Time passed.
They supported each other, step by step, always striving to do their best at the Ninja Academy.
They faced challenges, but together, they found ways to overcome them.
"Grandfather and Uchiha Madara originally created Konoha to protect children from the horrors of war, yet the Konoha we have now..." Senju Nawaki said sadly at the graduation ceremony.
"But even though times may be tough, I believe we can make things better."
Senju Nawaki, as an older student, had already graduated the year before.
Soon after, the Second Shinobi World War began.
Different villages sent their ninjas to fight.
Konoha, in particular, sent many young children.
Senju Nawaki learned about this from his sister, Tsunade.
So many young lives had already been lost.
Like Kato, for example, who had just graduated last year. She was Kato Dan's sister.
"Now I'm officially a ninja."
Senju Nawaki sighed and then looked at his two younger classmates.
"Today is also my birthday, and my sister promised me a gift. She also said that tomorrow... I'll be heading to the Battlefield."
Sarutobi Ryo: "!"
Knowing the story, Sarutobi Ryo knew that Senju Nawaki would die on the Battlefield the day after getting his birthday present.
"Nawaki, please don't go to the Battlefield tomorrow."
Sarutobi Ryo stepped forward, wanting to change his mind.
After knowing each other for years, Sarutobi Ryo understood Senju Nawaki's character well.
He was honest and good, which was very different from the leaders of Konoha.
If I can change his fate, let him live and become Hokage... maybe Konoha, even the whole Ninja World, could be different.
Sarutobi Ryo: "Don't you think it's wrong to send children to fight?"
Namikaze Minato: "!"
Namikaze Minato saw Sarutobi Ryo trying to talk him out of it.
But at that moment, Namikaze Minato stayed silent.
Not everyone dared to question the leaders, and not everyone wanted to rebel.
"Nawaki, think about it… it's possible that someone in charge wants to hurt you..."
Seeing that Senju Nawaki didn't seem to be listening, Sarutobi Ryo kept trying.
In the story of Naruto, Senju Nawaki's death seemed like a planned conspiracy.
The grandson of the Ninja God, just sent to his death like that? It just doesn't make sense.
"Maybe..."
Senju Nawaki nodded.
He likely knew that it could be a trap.
"If that's true, then why..." Sarutobi Ryo didn't finish his sentence.
Even the Ninja God's grandson was just a new ninja, easily killed in battle.
Senju Nawaki shook his head: "To do great things, you either win big or lose big; there's no in-between... Some risks have to be taken."
---
That night.
Sarutobi Ryo stared at the wall, unable to fall asleep.
After a while, someone quietly came into his room.
"Young Master, something bad happened! Just like you thought, Nawaki-senpai is going to the Battlefield!" Yamanaka Hui rushed in, feeling her way in the dark. She had gone to Senju Nawaki's house and found him packing, ready to leave that night.
"Let's go."
Sarutobi Ryo quickly decided to find Senju Nawaki, even if it meant knocking him out and hiding him.
But when Sarutobi Ryo arrived at Senju Nawaki's house, Senju Nawaki was already waiting for him, prepared.
"Ryo, I knew you would come."
"Nawaki, let's go." Sarutobi Ryo invited him, hoping to stop him from going to the Battlefield.
Senju Nawaki shook his head: "We can leave Konoha, but we can't escape the problems of the Ninja World..."
Sarutobi Ryo frowned, understanding what Senju Nawaki meant, but he still wanted to try and save him: "If we leave tonight, we have a chance for tomorrow."
Senju Nawaki shook his head: "Grandfather once said, 'Each generation has to do what only they can do'... Tomorrow's problems are for tomorrow's people. All I can do is give myself completely, burning bright to inspire everyone..."
Sometimes, people can only do so much.
Dreams and reality are often different.
Senju Nawaki had learned what people were capable of during these years.
He... wasn't the one who could completely change Konoha, or even the Ninja World.
--Neither was Namikaze Minato.
But some people were!
"A single spark can start a fire..."
Senju Nawaki turned his back, showing Sarutobi Ryo his back.
"I'm leaving tomorrow's problems to you, Ryo..."
"..."
Sarutobi Ryo was quiet.
Senju Nawaki's determination to follow the true Will of Fire, even if it meant dying, moved Sarutobi Ryo deeply.
"Nawaki... You're right. To do great things, you either win big or lose big; there's no in-between. Konoha, and the Ninja World... will definitely change. I promise you that Konoha will always follow your path... the path of the true... Will of Fire..."
Burning oneself to light the way for others, protecting the people and things you care about.
Not the twisted Cultivation of Corrupted Fire.
In this, one needs to be brave and move forward, even recklessly, instead of giving in or being a flatterer.
"Konoha will always... follow my path?"
Senju Nawaki turned around, tears in his eyes.
Being afraid of death is normal; who doesn't want to live?
But... he was willing to burn himself to light the way.
Because that was the real Will of Fire.
Senju Nawaki had always lived by his beliefs, even to the point of dying for them.
"Ryo..."
Senju Nawaki smiled a little.
"I want to sleep for a while... I haven't rested well in a long time..."
He sat back down on the bed, lay down, and closed his eyes.
Now that the Will of Fire has been passed on, then... even after a difficult journey, there will be a day when the sun shines brightly.
"Ryo... the Will of Fire... and the Village, I'm trusting you with them!"
---
"!"
Sarutobi Ryo suddenly opened his eyes.
Everything around him was frozen.
After training for several more days, Sarutobi Ryo had completely learned the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai.
"Ice Release!"
As Sarutobi Ryo made the hand signs, frost rose and turned into an Ice Blade.
Even holding the weapon, Sarutobi Ryo didn't feel cold at all.
The Ice Release Kekkei Genkai had changed Sarutobi Ryo's body in the past few days without him realizing it.
He was no longer bothered by the wind, snow, or cold.
Even in the cold winter, he could walk around without a shirt like it was spring.
Of course, that was just a side effect.
The real benefit was the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai 's ability to enhance attacks.
Chih!
Sarutobi Ryo faced the rock wall behind the mountain and swung the Ice Blade.
The combination of Wind and Water gave Ice Release a very strong cutting power, with a freezing effect that could freeze the enemy's body and nerves.
This would cause frostbite, numbness, and slowness.
The hard rock wall was quickly cut with deep marks by the sharp Ice Blade.
This move could be used to create Ice Blades, and it could also add Ice Release Chakra to weapons, making them stronger.
Compared to regular "non-attribute Chakra," it was sharper and more versatile.
Yamanaka Hui watched her Young Master suddenly start testing the Ice Release's attack power on the rock wall.
And then, Yamanaka Hui saw her Young Master carving words into the rock.
*
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[T/N:
Final Total Power Stone Collection : 43 PS
Goal : Every +50 Total PS = 2 Bonus Chapters next day 🚀
This is today's final chapter release for Young Master, Please Become Hokage!! Thank you all so much for reading along and for your support. Final thoughts or a review would be amazing! ❤️
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Plus, Patrons get all their early access chapters instantly – no waiting for staggered releases! ✨
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