Satoru was Konoha's supernova and, without doubt, the brightest and most brilliant youth in the entire shinobi world.
Konoha's top brass, except Danzo, now quite readily accepted Satoru.
Konoha's leadership approved Satoru's proposed ninja education reform, and the Ninja Academy's educational model and philosophy underwent unprecedented changes.
Every day, groups of students could be seen on the school grounds practicing seal formation, many training tree climbing, some directly using ninjutsu.
As for combat classes, they gradually became the main focus for students, and their practical combat skills improved significantly.
Satoru's work was very intense every day because many students faced various issues. For example, with tree climbing—Satoru shared some tricks. With seal formation—Satoru showed more correct methods and the best ways to use the Three Basic Techniques.
Satoru's education brought teachers and students closer. Of course, everyone looked forward most to combat classes.
Besides theory and the Three Basic Techniques, combat classes were also a very important subject. Many kids were very curious and interested. In fact, they were random draw fights. Winner got points. After all, truth is found in battle. Combat classes were very fair because draws were random. Weak could beat strong, strong beat even stronger.
Just train diligently, study seriously, think a bit in battle, and you could defeat opponent, advance, get points.
Satoru's methods allowed all students to rapidly raise their practical combat levels, while theoretical knowledge didn't drop because theory supported practice.
At first, Satoru felt very tired but satisfied. After a few months, it got much easier because even without his supervision, kids trained eagerly and seriously.
Kakashi's level steadily held first place in the whole school, and Might Guy progressed very quickly too. Thanks to Satoru's guidance, Might Guy could already barely use the Three Basic Techniques.
Thanks to taijutsu, Might Guy's progress was the fastest.
And another person who made Satoru see him anew was Uchiha Obito.
The current Uchiha Obito was positive and mentally healthy, friendly to people, and more likable than Kakashi. There was nothing of the future main villain in him.
Then Satoru used a shadow clone to take missions. For C- and B-rank missions, the shadow clone handled them fine. Satoru gradually accumulated experience and slowly grew.
As students grew, Satoru himself grew.
Though teaching, he occasionally sparred with the Third. The Third Hokage hid almost nothing from Satoru and taught him many ninjutsu. That day, Hiruzen Sarutobi had arranged with Satoru in advance to come to the Hokage's office and await orders.
Satoru arrived at the office, but Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't appear for a long time.
After waiting quite a while, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally entered.
"Old man, why did you call me?" Satoru looked at the Third, who seemed to have been somewhere.
"There's one matter; I want to ask you something," Hiruzen Sarutobi asked very seriously.
"What matter?" Satoru felt very strange.
"You haven't signed a contract with any summoning beast, right?" the Third asked.
"Yes," Satoru nodded.
"The Monkey Clan contacted me. They hope you'll go to the Mount of Flowers and Fruit," the Third said.
"What?" Satoru was shocked. Mount of Flowers and Fruit? What the hell? Did he end up in the wrong place?
"The Sarutobi Clan has a contract with the Monkeys. I want to teach you the Summoning Technique because I think you have enough chakra now," the Third said.
"However, one little monkey was reverse-summoned here. It said it hopes my youngest student will go to the Mount of Flowers and Fruit. I thought of you. Seems the Monkeys have business with you," the Third said.
"Business with me? How do I get there?" Satoru asked.
"Put your hand on my back," the Third said.
Satoru did so immediately. Then everything before Satoru's eyes changed, and he disappeared with the Third Hokage.
When they reappeared, it was a place Satoru had never seen before.
Beautiful mountains and clear water, birds singing and insects chirping—a very pleasant environment.
"This is the Mount of Flowers and Fruit. Find the Monkey King; I'll return to Konoha for now. When ready, the Monkey King will send you back," The Third urgently left the Mount of Flowers and Fruit with a loud boom, leaving Satoru alone.
"What situation is this? Did I go from the Naruto world to Journey to the West?" Satoru was somewhat stunned.
However, thinking it over, Satoru decided it must not be a dream. After all, the Four-Tails was called Son Gokū, and the Monkey Clan could transform into the Diamond Staff. The Monkey Clan's lair being the Mount of Flowers and Fruit made sense.
Satoru sensed a lot of chakra here. Training here would definitely yield twice the results with half the effort.
Before Satoru could enjoy the beautiful view, a group of monkeys swinging on vines rushed toward him.
"Ho-ho-ho! Excuse me, are you Sarutobi's student, Satoru?" Seeing these little monkeys were very polite, Satoru nodded.
"Come! Go with us to the Monkey King!" The little monkeys were guides. Satoru could only use the Super Body Flicker Technique to teleport. The distance wasn't far. Passing through a waterfall between vines, they reached a cave.
Satoru thought: "Did I really reach the Water Curtain Cave?"
Satoru looked up and saw large characters right above: "Blessed Land of the Mount of Flowers and Fruit, Heavenly Water Curtain Cave."
Satoru instantly panicked... "Did I really enter the Journey to the West world?"
But the next scene instantly brought Satoru back to reality.
"Satoru, you've come," the speaker was none other than Hiruzen Sarutobi's summoning beast, the leader of the Monkey Clan, the Monkey King.
Satoru recognized the Monkey King, nodded in greeting, and said:
"The old man said the Monkey Clan wanted to see me. Do you have some important business?"
The Monkey King said:
"Yes, one matter. I want to ask for your help."
"And what's in it for me?" Satoru asked with a smile.
The Monkey King knew Satoru very well and, unsurprised, immediately replied:
"You'll get a very powerful weapon! This weapon is indestructible and even stronger than me!"
"Oh? I can consider it. But what do you need me to do?" Satoru knew nothing comes free.
"You need to save one of my kin. He is a mighty Monkey King... Of course, he's also my father!" The Monkey King said calmly, but pain seemed to flash in his eyes.
"Monkey King, your father? The previous Monkey King?" Satoru was also shocked. The original story mentioned the Monkey King little. He appeared only twice fighting Orochimaru, and once when the Third fought the Nine-Tails.
"Yes, he was once Sarutobi Sasuke's summoning beast," the Monkey King said.
"Sarutobi Sasuke?" Satoru knew Sarutobi Sasuke was Hiruzen Sarutobi's father.