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

Konoha, Special Training Ground Zero.

On the several-meter-thick amplified alloy wall, there were still traces of charring and melting left from the previous round of magical bombardment, and a faint smell of ozone permeated the air.

This is Konoha's most sturdy and expensive toy box, a place specifically designed for top ninjas whose power is enough to easily alter the terrain, where they can unleash their full potential.

At this moment, in the center of the arena, Nagato Uzumaki stood quietly, his signature red hair resembling a calmly burning flame under the light of the illumination spell.

He closed his eyes, clasped his hands together in front of him, and his aura seemed to blend into the vast space around him.

In the observation room not far away, Tobirama Senju was facing a row of monitoring screens flashing with complex data. His fingers were rapidly tapping on the control panel, and his usually serious face showed a rare hint of the fervor unique to researchers.

"Vital signs are stable, chakra flow is stable at its peak... The activation factors of Hashirama cells and the rejection reaction of the Uzumaki bloodline have dropped to the theoretical minimum. A perfect body."

He muttered to himself, his red eyes reflecting Nagato's image on the screen.

Beside him, Hashirama Senju was a completely different person.

He gripped the specially made explosion-proof glass with both hands, his entire face almost pressed against it, staring intently at Nagato in the arena with the look of satisfaction one feels watching their own cabbage finally grow.

"Go! Nagato! Let us see the power of your eyes!"

Hashirama's voice echoed throughout the training ground via the internal communicator, filled with bold encouragement.

In the rest area further away, Yahiko clenched his fists nervously, his palms sweating profusely. He was even more excited than Nagato himself on the field.

"It's coming, it's coming... Konan, look! Nagato's about to use that move!"

Xiao Nan sat beside him, holding a medical notebook in her arms. When she heard this, she looked up, her purple eyes reflecting a hint of worry, but even more so, trust.

"Hmm~"

She responded softly, her gaze never leaving the quiet red-haired boy in the arena.

"Alright, Nagato."

Tobirama Senju's instructions came through the communicator, his voice calm and devoid of any emotion.

"As planned, the output power must be strictly controlled. Target: all dummies ahead. Begin."

Nagato slowly opened her eyes.

Those were eyes devoid of any emotional fluctuation, only ripples of mysterious purple light, like pebbles thrown into an ancient well, spreading out timeless waves.

Rinnegan.

He didn't form any mudras; he simply pushed his clasped hands forward slowly.

"Shinra Tensei—"

There was no earth-shattering roar, nor dazzling brilliance.

An invisible and intangible repulsive force, which seemed to be able to distort space itself, suddenly erupted forward from the center of Nagato.

In front of the training ground, the dozens of chakra concrete dummies, specially cast by Danzo Shimura's construction department and each weighing several tons, capable of withstanding several high-intensity impacts, seemed to turn into building blocks kicked away by a naughty child in that instant.

They silently rose from the ground, traced a neat parabola in the air, and then crashed heavily into the alloy wall at the far end of the training field.

"BOOM—BOOM—!!!"

The belated explosion was like a rolling thunderclap, causing the entire training ground to shake violently.

The walls were instantly covered with spiderweb-like cracks, and countless pebbles and dust fell down.

Amidst the billowing smoke and dust, Yahiko's mouth gaped open in a large "O" shape, unable to close for a long time.

"!!!!!!"

"Oh My God……"

He stammered out a few words, looking at the scene of devastation, feeling his worldview being severely shaken.

Xiao Nan was also shocked. She didn't even notice that the notebook in her arms had slipped to the ground. She just subconsciously reached out and covered her mouth.

"After only a few weeks of acclimatization training... he's mastered it to this extent..."

Inside the observation room, Tobirama Senju stared at the terrifying data displayed on the screen, muttering to himself, his eyes practically overflowing with admiration, "Truly... an extraordinary talent."

"Waaah..."

A strange sobbing interrupted Tobirama's praise.

He turned his head and saw his elder brother, the First Hokage Hashirama Senju, squatting in the corner with his back to him, his shoulders twitching, and a thick, almost tangible, gloomy aura emanating from him.

"Are all young people these days this amazing...?"

Hashirama's head drooped, his voice trembling with tears.

"It hasn't been that long... one push, and with a bang, it's all gone..."

As he spoke, he stretched out his finger and began to draw circles on the smooth alloy floor.

Tobirama Senju: "..."

