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

Chapter 51 Why Do We Fight? —Thanks to Shirai Kuroko and Irena Kari for the numerous requests for mo

The sun was shining brightly on the playground of the Konoha Ninja Academy.

The newly enrolled children, dressed in brand-new clothes, beamed with excitement and curiosity.

They were like a flock of chirping sparrows, full of fantasies about the place that would soon determine the course of their lives.

"quiet!"

"It's a ninja academy teacher, an experienced Jonin!" a teacher shouted.

The playground fell silent instantly.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in the solemn Hokage robes and wearing a straw hat, gently swept his gaze over the young faces below.

These children are the future of Konoha.

It is everything he fought bloody battles on the battlefield and devoted himself to protecting in the office.

He cleared his throat, and his voice, amplified by a special ninjutsu, reached each child's ears clearly.

"Children, welcome to the Konoha family. From today onwards, you will learn here how to become a qualified ninja."

The children in the audience's eyes lit up instantly.

They were looking forward to it, hoping that the Hokage would teach them some world-destroying powerful ninjutsu, or tell them some exciting heroic stories, just like in the legends.

However, what Hiruzen Sarutobi said next stunned everyone.

"Before we learn how to throw your first shuriken, I'd like to ask you a question."

His gaze swept across the entire room, and his voice became serious and solemn.

"The war has just ended. We won. So, can anyone tell me why we fought?"

Why fight?

The children looked at each other, puzzled by what seemed both simple and complex.

A robust-looking child, presumably from the Akimichi clan, was the first to raise his hand and shout, "For a full stomach! My dad said that if we drive away the bad guys, we can eat barbecue every day!"

"Hahaha..." A burst of good-natured laughter came from the audience.

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and nodded. "Well said. It's a great reason to be able to eat delicious grilled meat."

"To protect the village!" Another child, who looked like he was from the Uchiha clan, had a hint of pride on his face.

"To become a hero like the Hokage!"

"To protect Mom and Dad!"

The children shouted out their answers all at once.

Some said it was "to protect the village," some said it was "to become a hero," and some said it was "to prevent their families from being bullied."

Hiruzen Sarutobi listened patiently, affirming each answer.

"That's all very well said."

He raised his hand, signaling everyone to quiet down. "Protecting the village, becoming heroes, protecting our families... these are our reasons for fighting. They are also part of the Will of Fire."

Hiruzen Sarutobi changed the subject and slowly began to recount the Warring States period, a bloody era in which everyone lived in fear and uncertainty.

How did the Senju and Uchiha clans, two of the most powerful clans, lose countless relatives and comrades in endless hatred and slaughter?

Then, he talked about how the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and Madara Uchiha put aside their hatred and joined forces to build Konoha, the home of everyone, on a barren land.

"Children, you must remember this. Konoha was not founded to start a new war, but to end it."

"The core of the Will of Fire is not to turn you into killing machines that only obey orders unconditionally."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice became extremely solemn.

"It's meant to give you the ability to think independently and distinguish right from wrong. It's meant to allow you to ask yourself in your heart when you receive any task—am I going against the original intention of protecting you?"

"It gives you the courage and awareness to fight for what's important to you!"

"A true Konoha ninja's strength shouldn't be measured solely by how many enemies they kill, but rather by how many smiles they protect!"

These words completely overturned everyone's understanding.

It turns out that the Will of Fire is not about sacrifice or obedience.

It is reflection, it is protection, it is enlightenment.