Ninja Academy, Fish Enters the Sea.

Minato Namikaze's speed could only be described as far beyond a thousand miles a day.

After resting for one night, just as the sky began to lighten at dawn, Minato used the Flying Thunder God Technique to bring Tōka into Konoha, directly dropping him off at the Hokage building with a quick word of apology before vanishing.

Inside the Hokage building, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Tōka stared at each other with wide eyes.

In silence...

Minato's departure was undeniably urgent; Sunagakure had amassed troops at the border, and war was imminent.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was not one to dwell on formalities, so he paid no mind to Minato's hasty exit.

As early as last night, intelligence on Tōka had already reached the Third Hokage's hands.

Finally, it was the Third who broke the silence first.

The Third put out his pipe, tapped the ash against the edge of the desk, then stood up and walked over to Tōka.

With his hands clasped behind his back, he bent slightly at the waist and asked with a smile, "Little friend Tōka, do you have any dreams?"

Hearing this, Tōka raised an eyebrow, then returned to an expressionless face.

The Third old man's favorite question—the hardest to answer, yet the easiest.

Under the watchful eyes of a wily old fox like the Third, the odds of lying successfully were low.

Tōka put on a contemplative look, and the Third didn't rush him, just kept smiling as he watched.

If not for knowing Tōka was a boy, just based on that "stunningly beautiful" little face, Hiruzen Sarutobi would have absolutely thought Tōka was a girl.

But Tōka had no mind to care about the Third old man's "lecherous" gaze; he was focused entirely on how to answer the question.

If his answer was pleasing, life in Konoha from then on would be much smoother.

Copying some nice-sounding platitudes wholesale was naturally out of the question.

The Third Hokage had a sharp eye; he could definitely tell whether an answer came from the heart.

To fool an enemy, you first had to fool yourself.

Truth mixed with falsehood, reality blended with illusion—that was the hardest to discern.

So, seventy percent truth, thirty percent falsehood!

With that decision made, Tōka had his answer in mind.

He looked up and found Hiruzen Sarutobi's face nearly pressed against his own.

"I hope to become strong," Tōka said, frowning slightly as he subtly stepped back two paces.

"Oh? A rather unadorned dream." The Third wasn't surprised; most children harbored a dream of becoming strong.

But that wasn't the answer he wanted to hear.

There were many reasons to want strength: revenge, immortality, protection, freedom...

After a brief flicker of thought, the Third continued with a smile, "Why is that? Why do you want to become strong?"

"Because I don't want to be lonely anymore."

Tōka gave the Third an inexplicable look, and a deeply sorrowful, solitary aura surged forth.

The Third could feel that profound loneliness, as if someone had walked alone for a thousand years.

A bleak, desolate world, with only one person left.

Just imagining it was terrifying.

The Third could tell this came from Tōka's heart; Tōka wasn't lying.

Just as he was about to relight his pipe, the Third's hand paused mid-motion, remembering Tōka was still there.

In front of children, the Third rarely smoked.

"Being strong alone isn't enough, you know!" Putting his pipe away, the Third said with a smile.

"Huh? Then what should I do?" Tōka put on an innocent look, seventy percent curiosity and thirty percent fear.

The way he looked at the Third was like a drowning man grasping at a final lifeline.

A look of trust.

The Third was very satisfied with the expression on Tōka's face; this was how a child should look.

He seemed to have already forgotten the first time he saw Tōka, when the little brat stared at him with a blank face.

No kid had ever looked at him with such a calm demeanor.

Even the boldest boys would show curiosity or probing gazes.

Never a completely unruffled expression.

"Heh heh, find friends, and you won't be lonely," the Third said.

"Friends?" Tōka asked, half-understanding as he pressed further.

"That's right—find precious friends and protect that bond." The Third Hokage said temptingly.

"That way you won't be lonely."

Tōka looked like he understood, nodding.

Then he raised his small face, putting on a serious expression, and said, "First, a small goal: find friends!"

Hearing this, the corners of the Third's mouth lifted slightly, a genuine smile spreading across his face.

Tōka, however, let out a long sigh of relief in his heart. Dealing with an old fox—exhausting!

But at least he'd "bluffed his way through."

Tōka's answer was half true, half false. What was real and what wasn't—only he himself knew.

Outside the Ninja Academy, the old Third personally brought Tōka here to register.

The main reason was that aside from the opening ceremony, the Third hadn't visited the school recently.

Taking the chance to enroll Tōka, he decided to come see Konoha's new green leaves for himself.

"Ohhh!! Lord Third, what brings you here!"

The moment Hiruzen Sarutobi led Tōka into the Ninja Academy, the guard on duty spotted him.

