Chapter 255: Carry Out the True Meaning of Youth!
"Oooooh! Guy! I never expected you to have such talent. I'm so proud of you, my son!
Guy! The future flowers of Hidden Leaf Village need a gardener like you, burning with a blazing flame, to water and lead them!
As your father, I will support you with all my might at the academy, showing off the rest of your youth!"
Might Duy tried his best to lower his voice.
"Guy-sensei! You can definitely do it! Use your never-extinguishing fire of youth to ignite the entire Ninja Academy!
With Guy-sensei's guidance, the philosophy of youth will definitely grow alongside the new leaves of Hidden Leaf Village!"
Lee, with tears streaming down his face, also gripped Guy's arm tightly.
Neji, who had remained silent, looked at Lee and suddenly thought...
Could Naruto have specifically called him here just to see this kind of reaction from Lee?
"Ah... ah..."
Do I really have such talent?
Might Guy fell into a state of self-doubt.
Kakashi, who was crying on the side, almost burst out laughing.
He could almost see Guy standing on the podium, raising his fist to the oblivious students below and shouting passionately: "Students! Today's lesson is—five hundred laps around the playground while doing handstands! This is youth!!"
Damn it, it shouldn't be like this, pfft~
Give me back my sadness, you bastard!
Sorry, Guy, I just can't help it.
Naruto took in everyone's reactions, including Guy's near-petrified expression.
He didn't explain immediately, but waited a moment for the chatter to ferment naturally.
Then, he finally spoke slowly, his clear voice cutting through the noise:
"I nominated Might Guy, and it wasn't on a whim."
The venue gradually quieted down.
"The principal of the Ninja Academy doesn't need to be a master of Ninjutsu or have extensive management experience.
In this critical period of reshaping the Hidden Leaf Village spirit, what's needed more is a heart that is pure, blazing, never gives up, and has truly carved 'comrades' and 'hard work' into its Soul."
Naruto's gaze fell on Guy, who was still dazed:
"Jonin Might Guy has used his entire life to perfectly illustrate that 'hard work can surpass Genius,' what 'never-giving-up friendship' means, and the youth and dedication of 'burning oneself to light up others.'
He is a Taijutsu Ninja who isn't skilled in Ninjutsu, yet he became an Elite Jonin."
"He isn't good at schemes or flattery. His thinking might be straightforward, but his actions are always upright, and his convictions are always firm.
He is like the purest, most blazing flame—perhaps not perfect, but enough to dispel the haze, warm people's hearts, and point the way."
"At the Ninja Academy, the starting point for shaping the values of the next generation, we need such a principal to use his most authentic actions and beliefs to tell the children:
Hidden Leaf Village's strength doesn't lie in how many devious schemes or forbidden Ninjutsu it has, but in how much effort and sincerity every villager is willing to give for their comrades and their home."
"Cultural knowledge and Ninjutsu theory will be taught by professional teachers.
But a spiritual lighthouse, a benchmark of character, needs to be established by an undisputed role model like Guy-sensei."
Naruto's words caused many who were initially skeptical to fall into deep thought.
Guy was indeed like that, just as Naruto said.
Even the Third Hokage thought back to things that had happened in the past.
Back then, Guy had always wanted to join the Anbu to work alongside Kakashi, but precisely because his upright actions weren't suited for the Anbu, the Third Hokage had rejected his application multiple times.
The reason wasn't a lack of recognition for Guy's strength or loyalty.
On the contrary, the Third Hokage knew better than anyone that Guy's loyalty to Hidden Leaf Village was unquestionable, and his Taijutsu prowess could even exert destructive power beyond the Kage-level in specific situations.
However, the nature of the Anbu's work dictated that it required more than just strength and loyalty.
The Anbu needed secrecy, calmness, efficiency, and absolute coldness and disguise when necessary.
They were like blades in Hidden Leaf Village's shadows, carrying out the dirtiest, most clandestine, yet vital missions. They needed to blend into the darkness, become part of it, and then deliver a fatal blow to the enemy.
But Might Guy... he was like the brightest torch in the dark night.
His way of acting was upright to the point of being clumsy, his emotions were always high and undisguised, especially the Move names he would inevitably shout out during battle.
"Leaf Great Whirlwind!"
"Leaf Strong Whirlwind!"
"This is youth!!"
...and so on.
The Third Hokage could almost imagine the scene: while Guy was performing an infiltration or assassination mission, before he even got close to the target, he would alert everyone with his signature shouting and commotion, and the mission would be declared a failure.
Or, when performing a cross-border mission requiring a disguised identity, as soon as the enemy heard those shouts and Move names, they would immediately be able to pinpoint his origin: 'Oh, that's a Hidden Leaf Village Ninja.'
Could anyone possibly think he was a Ninja from the Whirlwind Village?
He was a ball of fire that couldn't burn in the shadows, but was enough to illuminate the entire campus and ignite countless young Souls.
The original principal of the academy had no objections at all, because the previous principal of the Ninja Academy was Hiruzen Sarutobi.
During the Third Hokage's era, Hiruzen Sarutobi held the power over education, military, and government; Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado were in charge of medical and finance respectively, and Danzo was considered a high-ranking general.
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado were also brought to this meeting to witness their former domains being transitioned to Tsunade and Nara Shikaku respectively.
Guy himself, after hearing Naruto's words, saw the daze on his face gradually fade, replaced by an extremely complex emotion.
He was overwhelmed, incredulous, pressured by a huge sense of responsibility, and... deep in his heart, a flame quietly ignited after being so trusted and given such an important task.
He opened his mouth, as if wanting to say something.
But in the end, looking at Naruto's trusting gaze, his father's and Lee's expectant eyes, and the gradually changing atmosphere around him... he took a sharp breath, straightened his back, and in those large eyes still wet with tears, a familiar, burning light burst forth once more!
Perhaps... this was a brand new challenge and mission?!
Guy thought back to what Naruto, who was still a little kid years ago, had said to him on his birthday.
There was fire in those blue eyes.
"Just like my dream of becoming Hokage!
Even if there are thousands of difficulties and dangers ahead, and countless people questioning or mocking me, I will do as you taught me, Guy-sensei—burning my youth and charging toward the position of Hokage with everything I've got!
And the ultimate goal of all this is to be able to protect teachers like you who guide me, protect my precious friends, and protect everyone in the Village I want to safeguard!"
Not just Naruto, but also Lee, Neji, Tenten... Could it be that besides hard work, I really do have a talent for education?
That's it!
Even if I don't have a talent for education, at least I have this hard work and perseverance!
Just as Naruto said, I must lead by example and become a role model for the children.
Then let the Blue Beast of Hidden Leaf Village carry out the true meaning of Hidden Leaf Village's youth in the academy!
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