Chapter Fifty-Nine: Tsunade and the Third Hokage

On this very morning, while Gato Mikaze and Orochimaru were engaged in their cordial and amicable meeting, another corner of the Hidden Leaf Village was abuzz with activity—the Ninja Academy was alive with excitement. Today marked the registration day for the new cohort of students at the Leaf Ninja Academy. After a period of quiet over the holidays, the Academy had once again returned to its customary bustle.

Since the institution of the ninja academy system by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, over twenty years had passed since the eleventh year of the Leaf’s founding. The Academy’s importance and standing within the village had grown ever more significant with each year.

For the village, the founding and evolution of the ninja academy had ensured educational stability and greatly enhanced the efficiency of nurturing talent, breaking away from the archaic, clan-based training of the Warring States era. It had, to a certain degree, shattered the old monopoly of the great clans over the education of future shinobi, opening doors for both commoners and members of lesser families. Through study at the Academy, they were given a genuine chance to rise above their circumstances and achieve success.

Over the past two decades, the Academy had continuously supplied the village with a steady stream of talented individuals. Many of those who had excelled had gone on to serve as chunin, and even jonin, becoming the backbone of the Hidden Leaf.

Because today was the day for new students to register, many parents accompanied their children to the Academy, filling the campus with a lively, bustling energy. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had also arrived as was customary, preparing to attend the opening ceremony and the induction of new students.

Students, teachers, parents, the Third Hokage’s bodyguards and other accompanying personnel—all these gathered together, turning the Academy into a vibrant scene. Besides the Third Hokage representing the village leadership, the Academy and the village had also invited many other prominent figures to attend. The heads or elders of the major ninja clans were present—representatives from the Uchiha, Hyuga, Sarutobi, Shimura, Yamanaka, Akimichi, Nara, Aburame, and Inuzuka clans had all come to show their support for the Academy. Various departmental heads from key village institutions attended as well, both to underscore the village’s commitment to the Academy and to scout for outstanding talent among the new students.

With the ceremony yet to begin, teachers and some of the Third Hokage’s entourage were still making final preparations. All the new students had already passed the Academy’s entrance exam; they showed promise as future ninja, likely to graduate and serve the village one day. For those born into ninja families, this was hardly a surprise—they had been groomed from childhood. But for children from ordinary families, the Academy was a true opportunity, perhaps even a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

In this world, shinobi were the main actors, the rulers of the ninja realm. For ordinary families, having a child or younger relative gain admission to the Academy—so that even if they became only a genin—meant a significant step up in life.

For the children themselves, it meant a partial escape from their original social standing; for a family, it brought undeniable benefits. Even the modest mission pay of an ordinary genin in the Leaf was more than enough to support a typical household.

Most of those attending the ceremony had already assembled. The students, still children at heart, were noisy and excitable, while teachers from each class tried to keep their students in order. To the average observer, the scene might have seemed chaotic and overwhelming, but the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, found no annoyance in the youthful clamor. Instead, his gaze was filled with deep satisfaction as he looked upon the spirited young saplings of the village.

Whether from noble clans or humble origins, in Hiruzen’s eyes, these children were all the future of the Leaf, heirs to the Will of Fire.

"Old man, you come to the Academy several times every year, and every time you wear that same kindly, gratified expression. You’re barely in your forties—if you keep this up, you’ll really turn into an old geezer," came a young woman’s voice.

It was none other than Tsunade, standing at Hiruzen’s side. Tsunade’s presence at the ceremony was not because she was the Third Hokage’s student, but as the granddaughter of both the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and the Second, Tobirama Senju. In her own right, she was one of the village’s newly promoted jonin.

Tsunade, in some way, represented the Will of Fire of both her grandfather and granduncle.

“What’s so bad about becoming an old man? Doesn’t everyone age? Including you. All these children are the future of the Leaf. You were once just like them—small as a bean, and now look at you, a jonin of the village. Why are you still so brash?” Hiruzen, recognizing the familiar voice, turned from the students and looked at his female apprentice.

“I was just saying. Here you go again with the lecture,” Tsunade replied. “Every time you mention the Will of Fire, you’re like this. Grandpa and Granduncle were exactly the same when I was a kid.”

Hiruzen glanced at their surroundings and, thinking of his apprentice’s reputation for gambling and violence, couldn’t help but continue his admonishments.

“The First and Second entrusted the village to me, and I am determined to protect it and help it flourish. Over the years, I think I’ve done well. The village survived the turmoil after the First Great War and the sudden passing of the Second. Now, with the rise of a new generation of shinobi, we have more and more capable ninja shouldering the future.”

“The Academy deserves no small share of the credit for this. As long as the leaves dance—”

“Yes, yes, the Will of Fire, I could recite it in my sleep…”

“Old man, if you keep nagging like this, you’ll really become an old geezer. You’re only in your forties! And I, for one, refuse to get old. I’ll invent a jutsu for eternal youth if I have to!”

Tsunade, seeing her teacher about to launch into another lecture, hastily interrupted.

Hiruzen could only fall silent.

The Third Hokage could do nothing with his precious pupil but look at her with a mixture of helplessness and affection. He couldn’t hit her—she was, after all, his own student—and as for harsh criticism, he knew too well how thick-skinned she could be. Besides, this was neither the time nor the place for such discipline. Tsunade was grown now, a jonin of the village.

Seeing her teacher’s resigned expression, Tsunade let her lips curl into a sly smile. “Relax, relax. The Will of Fire—I’ve long since taken it to heart. Don’t worry, old man.”

“Actually, I came to see you today not just because you asked me to attend the opening ceremony, but also because I have something else—”

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