Will of Fire

Senju Genma had a fairly good impression of Minato. Although he died young, his strength was in the top tier, just below those who possessed "cheat" abilities.

As for Namikaze Minato himself, aside from his rather cringeworthy habit of naming his jutsu, he could be said to be flawless.

Undoubtedly, the dreams of Minato, a commoner, were met only with jeers from the children of the ninja clans.

Minato was indeed a tolerant and gentle person; he didn't get angry at the mockery from the clan children and was even able to walk off the podium with a smile.

Senju Genma squeezed Kushina's soft, boneless hand and said, "Kushina, it's your turn."

Kushina nodded at Genma, stood up, and walked toward the podium.

"My name, my name is Uzumaki Kushina, and my dream is to become the first female Hokage of this village." Kushina was still quite shy and not good at communicating with others, so she spoke in a stuttering manner.

Whispers immediately broke out among the students below.

"Look at the color of her hair!"

"How exaggerated!"

"It really is thoroughly red!"

"How bizarre!"

Uzumaki Kushina's hair color certainly did not conform to the mainstream aesthetic of Konoha Village.

Kushina couldn't help but feel a sense of inferiority; she snuck a glance at Genma and carefully touched the bangs on her forehead.

Genma's expression turned ugly. He hadn't expected these people to dare speak such malicious words to her, knowing full well how close she was to him.

Minato couldn't stand it anymore either and was about to stand up to speak for Kushina.

"Shut up!" Genma said coldly. Although his voice wasn't loud, it was clear enough for the entire class to hear.

He precisely controlled his chakra, concentrating it throughout his body to cloak himself in blue-purple energy, and unleashed a burst of air pressure that shattered the classroom walls.

This was the secret technique of the Senju Clan: the Strength of a Hundred.

In the six months since Kushina had come to the Senju Clan and the two had started attending the Ninja Academy, Genma hadn't spent his time idly; Uzumaki Mito had also taught him some self-defense techniques.

Both the students and the teacher felt a powerful sense of oppression.

Kato Taka was secretly shocked and filled with worry.

Genma was, after all, still a child. He feared that Genma might lose control of his emotions and hurt someone; judging by Genma's chakra levels, he wouldn't be able to stop him.

The students were so frightened by this aura that they didn't dare make a sound.

Suddenly, an Anbu operative wearing a fox mask and black clothing appeared by the window where Genma was sitting.

The Anbu's speed was so fast that even Genma hadn't seen him clearly.

However, Genma wasn't surprised. He and Kushina—one a Wood Release ninja, the other the future Nine-Tails Jinchuriki—were important figures in the village, so it was normal for Anbu to be following them.

"Young Master Genma, please calm down."

Looking at his ponytail of white hair and the short blade strapped to his back, Genma already had a rough guess as to his identity.

"I am very calm. I was just giving them a small lesson; otherwise, they would be crying for their mothers by now."

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

He knew Genma was right. The gap between these students and teachers and Genma was too vast; there would have been no need to wait for him to arrive if Genma had truly intended to strike.

Genma stood up and walked to the podium.

The surrounding students silently lowered their heads, not daring to speak.

Kushina was deeply moved; she kissed Genma on the cheek and ran off the podium, blushing.

Genma's expression softened, and he said in a calm tone, "My name is Senju Genma. I like Kushina, Sister Tsunade, and Lady Mito. I don't have anything I particularly dislike, and my dream is... to work hard to become stronger and protect the village."

Genma thought for a moment before finishing, deciding to state a dream that aligned with Uzumaki Mito's philosophy, making his aspirations seem more in line with the Will of Fire.

After all, Genma couldn't be sure if a certain lecherous old man would be peeping at him through a crystal ball, and even if he wasn't, the surrounding Anbu would likely report his words back to him.

Kato Taka crossed his arms and nodded.

Out of all the dreams he had heard, only those of Minato and Genma were truly in line with the Will of Fire.

The other students either wanted to marry someone or open a barbecue shop; their perspectives were simply too small.

"Alright! Student Genma, return to your seat! Now, let us begin the lesson."

Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind a desk inscribed with the character for "Shadow," Danzo Shimura stood beside him, and Uzumaki Mito sat opposite him.

The three of them watched the crystal ball on the table together.

Uzumaki Mito felt very gratified to hear Genma say he liked her.

It seemed her years of doting on this brat hadn't been in vain.

Hiruzen was also pleased; from Genma's words, he felt the Will of Fire.

As for Genma using chakra pressure on his classmates, Hiruzen felt it was perfectly acceptable.

After all, if someone didn't get angry when the person they spent every day with was bullied, it would only prove they were cold-blooded and heartless.

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

Because this meant Senju Genma was very easy to control.

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and said, "Lady Mito, you have certainly taught him well. Genma has perfectly inherited the Will of Fire; he will surely become a pillar of Konoha's future."

Uzumaki Mito replied, "Hiruzen, don't spoil this child too much. He is quite mischievous, so you must help discipline him in the future."

The three of them had known each other since the founding of Konoha. Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura were disciples of Senju Tobirama, and Mito, as their elder, had taken good care of them. Having spent so many years together, their relationship was not bad, so they chatted happily.

Before they knew it, the conversation drifted from the new students at the Ninja Academy to the embarrassing stories of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura's childhood, causing both men—who had not yet been fully corrupted by power and ambition—to blush deeply.

Once the three finished talking, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura personally escorted Uzumaki Mito out of the Hokage Building.

After the two returned to the office, Danzo Shimura let out a cold snort. "Senju Genma actually attacked a classmate in public at the academy; he went way too far."

"You should send him to my Root. I will train him into a perfect weapon of war, or use him to mass-produce Wood Release Ninjas. That is the only foolproof plan."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was somewhat tempted; Senju Genma did indeed pose a significant threat to him, but he had not yet lost his reason.

In his view, Senju Genma was now effectively half-aligned with the Hokage's faction. If he could be made to listen obediently, it wouldn't be impossible to let him become the Hokage in the future.

As for Danzo Shimura's ambition, he was very clear about it. If Danzo Shimura got his hands on Senju Genma, he didn't even want to imagine what his own fate would be.

He might end up being locked away in a dark room by Danzo and kept in confinement.