Young Hiruzen's Troubles

Land of Fire, Konoha.

While the Bikini Bottom Three Admirals were still enduring wind and sand, Konoha's new generation had already begun to shine in their own place.

Ever since Uchiha Yan had taken Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura as disciples, the Utatane Clan had been appointed Left Vice Minister of Rites and the Mitokado Clan Right Vice Minister of Rites. In one leap, both clans had become part of Konoha's upper class. The young members of the two clans now walked through Konoha with their backs straight.

Uchiha Yan figured that herding one sheep was the same as herding a whole flock, so he simply took the new generation's Boar-Deer-Butterfly—Nara Shikaso, Akimichi Teigen, and Yamanaka Gaishin—as disciples too. Since he had taken in Boar-Deer-Butterfly, he could hardly leave out the son of the Minister of Medicine, lest it seem like favoritism, so he took Aburame Shibi as well.

These second-generation officials of Konoha—Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzo, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, Nara Shikaso, Akimichi Teigen, Yamanaka Gaishin, and Aburame Shibi—were all Uchiha Yan's disciples, each of them bearing the Uchiha mark.

Seeing Uchiha Yan frantically taking in disciples, Senju Tobirama was unwilling to fall behind. He accepted children from the Mitarashi Clan, Yūhi Clan, Kurama Clan, and Moonlight Clan.

Uchiha Yan and Senju Tobirama had turned taking in disciples into an arms race.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was six years old this year. He had just graduated from Flame Class and was about to enter first grade. Shimura Danzo, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and the others would be going with him.

As the son of Konoha's Minister of Rites, whose father oversaw all education in Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen had his own troubles despite his young age.

At Flame Class, the teachers had given him special attention solely because he was the Minister of Rites' son. This greatly troubled the young Sarutobi Hiruzen. He did not want others to think he was relying on his father or his teachers. He wanted to prove that—even without his father or teachers—Sarutobi Hiruzen was still the finest among Konoha's peers.

On Konoha's registration day, the area outside the academy gates was packed with people.

The moment Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived at the academy gates, he saw that his good friend Shimura Danzo had also arrived. Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura were there as well.

"Hiruzen!"

Shimura Danzo spotted him first and hurried over. The two had been classmates in Flame Class, and no matter what it was, they always liked competing to see who was better.

"Hiruzen, I won't lose to you." Danzo stood before him and puffed out his chest. "I'll definitely earn the Outstanding Model Student honor and show Teacher Yan. I'm Teacher Yan's finest student."

"Danzo, give up already." Sarutobi Hiruzen refused to back down. "I'm Teacher Yan's finest student. I won't lose to you either. The Outstanding Model Student honor is mine."

"Hiruzen, starting today, we're officially successors of the Will of Fire." Utatane Koharu walked over with a backpack on her back.

"Koharu, do you think we'll be assigned to the same class?" Mitokado Homura followed behind, asking somewhat anxiously.

Before long, the academy posted the class assignment list.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzo, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, the new generation's Boar-Deer-Butterfly, Uchiha Kagami, Aburame Shibi, and the others had all been assigned to the same class—First-Year Class A.

"Koharu, we're in the same class!" Mitokado Homura happily ran over to share the joy with Utatane Koharu.

"Hiruzen, we're in the same class!" Utatane Koharu ignored Homura, turning straight to Sarutobi Hiruzen instead.

"Koharu, let's sit together when the time comes. I'll protect you." Shimura Danzo called out to Utatane Koharu.

"No way. I want to sit with Hiruzen." Utatane Koharu refused without a second thought.

"Enough, stop arguing." Sarutobi Hiruzen could not stand his three friends chattering around him.

Today's class assignment had obviously been arranged by Father long ago. Otherwise, why had the children of so many Konoha officials all been placed in the same class? Father was the Minister of Rites, and every teacher in the academy answered to him. Arranging for him and these second-generation officials to be in one class could not have been easier.

Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted to earn the Outstanding Model Student honor through his own efforts. He wanted everyone to know that his excellence had nothing to do with his father or his teachers.

"Hiruzen, what's wrong? Are you in a bad mood?" Danzo saw that his lifelong rival did not seem very happy.

"It's nothing. I'm going home first."

"Hiruzen, let's go home together!" Utatane Koharu was especially happy today. Now that she and Hiruzen were in the same class, they could go to and from school together from now on.

"I'm coming too!" Mitokado Homura hurriedly followed.

"Hmph, I'm coming too." Danzo was not about to let Hiruzen go home alone with Koharu. As Teacher Yan's finest student, Shimura Danzo would definitely protect Koharu.

Inside the Sarutobi Clan compound.

Sarutobi Sasuke called his son into the study.

"Konoha Academy starts tomorrow, Hiruzen. The freshman representative's speech..."

"I understand, Father."

Sarutobi Hiruzen knew that his father had surely arranged for him to give a speech. Although he did not want to be any sort of student representative, he did not want to disappoint his father. He could not embarrass his father in front of outsiders; it concerned the Sarutobi Clan's honor.

Back in his room, Sarutobi Hiruzen sat at his desk and began writing his speech.

He planned to begin with the Will of Fire. Despite his young age, Hiruzen had his own understanding of the Will of Fire. He believed his speech would definitely make everyone see him in a new light.

Teacher Yan had once said: What is not frightening is that you do not work hard enough; what is frightening is that those born with every advantage still work harder than you do. Sarutobi Hiruzen felt that he was exactly such a person—his father was the Minister of Rites, his teacher was Konoha Kirin among the Uchiha Three Heroes, and he was both gifted and hardworking. His very existence was probably the lifelong shadow of people like that.

The next day was Konoha's opening ceremony.

The academy grounds were filled with people. Looking at his classmates around him, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt that it was truly unfortunate for them to be born in the same generation as him.

First came the principal's speech, and Sarutobi Hiruzen nearly fell asleep listening from below the stage.

Soon, the principal finished speaking, and sparse applause rose from the crowd.

Next came the freshman representative's speech.

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath and prepared to stand—

"Now, please welcome the freshman representative to the stage—"

"Student Uchiha Kagami, please come up and give your speech."

Sarutobi Hiruzen froze.

Uchiha Kagami.

A child of the Uchiha Clan.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's face flushed bright red.

Sarutobi Hiruzen stood below the stage, unable to take in a single word being spoken above. There was only one thought in his mind—

His father had not arranged for him to be the freshman representative.

His teacher had not arranged for him to be the freshman representative.

Today, Sarutobi Hiruzen was nothing more than an ordinary first-year student.