Ryoma hadn't expected things to turn out this way.
Vice Principal of the Ninja Academy?
Such a high position?
Sarutobi Hiruzen had spoken with authority, and though Ryoma had no intention of outright refusing in front of everyone, he thought to himself that he simply wouldn't show up when the time came.
The Third Hokage ended his speech with the words of the Will of Fire:
"Wherever there are leaves, there is fire. The shadow of the fire will shine on the village, and new leaves will sprout. Young people are the future, and the older generation must trust and protect them. The sacrifices of the elders are never meaningless; they inspire the youth to become the pillars of tomorrow."
No wonder Hiruzen could recite it so fluently—it was a passage he often repeated.
After the meeting, Sarutobi even patted Ryoma on the shoulder and said warmly,
"Good work. I believe you can do it."
Minato Namikaze also came over with a smile.
"Ryoma, it looks like we'll be colleagues from now on."
"I don't think I'm really suited to be a principal," Ryoma muttered.
Tsunade rolled her eyes.
"Don't be an idiot. Vice principal is basically just a fancy title for a senior teacher, got it?"
"Huh? That's all?"
Listening to Kushina's explanation, Ryoma finally understood. In the Academy, ordinary teachers could be promoted to senior teachers, and the so-called 'vice principals' were just that—senior teachers. There were already more than ten "vice principals."
Realizing this, Ryoma fell silent.
They want me to be a teacher?
He wasn't interested in the slightest.
But just as he was ready to continue being a salted fish, Uzumaki Mito summoned him for a private talk.
In Mito's room at the Uzumaki compound, she suddenly asked,
"Ryoma, what do you think of Kushina?"
The question caught him completely off guard.
"Grandma Mito, Kushina is… good. She's beautiful, and—"
Mito waved him off.
"Forget it. I'll be direct."
Her expression turned serious.
"Ryoma, you are the last bloodline of the Senju clan. If you're willing, you can treat this place as your home—we are your family. What I want to ask is… can I entrust Kushina to you?"
Ryoma's eyes lit up instantly. He hadn't expected Mito to be so straightforward.
Without hesitation, he nodded.
"Of course, Grandma Mito! I will!"
Mito snorted.
"You sleep all day, and now suddenly you're willing? Still, it's obvious that Kushina has feelings for you. If the two of you come together, I'll be the first to approve. The only question is—do you truly mean it?"
Ryoma replied firmly,
"Of course I do. I love Kushina!"
When opportunity appeared, Ryoma never backed down.
Mito's eyes softened with satisfaction.
"Then you must change your ways. If you want to be with Kushina, you can't keep drifting aimlessly. This new position—being named vice principal—that was my idea. I brought it up with the Third Hokage."
Ryoma blinked, realization dawning.
"Do well in this, and one day you'll become Hokage."
He tilted his head and asked slowly,
"So… what you mean is, if I marry Kushina, I'll become Hokage?"
Mito nodded faintly.
Ryoma suddenly grinned.
"Grandma Mito, is this supposed to be a dowry?"
"It's not that. You're already Senju by blood. Once you're with Kushina, and when I eventually pass the Nine-Tails on to her, you'll have everything—power, lineage, and the support of the village. No one will oppose you as Hokage."
Her words carried undeniable weight.
But Ryoma's smile faded. His voice deepened.
"Grandma Mito… I don't want to be Hokage."
Mito was stunned. This boy—still too lazy for his own good?
But Ryoma continued, his tone steady.
"I want Kushina to become Hokage. That's her dream since childhood, and I want to help her achieve it."
For a moment, silence hung in the room. Then Mito's eyes gleamed with admiration.
"Really?"
Uzumaki Mito's lips curved into a smile.
"You want Kushina to become Konoha's first female Hokage? The difficulty of that path is far greater than if you aimed to become Hokage yourself."
Her gaze grew sharper.
"Since you've said this, then at least show me what you plan to do, Ryoma. Let me see your determination."
Just then, Kushina's voice came from outside the room.
"Grandma Mito, Ryoma, it's time to eat!"
Mito chuckled and rose.
"Come, let's go."
In her heart, she thought: The surest way to make a man take responsibility is to start a family and have children.
She believed her words today would leave Ryoma thinking seriously about the future.
But even then, Mito had not revealed her full thoughts.
Within the next two years, they must marry and have children. The Senju bloodline must not end with him. As long as that continues, I'll be content. My body can still hold on for another five years… maybe even ten.
And so, Ryoma became the Vice Principal of the Ninja Academy—though in truth, it was little more than the role of an instructor.
Beyond the village walls, the balance of the Five Great Nations had begun to falter. Border disputes, skirmishes, and frictions were becoming constant. Konoha's shinobi were being dispatched on missions in greater numbers than ever, and the village needed a steady stream of new talent to sustain its strength.
Thus, Ryoma was placed at the Academy to guide the next generation.
On his very first day, he was handed an assignment.
"Ryoma, since you're here, we'll start you off with a class of graduates. You'll be their instructor."
At that moment, a crisp voice echoed in his mind:
[Ding! Based on the host's current situation, three choices are available.]
[Option 1: Take Class 3, with students Might Guy, Ebisu, and Hayate Gekkō.
Reward: A-rank Ninjutsu — Eight Gates Formation.]
[Option 2: Take Class 5, with students Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yūhi, and others.
Reward: A-rank Ninjutsu — Thousand Hands Kill.]
[Option 3: Take Class 7, with students Kakashi Hatake, Obito Uchiha, and Rin Nohara.
Reward: Supreme Pack!]