Then, something happened that even Akira Sarutobi could not have predicted...
"Not hot enough? Then I'll use my hand as firewood... and make it hot enough!"
The next second, before Minato Namikaze's astonished eyes, Senju Nawaki shoved his right hand into the stove...
"Nawaki Senpai!"
Minato Namikaze cried out, his Reflex Nerve unbelievably fast.
In less than a second, he pulled Senju Nawaki's arm out.
Seeing Senju Nawaki endure the pain, Minato Namikaze tried to persuade him. "Nawaki Senpai, everyone has their own ambitions. Why go this far...?"
Perhaps Minato Namikaze had failed to understand the deeper meaning behind Akira Sarutobi and Senju Nawaki's exchange.
Or perhaps... Minato Namikaze understood, but felt that Akira Sarutobi was not one of his kind.
"Akira."
Senju Nawaki looked at Akira Sarutobi, whose expression was entirely different from his own. His gaze was utterly sincere.
"A single spark... can start a prairie fire..."
Afterward, Senju Nawaki lied and said he had accidentally burned his hand, earning a harsh scolding from Tsunade. Her younger brother's "accident" left her both heartbroken and angry.
After all, burn scars were not so easily removed.
From that incident onward, Akira Sarutobi slightly changed his mind and decided to follow Senju Nawaki for a while and see what happened.
Could this world truly become a little brighter?
From then on, the three often spent time together.
Because of his personality, Akira Sarutobi was not much of a talker.
He was only close with Senju Nawaki and had not formed a deep friendship with Minato Namikaze.
By burning himself as a symbol, Senju Nawaki expressed his profound desire to change the village.
One day.
The three stood at Konoha's entrance, gazing toward the Hokage Rock in the distance.
"Minato, when you look at the Hokage Rock from afar, what does