The main world is a Naruto universe without conspiracy theories. Konoha-nin operate in a mercenary mode, traveling through worlds like One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen, Hunter x Hunter, Demon Slayer, etc.
Ninja Art: Brain Storage Technique!
——
The Great River's tide swells today, and only now do I realize who I am.
Earlier parts omitted, middle parts omitted.
The Konoha F4, scamming meals and drinks, no one saving you in a one-on-one fight, making Naruto drink expired milk, embezzling the Namikaze family's wealth, stealing the Uchiha clan's assets to raise 3,000 Sarutobi ninja troops, the weakest of the Hokage line, the most pathetic Hokage in Konoha's history...
"I was wronged!!!"
The highest leader of Konoha Village, the Third Hokage—Sarutobi Hiruzen—woke up from his nightmare, drenched in sweat, feeling as if a giant serpent were coiling around him, suffocating him.
It took him dozens of seconds to barely calm down.
What a terrifying and bizarre dream.
In the dream, he surfed endlessly in a timeless space, then engaged in a heated online argument spanning dozens of pages on a Naruto forum, barely "winning" in the end while in a state of extreme agitation.
Only then did he break free from that strange place due to the intense emotional turmoil.
'Perhaps it wasn't just a dream.'
After calming down slightly, the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen thought this way, carefully recalling this peculiar experience.
In that strange and surreal space, he had transformed into some kind of consciousness entity, bombarded by endless information.
Every moment, vast amounts of information flooded his mind in the form of sound, images, videos, text, and even games, interacting with him while reshaping his very being.
Not only was his worldview reshaped, but he also felt the power of that space reflecting onto the physical world, seemingly transforming his aged body.
'It's as if I've been reborn.'
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed again.
White hair, age spots, wrinkled skin, a back that couldn't fully straighten—the standard image of an old man.
The Third Hokage, dressed in casual homewear and carrying his smoking pipe, walked out of his bedroom into the courtyard and sat casually on the wooden floor.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked up at the starry sky, slowly savoring the fragrance of tobacco.
At this moment, the rigid mind of an old man began to thaw and grow active—how could it not?
The sheer volume of information was like the entire Big River violently crashing into a tiny rural ditch.
The Land of Waves, the Akatsuki, the world's scapegoat, the Ninja War, the Ōtsutsuki, reminiscing about the past with tears, "healthy Itachi," "intelligence expert Jiraiya," Naruto forums, "Uchiha suplex," the new generation's non-mainstream aesthetics, "Boruto," the new S-rank ninja "Susanoo Kakashi," the Third Hokage being either stupid, evil, or both.
Seriously, the story started with the "strongest Hokage" but then changed the setting halfway through?
I, who mastered all of Konoha's jutsu, never got a power boost in the end? The First, Second, and Fourth all got massive upgrades in their final battles, but even when I was reanimated, I was stuck in old-man form?
Unbelievable! Kishimoto knows nothing about the "strongest Hokage"!
Just thinking about it makes me furious. Kishimoto should spend at least twenty years in Konoha Prison studying the Will of Fire! I'll teach him personally!
Sarutobi Hiruzen's thoughts were far more active than just a few minutes ago.
He quickly pondered, his mind racing. One after another, youthful ideas formed in his head.
Traditional ninjas aren't that great.
"Traditional ninjas aren't that great." "We'll win." "Rasengan really is that powerful." "Flying Thunder God is still unmatched." "The First Hokage is the most broken ninja in history." "Even the Anbu think Root is shady." "Kumogakure's jutsu arsenal isn't bad, but nothing beats the Will of Fire." "Jiraiya's writing skills? Let's just say the Icha Icha series is… popular for other reasons." "Sarutobi's lectures are long, but they hit hard." "The Academy needs a few more years of real-world training." "The Will of Fire needs stronger backing in the next generation." "Cultural legacy is still legacy."
The thoughts had no logical connection, his mind running wild.
Finally, the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen confirmed that he could indeed change history. The most beautiful thing is the sunset's glow, and now is the perfect age to shine.
'If reality is a story, then I've become the child chosen by fate—no, the old man chosen by fate.' Sarutobi Hiruzen joked to himself.
Then, Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly realized he could now fully straighten his previously hunched back. What a strange feeling, as if time were rapidly reversing inside his aged body.
Sarutobi Hiruzen closed his eyes, carefully sensing his unusually good physical condition.
So strong! The last time I felt this much chakra must have been over a decade ago. If I can't defeat Orochimaru in this state, I'll eat my hat.
In this state, and as the Hokage, I can truly turn the tide. Sarutobi Hiruzen firmly believed.
Ding!
A flash of inspiration struck.
Hey, I've got a brilliant idea!
To change Konoha and the ninja world, we must start with Konoha's education. My teaching skills are so excellent, why not first create a "Konoha Academy City"?
But before that, there's something else I must do.
Shimura Danzō, Konoha's criminal, fallen ninja, evil mastermind, head of the Hokage World Boss Training Center.
The fallen ninja Shimura Danzō, who has done every evil deed imaginable, must take responsibility for the fact that the kind and gentle Third Hokage got flamed across dozens of forum pages.
The Land of Fire belongs to the Sarutobi clan, not the Shimura clan. I am the Hokage!
"Cough."
Swish—two ANBU on duty appeared, kneeling on one knee.
Fox Mask "Shin," Monkey Mask "Kō." They were the Hokage's direct ANBU, responsible for leading teams to protect the Hokage's safety.
Hokage Sarutobi issued orders to his subordinates in a firm voice.
"Kō, officially notify all jonin that a full meeting will be held tomorrow at 10 AM. Have the secretariat draft a contingency plan for potential attacks during the Chunin Exams and submit it to me by 5 PM tomorrow."
"Shin, assemble two standard ANBU combat squads and have them standby here. Then, notify Danzō to come see me in one hour."
"Yes." Two voices replied.
Something big was about to happen.
Fox Mask "Shin" and Monkey Mask "Kō" exchanged glances before leaving to carry out their orders, their minds filled with dread.
After the ANBU left, Sarutobi Hiruzen turned back inside. He changed into his battle armor, draped his Hokage robe over it, put on his Hokage hat, carefully reviewed intelligence, studied tactics, and summoned his true old friend, Enma, to welcome his false old friend of many years—the fallen ninja Shimura Danzō.
This decades-long friendship was about to meet its end!
The year was now Konoha Year 63.
The story of the ninja world had just begun. Team 7 was on a mission in the Land of Waves.
Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke bickered. Haruno Sakura complained about Naruto while gazing lovingly at Sasuke.
Hatake Kakashi glanced at the unusually wet puddle on the ground.
Then, Naruto suddenly sneezed.
The wind began to blow.