And on the school's training ground, a class happened to be in the middle of a practical exercise.

"Go on with your work, don't mind me." The Third waved cheerfully, his gaze shifting to the kids fighting on the field.

Tōka stood behind the Third, his small frame completely hidden.

But he didn't mind. He just turned his head toward the training ground, familiar faces flashing through his sight one by one.

Uchiha Obito, Ibiki, Ebisu, Kabuto Yakushi, Kurenai Yuhi, Sarutobi Asuma, Mizuki, Rin, Shizune.

As expected, when it came to girls, the cutest were still the little ones!

Tōka's gaze shifted sideways, only to be blinded by a watermelon-haired youth in a bright green bodysuit.

Youthful Might Guy!

As expected of Guy the Supreme—even a hundred steps away, his "lethality" was immense.

"Phew!" Tōka exhaled, quickly looking away.

These were all sixth-years, supposed to have graduated, yet still staying at the school?

Tōka silently glanced at the Third. Because he sensed the war was about to begin, had he deliberately raised the graduation difficulty?

Hoping the new green leaves would spend two or three more years at the Ninja Academy, thereby increasing their chances of surviving on the battlefield later?

That really was the Third's style!

No wonder students from different years ended up in the same class.

The people in this class were all Konoha's future elites—calling it the Ninja Academy's strongest class wasn't an exaggeration.

Tōka's eyes swept around. He didn't spot Kakashi.

So his earlier guess was correct: Hatake Kakashi had already graduated early and should now be a chunin.

Seeing the Third walk in slowly with his hands behind his back, everyone got pumped up like they'd been injected with adrenaline.

Boys and girls alike all wanted to show off their strength in front of the Third!

"Ahem, everyone, stand at attention!" The elite class's homeroom teacher, Furuya Daisuke, coughed into his fist.

A bunch of brats froze like mice hearing a cat, then straightened their chests and stood ramrod straight.

"Heh, no need to be so tense." The Third, ever kind-looking, smiled at everyone.

"Lord Third, what brings you here?"

Furuya Daisuke wasn't one of those kids just wanting to show off in front of the Hokage. He immediately noticed Tōka following behind the Third.

The Third glanced subtly at his son, Sarutobi Asuma.

"Mainly to see how everyone's doing, and a small matter on the side."

"I see. Please follow me to the office." Furuya Daisuke said respectfully.

The Third nodded slightly, turned, and headed toward the Ninja Academy's office building. Tōka followed right behind.

It was then that the many kids noticed there was actually an adorable "little sister" hidden behind the Third.

No way—so cute, it had to be a boy!

The little girls retorted indignantly, their spirited eyes silently clashing across the training ground.

"Everyone, run laps around the field! If I don't call a stop, you keep running until school's out!" Furuya Daisuke barked.

The crowd scattered like birds, flooding onto the track.

Except for Might Guy, whose eyes glowed green, everyone else looked like they'd swallowed a fly.

If not for Furuya Daisuke's overwhelming authority, those bold little brats would have long since rebelled.

Furuya Daisuke was an elite chūnin who had retired from the Second Shinobi World War.

Regardless of his actual strength, the mere fact that he had survived the brutal Second War was enough to prove his prowess!

Having been on the battlefield and witnessed the cruelty of the Ninja World, he carried a faint scent of bloodshed around him.

Even though Furuya Daisuke deliberately concealed it, the kids could still sense that this teacher was "terrifying"!

Watching the little brats "scrambling" to run laps around the playground, a hint of satisfaction flickered in Furuya Daisuke's eyes.

Then, Furuya Daisuke turned and walked toward the office building.

In the office of the homeroom teacher for the sixth-year elite class.

Furuya Daisuke brought over three cups of clear tea, placing them before the Third Hokage, Tōka, and his own seat.

The three of them sat down, and the faint fragrance of tea spread through the air.

The Third Hokage picked up his teacup, took a sip, and nodded slightly, finding it quite good.

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't speak, Furuya Daisuke remained silent as well, and Tōka simply stared down at the teacup in front of him.

It seemed the wisps of rising steam captivated him more than anything else.

"Actually, I'm here to send this kid to the school." The Third Hokage set down his teacup and got straight to the point.

"By the way, his name is Tōka."

The opening day of the Ninja Academy had just passed.

For Tōka to enter the Ninja Academy, there were only two options: either wait until next year or transfer in mid-term.

"Oh?" Furuya Daisuke was slightly taken aback, having clearly heard the Third Hokage's words.

"Kid" definitely meant a boy—he had initially thought Tōka was a girl.

