Sarutobi Hiruzen's Ninja Academy Address

Sarutobi Hiruzen stood on the podium in the Ninja Academy playground, dressed in the Hokage's robes and wearing a conical hat. A gentle smile rested on his face as he looked at the young, innocent faces below, his heart filled with emotion. These were all Konoha's hope!

He then looked toward Class A, mainly at the two children with ping-pong balls pinned to their clothes.

But after looking for quite a while, he saw only one of them.

That child is called Uchiha Hara, right? Why hasn't the other one, Uchiha Obito, come? And why does this Uchiha Hara look so frail... Sarutobi Hiruzen was deeply displeased.

He had long known how these ninja clans operated. Their most outstanding descendants were always trained within the clan, while those sent to the Ninja Academy were basically all crooked melons and cracked dates.

Even if they were crooked melons and cracked dates, their clan background meant they could still become Chunin or Special Jonin in the future, so Sarutobi Hiruzen usually did not care about such things.

But this time, the Uchiha had gone a little too far. Even if Uchiha Hara was a bottom-ranker, wasn't he bottom-ranking a bit too hard? Why did he look like he was about to die?

And that Uchiha Obito—was he late, or did he simply not want to come at all?

As the dignified Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen naturally would not wait for an elementary Ninja Academy student. He took a deep puff from his pipe and slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke. His voice was gentle yet penetrating, carrying clearly across the entire playground.

[Dear children, dear hardworking teachers:

Good morning, everyone!

Today, the sun shines brightly, and Konoha is fragrant.]

[Standing here and looking at all your little faces filled with energy and hope, I feel sincerely happy and gratified. First, allow me, Sarutobi Hiruzen, as the Third Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village, to offer you my warmest congratulations on behalf of the entire village! Congratulations! From today onward, you are officially members of the Konoha Ninja Academy!]

Sarutobi Hiruzen paused briefly, his kindly gaze sweeping across the crowd.

[Children, do you know? The moment you step through this school's gates, your lives turn to a brand-new page.]

[This will be where your dreams set sail, the cradle that will nurture you into strong and outstanding ninja. The kunai in your hands will one day protect the smiles of your loved ones; the ninjutsu you learn will one day build peace for the village; and the will budding in your hearts will one day become towering trees supporting this land!]

[I know that among you, some come from families with deep traditions and grew up listening to tales of heroes. Others may still be filled with confusion and curiosity about the world of ninja.]

[But none of that matters. From today onward, you stand on the same starting line.]

[The Ninja Academy will teach you the most basic knowledge, the most fundamental ninjutsu, and the most essential principles.]

[Here, what you must learn is not merely how to throw shuriken, nor merely how to form hand seals and cast ninjutsu. More importantly, you must learn how to become a true Konoha ninja!]

[Then what is a Konoha ninja?]

[Is it a strong person capable of completing difficult missions? Is it a genius who has mastered countless secret techniques? Those things are important, but they are not everything.]

[A true Konoha ninja carries the Will of Fire burning in their heart!]

Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze deepened, as though he were recalling the past.

[Where leaves dance, fire burns with Endless Vitality. The firelight will continue illuminating the village and allow new leaves to sprout.]

[The sacrifices and dedication of the older generation are like burning flames. They light the road ahead, become nourishment, and nurture you leaves that represent "new life" so that you may grow strong. And one day, you too must become those burning flames, lighting the road for those who come after you and protecting this village that bears countless hopes and dreams!]

[This is inheritance. This is the foundation that allows Konoha to stand forever!]

(His tone became gentle yet firm.)

[And to put this will into practice, one person alone is not enough. Ninja are never lone wolves. What we value is "teams" and "companions"!]

[In your future studies, you will meet teammates who fight at your side. Perhaps your personalities will differ, and perhaps your abilities will differ, but remember this: you are one whole! When your companions are in danger, what will you do? When a mission falls into difficulty, how should you work together?]

