Inside a classroom, the Chunin teacher on the podium gritted his teeth.
He glared at Gojo Satoru with eyes burning with anger. The child's lazy demeanor only fueled his rage.
"Gojo Satoru! You are questioning the Will of Fire!" The accusation came out practically strangled.
Gojo Satoru dug at his ear, not even glancing at the teacher.
"Sensei, I just asked a few questions. Why so agitated?"
The teacher's face froze. His gaze swept over the rest of the class.
Most of these six-year-olds were quietly looking down, cowed by his anger.
"Alright, don't lose your temper at children." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice rang from the doorway.
"Lord Third!" The teacher straightened immediately.
"Grandpa Third!"
"It's Grandpa Third!"
"Grandpa Third is here—I was so scared just now!"
The children instantly became animated. If the teacher hadn't still been present, they would probably have swarmed him.
Seeing this scene, Hiruzen smiled warmly.
"Can anyone tell me what happened?"
"It's this guy Gojo Satoru! He made Sensei angry!"
"Gojo Satoru just asked a few questions. How did that make Sensei angry?"
"The white-haired guy said the Will of Fire is wrong!"
As the children spoke, they began arguing amongst themselves—but the situation became generally clear.
Hiruzen's pupils contracted slightly. His gaze shifted to Gojo Satoru.
The subtle change in atmosphere silenced the entire classroom instantly.
Sweat seeped from the Chunin teacher's forehead. He wanted to explain but found himself afraid to step forward.
"Student Gojo Satoru." Hiruzen wore an amiable smile. "You have your own views on the Will of Fire."
Gojo Satoru completely ignored the Third Hokage's demeanor.
"Views?" His voice rang out clearly. "Peace cannot be bought with sacrifice alone."
He stood abruptly, spreading his arms to face the entire classroom. His body floated into the air, aura fully unleashed.
"In the history of these past thousand years, the ninja world has almost never seen peace. But one era was an exception."
Whether it was his unbridled posture infecting the surroundings or that unique presence—everyone quieted down. Even the Chunin teacher, who'd been sweating from nervousness, felt his tense body relax slightly.
A flash of amazement crossed Hiruzen's eyes. He had only witnessed this ability—to effortlessly capture everyone's attention—in a very small number of people.
One was the First Hokage. The other was Minato.
This was precisely why he'd been willing to let Minato become the Fourth.
But even Minato couldn't instantly infect everyone around him, making them quietly focus and assume listening postures.
"What era?" Hiruzen asked softly.
"The decade after the founding of the hidden villages. The decade when the First Hokage reigned supreme."
"There were no major nation conflicts. No country invaded the Land of Fire. No country mobilized massive forces for actions that could trigger war."
"That's because they knew clearly—they didn't have the ability to end a war. Nor the ability to win one."
"A war guaranteed to be lost is something no one wants to touch."
"Therefore, the First Hokage, who desired peace, obtained exactly that."
"This kind of peace—forged by the will of the strong—is precisely the era the ninja world needs now. And the era most likely to achieve lasting peace."
Gojo Satoru's eyes were resolute. His tone carried genuine conviction.
Over these past months, he'd gained considerable understanding of Konoha and the entire ninja world.
The more he understood, the more awkward it felt.
Especially regarding the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju. If he truly possessed such legendary, overwhelming strength—why had he only built a village?
Hiruzen's face turned serious. He saw the shadow of the First Hokage in Gojo Satoru.
But even more so, he saw the shadow of another man.
Madara Uchiha.
If this child hadn't lacked the Sharingan, he would almost have assumed Uchiha lineage.
In a flash, Hiruzen's expression shifted. His gaze drifted to the quietly seated Zenji nearby.
That one actually possessed the Sharingan.
"Zenji, what do you think of this statement?"
Zenji adopted a harmless expression, smiling softly.
"Lord Hokage, I don't really understand. But Lord First did bring over a decade of peace to the village."
Hiruzen nodded with apparent satisfaction—though he sighed internally.
Still better to be a six-year-old. Gojo Satoru is too old. He already has his own fully formed thoughts.
I can't just leave him be.
He regarded the nearly eight-year-old Gojo Satoru, then Ryomen Sukuna beside him—who'd worn a sour expression from beginning to end and completely ignored everyone else.
"Gojo Satoru. Ryomen Sukuna. Since you two are older, I've decided to teach you personally from now on. Come with me."
Decision made, Hiruzen issued the order immediately.
Gojo Satoru landed nonchalantly and walked forward.
"Boring." Ryomen Sukuna stood, regarding the classroom full of children with barely concealed malice.
If the Clan Head hadn't restrained him, he would have slaughtered this group of brats long ago. Calling him a four-armed ugly freak—they were simply courting death.
Zenji watched the two depart with Hiruzen Sarutobi. He felt no concern whatsoever.
If anything, he breathed a sigh of relief.
With those two attracting attention up front, he could continue developing in peace.
As for whether they'd be brainwashed?
If Hiruzen Sarutobi had the capability to brainwash Gojo Satoru and Ryomen Sukuna, the ninja world would have achieved peace long ago.
"You know, those two guys—one's an arrogant megalomaniac, the other's an ugly freak. How come this last one..."
"Is so plain?"
Zenji's face stiffened.
These brats really needed a beating.
Time passed quickly. The sun set in the west.
Students of all grades streamed through the Academy gates. Some were picked up by parents. Others ran toward nearby streets alone.
Zenji walked at the front. Gojo Satoru had his hands behind his head, leisurely surveying their surroundings.
Ryomen Sukuna brought up the rear, maintaining that cold demeanor, forcefully suppressing his killing intent.
That old man is very strong. With my currently undeveloped body, I'm absolutely no match.
Sukuna's expression darkened. But he glanced at Gojo Satoru and snorted internally.
Zenji returned to the courtyard quickly. Ignoring the other two, he entered his bedroom directly.
He sank into a shadow. The next instant, he emerged in the underground secret barrier space.
Another Zenji—dressed entirely in white—was researching the God Tree.
The normally dressed Zenji stepped forward and positioned himself on the white-clothed figure's shadow.
His body suddenly melted like a pool of black liquid, merging into it completely.
The Shadow Clone had replaced Mahoraga's position, becoming the first and original Shadow Shikigami. The two dogs became the second.
Its ability was elegantly simple: an optimized version of the Shadow Clone Jutsu.
It discarded quantity in favor of vastly improved quality in other aspects.
It retained the Shadow Clone's original authenticity but strengthened the connection and structure—making the clone function like a real person rather than shattering at a single touch.
Most importantly, it established a mental connection. Equivalent to one mind with two thoughts.
And it wouldn't instantly accumulate fatigue upon dispelling.
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