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

Mei Terumi, standing beside him, also had a blank stare in her emerald green eyes.

She instinctively covered her mouth, her alluring eyes fixed on Kakashi.

Originally, I just thought this silver-haired boy was special and serious, that he would actually go to the trouble of researching how to grow melons on this barren land.

But now she realizes that growing melons might just be the most insignificant scrap in the other person's vast knowledge system.

Behind them, the new Fourth Mizukage, Hozuki Kaigetsu, was pressing his hand firmly against his wildly beating heart while frantically writing in a small notebook with the other hand, the pen tip almost tearing through the paper.

"Turning crisis into opportunity...resource integration...cross-sector collaboration...transforming negative assets from accidents into positive returns for projects..."

He muttered to himself, and the look in his eyes as he looked at the two men had changed from initial shock to near-fanatical worship.

I felt like I wasn't just observing an engineering rescue, but rather listening to an enlightenment lesson from a higher civilization.

The revitalization plan previously devised for Kirigakure now seems somewhat conservative in light of the scene before us.

"What are you still standing there for?"

Shinnosuke's cold voice broke everyone's daze.

He had walked up to the group of equally dumbfounded Kirigakure ninja, including even the Kaguya clan members who had just been complaining.

"Engineering Department, immediately recalculate the load-bearing structure, revise the construction drawings, and reserve space for turbine installation downstream of the dam!"

"Earth Release Team, seal the breach, but don't block it completely! Guide the water flow to the designated channel and control the flow rate!"

"All members of the Kaguya clan, aren't you supposed to be the toughest? Go and clean up all that rubble that's been washed down into the waterways! If you don't finish today, your dinner will be halved!"

The orders were clear, decisive, and devoid of any emotion.

However, the Kaguya clan members who were being used as laborers did not show any resentment this time. Instead, they seemed to be injected with a strange power, their eyes bursting with amazing light as they roared and charged into the muddy mine tunnel.

They might not understand what a turbine unit is, but they do understand that dinner will be halved!

On the other side, Kakashi also found Obito and Rin.

"Obito, use your Fire Release to dry the mud in this area. Be careful to control the temperature and prevent the ground from cracking."

"Lin, could you please test the water samples and analyze the detailed mineral composition and pH level? I need precise data to select the first batch of fish fry to release."

"good!"

Obito responded loudly, appearing very enthusiastic; he had finally found a place to use his skills besides arguing.

Lin nodded gently, immediately took out a specially made sampling tube from her ninja tool bag, and began to work seriously.

"And what about me? What about me?"

Sarutobi Asuma darted over like a monkey. He watched his brother and Kakashi showing off their skills while he was doing nothing, and he was so anxious that he scratched his head and cheeks.

"ennnn"

Kakashi raised an eyebrow, pointed at the somewhat bewildered group of Kirigakure ninja, and said in his characteristically lazy tone, "Go, organize them, and have them help clear the river and transport supplies. Remember, just don't let them cause any trouble."

"Leave it to me!"

Asma instantly found his place.

He ran up to the group of Hidden Mist ninjas in a few steps, put his hands on his hips, and cleared his throat, mimicking his father's tone.

"Hey! You guys, listen up!"

He hooked his arm around the neck of a young boy from the Hidden Mist Village who was about his age and announced loudly, "The team that worked the hardest today will get tonight's dinner party—all-you-can-eat vegetable soup!"

"Vegetable soup?!"

"The same kind the agricultural team drank yesterday?!"

"roar!!!"

An unprecedented work chant echoed over the mining area.

That enthusiasm was even higher than when the Kaguya clan launched their coup.

On a distant hillside, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood with his hands behind his back, quietly watching everything.

He looked at his eldest son, who commanded the overall situation like a precision instrument, digitizing all human and material resources, and pursuing ultimate efficiency.

That ruthless and resolute attitude of doing whatever it takes to achieve his goal is just like that man with the sinister look in his eyes back then, who was determined to become the root.

"Danzo..."

Hiruzen sighed inwardly, "If you saw this scene, would you be pleased?"

His gaze then shifted to the other side, to the silver-haired boy who was with Lin, spreading out sheets of paper filled with data on the ground, carefully studying a fish fry breeding program.

