Breathing in the fresh air of the village, tinged with the scent of life, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt his whole body come alive.
He didn't wander idly on Hokage Avenue; he had a clear goal today.
The Sarutobi clan's exclusive training ground.
Since becoming Hokage, he rarely had time to return to the clan to take a look.
He wondered if the younger generation had been slacking off in their training recently.
Especially that kid, Sarutobi Hasumi. Since being a little stimulated in the Real Battlefield Simulation System last time, he had changed completely after returning, spending all day in the training ground training desperately.
He had to go see, lest he train himself into trouble.
The Sarutobi clan's training ground was located in the deepest part of the clan compound, surrounded by dense bamboo forests, quiet and secluded.
When Sarutobi Hiruzen landed silently on a large tree at the edge of the training ground, he was immediately attracted by the bustling scene inside.
More than a dozen Sarutobi clansmen, shirtless, were sweating profusely as they engaged in taijutsu sparring on the field.
"Bang—"
Fists and feet met, making dull impact sounds.
The young men's panting and occasional low roars intertwined, composing a movement named youth.
"Hah!"
"Yah!"
Although their movements were still slightly immature, every move was proper, obviously having undergone rigorous training.
It could be seen that the Sarutobi clan's taijutsu inheritance had not fallen behind due to the arrival of peace.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze quickly locked onto the most conspicuous figure in the crowd.
It was a boy with medium-length tea-brown hair. His figure was not the most robust among his peers, but his movements were exceptionally agile and sharp.
His opponent was a sturdy boy half a head taller than him.
Facing the opponent's powerful straight punch, he didn't dodge or evade, just tilted his body slightly.
His right hand, like a spirit snake leaving its hole, precisely cut at the opponent's wrist, unloading the force. At the same time, his left foot stepped forward, and with a clean shoulder throw, he smashed the opponent heavily onto the ground.
The whole process was smooth and flowing, without a single superfluous movement.
It was Sarutobi Hasumi.
"Good!"
The surrounding clansmen watching couldn't help but cheer.
The sturdy boy thrown to the ground wasn't discouraged either. He kipped up.
He rubbed his sore shoulder and gave Hasumi a thumbs up: "Amazing, Hasumi! I feel like you've become a different person since coming out of the simulation system!"
"We are both human, why is my improvement so small..."
"Just luck."
Sarutobi Hasumi waved his hand modestly, but a light shone in his gentle eyes.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stood on the tree, watching this scene, a gratified smile on his face.
It seemed that the Real Battlefield Simulation System was quite effective.
It not only improved these children's actual combat ability but, more importantly, honed their character.
"Mm, the foundation is laid well, but the details are still a bit rough."
Sarutobi Hiruzen stroked his chin. With his vision, he could see a hundred million flaws in Hasumi's movements just now at a glance.
Although the movements were sharp, the method of exertion was too crude, and the use of power was full of unnecessary waste.
"It seems relying on their own practice isn't enough."
"As the clan head and Hokage, I have an obligation to personally go down and give guidance, let them feel the fist of love from the clan head and Hokage."
Thinking of this, the corners of Sarutobi Hiruzen's mouth curled up into a kind and amiable smile.
He leaped lightly from the tree, landing silently at the entrance of the training ground, then cleared his throat and walked in slowly with his hands behind his back.
"Everyone is working very hard."
A gentle and magnetic voice sounded in the training ground.
The dozen or so young Sarutobi clansmen who were sweating profusely and sparring fiercely all froze.
They looked towards the sound, and when they saw the figure walking towards them with a smile and hands behind his back, everyone's eyes widened instantly, their mouths open wide enough to fit an egg.
"Clan... Clan Head?!"
"It's Lord Hiruzen!"
"Am I dreaming? Why would Lord Hokage come here?"
After a brief silence, the entire training ground instantly erupted in shouts of unparalleled admiration and excitement.
"Greetings, Lord Hiruzen!"
"Greetings, Lord Clan Head!"
Led by Sarutobi Hasumi, the dozen or so boys and girls didn't care about wiping the sweat from their faces and rushed over in unison.
Then they stood straight in front of the Third Hokage and bowed deeply, their movements as uniform as a well-trained army.
Their faces were filled with excitement and fanaticism.
For these children who grew up listening to the legends of Sarutobi Hiruzen, the man before them was not only their clan head but also the guardian deity of the entire Konoha village, a living legend.
Being watched by him during training was in itself a supreme honor.
"Alright, alright, get up, no need for so much ceremony."
Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand with a smile, signaling them not to be so restrained.
His gaze swept gently over the faces of every young clansman.
These children were the future of the Sarutobi clan.
Looking at their vibrant and energetic faces, Sarutobi Hiruzen's mood became exceptionally good.
"I happened to pass by today and saw you practicing so devotedly, so I came over to take a look."
Sarutobi Hiruzen said in a chatty tone, "How is it going? Have you encountered any bottlenecks in your recent training?"
"Reporting to Lord Clan Head!"
Sarutobi Hasumi, standing at the very front, immediately answered loudly, "We have been training according to the plan you set every day, daring not to slack off in the slightest!"
"Mm, I saw."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded. "I see your efforts. The foundation is well laid, better than I expected."
Receiving personal praise from Lord Hokage, the teenagers' cheeks flushed with excitement, and they straightened their backs even more.
"However..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's tone shifted, and a meaningful smile appeared on his face. "Just having a solid foundation is far from enough."
"Ninja battles change rapidly. True taijutsu tests not only strength and speed but also the precise grasp of timing, angles, and the enemy's psychology."
His gaze swept around, looking at the teenagers pondering his words, and made a request that surprised everyone.
"How about this."
"Since I happen to be free today, I'll give you a special taijutsu guidance lesson."
"All of you, come at me together."
"And I..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly put his left hand behind his back, extending only his right hand, and gently hooked his finger at them.
"Will only use this one hand."
"?!"
The entire training ground instantly fell into silence, the dozen or so young clansmen looking at each other.
Everyone... together?
...Using one hand?
Although they were young, they were all Sarutobi elites who had passed rigorous assessments.
But now, the Clan Head, the man known as the Professor, said he would use one hand to deal with all of them.
What confidence, and what... contempt was this?
An unyielding pride welled up from the bottom of the teenagers' hearts.
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