Will of Fire (Brainwashing)

Hoshiryu Uchiha glanced disdainfully at Tsunade and said,

"This isn't a big deal. If you want to break the agreement, impossible."

Tsunade still refused to give up and wanted to bargain.

But before she could say anything, Hoshiryu Uchiha walked into the Ninja Academy without looking back.

Seeing Hoshiryu Uchiha's attitude, Tsunade knew her idea was hopeless.

Tsunade sighed, extinguished her little scheme, and quickly walked over to his side, entering the school with him.

The two entered the school and found the teachers organizing the new students into lines on the training ground. It seemed some kind of event was about to take place.

Before they could ask, the teachers told them.

Today was the entrance ceremony for new students. The Third Hokage would be attending and giving a speech.

Good grief, do leaders in every world like giving speeches?

While inwardly mocking the Third Hokage, Hoshiryu Uchiha pulled Tsunade over to the elite class's designated spot.

Fortunately, ninjas were fairly efficient. Once the students had lined up, the Third Hokage announced the beginning of the ceremony.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped onto the platform and began speaking about the Will of Fire.

Meanwhile, Hoshiryu Uchiha looked around. Aside from himself, there was another member of the Uchiha Clan in his class.

What surprised him was that there was even a member of the Hyuga Clan.

She should be from a branch family. Like me, was she one of those abandoned?

That Caged Bird Seal really harms people deeply.

But Hoshiryu Uchiha did not know that while he was observing others, Hiruzen Sarutobi was also watching him.

After all, he was an Uchiha who had awakened Three-Tomoe at Six Years Old, someone who could control Danzo with a single glance.

There was no way Hiruzen Sarutobi could ignore someone like that.

What was more, Hoshiryu Uchiha had now been adopted by Mito. Since he could not be eliminated in advance, they would have to find a way to befriend him.

"...The sacrifices made during the First War were not without value. They were all heroes."

"Wherever leaves dance, fire burns on without end. The firelight will continue to illuminate the village and allow new leaves to sprout. That is the Will of Fire."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said a great deal in his speech, but in the end, he still concluded with that brainwashing classic.

There was actually nothing wrong with those words themselves. Sacrificing oneself to light the way for those who came after was indeed a great spirit.

But when those words came from Hiruzen Sarutobi, there was a problem.

Among the Konoha F4, only Danzo had ever gone onto the battlefield in the later wars.

In that respect, it was no wonder Danzo later looked down on Hiruzen Sarutobi and believed he was superior to him.

The other Four Kage all fought alongside their subordinates. The Raikage, also a Third Hokage, had even fought to the death for the village's future.

But what had Hiruzen Sarutobi done by comparison?

He spoke those words, yet never made any sacrifice himself. Even when the Third War reached the point where Ninja Academy students were sent into battle, he still did not go to the battlefield.

Pretty words were useless. That was why, when Orochimaru attacked him in the end, Hiruzen Sarutobi had been left isolated and helpless, with no one coming to save him.

Still, that did not stop those words from moving people deeply in the culturally barren Ninja World.

When the words ended, every child on the training ground was so excited they could barely contain themselves, as though they wanted to burn themselves up immediately.

Even Tsunade clenched her fists excitedly, wearing an expression as though she wanted to offer her heart to Konoha.

Hoshiryu Uchiha felt nothing. He even made a ninety-nine gesture at Tsunade, instantly calming her down.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, standing on the platform, saw this and felt very satisfied.

Why did he come to give speeches every year? Did he have so much time that he could not use it all?

Of course not. It was to plant seeds in these children's hearts and make them lean toward his side.

The line he had come up with on a whim today producing such an effect had truly exceeded his expectations.

Although Hoshiryu Uchiha, the one he cared about most, had not shown the expression he wanted to see.

Overall, however, he was still very satisfied.

With his goal achieved, Hiruzen Sarutobi returned the microphone to the teacher hosting the event.

After flattering Hiruzen Sarutobi a little, the host teacher announced that the entrance ceremony for the new students had officially ended.

They were told to wait for their homeroom teacher, who would take them to their classroom.

Then, a somewhat familiar figure arrived in front of their class.

"I believe some of you still remember me. It doesn't matter if you don't, so let me introduce myself again."

"My name is Tsukiji. I'll be your homeroom teacher from now on. Please take care of me."

The teacher who had recorded their physical test results during the entrance examination had now become their homeroom teacher.

Tsukiji did not rush to take them to the classroom. He waited until everyone on the training ground had left before speaking.

"Because we are the most elite class, I checked the records. All of you already possess Chakra."

"So for the first lesson, go train your bodies. Twenty laps around the training ground. Start running!"

As he spoke, his previously calm expression changed, and he let out a roar.

Combined with the scar on his face, he intimidated most of those present for a moment.

"What are you standing around for? Think that's too few? Then make it twenty-five laps!"

Seeing the students frozen in place, Tsukiji added another five laps.

This time, the students all started moving.

Tsukiji followed alongside them, speaking as he ran.

"Chakra is a mixture of mental energy and physical energy. Mental energy varies from person to person, but a good body can improve your Chakra."

"I don't care how other teachers conduct their classes, but from now on, whenever it's my class, you'll all come out and run twenty laps."

"Understand!?"

They had only just entered school and did not even know each other's names before their teacher made them run laps.

They had thought it was merely a show of authority from their teacher, something that would happen only once. They had not expected they would have to run every time from now on.

Their steps faltered, and they looked at Tsukiji as though he were a demon.

Hoshiryu Uchiha did not particularly care. Twenty laps were nothing more than a warm-up for him.

Moreover, Tsukiji was not wrong. It simply was not suitable for geniuses.

People like Tsunade and himself possessed powerful bloodlines, which also gave them extraordinary talent.

Then there were civilian geniuses like Jiraiya, who had been born with enormous Chakra.

Being able to possess such vast Chakra also meant that Jiraiya's body and mental strength were both excellent.

Thus, this teacher's instruction was only suited for ordinary people and could not help them improve at all.

The result was just as Hoshiryu Uchiha had expected. After the laps ended, although most people could not help collapsing onto the ground.

A few were only slightly out of breath, displaying exceptional physical talent.

Hoshiryu Uchiha looked at them. The Uchiha Clan and Hyuga Clan members went without saying, while Jiraiya and Orochimaru were also among them.

But what surprised him was that there was one more person: a brown-haired girl wearing glasses.

While Hoshiryu Uchiha assessed his surroundings, the others were also looking at him.

If they were still somewhat out of breath after running, Hoshiryu Uchiha did not show even the slightest abnormality.

His formidable physique made them all feel inferior.

Uchiha Chiri looked unwillingly at Hoshiryu Uchiha, a trace of bitterness rising in her heart.