dmims Chapter 260 The Future on the List
Chapter 260 The Future on the List
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the portholes of the command room, casting dappled gold patterns on the chart table.
The sea breeze no longer carries the salty stench of war, but instead carries a fresh, new-life-like quality.
In the distance, the faint laughter of children could be heard from the ships of the Whirlpool Clan, adding boundless vitality to the tranquil voyage.
Hiruzen Sarutobi held his teacup and listened quietly.
Yesterday's grand blueprint for education reform has had an exceptionally good effect.
He could almost imagine how the Ninth Hokage would describe the enchanting new Konoha to his clan after returning home.
Indeed, ideals and hopes are a more powerful unifying force than any military force.
Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door of the command room.
"Lord Hokage, I'm coming in."
It's the Ninth Generation Uzumaki.
His voice had completely shed yesterday's restraint and unease, replaced by a heartfelt lightness and enthusiasm.
Hiruzen Sarutobi put down his teacup.
"Come in."
The door was pushed open, and Kyudai Uzumaki walked in.
Today he changed into lighter clothes, with a gentle smile on his face, and looked radiant, as if he had been relieved of a heavy burden.
He solemnly held a roll of parchment in his hands.
"Lord Hokage, I have not failed you."
The Ninth Generation Uzumaki handed over the parchment with both hands, his movements solemn, as if he were presenting a covenant concerning the future.
"This is a list of all the eligible children in our Uzumaki clan, a total of thirty-seven. I have already spoken with their parents, and everyone feels incredibly honored to be able to study at the Konoha Ninja Academy."
Hiruzen Sarutobi accepted the list.
The parchment was still slightly warm, the ink fresh, the handwriting neat and strong. Behind each name lay the hopes of a family, the future of a ninja clan.
This weighty trust was conveyed to him through this thin piece of paper.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze slowly slid down from the top of the list.
[Akihiko Uzumaki, 10 years old]
[Aki Uzumaki, nine years old]
[Yuta Uzumaki, ten years old]
……
They were all ordinary yet hopeful names. Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at them patiently until his finger paused slightly in the middle of the list.
His movements were so subtle that they were almost imperceptible.
Kushina Uzumaki, Nagato Uzumaki.
coming.
Although he had foreseen this through the simulator, and although one of his purposes in launching the War of the Whirlpool Country was to protect them.
But when he saw these two names, which should have been destroyed in hatred and despair, so peacefully listed side by side on this list that symbolized rebirth, Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart was still filled with turbulent waves.
That red-haired woman who ultimately died protecting her village and children, having her tailed beast extracted from her.
That "god" who possessed the Rinnegan, grew up in darkness, and ultimately spread pain throughout the world.
They should have been devastated, one becoming a wandering, dependent pillar, the other a pawn corrupted by hatred.
And now... they are just two ordinary children who are about to go to school with their little backpacks.
In Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind, a blood-red future flashed through his memories of his past life.
The ruins of Konoha, the corpses of his comrades, and Pain, who stood high above, looking down upon all living beings with his cold Rinnegan.
Those suffocating images stand in stark contrast to the heartwarming list of names before us.
Everything has changed.
He slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, suppressing the surging emotions within him.
On the surface, he was still the calm and composed Third Hokage, but he stared at those two names for a fraction of a second longer than the other names.
The Ninth Hokage keenly noticed the Hokage's pause.
He followed Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze and then laughed.
"Has the Hokage noticed these two children as well?"
The Ninth Hokage introduced with a hint of pride, "Kushina is the daughter of one of my cousins. That child is simply a born optimist, full of inexhaustible energy all day long. Moreover, her chakra reserves are astonishing; no one among children her age can compare to her. She's just a bit wild."
Blood Red Pepper...
An image of a red-haired girl with her hands on her hips, waving her little fists at people, appeared in Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind.
Yes, that's very apt.
"What about Nagato?" he asked calmly.
When Nagato was mentioned, the Ninth Hokage of Uzumaki showed a helpless yet doting expression.
"Nagato... He's the child of another clan, and he and Kushina are cousins. That child is the complete opposite of Kushina; he's extremely introverted, doesn't like to talk, and likes to follow Kushina around all day long, like a little shadow."
The Ninth Generation paused, then added, "However, although this child is quiet, he is also very talented, with an exceptionally keen sense of chakra. He's just a bit timid and needs Kushina to protect him."
Listening to the Ninth Generation's description, Hiruzen Sarutobi could almost picture the scene.
A vibrant, red-haired little sun, followed by a shy, reserved little shadow clutching the hem of her clothes.
There was no hatred, no displacement, and no pain of losing parents.
All he had was the protection of his family and the companionship of his sister.
very nice.
"but……"
The Ninth Hokage abruptly changed the subject, posing a practical question: "Hokage-sama, Kushina and Nagato... can they really attend the same school together? There's a several-year age gap between them, and their studies will likely be completely different, won't they?"