Will of Fire

At this moment, Sarutobi glanced at the time.

He realized it was already time for the Ninja Academy graduation.

He put on his kindly, amiable smile once more and donned his iconic conical hat.

He walked slowly out of his office.

At this time, Iruka, a teacher at the Ninja Academy, was actively stirring up the students' enthusiasm.

He smiled and said, "Everyone, the Third Hokage will be arriving at our academy shortly. You must all be well-prepared. When I raise my right hand, you applaud; when I lower it, you stop. Do you understand?"

Hearing his words, the crowd nodded one after another. "Don't worry, Iruka-sensei."

An hour later.

With an amiable smile on his face, Sarutobi Hiruzen walked into the Ninja Academy.

Iruka wore a fawning smile.

"Third Hokage, you've arrived. The children are waiting for you to preach the Will of Fire."

The smile on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face grew even brighter.

He looked at Iruka and said, "Oh? Is that so? Then I am relieved."

Mizuki, standing to the side, followed behind Iruka like a little lackey.

By now, the Ninja Academy students had been waiting there for a long time.

Sarutobi Hiruzen walked to the plaza, looked at these children with a refreshing, spring-breeze smile, and waved at the students.

Iruka raised his hand high.

The students understood immediately, and thunderous applause erupted.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was, of course, aware of Iruka's little trick.

But so what?

As long as he was in a good mood, that was all that mattered.

Sarutobi Hiruzen raised his hands and pressed them down slightly, and Iruka lowered his hand. He stepped forward to introduce Sarutobi Hiruzen, "This is our Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, also the strongest Hokage in history."

The ignorant ninja students let out a gasp of surprise.

The adoration in their eyes was very gratifying to Sarutobi Hiruzen.

He gave a light cough and said modestly, "That was indeed the case in the past."

In the past, he was nothing.

During the negotiations at the Cloud Village, it was the elderly Senju Tobirama who stayed behind to cover for his disciples, who were in their prime.

Only after that did he learn from his shame, mastering many of Senju Tobirama's secret techniques and the five elemental releases.

His strength finally reached the standard expected of the leader of Konoha, the head of the five great ninja villages.

Of course, when it came to handling politics, intrigue, internal strife, and brainwashing, Sarutobi Hiruzen was quite skilled.

But as for fighting someone of his own caliber, Sarutobi Hiruzen had never engaged in combat with anyone, even during his peak years as the "Professor" while in office.

Because the title of "strongest Hokage in history" was enough to fool the villagers of Konoha.

People from other villages certainly didn't buy it.

If he fought and won, it would be expected; if he lost, wouldn't his prestige as the strongest Hokage be ruined?

However, it was fine now that he was old. When facing such flattery, he only needed to say it was in the past, and he wouldn't be exposed.

Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen stood on the podium with a gentle smile.

His eyes were filled with kindness.

Sarutobi Hiruzen did not rush to speak; instead, he looked at all the students present with a gentle gaze, then cleared his throat and began to speak slowly.

Enhanced by chakra, Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice could be heard by everyone present.

"Children, seeing you is like seeing the rising sun of Konoha." Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled at the corners of his mouth, his tone tinged with emotion. "You may have heard many legends about me, but to me, those titles are not important. The identity I am most proud of has always been that of a ninja of Konoha, and your grandfather."

He reached out and pointed to the towering Hokage Rock nearby.

The statues of the four Hokage of Konoha were looking down from above at the common people of the village.

They were:

The First Hokage, the founder of Konoha, Senju Hashirama.

The Second Hokage, the First's younger brother, Senju Tobirama.

The Third Hokage, the Second's disciple, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

The Fourth Hokage, the disciple of the Third's disciple, and husband of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Namikaze Minato.

Watching everyone shift their gaze to the Hokage Rock.

Sarutobi Hiruzen also spoke his most classic line, "Wherever the leaves dance, the fire will burn. The shadow of the fire will shine upon the village, and... make new leaves sprout."

"This is the Will of Fire. It is what I have spent my entire life protecting, and it is what you must protect as well."

"Have you ever wondered why Konoha stands as the leader among the five great ninja villages? It is not because of how powerful we are, but because whenever a crisis looms, there are always those willing to become fuel to strengthen that flame for the sake of the village. Just like me—though I am old, if the village requires it, these old bones of mine can burn to ash for its sake at any moment."

"A ninja is not merely an embodiment of power, but a vessel of responsibility. The village taught you ninjutsu; the village gave you a home. An excellent ninja must first understand the bonds that define a village. As long as you hold the village in your hearts, even when I am gone, the Will of Fire will continue through you."

Sarutobi Hiruzen watched the crowd before him, their eyes gradually growing fervent, and continued.

"Iruka said just now that I am the strongest of all generations... Heh, children, that is only because I have lived long enough to witness too many departures and returns." He offered a self-deprecating smile. "True strength does not lie in how powerful your abilities are, but in how many people you have standing behind you whom you wish to protect."

He raised his hand once more, palm upward, as if to cradle the future of the entire village.

It also looked as if he were holding an invisible crystal ball.

"You are the source of my strength. When you step onto the battlefield or carry out missions, remember that the gaze of the Hokage is always upon you, and the village will always be your backing. As long as you shed sweat and blood for the village, your names shall be carved upon the Memorial Stone, to exist forever with Konoha!"

As Sarutobi Hiruzen's inflammatory words came to an end.

Thunderous applause erupted instantly.

Those naive students of the Ninja Academy all wore expressions of fanaticism.

Even those who appeared somewhat hesitant followed suit and clapped along in the feverish atmosphere.

Only a few students from the great clans, despite their enthusiastic applause, remained expressionless in their eyes.

Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at this group of "expendables"—no, the future of Konoha.

He nodded in satisfaction.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's moral standards were actually much higher than those of Danzo and Orochimaru.

However, when all was said and done, he was the Hokage, a politician alienated by power.

He had a moral bottom line, but it was very flexible.

Take, for instance, the death of the White Fang of Konoha.

The villagers saw the first layer: the White Fang of Konoha abandoned his mission to save his comrades, causing the village to suffer massive losses.

Uchiha Yan saw the second layer: it was because the White Fang of Konoha's prestige was too high, leading Danzo to suppress him with Sarutobi Hiruzen's tacit approval—a misjudgment of samurai thinking by a ninja mindset.

But in truth, Sarutobi Hiruzen was on the third layer.

It was not because his achievements overshadowed his master, nor was it because the village had suffered great losses because of him.