"Could you listen to a story about 'family' from me, a failed teacher?"
"Consider this your final lesson, given at this blood-soaked opening ceremony."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's aged yet gentle voice echoed atop the desolate Hokage Rock, seemingly carrying a touch of piercing magic that caused even the murderous aura formed by a thousand Uchiha children—a aura powerful enough to freeze the soul—to pause slightly.
"Telling stories? Old man, are you stalling for time?" Uchiha Shō was the first to break the silence, arms crossed, a sneer playing on his lips. "You think a few sweet nothings will make us go easy on you? Don't be naive! We're not those fools brainwashed by your ' Will of Fire '!"
"Sho, shut up." Uchiha Yōko's cold voice rang out. She didn't look at Sho; her clear eyes, sparkling with three Tomoe, were quietly focused on Hiruzen Sarutobi, as if trying to discern his true intentions from his wrinkled face.
The old man's eyes were completely different from those of the previously manipulated, empty Impure World Reincarnation beings. There was sadness and regret in them, but not a trace of fear.
What is he thinking?
Hiruzen Sarutobi ignored Uchiha Shō's provocation. His turbid gaze slowly swept over the young yet cold faces before him, finally settling on the man at the front of the line who had remained silent throughout.
Uchiha Itachi.
"Itachi, you were once my proudest student." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice carried a complex emotion that was difficult to describe. "You understood better than anyone that the true meaning of the Will of Fire ' is not hatred, not conquest, but protection."
He paused, then lightly tapped the Adamantine Staff) in his hand on the broken ground, producing a dull thud.
"This village is like a 'family.' Every leaf, every villager, is a member of this family. The Hokage is the Patriarch of this family. Perhaps this Patriarch will make mistakes, show favoritism, and make wrong choices due to weakness—"
"But!" His voice suddenly rose, and an invisible, majestic aura, as powerful as a mountain, erupted from his aged body!
"The roots of this family must not be severed! The 'fire' that protects this family must not be extinguished!"
"You children with Konoha blood flowing through your veins, yet you are using your own power to destroy your own home! You have embarked on the most wrong path, blinded by hatred and arrogance!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes became incredibly sharp at this moment, all traces of his previous gentleness and pity gone, replaced by the sternness and decisiveness that a "teacher" must show when facing an incorrigible "unruly student"!
"Therefore, before you are completely and utterly ruined, let me, your failed teacher, give you this truly final lesson!"
"In the way you understand best!"
The moment he finished speaking, his aura reached its peak!
boom!
A terrifying Chakra, powerful enough to change the very fabric of the world, erupted from his body like a volcano awakening! His tattered divine robes vanished in an instant, becoming brand new! His wrinkled old face, though still aged, healed rapidly with visible speed, and his eyes shone with an unprecedented brilliance!
This is his true nature!
With the support of unlimited Chakra provided by the Impure World Reincarnation, he completely broke free from the shackles of old age and physical decline, returning to his peak and even surpassing it— the God of Shinobi!
" Summoning Technique!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi hand Hand Seals and slammed his fists into the ground!
Bang!
A huge plume of white smoke exploded, and a gigantic ape, over ten meters tall, with bulging muscles, a ferocious face, and wielding a vajra, roared as it appeared on the battlefield!
Monkey King - Enma!
" Hiruzen! You bastard, you actually summoned me under these circumstances!" Enma, seeing the scene before him, especially the thousands of crimson Sharingan, immediately bared his teeth and complained, "Our opponents are a bunch of Uchiha monsters!"
"Shut up, Enma!" Hiruzen Sarutobi hissed. "Henshin!"
I just can't do anything with you!
Although the Enma complained, its actions showed no hesitation. It let out a deafening roar, and its massive body rapidly transformed into a Adamantine Staff ) that gleamed with metallic luster and had golden rings inlaid at both ends, amidst a series of cracking sounds!
Hiruzen Sarutobi grabbed the golden cudgel, which was several times thicker than his body, and his aura underwent a dramatic transformation once again!
At this moment, he was no longer the Hokage sitting in his office processing documents, nor was he the kind and gentle old man.
He is a god of war who wields divine weapons and quells chaos in the world!
"What?!"
"Such a strong sense of oppression!"
The contempt on Uchiha Shō and the others' faces vanished without a trace at this moment, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity!
They could clearly sense that the aura emanating from the old man was completely different from that of the modified Hokage they had encountered before. It wasn't just a simple accumulation of power, but rather the aura of a true "strongman" formed by the perfect fusion of countless combat experiences, Ninjutsu skills, and absolute control over the battlefield!
"Is this the true strength of the Professor of Ninjutsu '?" Uchiha Yōko's small hands involuntarily clenched.
Her supercomputer-like brain was frantically analyzing Hiruzen Sarutobi's current state, but every conclusion she reached pointed to a result that was hard for them to accept—
The win rate is less than 10%!
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't give them any more time to think. His eyes, burning with their last flames, coldly swept over the various expressions of the "students" before him.
"Children, stand at attention!"
He slowly raised the Uchiha Adamantine Staff in his hand, aiming it at the thousand-strong Uchiha army.
"The Last Lesson--"
"Let's begin!"
boom!
The ground beneath his feet suddenly exploded, and he vanished from his spot like a cannonball!
The next second, he had already appeared like a ghost at the forefront of the Uchiha army!
He didn't use any fancy Ninjutsu; he simply used the most unadorned and unreasonable method to smash the Ruyi Adamantine Staff enough to split mountains and shatter rocks, down on his head!
"Not good! Defend!" Uchiha Shō's eyes were bloodshot. Without thinking, his Chakra surged wildly, and a blue rib-shaped Susanoo rose from the ground, blocking his way!
However--
Click!
The Susanoo, which was powerful enough to withstand the full force of Kage Level expert, shattered like fragile glass in the face of the indestructible power of the Adamantine Staff!
The terrifying force, still undiminished, slammed heavily into Uchiha Shō!
puff!
Uchiha Shō felt as if he had been hit head-on by a mountain. He spat out a mouthful of blood and flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into the crowd behind him!
Just one strike!
The strongest member of the new generation of Uchiha was instantly and severely injured!
The entire Uchiha army was thrown into brief chaos by this sudden turn of events!
Hiruzen Sarutobi a successful blow but did not pursue. He simply and quietly sheathed his golden cudgel, stood once more in the center of the ruins, and spoke in a condescending, teacher-like tone:
Lesson One: Never underestimate any of your enemies, no matter how old or weak they may appear.
Did you learn it?
His words were like an invisible hammer blow, striking the proud pride of every Uchiha child.
However, just as everyone was Hiruzen Sarutobi Sarutobi's thunderous attack, a cold voice slowly rang out from the sea of crimson eyes.
" Teacher Sarutobi."
Uchiha Itachi slowly stepped out of the line, his Mangekyō Sharingan, like a blood-red Uzumaki, calmly watching Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Your lesson was very well taught."
"But--"
A cold smile curled at the corner of Itachi's lips.
Your story has been full of lies from the very beginning.
"You call the village 'home,' but your so-called 'home' has never left a place for us Uchiha!"
"Today, let this unworthy student of yours settle accounts with you for the blood debts you owe the Uchiha over the years!"