[Trust your teammates, protect your teammates, and entrust your back to companions worthy of that trust. This bond will become the sturdiest armor and sharpest weapon on your future path. I believe that under your teachers' guidance and through working together, you will surely come to deeply understand the true meaning of "team spirit."]

[Children, the road ahead will not be smooth. Training is difficult, missions may be dangerous, and you will encounter setbacks. You may even feel lost.]

[But do not be afraid, and do not lose heart. Remember the choice you made today, remember the expectations resting on your shoulders, and remember that teachers and companions stand beside you.]

[Study hard! Listen carefully to every lesson, master every point of knowledge, and lay a solid foundation.

Respect your teachers! They will impart their knowledge and experience to you without holding anything back.

Stand united with your companions! Cherish every classmate around you. They will be your most precious treasure in the future.]

[I hope that in this school, you will not only learn the skills needed to survive and thrive, but also forge hearts that are strong, brave, and filled with love and responsibility.]

[Finally, once again, welcome! Konoha's future belongs to you!

May the Will of Fire be with you!

Thank you, everyone!]

Sarutobi Hiruzen's speech left the Ninja Academy students boiling with passion. Even Uchiha Hara was surprised. Sarutobi Hiruzen really knew how to give a speech!

The speech had been gentle and kind, carrying the earnest instruction and sincere expectations of an elder and a leader. It suited the public image of the Third Hokage as both the "Professor of Ninjutsu" and a kindly old man.

It also closely followed its theme, covering core points such as congratulating them on entering school, encouraging them to study, respecting teachers, promoting the Will of Fire—which was the main focus—and emphasizing team spirit. It could be called comprehensive in every respect.

Its language was relatively simple yet dignified, suited for speaking to children. It used rhetorical devices such as metaphors—the leaves and the fire—and questions such as "What is a Konoha ninja?" to make it more moving.

For ordinary students, this speech might inspire a sense of honor and determination.

But Uchiha Hara could also clearly sense the brainwashing and binding implied within it.

If Sarutobi Hiruzen had written this speech himself, then he was pretty damn impressive.

Thinking about it carefully, Sarutobi Hiruzen had been a ninja from a ninja clan without a Kekkei Genkai. Yet after mastering all five nature transformations and becoming a Kage-level powerhouse, he had firmly controlled the Hidden Leaf Village for decades.

During that time, not only had he kept all manner of geniuses and talents from lifting their heads, even an exceptional hero like Orochimaru—outstanding even among all the worlds—had been forced to flee.

You could call someone like that evil, but you absolutely could not call him incompetent.

Compared to Sarutobi Hiruzen, Senju Hashirama lacked ruthlessness, Senju Tobirama lacked foresight—he would actually stay behind to cover his disciples' retreat, while Sarutobi deeply understood that a man of great value should not place himself in danger and simply never went to the battlefield—Danzo lacked vision, Uchiha Fugaku lacked decisiveness, and Hatake Su Mao lacked resilience.

As for Minato Namikaze, he lacked the most crucial measure of selfishness. He had followed Kushina Uzumaki in death because of her death, while Sarutobi had turned his personal grief after losing his beloved wife into the authority and drive with which he controlled Konoha.

It was precisely this extraordinary shamelessness and scheming that made him seem so utterly deserving of the position of "Hokage," despite his strength not being at the very top.

When it came to political maneuvering, the title of strongest Hokage truly belonged to him!

"Fighting someone like that is what makes things interesting!!"

And it would not only be a contest of courage, but of wits as well.

Defeating an enemy in the field where he excelled most—that was the finest way to strike at his heart.

Though Uchiha Hara was thinking deeply, his face did not reveal the slightest flaw. A heart filled with Thunderclap while his face remained as calm as a placid lake—every shut-in possessed that ability.

No matter how many thoughts filled his mind, not the slightest hint of them would ever show on his face.

Yeah, it definitely was not because showing them would make him look creepy.

Maintaining a reverent gaze, Uchiha Hara watched Sarutobi Hiruzen leave the Ninja Academy before finally withdrawing his eyes.

His life at the Ninja Academy was finally about to begin.