Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 421 You really are a... gentle person.

On the high platform, Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Minato Namikaze at the very front of the group.

Everything that needed to be said has been said.

What remains is the entrustment of trust.

Under the solemn gaze of the entire audience, Minato Namikaze stepped forward, his golden hair swaying slightly in the morning breeze.

He walked up to the platform, each step steady and powerful.

He stopped in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi and stretched out his hands.

A simple, yet most dignified gesture.

Hiruzen Sarutobi solemnly placed the scroll carrying the will of Konoha into Minato's hands.

The scroll has a warm, smooth feel, yet it carries an indescribable heaviness.

"Go."

Hiruzen Sarutobi only said two words.

"Yes!" Minato's response was equally concise, yet resounding.

He took the scroll, turned around, and faced those young and energetic faces, and that green ocean formed by the new generation of Konoha.

Looking at Minato's resolute back, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt as if the hustle and bustle and the morning light before him had faded away, and he was pulled back to the twilight of the previous night.

……

In the Hokage's office, the orange afterglow shone through the window, casting long streaks of light on the floor.

With most of the mountain of documents already processed, Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his aching neck as he reviewed the final report on wartime material allocation.

"Tap, tap."

The knocking was neither too loud nor too soft, but very rhythmic.

"Come in."

The office door was slowly pushed open, and a tall, slender, and meticulous figure walked in.

The newcomer was dressed in light blue armor, his short silver hair still striking in the dim light, and his red eyes scanning everything in the room.

It is Tobirama Senju.

He didn't beat around the bush and asked directly, "Isn't it a bit too early to send them straight to the main battlefield?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi put down his pen, leaned back in his chair, and let out a soft sigh.

He knew that the founder of the Konoha system would always examine issues from the most rational and lowest-risk perspective.

"Teacher, they're not little anymore."

He was silent for a moment, then slowly began to speak, "It's time to take on some responsibilities. We... will gradually become the ship of the old era, and in the new era, there may not necessarily be a place for us."

At this point, the image of the celestial light that changed his life uncontrollably surfaced in Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind.

That was when he had just transmigrated, and his memories of the original owner and himself were in a chaotic and intertwined state, filled with confusion and fear about this world.

The air was filled with the stench of dirt and blood, as well as the oppressive presence of the Cloud Hidden Gold Horn and Silver Horn troops.

Then, that blue figure stood firmly in front of them, the group of younger generation.

That figure, using his renowned Water Release technique, completely shut out the shadow of death and the desperate pursuers behind him.

"Hiruzen, starting tomorrow, you will be the Hokage."

These were the last words his teacher left him—calm, unquestionable, yet containing the heavy trust placed in him for the future of the entire village.

Sometimes, Hiruzen Sarutobi would also feel disoriented.

This is just a fictional world made up of comics, and I am just a passerby who accidentally stumbled in.

But... the love was real, and the pain was real.

The powerful beating of my heart in my chest is real; every breath, every touch, every smiling face I see is real.

Since that's the case, then do what you want to do.

Let's live well together, with Konoha in tow.

Pulling his thoughts away from his memories, Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up the mission scroll that had been prepared on the table.

This is what he will hand over to Minato Namikaze tomorrow, symbolizing the beginning of Konoha's new strategy.

His fingers unconsciously rubbed the smooth wooden shaft of the scroll, when suddenly his fingertips touched an extremely fine and unusual engraving.

Ok?

He took the scroll under the lamp and examined it carefully.

In an extremely hidden corner of the scroll, he discovered a spell mark so small it was almost negligible.

It was an extremely complex yet incredibly fluid coordinate formula for the Flying Thunder God Technique.

He was all too familiar with the handwriting of this technique.

Precise, efficient, and without any superfluous lines, it is full of Senju Tobirama's unique, meticulous style.

This is not a simple mark.

This is a promise, a backup plan, an insurance policy secretly left by the teacher without his knowledge.

In case Minato and his group are in dire straits, this coordinate will be the beacon for the Second Hokage to personally descend upon the battlefield.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at the small spell symbol for a long time, a helpless yet warm smile appearing on his face.

He murmured softly to himself, as if speaking to the blue figure from last night.

"Tobirama Senju, you are indeed a... kind person."

……

A breeze swept across the high platform.

Hiruzen Sarutobi watched as Minato turned around, his golden hair blending seamlessly with the rising sun behind him.

Minato Namikaze raised the scroll in his hand high.

No further words are needed; this single action is the clearest command.

He turned around and leaped off the platform without hesitation, landing steadily in front of Class 7.

"Set off!"

The clear command echoed throughout the drill ground.

"oh!!"

Obito Uchiha was the first to respond, excitedly pumping his fist. "It's finally starting! Rin, Kakashi!"

"Shut up, you idiot."

Kakashi Hatake, with his hands in his pockets and leaning slightly forward, was ready to set off.

Meanwhile, in the Akatsuki squad, Yahiko's face beamed with a bright smile as he looked at Nagato and Konan: "Let's go! Let's take the Third Hokage's ideals of peace to even farther places!"

Nagato didn't speak, but nodded solemnly.

"Kai! Let's use our youthful energy to kick off this great expedition! Let's see who can be the first to burst out of the village gate!"

"It's ignited, Father!"

Two green figures transformed into two whirlwinds, rushing out ahead of everyone before anyone could react, raising a cloud of dust.

"Those two guys..."

Nara Shikaku yawned, looking utterly annoyed.

"There's nothing we can do; they're the pioneers."

Yamanaka Inoichi laughed.

"When we get back, we absolutely have to get Minato to treat us to barbecue!"

Choza Akimichi has already begun planning the victory celebration banquet after his triumphant return.

Whoosh!Whoosh!Whoosh!

After only a brief moment of noise, hundreds of ninjas, like precision components receiving unified commands, instantly transformed into afterimages, following Minato Namikaze at the forefront, leaping onto the surrounding rooftops.