Reborn in Konoha; I Think I’m Cultivating Immortality

In the blink of an eye, a day had passed.

That morning, the streets and alleys of Konoha were filled with adults holding hands with children. They were all heading towards one place, the Konoha Ninja Academy.

These children looked excited, their faces brimming with joy. 

Today was a special day for them, as it marked the beginning of their journey at the ninja academy, officially becoming students of the institution.

Although they didn't fully understand what this meant, children naturally loved lively events, and for them, attending the academy was synonymous with excitement.

The adults accompanying them were also thrilled. 

While they weren't students of the academy, they were the parents of the new students, and being able to attend the opening ceremony on the first day of the academy felt like an honor.

Normally, an opening ceremony might not seem like a big deal, but today was significant—it was the first public appearance of the Third Hokage. For many parents who valued ceremonial events, this was an unmissable moment.

…

On the top floor of the Ninja Academy, in the principal's office.

Hui gazed down at the growing crowd below, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

So many children, all of whom which represented the future of Konoha.

Most of them would grow up to become ninjas, forming the next generation of guardians for the village.

"The number of children nowadays is increasing significantly. Compared to our time, the difference is immense," said Sakumo, standing beside Hui.

As one of the early students of the academy, Sakumo recalled when their entire grade had only 30 to 40 students, with less than 200 students in the entire school.

But now, the number of new students this year alone exceeded 300. With Konoha's growing population, the number of school-age children was only expected to rise, and the academy's scale would need to expand accordingly.

Hui nodded with a smile. These children truly represented Konoha's future.

"Let's go. The ceremony is about to start," Hui said.

…

"The ceremony is about to begin!"

Elsewhere, anticipation filled the hearts of many. Even students from other grades gathered at the windows to watch the scene below.

Just as everyone was eagerly waiting, a young boy suddenly leapt from a third-floor window of the academy.

In mid-air, he glided momentarily, followed by a front flip, and landed steadily on the ground.

After landing, the boy stood up expressionlessly and walked towards the prepared stage for the opening ceremony.

"Nawaki is so cool!!!"

A girl screamed in excitement, unable to hold back her admiration after witnessing Nawaki's dramatic display.

This Nawaki was nothing like the one from the original story. 

Having grown up under Hui's guidance, his demeanor and appearance had been refined to an extraordinary degree. If the original Nawaki was like a wild tree growing freely, this Nawaki was a meticulously cultivated bonsai.

Currently, Nawaki resembled an enhanced version of his original self, as if a beauty filter had been applied.

"Boss Nawaki is so cool!"

It wasn't just the girls who found Nawaki impressive; even the boys admired him. They had long been impressed by his strength and charisma(cool moves).

…

When Hui and Hatake Sakumo stepped out of the building, they saw Nawaki's display.

"This kid, Nawaki, really knows how to…" Sakumo chuckled, momentarily at a loss for words to describe him.

Hui, however, silently finished the thought in his mind: He's getting better at showing off.

While Hui was silently critiquing Nawaki, a wave of cheers erupted from the crowd.

"Third Hokage-sama!!!"

"Hokage-sama!"

The people's excitement reached its peak upon seeing Hui.

The children of the ninja world matured quickly, and their admiration for "idols" surpassed even that of modern age people.

"Third Hokage-sama... One day, I'll definitely become someone like him!"

At a classroom window, a golden-haired boy gazed at Hui below, his eyes sparkling with determination. This boy was none other than Minato Namikaze, a seven-year-old second-year student at the academy.

Last year, when Minato had enrolled, Hui had been traveling through the ninja world and had missed the opening ceremony. 

Or rather, one could say Minato had missed Hui's opening ceremony.

Not just Minato, Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Choza, Yamanaka Inoichi, Uzumaki Kushina, Inuzuka Tsume, and even Konan, names that would later be known throughout the ninja world, had all enrolled last year.

Now, these students stood at their classroom windows, their eyes glowing as they watched Hui below.

Even Nara Shikaku, a genius brilliantly strategic mind, viewed Hui as his idol. In fact, it was precisely because of Shikaku's intelligence that his admiration for Hui ran deeper.

From Hui's wartime command and tactical strategies to his innovations in jutsu and his political achievements, Hui's brilliance was unparalleled. The more Shikaku learned about Hui's decisions and stories, the stronger his admiration grew.

"Sure enough, the only person in Konoha who can rival my popularity is my brother-in-law," Nawaki thought, leaning against a tree, arms crossed, with a blank expression.

Inside Nawaki, the Nine-Tails merely rolled its eyes, too tired to respond.

"It's my brother-in-law's moment to shine," Nawaki murmured to himself. 

He had studied Hui's life extensively, hoping to learn how to become more popular.

In the end, Nawaki realized that Hui's path to prominence was nearly impossible to replicate. Hui's rise had been too fast, and his talent was simply extraordinary.

Even though Nawaki considered himself a prodigy among his peers and had awakened Wood Release while possessing the Nine-Tails' chakra, he still doubted he could achieve the title of "Demi-God of the Ninja World" by the age of sixteen.

That said, Nawaki did gain some insights from Hui's journey, particularly about speeches and public speaking.

Hui's speeches were always powerful, leaving lasting impressions.

"Damn it, this is even harder to master!" Nawaki lamented inwardly. If he were naturally eloquent, he wouldn't have needed to craft a persona of being cold and aloof.

Now, as Hui stepped onto the stage, Nawaki knew the show was about to begin.

…

"I'm delighted to be here for today's opening ceremony," Hui began, his gentle voice commanding instant silence as all eyes turned to him.

"Today marks a special day for many of you. You're entering the Ninja Academy, taking your first steps toward becoming ninja.

"At the academy, you'll spend six years learning and growing. Over these six years, you'll gradually understand what it means to be a ninja and what a ninja should embody.

"Today, I won't directly tell you what it means to be a ninja. That's something you'll need to discover and comprehend on your own.

"But I do have something to say to all of you. 

"New students and old. Starting today, each of you has two tasks—two missions personally issued by the Hokage.

"First, study earnestly.

"Second, play joyfully.

"I hope you'll find a balance between learning and playing, growing happily along the way.

"In this balance, I hope you'll discover your own beliefs, and once you've found them, hold onto them firmly. Pursue them with effort and determination. Let your sweat nurture your beliefs, and let your beliefs bloom into flowers that never fade.

"I believe that every student here today will become an essential force in shaping the village's future, ten or twenty years from now.

"You are the future. You are the hope. The Konoha of tomorrow will be built by your hands.

"So, study hard. Become ninjas who stay true to themselves and to Konoha.

"And play with joy. Grow up with no regrets, letting your life be a fulfilling one.

"I look forward to seeing the next Hokage emerge from among you."

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