Will of Fire

Senju Genma had a fairly good impression of Minato. Though he had died young, his strength had still been among the best of the elite, just below those with cheat-like advantages.

As far as Namikaze Minato himself was concerned, aside from giving his jutsu rather chuuni names, he could be said to have no flaws at all.

Without a doubt, the dream of Namikaze Minato, a civilian, earned nothing but jeers from the children of the ninja clans.

Namikaze Minato really was a tolerant, gentle person. He didn't get angry when the clan children mocked him, and even walked off the podium with a smile.

Senju Genma squeezed Kushina's soft, boneless hand and said, "Kushina, you're next."

Kushina nodded to Senju Genma, stood up, and walked to the podium.

"My name—my name is Uzumaki Kushina. My dream is to become the first female Hokage of this village." Kushina was still rather shy and wasn't good at communicating with people. She stammered as she spoke.

Whispers immediately swept through the students below.

"Look at her hair!"

"It's so outrageous!"

"It's really such a vivid red!"

"She looks so weird!"

Uzumaki Kushina's hair color really didn't fit Konoha's mainstream aesthetic.

Uzumaki Kushina couldn't help feeling inferior. She stole a glance at Senju Genma, then cautiously touched the bangs on her forehead.

Senju Genma's expression darkened. He hadn't expected these people to dare insult Kushina when they knew she was close to him.

Namikaze Minato also couldn't stand watching any longer and started to rise to speak up for Kushina.

"Shut up!" Senju Genma said coldly. His voice wasn't loud, but everyone in the class could hear him.

He precisely controlled his chakra, concentrating it throughout his body until he was covered in blue-purple chakra. He unleashed a blast of air from a distance, shattering the classroom wall.

This was the Senju Clan's secret technique, Strength of a Hundred.

In the six months since Kushina had joined the Senju Clan and the two of them had started attending the Ninja Academy together, Senju Genma hadn't wasted his time. Uzumaki Mito had also taught him a few self-defense techniques.

Both the students and the teacher felt an overwhelming pressure.

Kato Taka was secretly alarmed, his heart filled with worry.

Senju Genma was still a child, after all. Kato Taka feared he might lose control of his emotions and attack someone. Judging from the amount of chakra Senju Genma had, Kato Taka wouldn't be able to stop him.

The students were so frightened by the pressure that they fell silent.

An Anbu wearing black and a fox mask suddenly appeared by the window where Senju Genma sat.

The Anbu was so fast that even Senju Genma barely saw him.

But Senju Genma wasn't surprised. He and Kushina—one a Wood Release Ninja, the other the future Nine-Tails Jinchuriki—were both important figures in the village now. It was only natural that Anbu would be keeping an eye on them.

"Lord Genma, please calm down."

Senju Genma took in the man's long white hair, tied into a ponytail, and the short sword on his back. He had a pretty good idea who the man was.

"I'm perfectly calm. I just gave them a little lesson. Otherwise, they'd already be crying for their mommies."

Hatake Sakumo nodded and vanished from the classroom like a shadow.

He knew Senju Genma was right. The students and teacher were far weaker than Senju Genma; he wouldn't have needed to wait for Hatake Sakumo to arrive before acting.

Senju Genma stood and walked toward the podium.

The students around him lowered their heads in silence, not daring to speak.

Kushina was deeply touched. She kissed Senju Genma on the cheek, then shyly hurried off the podium.

Senju Genma's expression softened. In an even tone, he said, "My name is Senju Genma. I like Kushina, Big Sister Tsunade, and Lady Mito. There's nothing in particular I dislike. My dream is... to work hard, grow stronger, and protect the village."

Senju Genma paused to think before giving his answer. He decided to name a dream that matched Uzumaki Mito's ideals, making it sound a little more in line with the Will of Fire.

After all, Senju Genma couldn't be sure whether some lecherous old man would use a Crystal Ball to spy on him. Even if he didn't, the Anbu nearby might very well report what he'd said to him.

Kato Taka nodded with his arms crossed.

Of all the dreams he'd heard, only Namikaze Minato's and Senju Genma's truly embodied the Will of Fire.

The other students either wanted to marry someone, wanted to open a barbecue shop, or something else equally narrow-minded.

"All right! Genma, return to your seat. We'll start class now."

Meanwhile, in the Hokage Office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind the desk, which bore the character for "shadow." Shimura Danzo stood beside him, while Uzumaki Mito sat across from them.

The three of them were watching the Crystal Ball on the desk.

Uzumaki Mito was delighted to hear Senju Genma say that he liked her.

All these years of spoiling that brat hadn't been for nothing.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was pleased as well. From Senju Genma's words, he could sense the Will of Fire.

As for Senju Genma using his chakra to intimidate his classmates, Hiruzen Sarutobi thought it was entirely understandable.

After all, when someone close to you was bullied, not getting angry would only prove you were cold and heartless.

The more loyal and affectionate Senju Genma was, the more Hiruzen Sarutobi liked him.

Because it meant Senju Genma would be easy to control.

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled. "Lady Mito, you really know how to teach. Genma has inherited the Will of Fire perfectly. He'll surely become one of Konoha's pillars in the future."

Uzumaki Mito replied, "Hiruzen, don't spoil the boy too much. He's a mischievous one. You'll all have to help keep him in line from now on."

The three of them had known each other since Konoha was founded. Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzo were Senju Tobirama's students, and Mito had looked after them as an elder. After all these years, they were on good terms and chatted happily.

Before long, their conversation had moved from the new students at the Ninja Academy to embarrassing stories from Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzo's childhood. The two men, not yet entirely corrupted by power and ambition, turned beet red.

When they had finished talking, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzo personally escorted Uzumaki Mito out of the Hokage Building.

After returning to the office, Shimura Danzo snorted. "Senju Genma actually attacked his classmates in front of everyone at school. He's gone too far."

"You should send him to my Root. I'll train him into a perfect weapon of war, or use him to mass-produce Wood Release Ninjas. That's the safest course of action."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was tempted. Senju Genma did pose a significant threat to him, but he hadn't lost his reason.

In his view, Senju Genma was practically already one of the Hokage's people. If he was willing to obey, there was no reason he couldn't become Hokage someday.

And Hiruzen Sarutobi knew Shimura Danzo's ambitions all too well. If Shimura Danzo got his hands on Senju Genma, Hiruzen couldn't even imagine what would happen to him.

Danzo might lock him away in some dark room and keep him imprisoned.