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

As the ceremony concluded, students began to flock to the designated academic building.

The renovations inside the ninja school made the route signs clearer.

Newly built signs stand at the intersection, clearly indicating the distribution of classrooms for each grade level in eye-catching fonts.

Kushina's fiery red hair stood out in the crowd as she curiously looked around.

With a gleam of longing for new things in his brown eyes, Nagato followed quietly behind, occasionally glancing up at his surroundings.

The Ninth Generation patted Kushina's head.

"By the way, Kushina, you've been assigned to Class 4-A."

Kushina was taken aback, and she pouted somewhat reluctantly.

"Fourth grade?"

"Don't I go to school with Nagato?"

The ninth generation of Uzumaki laughed.

"Didn't the Hokage say that?"

"The new education system is tiered. You will be placed into classes based on your entrance test score."

"You are a genius ninja of our Uzumaki clan!"

Kushina thought about it and seemed to agree. Her face immediately brightened, and she nodded vigorously.

"Yes! I will definitely show the teachers of Konoha how powerful the Uzumaki clan is!"

"——Uzumaki Kushina."

A young female teacher wearing a Konoha headband walked to the place where the Uzumaki clan was gathered. Her voice was gentle and kind.

Upon hearing her name, Kushina immediately turned her head and waved her little hand vigorously.

"I'm here!"

Kushina responded crisply, raising her other hand high like a leaping flame.

The female teacher bowed slightly, gave a kind smile, and pointed to the old-fashioned teaching building in the distance.

"Kushina-san, please come with me. I'll take you to Class 4-A."

Kushina gently patted Nagato's shoulder, her brown eyes filled with encouragement and determination.

"Nagato, you'd better go and report to your first year."

I'll come see you whenever I have time!

Nagato responded softly, watching Kushina's departing figure, and hugged the doll in his arms even tighter.

A pang of reluctance flashed through his mind, but he was mostly filled with curiosity about the future.

He knew that Kushina's sunlight could always illuminate every corner.

The girl's every step was full of youthful energy, and she quickly disappeared around the corner of the corridor.

The Ninth Generation Uzumaki took Nagato's hand and led him to the first-year registration area.

The teacher in charge of class assignments confirmed Nagato's name.

"Nagato Uzumaki, is it?"

The teacher said gently.

"You've been assigned to Class 7 of the first grade."

"By the way, Yahiko and Minami, whom you know, are also in that class."

Nagato nodded, a rare hint of joy appearing on his face. He knew he was not alone.

"..."

Yahiko and Minami were also searching for their class in the crowd.

Jiraiya followed behind them.

Yahiko jumped up happily and grabbed Konan.

"Very good!"

"Xiao Nan, we're in the same class!"

Konan nodded slightly, a smile playing on her lips. The two of them happened to run into the Ninth Generation Uzumaki and Nagato.

"Nagato!"

Yahiko was the first to shout.

"Were you also assigned to Class 7?"

Nagato heard the familiar voice, looked up, and saw Yahiko and Konan walking towards him.

"Um."

He answered in a low voice.

Three children, three pairs of eyes met in the crowd, and the gears of fate began to turn in a completely new way.

Upstairs, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked out the window at the campus below, which was gradually returning to order.

His desk was piled high with documents, but he didn't deal with them at the moment. He just quietly watched those energetic figures and felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

"Education is a long-term endeavor that will last for centuries."

Higanbana muttered to himself.

He knew that this was not something that could be accomplished overnight.

But I have already taken the first step.

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned around and picked up a document.

This document is a progress report on the Constant Temperature Barrier Farm project. He reads each piece of data carefully, a smile playing on his lips.

The future of the village is being shaped little by little in these seemingly trivial daily routines.

The corridors of the teaching building are spacious and bright, and the wooden floors are spotless.

Kushina looked around curiously, and every student who walked past her wore a smile.

Some of them were talking in hushed tones, while others held books in their hands. All of this made her feel a sense of novelty towards this vibrant new environment.

She hopped lightly, each step full of energy.

"Fourth Grade, Class A, we've arrived."

The female teacher stopped and turned to Kushina, a smile of encouragement on her face.

Kushina took a deep breath, her heart filled with anticipation for the future.

She clenched her fist and nodded vigorously.