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

Chapter 306 School Library

The first week of classes at the ninja academy slowly came to an end, amidst the children's mixed feelings of novelty and a little boredom.

This seemed to be an exceptionally long time for the children at the ninja academy.

Especially the theory classes.

"...Therefore, the nature transformation of chakra is based on the form transformation; the two complement each other and are indispensable. Theoretically, a ninja can master..."

The teacher on the podium spoke until his throat was dry, but most of the children below the podium were already lost in their own thoughts.

Kushina Uzumaki rested her chin on one hand, while the pen in her other hand spun rapidly between her fingers, leaving afterimages in its wake.

Her head bobbed up and down, her eyelids so heavy they felt like they were about to stick together.

So boring... so incredibly boring...

She secretly glanced at Minato Namikaze beside her.

The blond boy sat upright, his back straight, his pen scratching across his notebook as he recorded every key point the teacher made, so focused that not a single hair on his head was out of place.

That darn academic genius.

Kushina muttered to herself, silently turned back, and continued her arduous struggle against drowsiness.

Not only her, but most of the children in the classroom showed signs of not adapting well to this kind of purely bookish knowledge.

They are more accustomed to sweating it out on the training field and memorizing the sequence of hand seals with their bodies than listening to these vague theories here.

In the classroom on the other side.

Yahiko moved closer to Nagato, lowered his voice, and looked mysterious.

"Hey, Nagato, what secret weapon have you figured out?"

Konan sat quietly to the side, watching her two companions. She felt that the warm and peaceful aura emanating from Nagato seemed even stronger than yesterday.

"Alright, students, quiet down."

The teacher on the podium clapped her hands, drawing the children's attention.

"I have some good news to share with everyone today."

The teacher wore a proud smile. "The Konoha Comprehensive Library, which was built for our Ninja Academy by order of the Third Hokage himself, is officially open to all students today."

library?

Some of the children whispered among themselves, their expressions somewhat bewildered.

This word was still unfamiliar to them.

"In the library, there are countless storybooks, scrolls recording the history of the ninja world, and picture books about the founding of our village."

The teacher's voice was full of guidance, "Next, I will lead you to visit our unique Hall of Knowledge in Konoha."

Led by their teacher, the children lined up and entered the magnificent building next to the teaching building for the first time.

It is not the old-fashioned library that children imagine, but a brand-new three-story building with huge floor-to-ceiling windows.

Sunlight streamed through the clear glass, illuminating the room and filling the air with the fresh scent of new wood and paper.

Rows of tall, solid wood bookshelves stretched to the horizon, filled with a dazzling array of books and scrolls, a sight so spectacular that all the children held their breath.

"Wow……"

Someone let out a small gasp, breaking the silence.

"This place... is so big."

Yahiko couldn't help but open his mouth wide.

He had thought it would be a boring place, but it turned out to be such a... a place that made him feel open-minded.

Nagato and Konan were even more shocked by the scene before them.

They had never seen so many books before.

In the land of rain, paper is a luxury, let alone bound books.

During those turbulent days, the only things they could read were tattered bounty posters and abandoned notices.

"Look this way, everyone."

The teacher led them to a corner at the very back of the first floor.

The layout here is different from other places. Instead of tall bookshelves, there are soft carpets, low round desks, and colorful cushions.

The low bookshelf against the wall is filled with all kinds of brightly colored picture books.

"This is a picture book corner specially set up for younger students," the teacher introduced gently.

The children's attention was instantly drawn to the beautiful picture books, and they all ran over to pick out the books that interested them.

Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato, the three small figures naturally gathered together.

Yahiko immediately took a liking to a picture book with a cover depicting two men in fierce combat, titled "The Legend of the Valley of the End".

He eagerly turned the book, and the pages depicted the earth-shattering battle between the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and Madara Uchiha, with concise yet impactful illustrations.

The clash between the wooden dragon and Susanoo thrilled Yahiko.

"Wow, amazing! Is this the First Hokage?!" He excitedly pointed at Hashirama Senju on the screen.

But when he turned to the last page, he was stunned.

There is no battle on the last page.

In the painting, Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, two former rivals, are standing together. Behind them is a newly established village, with countless children laughing and running around behind them.

At the bottom of the page was written a line: For the children of the village, for a peaceful future.

Yahiko felt a heavy blow to his heart.

He suddenly remembered what Ms. Mito had said in class.

The original intention of establishing Konoha was to end hatred and protect children.

It turned out to be like this...

"I see……"

Yahiko muttered to himself, his fingers gripping the pages tightly as an unprecedented sense of enlightenment welled up within him.

Unlike Yahiko's excitement, Konan picked up a picture book called "The Four Seasons of Konoha".

There are no battles or thrilling stories in the book.

He simply used gentle strokes to depict the scenery of Konoha Village throughout the four seasons.

Spring cherry blossoms, summer festivals, autumn harvests, and winter snow. Each page depicts the happy and peaceful lives of the villagers, and the smiling faces of children chasing and playing in the streets.

Xiao Nan was completely absorbed in watching it.

She read it page by page, with utmost care.

Isn't this... the beautiful Konoha that Jiraiya-sensei spoke of?

Isn't this the kind of home that she and Yahiko have always longed for?

She stretched out her tiny fingers and gently stroked the little girl in the picture who was being carried on her father's shoulders and was laughing happily.

A feeling called belonging quietly took root and sprouted in my heart.

Nagato sat quietly in the corner, holding the thickest picture book in his hands: The Birth of Konoha.

He didn't flip through the pages quickly; he just watched quietly.

When he saw an illustration depicting the First Hokage signing an alliance with the head of the Uzumaki clan, his finger stopped.

In the picture, standing next to the First Hokage is a red-haired woman, who is none other than Mito Uzumaki in her youth.

Her expression was gentle yet firm, and the quiet yet powerful aura emanating from her seemed to emanate through the paper.