Speeches like this happened every year. They were always about the Will of Fire and things like that.
Still, Namikaze Minato's sunny smile had done a great job of stirring up the children's enthusiasm.
Tokiju was no exception. After all, he'd already caught Namikaze Minato looking his way several times. It was hard not to get fired up.
Not long after the speech ended, Tokiju spotted Little Itachi, still lost in thought.
Tokiju didn't pay him any mind and followed the crowd back to the classroom.
Once they were back, the teacher climbed onto the platform again, clapped his hands, and said, "All right, everyone. Lord Hokage's speech is over. Let me introduce myself first!"
He picked up a piece of chalk and wrote his name on the blackboard. "My name is Umino Kai. I like miso ramen, I dislike mixed rice, and my dream is to teach outstanding students."
At once, Tokiju understood. This teacher must be Umino Iruka's father.
No wonder the man had seemed oddly familiar. Their hairstyles really did run in the family.
After introducing himself, Umino Kai continued, "We'll be spending a long time together from today on. To get to know one another better, I'd like each of you to come up and introduce yourselves, just as I did. Let's start with the student by the door."
At once, the student eagerly ran to the front. He took the chalk from Umino Kai and wrote his name on the blackboard.
"Hi, everyone! I'm Yamamoto Hiroshi. I like ramen, I dislike people who don't talk much, and my dream is to become Hokage!"
As the students took turns introducing themselves, it soon became Uchiha Itachi's turn.
The moment Itachi stepped onto the platform, several girls in the classroom cried out.
"That boy's so handsome! He's