In Konoha's twenty-third year, Hiruzen Sarutobi succeeded to the position of Hokage.
The First Shinobi World War had just ended, and the village was now entering a period of vigorous growth.
The young Hokage still had plenty of energy. As he looked at the village under construction, a trace of nostalgia flickered in his eyes.
Teacher, the Will of Fire will continue to spread.
Where leaves dance, the fire will burn. Its light will illuminate the village, and new leaves will sprout once more.
Just then, he saw several children coming out of the Ninja Academy.
"Are those Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya? What talented children. They're all seeds who have inherited the Will of Fire. Perhaps I could take them as my students. Hmm? Who's that child?"
Inside the house, Hiruzen Sarutobi fell into thought.
On the street.
"Sosuke! I did really well today. I got a perfect score on the ninja tool throwing test! How about it? I did way better than that Orochimaru guy, right, Tsunade? You agree, don't you?"
A boy with white, spiky hair said to the handsome boy beside him, whose hair was slightly curled and fell in wispy bangs over his forehead, and who wore glasses.
The boy named Sosuke simply gave him a gentle smile and offered no comment.
The black-haired boy beside them heard him, looked disdainful, and said,
"Idiot!"
Then he left without another word.
"Jiraiya, do you really get anything out of bragging all the time? Have you already forgotten how Orochimaru knocked you flat in taijutsu class last time? I can't understand what goes on in your head. Sosuke, don't hang around with this idiot. Idiocy is contagious. Let's go!"
The blond girl with her hair tied in a ponytail spoke with an impatient expression, then came over and pulled the boy with wispy bangs away from the white-haired boy.
"Bragging... knocked flat... Tsunade!! I'll prove it to you! I'll definitely become stronger than that Orochimaru guy!"
Stung by the blond girl's words, Jiraiya found his fighting spirit again and shouted.
By then, Tsunade and Sosuke had already walked some distance away.
A crow flew overhead.
Caw... caw...
"Sosuke, how are you finding life in Konoha? Have you gotten used to it?"
The two walked along in silence, with Tsunade's hands clasped behind her back.
Suddenly, she stopped, leaned toward the boy with wispy bangs, and asked.
Faced with her suddenly approaching face, the boy with wispy bangs seemed a little flustered and hastily took a step back.
Looking at her beautiful face, he couldn't help blushing beneath his black-rimmed glasses.
"Sosuke? Are you... blushing? Hahaha, what are you getting shy about? Don't tell me you secretly like me?"
Noticing his blush, Tsunade grew excited!
As if she'd made a great discovery, she kept teasing the boy with wispy bangs.
"No. I like living in the village. I really like it here."
His quiet nature had only made him flustered for a moment.
Now he had calmed down and spoke softly, the same warm, refined smile appearing on his face again.
"Is that so? I like this village too. I'm going to become a female Hokage, and protect this village just like Grandpa!"
Hearing Sosuke's reply, Tsunade smiled happily.
Turning to look at the river nearby, she shouted her heartfelt wish.
Sosuke simply stood behind her, watching quietly. In his lenses, the girl's figure and the glow of the setting sun came together to form a beautiful scene.
That night.
Sosuke returned home.
It was a very ordinary house. Though small, its furniture was neatly arranged.
He was used to preparing dinner for himself. There wasn't much food, but it was enough for one person.
After dinner and washing up, Sosuke began meditating to practice what he'd learned that day, while also refining the chakra within him.
His village had been destroyed in the flames of war. He always remembered the kind, good-natured people in the village being brutally killed by ninjas. His parents had been among them.
Just as the ninja was about to kill him, Konoha's ninjas arrived. He had lost consciousness and didn't know what happened afterward.
He'd heard that the man who saved him was named Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had since become known as the Third Hokage.
That made him deeply grateful to Konoha. He also liked this friendly village very much.
Afterward, he had enrolled in the Ninja Academy and met three strange friends.
They often argued fiercely, yet their friendship was unwavering. As for him, he usually watched them from the sidelines.
Training at the Ninja Academy was grueling.
The abstruse cursed seals and the lessons on controlling the chakra flowing through his body exhausted him.
But he kept studying diligently.
He never forgot the sight of his village being destroyed.
That was when he realized that weakness was a sin, and only strength could protect the people and things he cared about.
He'd worked hard for that reason. His three friends were all highly gifted at training. Although they treated him as a friend, he didn't want them to protect him because he was weak.
So he never let a moment go to waste. His hands were covered in calluses from practicing taijutsu, and every night he refined chakra until late before finally falling into an exhausted sleep. He wanted to become stronger.
Night had fallen. Exhausted, Sosuke finally decided to go to sleep.
He lay down on the bed and soon drifted off.
"Lord Aizen, I've finally recovered enough strength to speak with you."
"Who are you?"
Hearing the voice through the haze of sleep, Sosuke couldn't help asking.
"I'm the Hogyoku. Have you forgotten?"
When the voice spoke again, Sosuke asked,
"The Hogyoku? What is the Hogyoku? Where are you talking to me from? Why can't I see you?"
"Lord Aizen, I was the one who protected you and brought you to this world. I don't have much energy left. In this world, I need enough souls to recover."
"Brought me to this world? What are you talking about? What souls? Are you asking me to kill people?!"
Hearing its words, Sosuke couldn't help getting agitated.
"Yes. Not just human souls—souls from any living being will do. Lord Aizen, what's wrong? It seems you've lost your memories."
"I don't need this kind of power! And I'm not the Lord Aizen you're talking about. Get out of my body!"
Sosuke shouted.
The voice fell silent for a moment, then spoke again.
"You are Lord Aizen. You'll awaken me again. Please remember, I'm the Hogyoku. I'll make any of your wishes come true. You used to love me more than anything."
"Also, Lord Aizen, now that I've recovered some of my strength, I believe that other one will soon wake up too. Faced with you in this state, it might have other ideas. You mustn't show it any mercy."
"I don't have much strength left. I need to fall into a deep sleep. Goodbye, Lord Aizen."
After those words, everything fell silent once more.
Then Sosuke suddenly jolted awake!
He clutched his chest, gasping for breath.
In the darkness, he looked down at his chest. There, a blue light was gradually dimming!
Sosuke was startled.
That wasn't a dream?!
It's inside my body... the Hogyoku? And who was that other one it mentioned?
Before you continue