At that moment, Naori stood not as a timid young lady, but as a young ninja with unwavering conviction blazing in her eyes!
"Although I may not possess the ability to fully realize this vision right now, I will always firmly uphold my will! I will strive towards it with every fiber of my being, until the day it is truly realized."
Naori's impassioned words resonated deeply with everyone present, earning their sincere approval. Kagami, in particular, watched his younger sister with eyes brimming with gratification. The little girl who had once simply followed him around was now blossoming into a young woman with her own strong beliefs.
However, he also understood that putting such a noble will into practice would be an incredibly arduous journey. But he, as her older brother, would always be there, a steadfast presence ready to offer his unwavering support.
Seeing the genuine affirmation in everyone's gazes, Naori felt a surge of encouragement. Kind smiles were directed her way, bolstering her newfound confidence.
"Very good, Naori." Hashirama's voice boomed with approval. "To possess such profound thoughts and awareness at such a young age is truly gratifying!"
Hashirama's praise filled Naori with elation, but his next words sent a wave of pure ecstasy through her!
"I would like to take you as my disciple. Are you willing?"
Naori nodded frantically, tears welling in her eyes as she repeatedly exclaimed, "I am willing! Hokage-sama, I am willing!"
Hashirama felt a surge of satisfaction. The test he had devised had proven to be a wise choice, allowing him to clearly perceive the true will residing in the hearts of these young individuals. It also provided him with a clearer perspective on who among them possessed the qualities necessary to guide Konoha Village towards a prosperous future.
The title of Hokage was not merely bestowed upon the strongest individual, but upon someone who possessed a heart overflowing with genuine love for the village. Someone who could embrace every single resident as their own family, dedicating themselves to their protection. Only such a person was truly qualified to bear the mantle of Hokage!
"Hahaha, good child, remember to call me 'sensei' from now on," Hashirama chuckled warmly.
Tears of pure joy streamed down Naori's face. She had finally become the disciple of the Hashirama! The ninja she admired above all others! The strongest man in the entire ninja world!
"Sensei!" Naori exclaimed, her voice choked with emotion.
Hashirama gently touched Naori's head, signaling her to return to the group.
"Children," he addressed them all, his gaze sweeping across their faces, "today, I have come to understand the Will of Fire that burns within each of you, and it fills me with immense gratification."
"Except for Torifū and Naori, you are all already very excellent ninjas," Hashirama continued. "But I implore you to always remember that your Will of Fire must be built upon the foundation of upholding the honor of our village and ensuring the safety and well-being of its villagers!"
His tone grew serious, a subtle hint of his immense power radiating outwards. "Never, in your pursuit of your own individual will, disregard the safety of the village and the precious lives of its inhabitants!"
If anyone were to prioritize their personal ambitions above the collective good, it would be a grave misstep, putting the individual before the community. He needed to instill this fundamental principle deeply within these young minds.
Upon hearing Hashirama's stern yet heartfelt words, Torifū and the others solemnly promised him that such a transgression would never occur.
Afterward, Hashirama withdrew his imposing aura, and after offering a few more words of guidance, he dismissed them, allowing them to descend the Hokage Rock.
Only Hashirama and Tobirama remained on the mountaintop. A sudden gust of wind billowed Hashirama's wide robes, causing his sleeves to flutter dramatically.
"Tobirama," Hashirama began, his gaze thoughtful, "which of these children do you believe possesses the will most suited to lead our village in the future?"
Tobirama didn't hesitate, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Brother already has a candidate in mind, doesn't he?"
Hashirama turned his gaze towards the sprawling village below. Whenever he wasn't occupied with official duties, he often sought solace and contemplation on this very spot, sometimes sitting in quiet reflection for an entire day.
"No one can say for certain what the future holds," Hashirama mused. "We need to observe them further, to allow their characters to truly develop."
Tobirama nodded in agreement. It was far too early to draw definitive conclusions about these young individuals. And they had not yet reached the age where the crucial decision of selecting a successor needed to be made.
