"You came from Dandong, left a city blanketed in snow.
Longing for Cantonese cuisine,
You danced lightly in the sky's brilliance
Only to wake up crying…"
——
"The second floor must always be built on top of the first, and the first must be grounded."
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was inspecting the massive expansion underway at the Ninja Academy, offering sage-like guidance at the heart of the construction chaos. It was common knowledge that no one in the village cared more about education than he did.
The date of the joint Chūnin Exams was drawing near, and most of the foreign genin squads had already arrived in Konoha.
Trailing behind the Hokage were his personal secretary, the Academy's senior staff, and several instructors. Each carried a notebook, diligently recording the wise words and posture of their village leader.
"Succinct and profound," Iruka thought, eyes sparkling as he looked upon the Third Hokage with reverence. "What Lord Hokage means is: every towering structure starts from the ground up. Just like education. A solid foundation is everything. Children are Konoha's future. As expected of Lord Hokage his words strike to the core."
"Iruka, you truly do have the mind of a Hokage," Hiruzen said with satisfaction, drawing deeply from his pipe.
"You flatter me, Lord Hokage." Glowing with pride at being praised by his lifelong idol, Iruka looked as if his soul had ascended.
"It's a waste for someone like you to remain just a regular teacher. In the world of education, Iruka, you need to shoulder greater responsibilities."
Just then, a clerk from the Hokage Tower rushed over with a message.
"The Fourth Kazekage has expressed interest in visiting this construction site alongside Lord Hokage."
With a wave of his hand, Hiruzen agreed. "Let him come. We welcome guests to witness Konoha's progress."
—
From a distance, the "Kazekage" approached with his entourage. Hiruzen's gaze grew slightly complicated.
Finally seeing you again, you wretched disciple...
Memories of Orochimaru's betrayal the cold-blooded patricide, the disregard for all moral restraint surged up like old wounds. Among all his students, Hiruzen had loved the three of them like his own children, perhaps even more than his biological son. Orochimaru, in particular, had been his favorite. The heartbreak ran deep.
And ever since that little stunt resurrecting both the First and Second Hokage for a tag-team ambush rumors had swirled that the "Hokage line" now had a tradition of slaying their mentors. He started this mess!
Hiruzen's generation had prided themselves on familial harmony, respectful brothers, loyal students. Even a wretched man like Danzo, right before dying, had praised Lord Tobirama and the Third. But Orochimaru? Pure evil from the start.
Right now wasn't the time to strike. When the so-called "Konoha Crush Plan" began, Orochimaru and his hidden Sand forces would walk straight into a deathtrap. Every jōnin in the village was currently present, and Jiraiya had already been recalled. This time, they'd surround and annihilate them completely.
Once this "Sand Collapse Plan" fails, the winds of the Will of Fire will blow straight into the Land of Wind.
Hiruzen drew heavily on his pipe, then smiled with that practiced, statesmanlike expression of his.
"Kazekage-dono, welcome to Konoha."
"Lord Third Hokage, I've heard much about you," the "Kazekage" replied with a raspy, low voice.
His eyes slowly scanned the bustling construction site before settling on Hiruzen's youthful face. There was a flicker of surprise, a glimmer of disorientation. After a beat, he added, "Konoha's expansion is truly astonishing. A marvel worthy of the strongest of the Five Great Nations."
"Hahaha, you flatter me," Hiruzen replied amiably. "Word has it that the Sand Village has also thrived under your leadership."
If the real Rasa were here, he'd probably take that as sarcastic shade. Their economy had collapsed so hard they were practically digging for gold to stay afloat. "Thriving" his ass.
But Orochimaru, currently disguised as Rasa, didn't care. He stared intently at Hiruzen.
"Compared to you, Lord Hokage, I pale in comparison. You look a full thirty years younger."
"Hahaha, Konoha's jutsu heritage is vast. This little rejuvenation technique is nothing," Hiruzen waved it off.
