Chapter 447: End of the Fresh Recruit Ceremony
"So... should we take these fish back to eat? It seems like a terrible waste to leave them dead out here," Tobitake Tonbo joked casually.
Everyone looked at him in total silence, completely unamused. It really wasn't very funny.
Naruto flew back atop the giant bird, looking down at the recruits with a beaming smile. "Did you all see that? That is the pinnacle power of the Shinobi World, and the true height of what a ninja can achieve! Of course, we haven't even factored in the shinobi from other hidden villages—they're incredibly formidable as well."
"YES, LORD HOKAGE!"
The fresh recruits were boiling over with raw excitement.
Today's experience had been wildly thrilling and utterly invaluable.
They had never imagined in their wildest dreams that ninjutsu could reach such mind-boggling heights. It was truly magnificent.
One day, they would reach a domain like this too.
With the wave of a hand, obliterating an entire island, or raising a new one out of the sea.
Or using a single jutsu to transform a barren, desolate wasteland into a colossal, lush forest.
Or zipping through the air like a spider, held aloft by threads of pure chakra.
Or entering a genjutsu to experience training taken to its absolute limits.
No matter which discipline it was, every single one of them was filled with boundless yearning.
"Um... Lord Hokage! May I ask a question? Can Scientific Ninja Tools achieve something like that too?"
Denki Kaminarimon raised his hand, asking nervously.
To him, everything he had witnessed today felt like a dream.
However, the teachers' showcase hadn't included a single demonstration of Scientific Ninja Tools, which left him feeling deeply unsettled inside.
Does that mean Scientific Ninja Tools have an upper limit?
Is traditional ninjutsu truly the only path to becoming the strongest ninja?
For him, this realization was nothing short of a crushing blow.
If the absolute limit of Scientific Ninja Tools wasn't even worth showcasing, then what was the point of his grand dream?
Hearing the question, Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Scientific Ninja Tools, huh? They're actually pretty decent! They can achieve incredible things too, but those specific high-tier devices aren't very practical to carry around for a display."
He was thinking of the Hidden Cloud Village's Chakra Cannon.
A Scientific Ninja Tool capable of targeting and sealing the moon was ridiculously powerful in its own right.
Furthermore, Konoha's current technological development was exceptionally advanced, with plenty of Scientific Ninja Tools designed specifically for combat.
It was just that in terms of sheer destructive scale, their standalone combat gadgets weren't as developed as the Hidden Cloud's massive artillery.
"You're worried because you want to join the Technology Class, right? Don't sweat it. The Technology Class has incredible teachers, and you don't need to worry about the future of Scientific Ninja Tools either. Judging by current trends, technology will definitely become a mainstream force in the Shinobi World."
"Besides, even if it isn't yet—can't you be the one to make it so?"
Naruto had been the Hokage for several years now, and his mindset had matured into that of a true leader. He no longer spoke with the childish naivety of his youth.
Watching from the side, Tobitake Tonbo smiled quietly. Naruto really had grown up after all.
He was gradually turning into a fine Hokage, stepping up to shoulder the grand responsibilities expected of him.
How wonderful.
Thinking about how Naruto would have to drag himself back to process mountains of Hokage paperwork right after this ceremony ended, Tonbo felt extremely relieved.
Thank goodness I turned down the position of Hokage back then.
Otherwise, with Konoha's rapid development over the past few years, the sheer workload would have drained every last drop of his energy.
He wouldn't have had any time left to conduct his research.
Unlike now, where he could stroll around finding entertainment whenever he pleased outside of lab hours.
Watching Boruto grow up, watching his own son grow up...
It was infinitely more comfortable than being Hokage.
Hearing Naruto's words, a bright smile gradually spread across Denki Kaminarimon's face.
That was right! His ultimate goal was to become the Shinobi World's very first Three-Star Scientific Ninja—he was a pioneer!
Even if Scientific Ninja Tools weren't considered the absolute strongest right now, he would make them the strongest in the future.
