Traveling through three generations: Making Konoha great again!

Chapter 91: The Hokage's Speech! The will of the people becomes authority!

A few days later.

Konoha's first training ground.

This largest training ground in Konoha was only ever opened during large-scale or joint Chunin Exams.

Rather than a training ground, the structure here is more like a stadium or a performance center.

The audience seating can accommodate tens of thousands of people, allowing Konoha to invite nobles and ninja allies from various countries to participate.

This was an idea that Tobirama Senju once had.

The joint Chunin Exams were used to observe the strength of the participating villages and demonstrate the power of Konoha, in order to gather intelligence and suppress the war to a certain extent.

They can also earn some extra money from tourism and ticket sales, which can be considered a supplement to their finances.

Overall, it's a good approach that benefits more than it harms.

However, because of this, none of the candidates who participated in the previous "Joint Chunin Exams" were proper genin—

It's common for a village's overall strength to start as a Chunin; some villages even send in Special Jonin.

In this situation, it doesn't matter who becomes a Chunin; what matters is intimidating the opponent with force.

But today at Konoha's First Martial Arts Arena.

There were no ninjas or nobles from other villages, only passionate Konoha ninjas and villagers.

Those who participated were genuine ninja academy students; even Minato Namikaze was a true Chunin.

He applied for Jonin status after mastering the Flying Thunder God Technique, and the application is still in progress; no official documents have been issued yet.

"Oh my god! What a thrilling sight!" Might Guy, wiping away tears, gazed at the enthusiastic Konoha ninjas. "This is youth!"

Everyone had a genuine smile on their face, shouting encouragement to the children.

The village hadn't had such a joyful and lively atmosphere since the Second Shinobi World War.

Or rather, Konoha only had a similar atmosphere when Hashirama Senju was alive.

On the high platform.

Danzo kept a tight face to maintain his cold and tough image in front of the public.

But in reality, he quietly asked without changing his expression, "Hiruzen, why are the ninjas so eager—"

"It's just a friendly sparring match between kids, what's so interesting about it!"

Even the darkest hour was stunned by the atmosphere before him.

What kind of advanced class for ninja academy students is this?

It was just like a victory celebration held after a complete victory in a major war!

"Logically speaking, there really isn't much to see—"

"But do you think the village's benefits for ninjas are just for those with white hair?" Hiruzen Sarutobi replied with a smile, "Coming to cheer on the kids is only one aspect; the main reason is to celebrate the establishment of the ninja protection system, which is also a celebration for them."

Danzo Shimura nodded thoughtfully.

Ninjas are repressed.

Having been treated as tools for centuries, they suddenly felt a genuine sense of institutional protection.

This feeling, like basking in the sun, makes everyone's heart itch with desire.

So much so that I felt an urgent need to do something for the village, otherwise I always felt unworthy—

The students of the Ninja Academy happened to become this exit.

Providing a safety net of subsidies and pensions for elderly people living alone, and offering public welfare-based support to those who have been cruelly harmed in the village—

In addition, the nobles greatly admired Konoha.

Many people who used to seek out samurai or wandering ninjas for cheaper missions now prefer to work with Konoha ninjas to make themselves known in the village.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was quite satisfied with this, which meant his younger brother, the daimyo, had done a decent job.

It has already proven some of its value.

The "Holy Land Pill" was successfully promoted among the nobility.

A combination of factors.

This allowed most of the exhausted ninjas to finally rest for a while, no longer so worried about the invisible scythe behind them, lest it kill them and their families at any moment.

"Only when an individual's basic needs for survival and safety are guaranteed by the system will they have the capacity to do other things."

"Danzo, remember, security and village vitality are positively correlated."

"And institutional safeguards will also foster a sense of community—"

"That's why so many ninjas would voluntarily share their secret techniques and unique skills with the students of the ninja academy without any compensation, even if they were not related by blood."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a smile, "How is it? Can you see the Will of Fire burning?"

Danzo nodded subconsciously.

What he was really thinking was, if he were to ever bare his teeth at Hiruzen Sarutobi one day, Hiruzen could simply raise his arm and shout—

No, it's not that complicated.

Perhaps even the slightest hint of dissatisfaction with him would provoke countless ninjas to tear him apart.

Even if he is the Hokage's assistant!

And as for dealing with enemies, that goes without saying.

