HTP: Ch. 50

The playground in the Ninja Elementary School was packed with new students standing in dense rows. Hiruzen stood atop a high platform, squinting as he scanned the children below.

He nodded with satisfaction.

The new semester at the Ninja Academy had begun. After expanding enrollment, the number of students was ten times higher than in previous years. The student body was diverse, comprising local ninja clan children, local civilian children, children of foreign merchants, and even some from other nations. Among them were a handful of exchange students from the Land of Wind and the Land of Water. At this moment, they were all stunned that Konoha's ninja school could host this many students.

The exchange students couldn't help but wonder, "Aren't we all part of the Five Great Nations? How is the gap this big?"

Next year, the incoming class would probably be even larger.

"The daimyō of the Land of Fire is truly a great leader," he mused. "He has fully supported us, cutting back on his own expenses just to fund Konoha. A loyal minister indeed."

He then cleared his throat into the loudspeaker, and Iruka behind him quickly handed over the speech script.

"Before the ninja villages were born, war was a curse written into the blood of every ninja. The average life expectancy of a ninja was under 30. Until, from the chaos, an awakened one emerged, the First Hokage never stopped in his quest to save the world. The spot where the Hokage Rock now stands used to be an empty field. It was there, when two sworn enemies finally clasped hands, that a new era for ninja began."

He pointed toward the distant Hokage Rock. The updated curriculum now included recognition of Madara's role in founding the village.

"Credit is credit, and faults are faults. How could we deny Madara's contributions just because of the mistakes he made later? Back then, he too had the Will of Fire. All of you standing here today are the new sprouts of Konoha. Where the leaves dance, the fire shall burn! This is the Will of Fire."

Applause broke out.

After finishing his speech, Hiruzen looked at Iruka with some emotion and said, "From now on, you're the new principal. Take good care of these children."

As Konoha's responsibilities grew heavier, he decided to fully hand over the school's operation.

Iruka had once thought the Hokage was just joking, but to his surprise, he had really been entrusted with the heavy responsibility of running the Ninja Academy. Filled with joy from this recognition, he promised loudly that he would do his best.

Hiruka praised Iruka, saying, "Truly an educator with the Will of Fire. You are perhaps a future Hokage candidate, too."

Iruka humbly declined, saying he only wished to fulfill his duty.

As the conversation between them heated up, Saru had to remind them that the Ninjutsu College was still waiting for the Hokage's first lecture.

Hiruzen adjusted his Hokage hat and said regretfully, "Time is short, I must head over now."

---

At the new campus, officially named Ninjutsu College by Hiruzen, on the podium, he looked with satisfaction at the future pillars of Konoha: the Konoha 12, Karin, Temari, Kankurō, and Gara.

He gave another speech about the eternal Will of Fire, and declared that Orochimaru and Tsunade would be their instructors.

"Perhaps the next Hokage sits among you," he said at the end.

Kankurō immediately sensed a problem and wanted to call out the contradiction in the Hokage's words.

We're from the Suna, can we even become Hokage?

But he didn't say it aloud. He glanced at Gaara, only to find that his brother looked serious and full of longing.

Wait... you're taking this seriously? You should be aiming to become Kazekage, not Hokage!

He was holding it in hard. He was dying to voice his confusion. Ever since last time, he felt that his once-temperamental younger brother had changed. Now he followed that blond Konoha brat around all day.

In the end, he asked tactfully, "Hokage-sama, do you think I have a chance?"

Hiruzen was momentarily stunned, then nodded with satisfaction, "I didn't expect such awareness from you on the very first day!"

Kankurō's eyes widened, his mouth slightly agape.

"I see the makings of a Hokage in you as well!"

Upon hearing that, Kiba suddenly stood up, looking a little shy, and asked, "What about me?"

Hiruzen immediately affirmed Kiba's Will of Fire, "Of course, you also have the qualities of a Hokage."

Sasuke was momentarily dazed. Wait a second, back in your office, didn't you say the Sixth Hokage was definitely going to be me?

So you're saying this to everyone now? Is everyone a future Hokage in your eyes?

"How did you become Hokage in the first place?" Naruto asked, raising his hand, he was genuinely curious about this.

As soon as the question was raised, everyone else became curious too and turned their eyes toward the Third Hokage on the stage.

Hiruzen gave a slight cough and said, "It's not really a secret. I might as well tell you all."

He slipped into memory, sighing with emotion, "Back in the day..."

---

Hiruzen was deep in enemy territory, surrounded by the Kinkaku and Ginkaku, missing-nin from Kumo.

It really felt like a hopeless situation at the time.

The Second Hokage looked over the six people present. They were all his students.

"Where the leaves dance, the fire shall burn..."

He had decided to stay behind and buy time, so the next generation of Konoha could survive. But before that, he had to choose the next Hokage.

So he gave them a test. "Right now, one person must stay behind to distract the enemy. Who is willing to go?"

This was a death mission. Everyone froze in fear. Among them were Danzō and several others.

Without hesitation, Hiruzen stood up and said, "I'll go. I'm the strongest among us."

Seeing someone step up, the others all breathed a massive sigh of relief. Again, these included Danzō and the rest.

Danzō even said, "Thanks, Hiruzen. You really saved us."

Tobirama praised Hiruzen on the spot, "You are the next Hokage."

---

"And that's how it happened. It was many years ago now," Hiruzen concluded.

Adding a bit of his own perspective, he said with some emotion, "These events are all detailed in your new history textbooks. Including the story of the First Hokage's founding of the village. And also the story of his rival, Madara. Their entanglement goes all the way back to the Ninja Sect, a thousand years ago."

A thousand years ago?

Everyone in the audience had question marks over their heads.

"According to legend, the Sage of Six Paths founded the Ninja Sect…"

Kankurō looked up at the Third Hokage, who was now passionately lecturing away, and muttered silently to himself, "Right, right. You Konoha folks are all legit, pure-blood descendants, directly connected to the Sage of Six Paths. The rest of us ninja villages? Just a bunch of outsiders sitting in on the class."