It was the forty-second year since the founding of Konoha. Spring had arrived, and the month was April.
The brutal Second Shinobi World War was drawing to a close, and a long-awaited peace had once again settled over the ninja world. Although hidden frictions still lingered among the five great villages, they maintained a cool and restrained demeanor. No major wars were foreseen in the coming years.
At this time, in the Village Hidden in the Leaves, the season for the annual Ninja Academy entrance ceremony had come again.
On the school grounds stood the Third Hokage, hailed as the greatest ninja of all time and the "God of Shinobi." He had already reached middle age, and the signs of aging had begun to grace his features. He held his back straight, yet his figure seemed somewhat stout. Though a kind smile played upon his lips, an unconcealable sorrow lurked in his eyes. Even for him, the strongest of the Hokage, the cruel Second World War had taken much that he held dear: his family, his clansmen, his friends, his children, and his students.
Especially his three students. Having passed through the crucible of war, they remained physically whole, but their souls were wounded. The current state of each was as dire as could be. One would not return to the village, another had become nearly useless due to a fear of blood, and the third, though seemingly normal, would vanish to parts unknown.
But as long as these young sprouts could strengthen and grow, any sacrifice was justified.
With this thought, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, looked with hope upon the dark mass of first-year students filling the grounds.
"Where the leaves dance, a flame ignites. The light of the fire will continue to illuminate the village, and thanks to it, new leaves will emerge..."
The Third Hokage gazed at them. Most of the children, it seemed, did not understand his words; their eyes held only bewilderment. A few, more mature for their years, might have grasped the essence, but the majority of the boys simply gazed at him with adoration. There was no doubt—they all dreamed of becoming Hokage. Reciting the memorized speech, he cast his gaze over the assembled ninja.
The faces of these adults mostly showed indifference; a chill permeated many of their gazes. Some, having just returned from the battlefield, exuded such a thirst for blood that not even mosquitoes dared to fly near them. They watched him with detachment, and some, even with hostility. It was not merely that everyone had grown tired of the same repetitive speech. The Third Hokage understood perfectly: after the trials of the Second War, many had come to doubt his ideals.
A new crisis was brewing in the village.
The Will of Fire, is it...
With a bitter smile in his eyes, the Third Hokage continued his speech. Ideals must be passed from one generation to the next. Whether they can be brought to life is another matter entirely. But as long as even one child inherits them, his efforts would not be in vain.
Casually letting his gaze drift across the crowd, the Third Hokage suddenly froze, his eyelids twitching.
Hold on! What is that boy doing?!
Continuing to speak on autopilot, he frowned, his gaze locking onto a seemingly inconspicuous child in the crowd. He looked to be about five years old. Due to a shortage of people in Konoha after the war, this intake of first-year students was younger than usual. However, for children from ninja clans, it was not unusual to graduate from the academy at such an age. For instance, the son of the White Fang of Konoha could have, if his father had so wished it. The Third Hokage had already seen that genius.
But this boy...
Geniuses are permitted certain privileges. Even if one were to defecate on his head, the renowned God of Shinobi would endure it. But this child did not look like a genius.
Frowning sharply, the Third Hokage faltered, his speech coming to an abrupt halt. Silence fell over the grounds. From the corner of his eye, he continued to watch the boy. Everyone present stared at him in confusion.
"What happened?"
"Did the Third Hokage forget his lines?"
"No, that can't be."
"I thought he'd have it memorized by now."
Some of the ninja began to speculate.
"Is he really going senile?"
Whispers started in the crowd as well, but no one understood what was happening.
No, someone did.
A five-year-old girl felt deeply uncomfortable. From time to time, she felt the Third Hokage's gaze, sharp as a blade, upon her. Her feminine intuition told her that the target was not her, but the one who…
She lowered her head and, glancing sideways at the boy beside her, whispered in a pleading voice, on the verge of tears:
"Please, just stand up..."
The girl was very beautiful, but the boy paid her no mind. His gaze was fixed on a small pile at the feet of the people on the grounds. He was squatting, his hands braced on the ground, looking impatient and agitated. Every so often, he would lift his leg to scratch his neck with canine dexterity, while drool streamed from his lips.
The boy is tired of standing, what's wrong with sitting for a minute? the girl thought.
But his movements, his posture, his expression... why did this boy resemble a dog so much? He looked as if he were about to lunge forward. She didn't understand what was happening, but she was in deep shock. Following his gaze, she saw that very pile, left by who-knows-what, and her shock intensified. Her breath caught, and for a moment, her mind went blank.
It wasn't that she was offended by the boy preferring to look at excrement rather than her. It was that…
"You're not going to..."
She opened her mouth, her lips turning pale and trembling. She hesitated to say it aloud, already on the brink of tears.
"...eat that?"
Her voice was too quiet; he didn't hear...
Anything but that!!!
This day was supposed to be joyful and memorable, and she had been in a wonderful mood all morning. But now… a nightmare! What a nightmare! Horrifying! Oh no, her old affliction was flaring up again—secondhand embarrassment. She curled her toes so tightly into the soles of her sandals that her entire body trembled with tension.
Her mind was a blank slate. After what felt like an eternity, she made a decision.
I have to stop him! Or the Third Hokage will kill him!
A moment later, the Third Hokage's voice sounded again, and the speech continued. The girl watched the boy intently. Though he was eager for action, he restrained himself and remained quietly squatting, even as drool continued to flow from his lips, and he looked utterly carefree, as if he had no idea what was happening. Seeing that he did nothing out of the ordinary, the girl finally sighed in relief.
Standing on the podium, the Third Hokage continued to speak, glancing at the boy from time to time.
He's rather cute. A genius, then… With the secret techniques of the Inuzuka Clan, it's hard to say for sure. Whether he's a genius or not will require observation. But… to make a fool of me and disrupt the opening ceremony like this—he's the first. What canine audacity.
At this thought, the Third Hokage couldn't help but chuckle.
Never mind, you just wait. Sooner or later, you'll fall into my hands. Today is not the right day to punish you. Another interesting sprout has appeared.
After this little scene, his somber mood had lifted slightly. With a smile on his lips, the Third Hokage concluded his speech and watched as the students, led by their teachers, dispersed in an orderly fashion to their classrooms. The parents and ninja who had attended the ceremony went their separate ways, and the grounds emptied.
He was about to leave when a figure appeared at the school gates, running towards him and shouting. Seeing the small silhouette, the Third Hokage froze once more.
Another one?
"I'm late! I'm late! I'm late!"
A boy with a simple-looking face dashed forward at full speed, shouting at the top of his lungs, and flashed past the Third Hokage, leaving behind only the Uchiha Clan crest visible on his back.
An Uchiha…
The Third Hokage took out his pipe and took a long drag. Exhaling clouds of smoke, he squinted as the boy's back hastily disappeared down the corridor.
This boy, it's clear at a glance—he's a complete dunce. Although the Uchiha Clan produces many geniuses, it's not strange for a fool to appear among them. But a fool like that is definitely no genius. I've said it.
Puffing on his pipe, the Third Hokage leisurely departed.