Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 402 Time Flies Like a Song

The figures of the children from the Water Gate class faded into a tiny dot on the distant horizon.

Fugaku slowly withdrew his gaze.

He raised his hand and waved it gently.

"Let's go."

His voice was deep.

It seems to combine the softness of melting snow and spring mud with the satisfaction of the earth's revival.

Obito was indeed like a wild horse at the beginning, full of energy.

In his large eyes, besides his longing for Rin and his obsession with surpassing Kakashi, there was now an added sense of honor, a feeling that the Hokage himself had added.

"Ha! Kakashi! Rin! Did you see that?! This time I'm going to be the first one to reach the Tower of Babel!"

He was panting heavily, but he didn't stop talking.

His arms swung scientifically, his leg muscles were tense, and he took each step with extra force, as if he wanted to stir up the dust on the ground.

The goggles on his forehead trembled slightly with his movements, and sweat slid down his forehead.

"Idiot Obito, you're messing up your breathing rhythm."

Kakashi's voice came from beside him, with his usual calmness, yet it sounded unhurried.

Although they say it's troublesome, their actions tell a different story.

He walked with steady steps, the weight of the sandbags seemingly having little effect on him.

His breathing was even and rhythmic, each breath seemingly calculated precisely.

He didn't unleash a burst of speed like Obito, but maintained it silently with an almost mechanical, steady pace.

Obito angrily turned his head to the side and sprinted forward, trying to widen the distance again.

"You're the idiot, Kakashi! Of course, we have to give it our all in the Hokage's training!"

Unfortunately, he held his breath too tightly, which caused this sprint to disrupt his rhythm and make him stagger.

Kakashi didn't say much, he just accelerated and left him behind.

That silent transcendence was far more devastating to Obito than any mockery.

"Damn it! Kakashi!"

Obito let out a furious roar of resentment and gritted his teeth as he chased after them again.

Nohara Rin stayed behind, maintaining her own pace.

She doesn't have Obito's explosive power, nor Kakashi's stability and skill.

But there was a tenacity in her; fine beads of sweat soaked her short brown hair, and her body beneath her clothes rose and fell with each swing of her arms.

Lin knew that her physical abilities were not as good as the two of them, but she would not give up.

The expectations of the Hokage and Minato, and the figures of her comrades, all spurred her on.

"Go for it, Obito, Kakashi!"

Although her voice was slightly breathless, it carried a warm strength, like a gentle breeze brushing against the sweat-soaked backs of the two boys.

When Obito heard Rin's encouragement, his body felt as if it had been recharged.

He turned around and gave Lin a thumbs up, a silly smile spreading across his face.

"Rin! You have to do your best too! When I become Hokage, I'll make sure you get to eat the most delicious desserts every day!"

Kakashi ran ahead, his ears twitching slightly, and he pursed his lips.

Become Hokage? He hasn't even mastered many of the most basic ninjutsu yet.

However, that idiot's words did add a touch of... liveliness to this tedious weighted run.

After passing through the training forest surrounding Konoha Village, they gradually stepped onto the flat and wide Hokage Avenue.

This road, personally overseen by Danzo Shimura, is smooth and sturdy, large enough to accommodate several ninja squads running side by side.

The trees on both sides of the avenue were trimmed neatly, and every so often there were lampposts, which were developed by the Second Hokage Tobirama and Orochimaru, and they looked clean and tidy even during the day.

Obito felt the road beneath his feet become more solid, which gave him even more motivation to run.

He recalled the scene of Elder Danzang proudly introducing this road to the villagers at the expo.

At that time, Danzo was still serious, but he exuded a kind of heat that was different from before. That heat was not like the burning of fire release, but more like the heat emitted when steel is forged.

"This road is for the future of the village!"

The words of Elder Danzo seemed to echo in his ears at that moment.

"Kakashi! Running on this road is definitely different! I feel so much lighter!"

Obito excitedly shouted at Kakashi in front of him.

Kakashi did not turn around.

His attention had already fallen on the towering building that reached into the clouds in the distance—the Tongtian Wooden Tower.

That was a miracle created by the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, using Wood Release techniques.

It is not just a building, but the core of Muye Ecological Farm, and the guarantee of food and medicinal herbs for the whole village.

"That's no small feat; it's because the road is well-maintained. Don't waste your energy talking."

Kakashi's voice was as calm as ever, yet it carried a hint of unmistakable seriousness.

He was indeed amazed by the road; his father, Hatake Sakumo, said that when he was a child, the roads inside and outside the village were mostly uneven.

This road undoubtedly greatly improves travel efficiency.

That now-super-farmer speaks highly of this Naruto Avenue because it makes the transportation of agricultural products more convenient and efficient than ever before.

Lin listened to their back-and-forth conversation from behind, a faint smile playing on her lips.

She knew that Kakashi's indifference was just a facade; he always cared about Obito in his own way.

They continued along the Hokage Avenue, and gradually many early-rising villagers appeared along the roadside.

Some were sweeping in front of the shops, some were pushing carts to sell breakfast, and some children, dressed in fancy clothes, were chasing and playing in the street.

Daily life in Konoha remains peaceful and orderly.

When villagers see the three members of the Minato Squad, especially Obito's conspicuous goggles and his passionate energy, they wave to him in a friendly manner.

"It's the Water Gate team! They're so full of energy!"

"Go for it, ninjas!"

Such encouragement made Obito's steps more firm, and his face beamed with an even brighter smile.

He responded loudly to the villagers, as if declaring his determination to the whole world.

"Yes! I will definitely become Hokage!"

Kakashi's steps were not affected, but he felt a strange sense of shame.

This loud and boisterous behavior is completely contrary to his principle of ninja discretion.

He silently criticized Obito's hot-blooded idiot nature in his mind, while secretly speeding up, wanting to get away from this embarrassing situation as soon as possible.

Lin would respond to the villagers' greetings with a smile; her gentle smile was as warm as sunshine, making the villagers feel even happier.

This feeling of being recognized and having high expectations placed upon her revitalized her previously weary body.

Minato Namikaze's figure appeared and disappeared among the treetops by the street, always keeping a distance from his disciples, like a shadow.

His observations were far more detailed and nuanced than his students realized.

Obito has great explosive power, but his stamina is a weakness, and his sense of rhythm is also poor.

This is an area that needs focused training.

However, his character, his aspiration for the Hokage position, and his sincerity towards his comrades are truly admirable.

Minato believed that with proper guidance, he would become an excellent ninja.

Kakashi's physical abilities and skills far surpass those of his peers; his talent is astonishing.

His keen observation and analytical skills, as well as the seriousness hidden beneath the troubles, all foreshadowed his extraordinary nature.

However, Kakashi sometimes appears too reserved and lacks communication with the team.

His training focuses on how to better integrate into the team and play a leadership role.

Rin is like a piece of unpolished jade, warm yet resilient, and has great potential in controlling chakra.

Most importantly, she possesses the compassion of a healer and shows meticulous care for her colleagues.

The medical ninjas of the future will need more than just skills; they will need this pure kindness.

Minato recalled the awe-inspiring experience of the Konoha medical corps during the naval battle in the Land of Whirlpools. Rin was undoubtedly one of the best candidates to inherit this Will of Fire.

The Third Hokage hoped that he would not only teach them ninjutsu, but also teach them how to become complete ninjas.

This wholeness signifies strength, wisdom, teamwork, and most importantly—the belief in protection.