You liar! Orochimaru seethed inside. You're totally messing with forbidden jutsu! Don't act all righteous! I bet you're experimenting with Hashirama cells too! You're no different from me now, you hypocrite!
Sensei… you've fallen too.
Despite being a villain, Orochimaru couldn't help feeling a tinge of sorrow. This was the same man who once preached the Will of Fire every day, who now judging by his advanced results must've sacrificed countless lives in secret experiments.
Originally, Orochimaru had planned to show off tear off his face right before the fight, reveal his youthful new body, stun his old teacher with how far he'd come. But now? The old man's results looked even more advanced.
Hmph. You've fallen, Sensei. Now you know how it feels to be cast out like I was.
They walked side by side, with their attendants keeping a respectful distance behind. Iruka continued scribbling in his notebook, occasionally glancing up at the Third Hokage's back, eyes full of admiration.
"The Ninja Academy's expansion is truly impressive. Clearly, Lord Hokage has poured immense effort into education," the "Kazekage" commented, his tone laced with faint sarcasm.
"Education is Konoha's foundation. The children are our future," Hiruzen replied steadily.
"Heh. Indeed. Well said, Lord Hokage."
Hiruzen then began outlining his grand vision for the Konoha Academy City project. He had Iruka assist in explaining how ninja education would be restructured to develop students holistically intellectually, physically, morally, and socially. The visiting Sand shinobi looked utterly bewildered.
"Our goal is to expand educational facilities one hundredfold within five years. All Konoha ninjutsu will be taught progressively through a structured curriculum elementary, middle, and high-level institutions so that every child has both knowledge and skills, learning under the Will of Fire."
"The daimyō, the clans they all support me. The Will of the People is the Will of the Hokage. And the Will of the Hokage is the Will of the People."
To Orochimaru, this all sounded so bizarre it was almost like Hiruzen had been possessed. Back then, if he'd had half this vision and courage, none of the ugly history would've happened. And now, at this age, he suddenly wants to play reformist statesman? What was this, a midlife crisis in his twilight years?
Behind them, Konoha's delegation scribbled frantically in their notebooks.
Hiruzen pressed on: "The Konoha Academy City project won't stop at the Land of Fire. We intend to recruit students from abroad as well. Sand and Konoha share a bond of friendship. I wonder if the Kazekage would consider sending some of your promising youths to study here? I've heard your children have great potential."
Now that crossed a line.
To the Sand shinobi trailing behind, the speech had started out dazzling. Konoha was rich, ambitious, and forward-thinking. They'd even started feeling a bit ashamed of their own country. But this last bit? That sounded dangerously close to demanding hostages.
Orochimaru raised a hand to calm his followers. "Lord Hokage jests."
Of course, being Orochimaru, he didn't take offense. He simply shot Hiruzen a long, meaningful look.
So… this is the power of forbidden jutsu? You kept secrets from me all those years, didn't you, Sensei?
"I must say, that boy Gaara is quite promising. I see in him the makings of a future Kazekage," Hiruzen continued.
"Then perhaps it's time for you to consider a successor as well, Lord Hokage."
"Hahaha, Konoha is full of talent. Anyone could be the next Hokage."
—
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Konoha...
Jiraiya, having returned early, was overseeing Naruto's special training.
A bunch of long-legged tadpoles hopped around the training field. Naruto and Jiraiya locked eyes.
"…Doesn't look like a Child of Destiny to me," Jiraiya muttered. "That old man must've been exaggerating."
—
Elsewhere.
"Chidori!"
A blinding bolt of lightning shattered the boulder in front of Sasuke.
—
Under the soft glow of a desk lamp...
Sakura wore a headband that read "Diligence" as she practiced hand seals with one hand and solved theoretical exercises with the other. Kakashi had given her a copy of Medical Ninjutsu: A Beginner's Guide.
—
In a dim prison cell...
Danzo, one-eyed and one-armed, flipped through the newspaper.
The headline read:
"Nations Gather in Konoha for the Joint Exams: A New Wind Blows Through the Shinobi World."