Main World.
Konoha Year Twenty-Two, summer.
Konoha, Commoner School.
The school buildings had been completed. They were not the tall, imposing stone structures of the Elite School, but low, simple wooden buildings. Still, they were good enough. Commoners' children did not need particularly good surroundings. All they needed was-faith.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood at the school gates, his hands clasped behind his back, watching the children file inside. They wore patched clothes and timid expressions, yet an indescribable longing filled their eyes. It was the longing to change their fate.
"Third Hokage, the Commoner School's first intake totals three hundred and twenty students."
A ninja responsible for education stood beside him, his voice respectful.
"Three hundred and twenty..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.
"That's enough."
He turned and walked into the school.
"Have the textbooks been handed out?"
"They have."
The ninja followed behind him.
"The children are all reading them."
Hiruzen Sarutobi entered a classroom. Several dozen children sat inside, ranging from seven or eight to twelve or thirteen years old. Their heads were lowered as they focused on the textbooks in their hands. The books were thin, only a few dozen pages, with four large characters printed on the cover-"Will of Fire."
Hiruzen Sarutobi walked up to the lectern, picked up a textbook, and opened it.
On the first page was a portrait of Hashirama Senju. Beneath it was a line of text-"First Hokage · Hashirama Senju · Father of Konoha."
On the second page was a portrait of Tobirama Senju. Beneath it was a line of text-"Second Hokage · Tobirama Senju · God of Konoha."
On the third page was a portrait of Hiruzen Sarutobi. Beneath it was a line of text-"Third Hokage · Hiruzen Sarutobi · Guardian of Konoha."
He turned to the later pages, which contained the teachings