But Furuya Daisuke was the homeroom teacher for the sixth-year elite class, and Tōka clearly looked small, around five or six years old.

Could it be...

A thought struck Furuya Daisuke's heart.

He suddenly looked up at the Third Hokage, only to find the man smiling back at him.

A meaningful smile lingered on the Third Hokage's lips, as if telling Furuya Daisuke, "Whatever you're guessing, that's exactly what I mean."

"But isn't Tōka a bit too young?" Furuya Daisuke deeply respected the Third Hokage, but this concerned the child's development.

"I'm just letting Tōka study in the sixth-year class, not making him graduate in one year." The Third Hokage said with a grin.

Sure enough, this old geezer still doesn't trust me! Tōka silently grumbled in his mind. He had originally planned to lie low for two or three years, at least until the Third War was over.

He never expected the Third Hokage, that old fox, to...

Directly place him in the sixth-year elite class!!

No matter which grade's elite class at the Ninja Academy, it would draw attention from the entire village.

Especially the sixth-year elite class, which was about to graduate!

"If that's all, then fine." Furuya Daisuke glanced at Tōka and reluctantly agreed.

He simply assumed Tōka was the child of some major clan or had ties to the Third Hokage, which was why he was being arranged this way.

With the Third Hokage personally showing up, Furuya Daisuke couldn't refuse even if he wanted to.

Since reality told him resistance was futile, he could only close his eyes and make the best of it.

"Tōka, just study hard under Teacher Daisuke." The Third Hokage stood up as he finished speaking, looking ready to leave.

Furuya Daisuke quickly stood up as well, intending to see the Third Hokage out.

Since both of them were on their feet, Tōka couldn't stay seated either. He stood quietly to the side like a well-behaved child.

"Sorry for interrupting your class. My apologies." The Third Hokage said with a smile.

"Not at all, not at all. Let me see you out." Furuya Daisuke waved his hand repeatedly.

A moment later, after seeing off Hiruzen Sarutobi, Furuya Daisuke returned. He furrowed his brow and glanced at Tōka.

Though he had accepted Tōka out of respect for the Third Hokage, Furuya Daisuke despised people who relied on connections without real ability.

"Tōka, right?" Furuya Daisuke looked down at Tōka from above and said coldly.

"Yes, Teacher Daisuke." When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

"Follow me." Furuya Daisuke snorted coldly, turned, and walked out.

Tōka stared at Furuya Daisuke's back with a speechless expression. What terrible luck—do you think I wanted to be in your class?

To make matters worse, on the very first day of class, he had already earned the homeroom teacher's resentment.

"Ah!~~" Tōka sighed, shuffling his steps as he followed Furuya Daisuke out.

If he wasn't mistaken, this guy was probably planning to use the upcoming practical exercise to give him a taste of his own medicine.

Unfortunately, Furuya Daisuke had overlooked one thing.

Tōka didn't even have Chakra yet. Taijutsu? After a body sealed for a thousand years, what was there to say about taijutsu?

On the Ninja Academy training ground, a group of brats were running laps around the field without a moment's silence.

They chattered noisily without stopping, until Furuya Daisuke's figure appeared at the edge of the training ground.

Creak!

Like a scene cutting out, everyone's voices came to an abrupt halt.

On the field, aside from the rustling sound of shoes scuffing against the ground as they ran, there was no other noise.

"Stop! All of you, get over here!" Furuya Daisuke took a deep breath and shouted loudly.

At the same time, he shot Tōka a look to follow, then strode toward the center of the training ground.

The group quickly formed ranks and stood straight, naturally not daring to move under Furuya Daisuke's watchful eye.

However, when Furuya Daisuke's gaze shifted to others...

The brats not in his line of sight turned their heads to sneak peeks behind Furuya Daisuke.

"It's that little girl from earlier."

"I told you, it's a little boy!"

"So cute..."

"It's definitely a little boy!!"

Tōka, "..."

Were these guys really the pillars of Konoha in the fifties? Why were they still discussing this?

Could they all be fakes?!

"All of you, shut up!" Furuya Daisuke, true to his reputation as a teacher with formidable authority, silenced everyone with a single shout.

Furuya Daisuke waved his hand grandly, pointing at Tōka beside him.

"This is the new student, Tōka!"

"Oh? Tōka?"

"That's so short..."

Tōka, "..."

He could endure everything else—even being called pretty, like a little girl—but not this.

This touched on a man's dignity!

"Short name, is it? This classmate, can you finish your sentence properly?" Tōka looked up expressionlessly.

The slow-to-react Uchiha Obito suddenly felt a chill shoot from the soles of his feet straight up his spine.

Killing intent! (To be continued)