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

Chapter 401 Konoha in the Morning Light

"very good."

Minato Namikaze wore a gentle smile, but a hint of cunning flickered in his clear blue eyes.

He nodded slightly in satisfaction.

"So, today's training session is—a weighted cross-country run around Konoha Village!"

Shuimen's voice was like the sound of a starting gun.

Obito Uchiha's excitement instantly reached its peak.

"Wow! It's weighted cross-country running! I love it!"

He shouted loudly, like a firecracker that had been lit, his body already arched.

He clenched his fists with great force, his eagerness so palpable that he seemed ready to transform into the wind and be the first to cross the finish line.

Kakashi Hatake's lips inevitably drooped even further.

"Well... this reminds me of the match with that hot-blooded idiot..."

He complained softly, his voice carrying a sense of fatalistic helplessness.

But his hands never stopped moving.

Kakashi silently adjusted the headband on his forehead.

Deep within him, the ultimate desire for speed and endurance was completely ignited by a single, simple sentence from Minato-sensei.

They say it's troublesome, but their actions tell a different story.

"Teacher, are the weights heavier this time than last time?"

Kakashi frowned slightly as he fastened the last sandbag.

There was a hint of doubt in his voice.

That heavy feeling was unlike anything I had ever experienced before.

It's not an illusion.

Minato simply winked mysteriously, without giving a direct answer.

A mischievous smile curved his lips.

"Kakashi, this was specifically instructed by the Third Hokage."

The tone carried a unique joy of sharing "little secrets" that belongs only to teachers and elders.

He said, "To help you better understand the weight of the Will of Fire..."

Shuimen paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the three of them.

"So, I added a little something extra for you."

Upon hearing this, both Obito and Rin showed surprise and curiosity on their faces.

The Third Hokage?

They are unbelievable.

That figure who commands Konoha and is as steady as a mountain would actually personally oversee their team's daily training.

Kakashi's body suddenly stiffened.

The Third Hokage... Hiruzen Sarutobi?

The Hokage who was revered as a god by his father and the entire village of Konoha?

The Hokage who is supposedly secretly researching the "Optimal Solution for Physical Training of Ninja Academy Students"?

Kakashi felt an unprecedented heaviness at that moment.

That's not just the physical weight of the body being pulled by the sandbags.

It is also a profound expectation called "The Will of Fire".

It is formless and intangible, yet it weighs on the heart more than any sandbag.

He subconsciously turned his head to look at Obito beside him.

At this moment, Obito's face had lost its previous mischievousness.

Instead, there was an unprecedented solemnity.

This expectation of the "Will of Fire" is seen by him as a supreme honor.

A hint of pride even appeared at the corners of his mouth.

This is training personally "added ingredients" by the Hokage!

"Alright, Kakashi, Obito, Rin."

Minato Namikaze's voice rang out again, gentle yet firm.

The three people, who were immersed in their own emotions, were brought back to reality.

"Remember, you are the future of Konoha."

His gaze was calm, like the deep sea concealing power.

"It's also my pride."

Minato looked at the three of them with an encouraging gaze that seemed to penetrate their very souls.

"No matter what difficulties you encounter ahead, never give up."

"Yes, teacher!"

Obito and Rin responded almost simultaneously.

Their voices were clear and powerful, carrying their unwavering commitment to the future and to the teacher before them who was like a brother and a father.

Kakashi remained silent.

He simply carried the sandbags silently on his back.

Then, I looked up at the "Tongtian Wooden Building" standing majestically in the morning light in the distance.

He knew that he was carrying a burden far more than just heavy sandbags.

It is the hope and future of the entire Hidden Leaf Village.

"Well, I won't give up so easily."

He said to himself softly in his heart.

Before he could finish speaking, Obito could no longer contain himself.

"Kakashi! Rin! Let's go!"

He suddenly pushed off the ground and charged forward like a wild horse.

He excitedly shouted, "This time I'm definitely going to be the first to cross the finish line!"

Kakashi was slightly taken aback.

Then, on the face whose upper half was covered by a headband, the lower half of the lips unconsciously curved into a slight smile.

"Fool……"

He muttered something under his breath and stretched his shoulders, feeling the weight of the sandbags exhilarate his muscles.

Without the slightest hesitation, his body moved like a cheetah hunting its prey, following closely behind.

They quickly closed the distance between themselves and Obito.

After a brief moment of surprise, Nohara Rin followed closely behind.

She looked ahead at the two figures speeding through the morning light, and a bright smile bloomed on her face.

The morning breeze caressed my face, carrying the freshness of the earth and a hint of floral fragrance—the unique scent of wood leaves, peaceful and full of life.

The new day's training officially began, filled with the boys' passion and energy.

Minato Namikaze stood there, watching the three figures gradually disappear into the distance. His gentle smile did not fade; instead, it deepened.

His golden hair shimmered in the morning light as he quietly watched his disciples leave.

He snapped out of his reverie, nimbly leaped onto the nearby tree trunk, and with a flash of golden light, his figure vanished from the spot.

The patrol team of Konoha Village, stepping on the shards of gold in the morning light, slowly patrolled the perimeter of the village.

Fugaku Uchiha walked at the front of the group.

He was a squad leader in the security detail.

Behind him were several young Konoha ninjas, their steps steady, their uniforms rustling softly against the grass.

Their conversation was gently dispersed by the momentary tranquility and breeze, blurring into a peaceful whisper.

"Captain Fugaku, look."

A young Uchiha ninja spoke in a low voice.

He raised his hand and pointed to a spot not far away.

There, three young figures were sweeping past at an astonishing speed, kicking up dust like the wind.

Fugaku paused slightly, his gaze following the direction his teammate was pointing.

Three flickering flames.

"It's the Watergate team; their training intensity is always astonishing."

Fugaku's tone was calm, yet it conveyed a sense of understanding.

There was no surprise on his face.

"I heard that the Third Hokage has high hopes for them."

Another ninja added, his tone tinged with envy for the three boys.

Upon hearing this, someone nearby couldn't help but laugh.

"Haha, isn't Obito always saying he wants to become Hokage? This is the perfect opportunity for him to pursue his dream."

Fugaku's gaze lingered lightly over the energetic figure of the boy in goggles.

There was a faint curve at the corner of his mouth.

Then, his gaze fell on Kakashi, who was standing to the side.

That child.

That crispness, that precision, was like the shadow of his father, Shuo Mao, stretched long in the morning light.

For Fugaku, the routine patrols of the security force had long transcended his duties.

It's more like a tranquil perception.

Sensing every inch of the village's land, every beating heart, and every pulse of life.

Fugaku Uchiha enjoyed this peace.