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

Chapter 302 Do you want to learn something that can protect everyone?

Sunlight streamed through the windows of the ninja school, cutting out interwoven diamond patterns of light and shadow on the rustic wooden floor.

Fine dust particles floated in the air, along with a faint scent of ink and fresh grass.

The classroom of Class 7, Grade 1 was very quiet.

The children sat upright, their small backs ramrod straight, their faces bearing a solemnity unlike that of other classes.

On the platform stood an elderly woman dressed in a plain-colored kimono.

Her full head of white hair was tied up with a simple hairpin. Time had etched deep lines on her face, but her calm eyes seemed to hold the entire history of Konoha, gentle and profound.

Mito Uzumaki.

Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato sat side by side.

There were no books or scrolls spread out on their desks because Grandma Mito's history lessons never required those things.

"Before Konoha was founded..."

Mito's voice was soft, with a unique huskiness, yet it clearly reached the ears of every child.

"...In the beginning, there was no concept of villages. There were only families, one family after another. From the moment children learned to walk, they had to learn to grip a kunai tightly. Because your neighbor might be the enemy who takes your life tomorrow."

She did not recount the epic wars, nor did she list the world-renowned heroes.

They were just talking about some very, very small things.

"I remember that the rainwater always had a rusty smell back then, the smell of blood. The fields were burned by war year after year. The most common flower was the small white flower that bloomed on the graves."

Yahiko unconsciously tightened his grip on his knees.

The rainwater smelled of rust.

This description reminded him of the Land of Rain, a country that is always weeping.

Xiao Nan lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously folding a small piece of paper in half, then in half again.

Grandma Mito's words reminded her of her deceased parents. Their faces were blurred, but the cold feeling of losing their home was still clear.

Nagato sat quietly; he didn't have many sad memories.

His parents were alive and well, and his clansmen were safe and sound. He only sensed a tremendous, suffocating sadness from Mito-baba's plain narration.

I looked up at the old man on the podium.

She was recounting such a cruel past, yet there wasn't a trace of hatred on her face.

There is only an unyielding tenderness and a deep longing.

"Hatred is like a bottomless quagmire. The Uchiha hate the Senju, and the Senju hate the Uchiha. Today you killed my brothers, tomorrow I will wipe out your entire family. What children inherit from their fathers is not inheritance, but hatred."

"These days seem endless."

Mito paused for a moment, then slowly walked down from the podium and strolled among the children.

"The meaning of fighting is not to perpetuate hatred, but to end it."

"Konoha".

Mito stopped beside Yahiko's desk, and gently placed her wrinkled hand on Yahiko's orange hair.

"The original intention of establishing this village was actually very simple. It was for peace, so that children would no longer have to go to the battlefield. It was so that the village could be filled with your laughter at all times."

A warm current flowed up from the top of his head and instantly spread throughout Yahiko's entire body.

He suddenly raised his head, his bright eyes filled with tears.

Family.

Protect children.

Laughter and cheers filled the air.

"Ms. Mito."

"Hmm?" Mito Uzumaki responded gently.

"Then... what are we doing here at the Ninja Academy, learning ninjutsu? What is it for?"

If the purpose of building villages is to keep children away from the battlefield, then why do they still need to learn these combat skills?

The classroom was completely silent.

Mito wasn't angry at being interrupted. Looking at that inquisitive little face, she smiled with satisfaction.

She slowly straightened up, looked around the classroom, and gazed at the innocent and childlike faces.

"Good question, child."

Her voice rang out again in the quiet classroom.

"We are learning ninjutsu now so that we will have the ability to protect."

"guard?"

"Yes."

Mito nodded, her voice filled with an unwavering determination, "It's to protect this hard-won peace. It's to ensure that war never returns to our homeland."

"Power itself is neither good nor evil. In the hands of a bandit, it is a weapon. In the hands of a protector, it is a shield."

"You learn ninjutsu not to plunder, not to seek revenge. But so that when darkness falls, you will have enough strength to stand before those you cherish, to protect them, to protect this home."

"We study so that our descendants may have the right to not have to learn to fight."

His words were powerful and resounding.

Nagato watched all this quietly, unlike Yahiko who was excited, or Konan who seemed lost in thought.

He felt that what Grandma Mito said was very heartwarming.

That feeling was like the warmth emanating from Kushina's fiery red hair when she shielded him behind her.

That's a reassuring force.

"Ring ring—"

The bell rang crisply as get out of class ended.

The children snapped out of their solemn mood, and the classroom gradually came back to life.

"stand up!"

Goodbye, teacher!

After bowing respectfully, the children left the classroom in twos and threes.

Yahiko pulled Minami along, excitedly discussing their plans to practice throwing techniques at the training ground, determined to work hard for "protection."

Nagato followed behind them, preparing to leave together.

"Nagato, please wait a moment."

Mito's gentle voice came from behind.

Nagato stopped and turned around, somewhat puzzled.

Yahiko and Konan also stopped.

Mito's gaze was fixed on Nagato.

"Nagato Uzumaki, isn't that right?"

Nagato nodded.

"You two go ahead, I'll say a few words to him." Mito smiled at Yahiko and Konan.

Although Yahiko was curious, he obediently nodded and led Konan away first.

Soon, only Nagato and Mito Uzumaki remained in the empty classroom.

The afternoon sunlight was softer, casting long shadows of both the elderly and the children.

Mito slowly walked up to Nagato. Instead of looking down at him, she slowly squatted down so that she could look at the boy, who was unusually quiet, at eye level.

She looked into his pure black eyes, which were without a trace of impurity, as clean as obsidian.

"child,"

Mito's voice was so gentle, as if she were afraid of disturbing him, "You and Kushina both possess a very warm chakra."

Nagato blinked, not quite understanding the meaning of those words.

Mito's kind smile deepened.

She reached out and gently stroked Nagato's hair.

"Would you like to learn something... that can protect everyone?"

Protect...everyone?

This word caused small ripples to spread through Nagato's heart.

He subconsciously clenched the hem of his clothes, and images of Kushina's fiery red back, always shielding him, flashed through his mind; Yahiko's serious profile as he practiced throwing techniques; and Konan's focused expression as she quietly folded origami.

Should we protect them?

However, he was timid, not as energetic as Yahiko, and not as full of energy as his sister Kushina.

"I……"

Nagato's voice was soft, tinged with uncertainty, "Can I?"

Mito did not answer directly, but withdrew her hand and slowly stood up.

She walked to the corner of the classroom and took out a set of things from an old-fashioned wooden cabinet.

An exquisite inkstone, a stick of ink, a calligraphy brush that looks very old, and a stack of high-quality white paper.

She carefully placed the items on an empty desk and then waved to Nagato.