Before they truly relinquished their responsibilities, they would dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to nurturing these promising children, carefully observing their growth and selecting the person most capable of protecting Konoha Village in the generations to come.
Hashirama suddenly posed a question that seemed to arise from his deeper thoughts. "Tobirama, what do you envision Konoha Village will be like in fifty or even sixty years?"
Tobirama's gaze softened slightly. "I do not know, brother. I only know that by then, we will both likely have become mere handfuls of yellow earth."
A quiet smile passed between the two brothers, a shared understanding of the fleeting nature of life.
"That is true," Hashirama conceded, a touch of wistfulness in his voice. "But if there were a way, I truly wish I could witness what the future Konoha Village will become."
Everyone eventually succumbed to the inevitable cycle of life and death, just as even the legendary Sage of Six Paths in ancient times could not escape its grasp. But wills and ideals could be passed down through generations, and Hashirama felt a growing certainty that he had already found individuals capable of carrying that torch.
...
Time flowed relentlessly, indifferent to the fleeting lives of ordinary people. In the blink of an eye, nearly twelve months had passed since that pivotal day atop the Hokage Rock. Only three days remained until Madara's planned rebellion and attack on Konoha.
During these nearly twelve months, Torifū had absorbed a vast amount of knowledge and taijutsu techniques from Hashirama's patient tutelage. Whenever his schedule allowed, he also accompanied Hiruzen and the others on various missions. Torifū's exceptional combat prowess made him a valuable asset, and Hiruzen was naturally pleased to have him on their team.
This consistent mission work allowed Torifū's Peace Points to steadily accumulate, reaching a grand total of 74,300. This substantial amount was finally enough, in Torifū's estimation, to navigate the upcoming major chaotic event with a reasonable degree of safety.
And if at all possible, he desperately wanted to prevent his beloved sensei from having to fight Madara. Torifū firmly believed that the reason Hashirama, the legendary God of Shinobi, had died relatively young in his original timeline was due to his unrestrained use of cell regeneration to recover from injuries sustained in countless battles. This overreliance on his healing abilities likely pushed his cellular division beyond its natural limits, ultimately leading to his premature demise.
If his sensei could avoid a direct confrontation with Madara this time, perhaps his life could be extended by several more precious years. And by then, Torifū hoped, he might have found a means to cure him, perhaps through the ever-evolving inventory of the Peaceful Life System's shop, which might one day offer a solution for cellular regeneration.
At the moment, Torifū and Naori had just concluded their rigorous training session and were debating what to have for lunch. A knot of anxiety tightened in Torifū's stomach at the thought of Madara's impending attack. However, he couldn't betray any unusual concern and could only offer Naori a subtle warning.
"Naori," Torifū said casually, "on the night three days from now, it would be best if you didn't stray too far from your brother."
Naori looked at him, a hint of confusion in her eyes. "What's wrong, Torifū? Is something going to happen?" Torifū had seemed a little off since early this morning, and now he was making cryptic statements she didn't understand.
"I just have a bad feeling," Torifū replied, trying to sound nonchalant. "Just do as I say, okay?"
Although she couldn't quite decipher what Torifū might be concealing, his request wasn't unreasonable. Since he had asked, she saw no harm in heeding his advice. Besides, he and her brother lived in relatively close proximity. Moreover, over the past year or so, Torifū had subtly helped Naori navigate several potentially difficult situations. Therefore, Naori chose to trust Torifū's intuition.
After much deliberation, the two eventually settled on barbecue. Ever since Torifū had first introduced Naori to that particular restaurant, she had become completely enamored with it and had frequented it often over the past year. The owner had reaped considerable profits and had even renovated the establishment, leading to an even more thriving business.
After their meal, Torifū bid farewell to Naori and made his way back to the Kumotsuru Clan compound. The past year had afforded him hardly any personal time, every spare moment dedicated to the relentless accumulation of Peace Points! He was also growing increasingly convinced that this so-called Peaceful Life System was a complete fraud! Ever since its activation, his life had been anything but peaceful.
"System!" Torifū commanded internally, "Open the shop!"