Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 588 Casual Talk on the Way Home: The Prelude to a New Era

Sakumo Hatake noticed his confusion and said nothing more.

Some truths need to be understood through personal experience.

He looked at the boy before him, who, despite his strange behavior, was pure in nature, and said earnestly, "Three years."

"Come find me again when you understand what you want to do with the knife."

Three years...

Kirabi was jolted; he understood the weight of this promise.

This is not a perfunctory gesture, much less a handout.

This is the expectation and promise of a master who is far ahead of his time to a junior.

He nodded heavily, his eyes blazing with an unprecedented fire—the fire of having found a new goal.

"I understand! Thank you, senior!"

The Konoha group didn't linger. Under the complex gazes of the Cloud Village members, they turned and embarked on their journey home.

As Hiruzen Sarutobi passed by Killer Bee, who was still bowing, he patted him on the shoulder and encouraged him in a senior's tone, "Young man, you have a lot of spirit. Keep up the good work."

After leaving those words, he led a group of powerful figures with diverse styles away with ease.

Lei Ying Ai was left standing bewildered in the wind. He looked at his still excited, silly younger brother, and then at the cleaved earth, feeling that his worldview had been slightly shaken.

As the procession made its way back, the oppressive atmosphere had long since dissipated.

Jiraiya sidled up to Sakumo, exclaiming with adoration, "That was so cool! You're practically the perfect protagonist for my novel! I'll definitely write a spin-off about you!"

Tsunade slapped him on the back of the head: "Shut up, you idiot! Behave yourself!"

In the relaxed and cheerful atmosphere, Orochimaru, who had been silent all along, suddenly turned his head and, in his uniquely hoarse voice, smiled at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was walking at the front:

"teacher."

"Mr. Sakumo's sword seems... even stronger than it was on the battlefield."

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was walking ahead, did not pause for a moment.

He simply turned his head to the side, the meaningful, mysterious smile on his face slowly fading, returning to calm.

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Orochimaru,

He spoke, not answering the question about Sakumo's strength, but instead casually asking, "Do you think it's the sword that's faster, or the mind?"

The question seemed to have no beginning or end, but Orochimaru grasped it instantly.

A flicker of understanding flashed in his golden snake eyes, followed by even more fervent worship.

"Sparashi... I see, Hiruzen-sensei. I understand now."

Orochimaru let out his usual low chuckle and didn't press the matter further.

Thought.

Yes, the reason why Sakumo Hatake's sword is faster and purer than on the battlefield, no longer tainted with the aura of killing, yet possessing the power to cleave the earth, is because his mindset has changed.

When a person's knife carries the weight of an entire village, its sharpness transcends the comprehension of ordinary people.

Once Orochimaru understood this, when he looked at Sakumo Hatake's back, he felt a renewed curiosity about the unknown.

On the team's way back, the oppressive atmosphere brought about by negotiations and the display of strength had long since dissipated.

Jiraiya, like a monkey freed from its restraints, quickly approached Sakumo Hatake, his eyes filled with adoring admiration.

"Sakumo-senpai! That move you just made was so cool! You're practically the prototype for the protagonist in my novel! So classy!"

He talked animatedly, gesturing wildly, "What did the teacher say it was called? Sword Intent? Sword Pressure? I'll definitely write a side story for you later! It'll be called 'Konoha White Fang's Strange Tales: One Slash Cuts Open a New World'! How about that?"

Sakumo Hatake was somewhat taken aback by this sudden enthusiasm. He smiled gently and replied humbly, "You flatter me. That's just a little bit of insignificant experience gained from years of wielding the sword."

"Insights? Is this what you call insights?"

Jiraiya exclaimed even more dramatically, "If this is considered a mastery of skills, then my mediocre abilities aren't even worthy of being called scribbles! I want to learn this kind of... cough, this kind of profound level!"

"Quiet down, you idiot!"

A fist came from the side and landed squarely on the back of Jiraiya's head.

Tsunade withdrew her hand impatiently. "Shut up! Can't you think of anything serious besides gathering material and showing off? Can't you see everyone is quietly making their way?"

"Ouch!"

Jiraiya clutched his head, jumping up and down dramatically, "Tsunade! I was having an artistic exchange! Art! Understand? You violent woman!"

"What did you say?!"

"I'm saying... I'm saying your fists are bursting with artistic power! Hehe..."

Seeing Jiraiya's face change in an instant, everyone burst into laughter.

Night falls.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was walking at the front, listened to the noise of his disciples behind him. Instead of being impatient, he felt that this was the most beautiful sound after the war.

He stopped and looked back at the group of companions and disciples who had followed him all the way.

The Legendary Sannin, Danzo, Kagami, Sakumo... most of Konoha's core members are here now.

The shadow of war had vanished from everyone's faces, replaced by the ease of returning home and a sense of certainty about the future.

"Alright, it's getting late, let's rest here for the night."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke.

At the command, everyone immediately sprang into action.

The ANBU ninjas skillfully cleared a space, lit a campfire, and set up a perimeter.

Soon, a warm campfire crackled in the forest clearing, dispelling the chill of the night.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was the first to sit down, and the others followed suit, sitting in a circle around the campfire.

The aroma of grilled meat quickly filled the air; it was the Akimichi clan's special military jerky, which only needed to be heated slightly to release its enticing oily fragrance.

The atmosphere completely relaxed.

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't discuss the recently concluded war, nor did he review the dramatic negotiations. He simply looked at the flickering flames and suddenly asked:

"What are your thoughts on the newly signed 'Framework Agreement for the Shinobi World Peace Union System,' or rather, the Shinobi World United Nations I mentioned?"

The moment this question was asked, the relaxed atmosphere froze slightly, and everyone became serious.

They knew that this was what the Hokage truly wanted to talk about.

Orochimaru was the first to speak.

He licked his lips, his eyes gleaming with a fervent thirst for knowledge: "Incredible! Hiruzen-sensei, your idea is simply genius!"

"We can establish a multinational joint research project! The Magnet Release from the Land of Wind, the Dust Release from the Land of Earth, the Lightning Release chakra patterns from the Hidden Cloud Village... and the unique geographical environments and biological samples of each country! These are priceless treasures! We can share data and exchange resources, which could advance the technological level of the ninja world by at least fifty years!"

His excitement was pure; a scientist saw an unprecedented, enormous laboratory opening its doors to him.

Tsunade continued, her expression serious and earnest, full of a healer's compassion.

"Konoha's first aid manual, blood typing techniques, and battlefield surgical procedures can all be disseminated. We can establish an international medical force that will go wherever there is disaster or plague. Life should not be valued based on where one is born."

The princess of the Senju clan still possesses the profound benevolence of the First Hokage flowing through her veins.

"Hahaha! Well said!"

Jiraiya slapped his thigh; the bump from Tsunade's punch hadn't even healed yet, and he was back to his optimistic self.

"I believe that to achieve true peace, we must start with changing mindsets! Once the road is open, I'll sell my novel to every corner of the ninja world! I'll let everyone read my 'The Tale of the Resolute Ninja,' and let them understand the importance of mutual understanding! Then, the title page will feature my handsome portrait as the hero Jiraiya, and even the brats from Iwagakure and Sunagakure will admire me!"

As he spoke, he struck what he thought was a very cool pose.

In response, he received a glare from Tsunade and a merciless "Idiot."

A chuckle rippled through the crowd.