The goal in his heart

Hashirama Senju disliked conflict. He hoped that Konoha Ninja Village, under his rule, would never face war, and that every child born there could live in peace. Though he loved peace, he did not reject the use of force. He knew that truly ensuring the village's safety required a powerful defense, so ninja training could never be allowed to stop.

Konoha Shinobi Village was not a single clan as in the past, but an alliance of many different Ninja Clans. Naturally, its methods of combat had to change as well. Tobirama intended to use the results of the Academy's trials to devise the Combat Formations the village would adopt in the future.

No one else knew yet, but Hashirama had already discussed it with Tobirama: the Academy would have to change in the future. Not only the heirs of the Ninja Clans, but their other members as well would have to attend for training, and every Ninja Clan would come under the Shinobi Village's unified administration. This was a necessary step toward realizing Hashirama's ideal—

But Hashirama and Tobirama also knew this would not be easy. They could not accomplish everything at once. In fact, had Tobirama not taken the position of teacher at the Academy and promised each clan that he would select outstanding students as his disciples, the Ninja Clans might not even have agreed to the arrangement. After all, heirs were supposed to be taught by their own clans. Why should they attend some academy? Could its teachers really compare to their clans' own instruction? Only with Hashirama and Tobirama in charge were the Ninja Clans willing to send their heirs there. On one hand, they could learn more from the two brothers; on the other, becoming either brother's disciple would give a clan heir greater influence in the village. Naturally, the Ninja Clans would not pass up such an opportunity.

Though he had already anticipated it, Hashirama still felt dejected when he saw how many promises it took to persuade the Ninja Clans to send their heirs. Tobirama comforted his older brother, telling him that this was the first step toward realizing his ideal. Once they took that first step, they could continue down the road. Sooner or later, the Shinobi Village Hashirama envisioned would truly come into being.

Tobirama said he believed the future state of the shinobi world would further drive this process. The other Shinobi Villages were gradually establishing themselves, and a balance between the Five Great Countries had already begun to take shape. To ensure their nations' security, leaving ninja instruction to individual Ninja Clans was likely already an outdated approach. Education led by the Shinobi Villages would better ensure their strength.

Only the Senju Brothers knew any of this. They would not reveal these ideas lightly; if the Ninja Clans resisted, their ideal would only grow more distant. They therefore had to implement these policies carefully, gradually weakening the clans' control over their own ninja without their realizing it, and fostering a sense of belonging to Konoha Shinobi Village among their members. From then on, there would only be ninja of Konoha Shinobi Village, not ninja belonging solely to a particular clan.

This rule would apply not only to the other ninja clans, but also to the Senju Clan, to which Hashirama and Tobirama belonged. To achieve their goal, they also needed to find people who shared their views. This was another reason Tobirama wanted to select disciples at the Academy. In the shinobi world, disciples were their masters' successors, inheriting their ideals, ninjutsu, will, and more.

Though the Konoha Academy had yet to officially open, Hashirama already had a candidate in mind. He quietly glanced at Kazemori Masaki. With his ability to sense Natural Energy, Masaki would surely become one of the village's strongest ninja. No one understood the power of Sage Art better than Hashirama. Once someone truly mastered that power, a clear gulf opened between them and ordinary people.

However, Hashirama still needed to examine Kazemori Masaki's outlook: could he put the village's interests ahead of his own clan's, rather than prioritize his clan? If he could, then Kazemori Masaki would be qualified to inherit this Shinobi Village!

Looking at Kazemori Masaki, Hashirama laughed. "Haha, let's not think about that yet. First, I'll teach you how to control Natural Energy. You can't expect me to stay here forever."

Kazemori Masaki came back to his senses and realized that his most pressing task was learning to control the Natural Energy constantly flowing into his body. Even during their brief conversation, quite a bit more had accumulated within him. He gathered his thoughts and began listening intently to Hashirama's instructions.

Satomi did not know what Hashirama Senju and Kazemori Masaki were discussing. She knew there were things she was not meant to hear. Though Hashirama had not said so outright, she understood his meaning, so she moved far enough away from the house to ensure she could not overhear their conversation.

She sat on a stone by the entrance, resting her cheeks in her hands as she gazed up at the sky. Every so often, she glanced at the house, then continued waiting when she saw no sign of anyone coming out. After an unknown length of time, just as boredom was about to send her nodding off, she heard the door open.

Satomi immediately perked up. Turning to see Hashirama Senju and Kazemori Masaki emerge, she hurried to her feet and ran over. "Lord Hashirama, how is Masaki?"