He turned his head away expressionlessly, deciding to completely ignore his brother, who had once again entered a hallmark depressive mode, and continue to focus on his valuable data recording.

"Cough cough,"

Yahiko couldn't stand it anymore and ran over from the rest area, patting Hashirama on the back. "Um... First Hokage, please don't do this. You are the God of Shinobi! Nagato was just..."

"Stop talking!"

Hashirama turned around abruptly, two glistening tears still clinging to the corners of his eyes. "I understand! The new waves of the Yangtze River push the old waves forward, and the old waves die on the beach! I am that old wave on the beach!"

Yahiko opened his mouth, only to find that he had absolutely no idea how to respond.

After training, the three walked back to the village.

In the evening, the setting sun casts a warm golden glow on the rows of tall buildings in Konoha.

"Jingle bells—"

The tram made a pleasant sound as it slowly and steadily passed through the wide street.

The aroma of food wafted from the roadside shops, and children, carrying their schoolbags, chased and played, laughing and frolicking. Everything seemed so peaceful and full of life.

"Honestly, the First Hokage is too easily discouraged, isn't he?" Yahiko complained, scratching his head as he walked. "I comforted him for ages, but he just got more and more upset. In the end, Tobirama couldn't stand it anymore and sent him back with the Flying Thunder God Technique."

Xiao Nan, walking in the middle, could only smile helplessly upon hearing this.

Passing by a newly opened supermarket, Xiao Nan thought for a moment and went in to buy a lot of fresh vegetables and meat.

When she came out, both her hands were full of shopping bags, filled with fresh vegetables, freshly baked bread, and a fine piece of Konoha porridge. She was walking with some difficulty.

Nagato watched this scene silently, then naturally extended a hand.

"The Guiding Force of All Things".

The next second, both Konan and Yahiko were stunned.

The shopping bags in Konan's hands seemed to be pulled by invisible threads, floating lightly into the air before landing steadily beside Nagato, who easily caught them with his other hand.

The whole process was smooth and seamless, without a trace of fuss.

Nagato even adjusted the position of the bag, putting the one containing the eggs on top to prevent it from being crushed.

The air froze for a full three seconds.

"Nagato—!"

Yahiko finally snapped. He rushed to Nagato, pointed at him, and looked heartbroken.

"That's the Rinnegan! The legendary eye that the Sage of Six Paths possessed when he founded Ninshu! It's the eye of God! You! You actually used it to pick up food?!"

His voice was filled with incredulous accusation, as if he could see someone using a divine sword to slice a radish.

"But……"

Nagato looked at him innocently, her mysterious purple eyes filled with pure confusion. "This is very convenient."

"What?!"

Yahiko felt like he was about to faint from this logical genius's brilliance. "Is this a matter of convenience?! These eyes represent the power of creation and destruction! You... I..."

He pondered for a long time but couldn't think of a more suitable word.

Xiao Nan, watching from the side, finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Alright, Yahiko, don't make such a fuss."

She smiled and advised, "I think...it's fine."

"Okay," Yahiko said, scratching his head in frustration, "I just felt that the style didn't quite fit for a moment."

"Aren't these the three members of the Akatsuki squad? Is the mission over?"

A vibrant, sunny voice rang out.

The three looked in the direction of the sound and saw Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki walking towards them hand in hand with smiles on their faces.

"Minato! Kushina!"

Yahiko immediately put on a bright smile and went to greet him.

"Look at Nagato, he's actually using his Rinnegan to pick up shopping bags! Isn't that a bit too abstract?!"

Kushina's cunning eyes darted around and landed on the shopping bag floating beside Nagato, and she immediately grinned.

"Pfft—Not bad, Nagato!"

She patted Nagato on the shoulder without any hesitation, laughing so hard she almost fell over. "You're getting lazier and lazier, aren't you? Very much in the style of our Uzumaki clan!"

Nagato's cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her head somewhat embarrassed.

Minato Namikaze simply smiled gently, looking at his wife with eyes full of doting affection.

"Oh, right, I have some good news for you!"

Kushina suddenly remembered something and proudly puffed out her belly.

Although it wasn't very obvious yet, Konan still noticed that Kushina's lower abdomen seemed to be slightly bulging than usual.

"Soon..."

Kushina happily touched her belly, her face radiating maternal glow, "Our family is about to have a little devil!"