Lightning Release can be used to finely improve soil, Water Release can be used to regulate humidity, and Medical Ninjutsu can be used to promote seed growth.

That boundless creativity, that wisdom that returns the essence of power to life rather than death...

"Shuomao,"

A smile unconsciously crept onto Hiruzen's lips. "Your sword protected the honor of Konoha. And your son is protecting Konoha's future in another way. Perhaps this is your true White Fang."

He started walking slowly towards the construction site.

He first walked up to Asuma, who was mingling with the Hidden Mist ninjas, praising how delicious Konoha barbecue was.

When the boys saw the Hokage approaching, they all stopped what they were doing, somewhat nervously.

Hiruzen didn't speak, but walked to Asuma's side, raised his hand, and, just like when they were children, roughly ruffled Asuma's stiff, short hair. Then he patted Asuma's shoulder, lowered his voice, and said in a volume only the father and son could hear:

"Very good, he truly is my son."

Asma was stunned.

His smile froze instantly, and an indescribable surge of heat rushed from his chest to his eyes.

How long had it been since he'd heard such direct praise from his father? It wasn't because he was the Hokage's son, nor because he'd learned some powerful ninjutsu; it was simply because he was here, doing what he could do in his own way.

The boy sniffed sharply, then grinned, revealing a smile even brighter than the sun.

"Of course!"

Hiruzen smiled, turned and walked to the other side, to that solitary figure isolated from the crowd.

When Shinnosuke noticed his father's arrival, he immediately stopped what he was doing, stood up straight, and his posture was as respectful as a soldier being inspected.

"Father."

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't show the same intimacy as he did with Asuma; he simply looked calmly at this person who was becoming more and more like him, yet also less and less like himself.

Looking into his sharp, calm eyes.

There was silence for a moment.

Hiruzen spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but it clearly reached Shinnosuke's ears.

"Do whatever you want to do."

Shinnosuke's body trembled almost imperceptibly.

His face remained expressionless, the cold, hard mask seemingly welded to his face.

But the hands that had been tightly clasped slowly loosened at that moment.

It felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

He lowered his eyes and responded softly.

"Yes, Father."

As dusk falls and the last rays of the setting sun sink below the horizon, the entire mining area transforms.

A brand-new, widened and reinforced river channel has taken shape, and turbid groundwater is flowing down the predetermined path, impacting the foundation of the newly built dam downstream.

On the other side, the once-cursed saline land was now enveloped by a huge, translucent barrier that emitted a soft, shimmering light. Inside the barrier, it was warm as spring, and one could vaguely see green buds.

This miraculous progress shattered the last vestiges of pride among all the Hidden Mist Ninja.

As the Konoha logistics personnel carried out large pots, and the familiar, domineering aroma of vegetable broth filled the air once more, all the Kirigakure ninja, including the berserkers of the Kaguya clan, put down their tools and silently formed a long queue.

A burly Kaguya clansman with hideous scars on his arms squatted in a corner, slurping down a bowl of steaming soup.

The scalding hot soup slid down my throat and into my stomach, and a warmth and satisfaction I had never experienced before instantly dispelled all my fatigue.

He looked at the few bright green vegetable leaves in the bowl, then looked up at the construction site not far away, still lit up and in operation, and further away, at the clan chief tied to a wooden stake, looking like a dried specimen.

Kaguya Honebami's spirit collapsed for the third time on this day.

He watched his people, who could charge into battle fearlessly for that vague and elusive glory; now, for this bowl of real, hot soup, they were unleashing a power even more astonishing than in battle.

So what exactly is right?

The Kaguya clansman drank every last drop of soup from the bowl, even licking the bottom of the bowl with his tongue.

He stood up, walked over to the overseer, and asked in a gruff voice:

"Are we still digging for stones tomorrow?"

The foreman glanced at him and said irritably, "Nonsense! Dig even more tomorrow!"

A hint of anticipation appeared on the rugged face of the Kaguya clansman.

Just then, a young Hidden Mist ninja cautiously approached another companion, lowered his voice, and asked with anticipation:

"Hey...do you think they'll teach us how to make that...barbecue tomorrow?"

"It definitely will!"