บท 22: Chapter 22: Let Me See How Young the Youngest Hokage Is

The scene on the screen instantly stunned all the audience present. The extermination of the Uchiha clan was definitely a monumental event, but the students whispering among themselves didn't seem to understand the weight of it.

They were children, not yet able to fully grasp the significance of the Uchiha genocide.

However, Uzumaki Naruto was different. He immediately understood the gravity of the situation.

Even stronger families like the Uchiha clan could be wiped out in an instant, leaving only a single survivor. And this happened in Konoha Village—an event that seemed impossible for the peaceful village, which had long been considered a beacon of stability.

Not only that, Naruto realized that the dangers of the ninja world were much greater than the students had thought. The world outside the village, far more perilous than these children could ever imagine, was starkly different from the safety of Konoha.

Senju Tobirama: "In the world over there, did the Uchiha clan not escape the fate of genocide?"

Senju Hashirama: "Damn it, I thought Naruto could change that."

Uchiha Madara: "Wait, what? What are you talking about?"

Uchiha Obito: "Are you serious? Even if the Sage of Six Paths reincarnated, what could a seven-year-old child possibly do?"

Uchiha Madara: "Hashirama, are you crazy? He's only seven years old. Seven!"

Ohnoki: "Yes, Lord Hashirama. Even if you were the god of the ninja world later, a seven-year-old child is still... just a child."

Senju Hashirama: "That's right. When I was seven, I was competing with Madara over who could pee the farthest."

Uchiha Madara: "You're lying! I didn't even know you when I was seven. We didn't meet until we were at least twelve or thirteen!"

Terumi Mei: "But honestly, the seven-year-old Naruto seems to understand the dangers of the ninja world. That's not something you see every day."

Orochimaru: "In a village like Konoha, that is even more remarkable. Naruto there is indeed quite exceptional."

Meanwhile, Uchiha Sasuke was fuming. What was this?

The Uzumaki Naruto from that world was not the same person as the one standing beside him.

For one, the relationship between their worlds seemed entirely upside down. Naruto had perceived the threat to the ninja world from the Uchiha clan's extermination and, in response, decided to grow stronger. The Uchiha clan had no way to argue against that, especially given how little they had managed to accomplish.

---

In the classroom during the self-study session, the students were chatting among themselves, their attention far from the history books Iruka had handed out. They were too caught up in the gossip to focus on their studies.

"Naruto-kun, that..."

"Sorry, I want to read more books now."

Uzumaki Naruto rejected the female student's approach and instead focused intently on the historical development of Konoha Village. Up until now, Iruka hadn't spent much time covering these details.

---

Konoha Village was founded by the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, who ended the Sengoku period and created a place of peace and stability for the children of the village.

The Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, was known as the fastest in the ninja world. He developed countless forbidden techniques throughout his life.

The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was renowned as a master of ninjutsu, especially his mastery of the five chakra natures, and dedicated his life to strengthening Konoha Village and making it the strongest ninja village.

---

Uzumaki Naruto couldn't help but mutter to himself, "Wow, I didn't know that old man was so powerful."

He imagined the old man, Sarutobi Hiruzen, with his hunched back and frail appearance. Who would have thought that the seemingly frail figure would have such an accomplished history? Not to mention his mastery of ninjutsu in all five attributes.

"Wait a minute!"

Naruto's eyes widened in realization.

Chakra...

He quickly understood that chakra was not just a raw energy source—it was also divided into attributes. This was an incredibly important point, and Naruto made a mental note to study it further.

---

As the students whispered among themselves, they couldn't help but notice how absorbed Naruto was in his reading. His keen understanding and quick grasp of concepts were starting to make him stand out.

---

Even seasoned figures like Iwagakure's Third Tsuchikage, Ohnoki, couldn't help but notice.

Ohnoki: "Old man, are you seriously claiming to be the strongest Hokage in history? What about Hashirama?"

Terumi Mei: "I hadn't even noticed. It seems like that might be the case."

Senju Tobirama: "Don't tell me you've surpassed my brother's strength, Monkey?"

Uchiha Madara: "Tobirama, stop stepping on your brother to praise your disciple. He can't possibly compete with Hashirama!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "No, no, this is just how the courseware was written. Later generations don't really know the full extent of past Hokages' strength. They only know me as an old man, so they ended up writing it like this."

---

On the high platform, Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled a sigh of relief. He was genuinely surprised by how people had misrepresented the past. If it wasn't corrected, it would be a massive embarrassment.

But then, it dawned on him—the courseware wasn't the only issue. There was a far more pressing matter at hand.

---

"Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato?"

Naruto's eyes widened as he read about the Fourth Hokage, the "Golden Flash" who ended the Third Ninja War. The youngest Hokage in Konoha history.

"Let me see how young the youngest Hokage really is."

As Naruto turned the page of the book, he found a photo album of Namikaze Minato, filled with pictures from his younger years.

The name "Fourth Hokage" sent a shiver down his spine. Minato had been Konoha's shining star, and now he was reading about him, the father he had never known.

---

[End.]

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