"This is even more astonishing than my methods of controlling Root ninjas!"

"No need for a cursed seal, no need for control or brainwashing, it stems from a spontaneous belief—" Danzo slowly clenched his fists, thinking to himself, "Even if Tobirama-sensei were to be resurrected, Hiruzen's current prestige would probably not be much less than his!"

So this is how the Will of Fire works?

"Prepare your expressions and words for what's to come, Danzo," Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly said.

Danzo was taken aback. What was Hiruzen trying to do?

All I saw was...

Hiruzen Sarutobi flashed into the center of the training ground, amplifying his voice with chakra as he greeted the ninjas present: "Have you all been waiting long?"

The appearance of the Hokage instantly ignited the atmosphere at the scene!

Parents stood on tiptoe, waving towels in their hands, while the children of the ninja school jumped up and screamed.

Even the Jonin who had been watching the spectacle with their arms crossed lowered their arms and bowed with their eyes, their enthusiasm barely concealed.

The cheers surged in waves, crashing against the walls of the training ground, causing the ground to tremble slightly.

In other circumstances, Hiruzen Sarutobi's appearance certainly wouldn't have caused such a sensation—

But people's emotions are influenced by the atmosphere.

One person's cheers can inspire those around them, creating a chain reaction. As the atmosphere heats up, the emotions of the group surge, and previously restrained behavior becomes bold and enthusiastic.

The appearance of Hiruzen Sarutobi brought the emotions of the entire training ground to a climax!

The Hokage smiled inwardly.

Choosing to appear at the most exciting moment in the training ground—

The purpose was to precisely anchor the public support brought by the protection system onto himself, deeply bind his personal prestige to the ninja protection system, and thus establish a "people-friendly" Hokage persona.

Compared to emphasizing one's achievements in formal settings, this approach appears more natural and less contrived.

"Everyone, I see the fire in your hearts—" Hiruzen Sarutobi pointed to his own eyes with both hands, then to the audience seats in the arena, and slowly turned around.

The Konoha ninjas held their breath slightly.

Everyone felt that the Hokage was looking at them and greeting them!

"The fact that this advanced training program for ninja academy students has received so much support and enthusiastic participation is truly remarkable."

"It's because in Konoha today, every ninja is more closely connected through the Will of Fire—"

"Even without blood ties, every Konoha ninja is family to whom you can entrust your back!" Hiruzen Sarutobi said calmly and powerfully.

"I promise everyone that the things the village does for you will not be limited to just one or two things—"

"Supplementing medical care, further improving existing welfare benefits, and refining ninja tools for ninja academy students and ninjas—"

"It's progressing steadily according to plan!"

"But please remember, this is not the achievement of the Hokage alone; it is the blood and sweat of every Konoha resident that has made these real changes possible!"

"In the days to come, I ask that you all continue to lend me your strength—"

"Let us join hands and shape the village into the form that Lord Hashirama desired, so that the seeds of the Will of Fire may blossom and bear fruit on the land of Konoha, everlasting!"

The thunderous cheers from the crowd gave Hiruzen Sarutobi the most enthusiastic response.

The chakra of many ninjas surged and boiled.

I wish I could blast a few fireballs into the sky right now and explode this joy into the clouds!

Danzo looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi in the center of the stage with a sigh.

This scene is so moving that it's almost intoxicating.

I wonder if he will be as beloved as Hiruzen Sarutobi when he becomes Hokage.

Then, Danzo chuckled self-deprecatingly.

He believed that becoming Hokage was not a problem at all—

But if it's like Hiruzen, that's probably unrealistic—

His reputation is relatively complicated.

"Everyone has their own style. This is the style of the First Master, while I am following the legacy of Tobirama-sensei. This means I am more like Tobirama-sensei—"

Danzo comforted himself with this thought: "It's not impossible for me to surpass Hiruzen in the future, and it's not impossible for me to learn it, hmm—"

But for some reason, he suddenly remembered a scene.

One-Day Slayer sparred with Orochimaru to test the village's surprise attack response.

He was criticized for arriving late, but he also received some applause after making a pledge.

It must be said that even for Ninja Darkness, that feeling was quite satisfying.

And at this moment.

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly pointed to his location.

"Next—"

"Let me introduce you to some Konoha ninjas who have made outstanding contributions to the development of the village!"

Danzo's pupils suddenly contracted!