Sarutobi Hiruzen looked deeply satisfied with Aburame Shiki and Kakashi, who had just passed the examination. The smile in his eyes couldn't be hidden.
As the Third Hokage, Hiruzen had access to vast amounts of intelligence, and he carried a clear sense of the state of the entire shinobi world.Not long had passed since the Second Great Ninja War. The four major hidden villages—who had been quietly licking their wounds—were now ready to move again.
Conflicts along Konoha's borders had been steadily increasing. Even though the ninja world appeared outwardly calm, Hiruzen could feel that as the five great villages recovered their strength, the scent of gunpowder between them grew heavier by the day.
"Time truly is the best medicine…""The brutal Second Great Ninja War is still vivid in my mind, yet after only a short season of peace, everyone is already eager to ignite a Third."
Hiruzen sighed. Though he felt concern, he did not fear war.He was called "The Professor" and recognized as one of the strongest shinobi of his generation. With Konoha as powerful as it was now, he did not fear another conflict.
He simply felt it was unnecessary.Under the current order, Konoha was the greatest beneficiary.
Hiruzen looked at the spirited Aburame Shiki and Kakashi—future pillars of the village.They were proof that under his leadership, Konoha's legacy and inheritance remained strong.
After all, didn't the Sannin, Hatake Sakumo, Namikaze Minato, Aburame Shidan, and now Kakashi—all these exceptional shinobi across generations—demonstrate the achievements of Sarutobi Hiruzen?
Hiruzen personally presented the Konoha Genin forehead protectors to Aburame Shiki and Kakashi.Then, placing a gentle hand on each boy's head, he said warmly:
"I am proud of your performance. As Hokage, supporting your healthy growth is my duty."
"Wherever the leaves fly, the fire burns bright. The fire will continue to illuminate the village and cause new leaves to sprout…"
"From today forward, you are Genin of Konoha."
The surrounding students erupted into enthusiastic applause.They applauded the Hokage's words, but also Shiki's and Kakashi's accomplishment.
Aburame Shiki accepted the forehead protector and tied it on immediately. He bowed respectfully.
"I will never disappoint your expectations, Hokage-sama."
Shiki was always flawless during formal occasions, perfectly expressing both his respect for the Third Hokage and his understanding of the Will of Fire.
"Good child, such a polite boy," Hiruzen said softly. "I hope you will one day make great contributions to Konoha and become one of its heroes."
Moreover, during his entire time at the Ninja Academy, Shiki had never once used his phosphorus insects. This showed he possessed the Will of Fire—he refused to endanger his classmates, even unintentionally.
This, more than anything, pleased Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The phosphorus insects possessed immense destructive power.Shiki's ability to restrain himself proved that he could control such dangerous strength responsibly.
Combined with the Aburame clan's parasitic insects, the phosphorus insect technique would become a terrifying force on the battlefield.
This one must be carefully cultivated, Hiruzen thought.
His gaze shifted to Kakashi.
Dressed in tight black training gear, a sword strapped to his back, Kakashi looked like a blade drawn from its sheath—sharp, cold, and impossible to ignore.
When Kakashi used his Slashing Wave technique, his resemblance to Hatake Sakumo was undeniable.
Seeing Kakashi made Hiruzen recall Sakumo himself, and he felt a complicated weight in his chest.
Sakumo was a magnificent sword—too magnificent. Even if Sakumo himself held no ambition, his reputation alone posed a threat to the Hokage's master-apprentice system.
Hiruzen felt helpless.
If he supported Sakumo further, the man's prestige would reach a level that could only be resolved by making him Hokage—anything less would feel like suppressing a hero.
But suppressing Sakumo outright was impossible.Sakumo embodied the purest form of the Will of Fire; Hiruzen had no grounds to hinder him without violating his own principles.
For a moment, Hiruzen thought longingly of Shimura Danzō.Danzō, my all-purpose problem-solver… help me think of a solution.
"Kakashi," Hiruzen said with a gentle expression, "you performed very well. You have lived up to the name of Hatake Sakumo. I hope you continue to improve, but also remember to connect with others. Bonds are the most precious thing."
Kakashi glanced at Aburame Shiki.Their frequent sparring had already forged mutual respect. Kakashi nodded silently.
Hiruzen nodded with satisfaction.This… this is a bond.
He addressed the excited students below:
"Children, one day you too will graduate and become capable shinobi like Aburame Shiki and Kakashi. All of you are the future pillars of Konoha."
Hiruzen never missed a chance to instill the Will of Fire.
The early graduation exam concluded, and as Shiki descended from the stage, Might Guy and Shiranui Genma rushed to greet him.
Guy grinned widely. "Shiki! Congratulations!"
Becoming a Genin was certainly worth celebrating.
Genma glanced at Kakashi, who was receiving congratulations from Uchiha Obito and Nohara Rin."Kakashi really is strong. Other than you, I doubt any of us stand a chance against him."
Guy nodded seriously."That's true. Even in pure taijutsu, I can't beat him yet. And with his sword skills and ninjutsu combined, I'm nowhere close."
Shiki comforted him."Kakashi's strength is real. He's inherited the techniques of Lord Hatake Sakumo."
Guy laughed enthusiastically."Then there's one more genius for me to chase!"
Genma sighed."Catching up to either of you is going to be hard…"
Guy's teeth gleamed as he smiled."It doesn't matter! Only because there are geniuses like Shiki and Kakashi can we push ourselves even harder! This is youth!"
Shiki often trained taijutsu with Guy, but Guy hadn't yet shown the explosive talent he was famous for. It wasn't lack of potential—just that his youth hadn't bloomed yet.
From that day forward, Guy trained relentlessly—day after day, year after year.Fueled by youth, sweat, and tears, he would one day become the Blue Beast of Konoha, opening the Eighth Gate of Death and nearly kicking the final villain into oblivion.
Shiki stretched lazily."I passed the graduation exam. Time to celebrate—barbecue's on me."
"Yeah!!"Guy and Genma shouted in excitement.