That was his dream—how could he have forgotten it?
"Thank you, Lord Hokage! I will definitely give it my all!" Denki beamed with joyful determination.
Naruto nodded with a gentle smile. "Alright, that wraps up today's Fresh Recruit Ceremony! Everything from here on out depends on your own hard work. Surpassing us is a task meant for your generation!"
The ceremony was officially over.
Tobitake Tonbo pulled out a camera and snapped a photograph of the scene to record the moment.
It had long become a habitual ritual for him.
...
At the Ninja Academy.
The fresh recruits filed into the first-year classroom one by one, the flush of excitement on their faces still lingering.
The lingering high of the orientation ceremony was far from wearing off.
Sarada Uchiha pumped her fist. "Alright! I am definitely going to surpass Lord Seventh in the future!"
Everything she had witnessed today had ignited a fire in her heart.
She was going to surpass Naruto Uzumaki.
Since Lord Seventh could reach such an unimaginable height, it meant her father, Sasuke Uchiha, could reach it too.
Her heart pounded with surging adrenaline. She felt an urgent desire to grow stronger and surpass them right this second.
Boruto happened to be walking right beside her and chuckled, "Hahaha, I'm definitely going to surpass Dad and the others first! You can just tag along behind me."
"What did you say?! Are you trying to say you're stronger than me?" Sarada clenched her fist, glaring at him.
Boruto nodded proudly. "Of course! My old man is the Hokage!"
"So what? My dad is Sasuke Uchiha!"
"Are you saying your dad is stronger than my dad?"
"Obviously! My dad is definitely stronger!"
The two locked eyes in a fierce staring contest.
Boruto waved his hand dismissively. "Hmph, no matter how awesome they are, I'm going to surpass both of them in the end anyway. But where on earth is Uncle Sasuke lately? I really want to take him as my master."
Today had truly opened his eyes, making his obsession with getting stronger even more intense.
If he wanted to beat his old man, he needed to find a master who was just as legendary.
Having grown up hearing tales of Uncle Sasuke, knowing he was his father's ultimate rival and bond, Boruto had idolized Sasuke for a long time.
"I don't know," Sarada sighed softly. "Dad comes home less and less often these days. I have no idea what he's even doing out there."
How long has it been since I last saw Dad? He only comes back once or twice a year.
What could he possibly be busy with, wandering around outside all day?
It was a time of absolute peace across the Shinobi World, yet he always claimed he was investigating dangerous threats that she wasn't allowed to know about yet.
She had even begun to suspect whether her dad had a secret affair going on outside.
She had heard that when her dad was young, a red-haired woman used to cling to him constantly.
Unfortunately, every time she brought it up, her mom would get furious.
She felt her mom was a little too trusting sometimes.
Boruto said, "Oh well. Today is our very first class, and I heard Grandpa Iruka is teaching it. I wonder how his lesson will be—it should definitely help us get stronger, right?"
They both found their respective seats and sat down.
"Shh!"
Shikadai Nara made a quiet shushing sound and whispered softly, "I heard that Master Iruka at the Ninja Academy has a very special jutsu that every single fresh recruit ends up experiencing. As long as you're a troublemaker, you're guaranteed a taste of it."
Boruto blinked. "???"
"Word has it that it's a jutsu Captain Tonbo developed back in his youth specifically to prank and discipline students. If you don't behave, he uses it to punish you—it's a super twisted, legendary jutsu."
Boruto smirked. "I've heard about it too, but that won't stop my resolve to become a great shinobi!"
Today's events had profoundly stimulated his drive.
Could any disciplinary jutsu possibly match the terrifying displays those shinobi teachers had put on today?
Besides, he had distinctly felt his eye undergoing a strange transformation earlier, allowing him to perceive things normally invisible to the naked eye.
The experience had left a deep impression on him.
His ultimate goal was set: to become a ninja who surpassed even his old man.
To become the absolute greatest shinobi in history.