uchiha Teruya snorted. "The residence of Hashirama-sama—how can an outsider like me go privately without permission? It's not proper. Even when Hashirama-sama visits our Uchiha Clan, he still needs to be announced."
Naori narrowed her eyes. "Oh? Is that really the case? Isn't it just you being awkward? I don't think the Uchiha Clan has had a meal with the Senju Clan in a long time."
Uchiha Teruya gave her a side-eye. "You little brat, stop talking nonsense. That's all old history. There are no longer any conflicts between the two clans."
That much was true. When Uchiha Madara defected, the relationship between the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan had dropped to freezing point. And the Uchiha rebellion that year also gave the other great clans a bad impression of the Uchiha. However, things had gradually recovered later. Only they themselves knew the hard work involved during that period.
Naori had also worried a lot for the clan, always trying to find a balance between the clan and the village. In fact, when Tobirama established the Police Force, he originally intended for the Uchiha Clan to take full control. It was Torifu who eventually talked him out of it. After all, what looked like great authority was actually a thankless task. Torifu didn't want the clan to go down the same path as before, and he didn't want all of Naori's efforts to be in vain.
Now, it seemed this outcome was already very good. Although there was still not much contact between the two clans—the only link being Naori—the Uchiha's relationship with the other great clans was now very good. The villagers no longer viewed the Uchiha as an anomaly and highly trusted the Uchiha Clan. This was already everything they wanted.
"Alright, Old Man. Let's stop talking nonsense. Hurry up and change your clothes. We're leaving now."
Only now did Teruya crack a smile. "Now that's what a daughter should say to her father! Just now, you said your father was being awkward. Such insolence!" He then went back into the house to change.
He had always been very supportive of Naori and Torifu's relationship. Firstly, Torifu had good character and strong power. Secondly, he was the only remaining member of the Kumotsuru Clan, so no one could bully Naori. Thirdly, Torifu was genuinely very good to Naori, which was why Teruya felt relieved allowing Naori to marry him.
If they had a talented grandchild, who knows? The Uchiha Clan might indirectly become the Hokage one day. However, he no longer had any such obsession. No matter who became Hokage, it was impossible for them to do a better job than Torifu. Not even if Hashirama were to retake the position. In just four short years, Konoha had developed to a state that it hadn't reached in decades prior. Who else but this kid, Torifu, could have done that? Thinking of this, Teruya felt very proud. After all, he was about to become the Hokage's father-in-law, and his status was skyrocketing.
"Old Man, have you changed or not! Torifu said the food will be ready soon!"
"Stop rushing me! I'm coming now!" Seriously, he thought, she was such a gentle girl when she was little. Why is her temper getting so impatient now?
Meanwhile, Torifu didn't have any particular feeling about Naori's father coming. He had seen him often over the years. This meeting was simply adding one more layer to his identity: prospective father-in-law. Torifu wasn't too nervous.
Hashirama and Tobirama, however, were a little flustered. The Uchiha Clan's Head coming to the Senju Clan for dinner—how long had it been since such a major event happened! They had to take it seriously! Although Teruya was no longer the Clan Head, he was the former Clan Head, so his status was nearly the same.
"Sensei, don't be too nervous. Uncle is coming for dinner in his capacity as Naori's father, not as the Uchiha Clan Head visiting the Senju Clan."
Hashirama gave Torifu a reproachful look. "You brash boy, do you think I don't know something that simple? But even if he is Naori's father, this still needs to be taken seriously!"
Seeing that his advice was useless, Torifu stopped talking.
"Big Brother Torifu, if Grand-Sensei is this busy and worked up over your wedding with Big Sister Naori, what do you think he'll be like when I get married?" Tsunade asked.
Torifu tried to imagine it, but he couldn't picture the scene. Would he be gloomy or overjoyed? Both were possible.
"Well, first things first, you're thinking too far ahead. Get your grandfather to agree to your marriage first." The Katō family certainly wouldn't have any objections. For a small, rising clan to marry the princess of the Senju Clan, their ancestral graves would likely be exploding with joy. How could they possibly cause any trouble? Besides, Aunt and Uncle Katō were not those kinds of people.