"Hm?" Hashirama paused at her question, glanced at Kazemori Masaki beside him, and smiled at Satomi. "He's fine now. This won't happen again."

Satomi immediately breathed a sigh of relief, a smile spreading across her face. "That's wonderful, Masaki."

Kazemori Masaki nodded with a faint smile, then bowed to Hashirama Senju. "Thank you so much, Lord Hashirama."

"No, you deserve credit too. I only offered a little help." Hashirama smiled, a hint of surprise in his gaze as he looked at Kazemori Masaki. This boy learned far too quickly.

Though Hashirama's understanding of Sage Art was already profound, and part of his own experience learning it resembled Kazemori Masaki's, even his wealth of experience had not prepared him for Masaki's comprehension. It exceeded his expectations. Essentially, Masaki had only listened to his explanation and tried a few times before successfully learning to control Natural Energy.

Hashirama was somewhat bewildered. Since when had Natural Energy become so easy to control? Even I nearly died learning Sage Art back then. Yet, looking at Kazemori Masaki, who had successfully learned to control Natural Energy, he could only acknowledge that the young man seemed remarkably gifted at it.

"Zhenghui, focus on recovering for now," Hashirama said. "The damage you suffered hasn't fully healed yet. Don't rush to attend the Academy."

"I understand, Lord Hashirama," Kazemori Masaki replied.

"I'll be going, then." Hashirama had only taken a few steps when he seemed to remember something. He turned to the two of them. "Give some thought to what I said earlier. You're both about old enough to marry. Don't keep putting it off."

"Well..." Though Satomi was willing, her reserve as a young woman kept her from saying so outright. Besides, Masaki had not agreed yet. Just then, Kazemori Masaki spoke beside her. "All right."

Satomi looked at Kazemori Masaki in surprise. He had clearly said he wanted to achieve more before marrying, so why had he suddenly agreed now?

Hashirama paid it no mind. He smiled and said, "Good, then I'll start preparing your wedding. We'll choose an auspicious day, haha." Neither Satomi nor Masaki had parents, so naturally, Hashirama would arrange their marriage. After all, he was Satomi's elder.

After Hashirama left, Satomi lightly bit her lip and asked Kazemori Masaki, "Why did you agree to marry me just like that? Didn't you say before that you wanted to become a Jonin first?"

"Don't you want to?" Kazemori Masaki asked.

"Of course not!" Satomi answered hastily. Then, feeling she had sounded too eager, she turned her blushing face away. "I was just a little puzzled."

"This was a wake-up call. I nearly left this world," Kazemori Masaki said. "I realized I couldn't keep going like this. If I died without even fulfilling your wish, that would be far too shameful."

"Don't say such unlucky things!" Satomi glared at Kazemori Masaki, took his hand, and said solemnly, "You can't die. You still have to revive your clan."

"I know. I certainly don't want to die, and I don't want to leave you either." Kazemori Masaki smiled.

Satomi looked at Kazemori Masaki in silence for a while before saying, "Masaki, you seem different from before."

"Of course something like this would change me," Kazemori Masaki said. Since gaining a new lease on life, he knew he had indeed changed. Though he had no proof, he suspected that his spirit had undergone some unusual changes, which were probably the reason he absorbed Natural Energy. While learning to control it, he had clearly felt that it was easier to quiet his mind and sense the Natural Energy flowing through the world around him.

Kazemori Masaki knew that before long, Madara, the Uchiha Clan Head, would leave Konoha Ninja Village. A few years later, he would return with the Nine-Tails to attack Konoha, and Hashirama Senju would die shortly after the battle at the Valley of the End. Hashirama Senju's death would mark the beginning of what was to come: the First Shinobi World War, which would leave deep scars on the Five Great Nations.

Thinking of those future wars and conspiracies, Kazemori Masaki made up his mind. He had to grow stronger so he could survive the brutal First Shinobi World War. With his current strength, he might not make it through that devastating conflict. Then, for his own protection, he would also have to eliminate, one by one, the factors that threatened Konoha Ninja Village and the entire shinobi world. To do that, he needed both great strength and authority. Only then would he have enough power of his own, and enough forces at his disposal, to deal with those enemies—

The Konoha Academy is an opportunity, Kazemori Masaki thought. I have to try to become Tobirama Senju's disciple and learn advanced ninjutsu from him. I also have to outperform Hiruzen Sarutobi, so Tobirama Senju will choose me as his successor and I can become Konoha Ninja Village's Third Hokage.

(End of chapter)