"Perhaps the conditions of the Hidden Sand Village are the worst among the Five Great Ninja Villages—lacking water, lacking food, everything seems less than ideal, life is hard, and problems abound! But times move forward, and the Village moves forward as well."
"In the past, we had to import our food, but now we have cultivated hydroponic crops. Although the yield is still small, a promising start has already emerged."
"Before, there were no roads; everyone could only wander in the endless sand. Now a high road leading outward is under construction, and someday we will finally be able to leave."
"Therefore, everyone must believe that spring will eventually come, and the harsh winter will eventually pass. We will eventually welcome a beautiful day!"
"In these harsh and difficult times, everyone should clench their teeth, overcome obstacles, and remember the spirit of sand."
"Work hard, strive, never give up!"
"Let us work together, embrace a new life, and become outstanding successors of the new Hidden Sand Village!"
..."Let us study for the rise of the Hidden Sand Village!"
The words fell.
"Clap clap clap~"
Applause lingered.
All the children looked up, their faces flushed with excitement... "Ding ling ling~"
The bell rang.
In Class 1‑1.
The Three Little Ones and Scorpion and others began their first lesson of the semester.
Amid the children's anticipation.
The teacher appeared.
Red hair.
The Three Little Ones clearly recognized the newcomer.
Uzumaki Shirozu.
One of the six surviving Uzumaki Clan Ninjas.
Skilled in sealing jutsu and the three elemental attributes of wind, earth, and water.
Because of his gentle personality, Sayan assigned him to teach at the Ninja Academy.
He looked at the children at the podium, among them also a member of the Uzumaki Clan, Kyōko.
Uzumaki Shirozu couldn't help but contemplate the fickleness of fate.
He recalled a little over a week ago.
He was then just a refugee on the run, rejected by every nation, constantly hunted by Ninjas from all sides, living a life of hunger and cold—so scared he could barely open his eyes, fearing he would never wake again.
But now... since arriving at the Hidden Sand Village, the sky is clear, the rain has stopped, and the sun shines.
No longer wandering, no longer worrying about hunger or cold.
He even now serves as a teacher at this new school.
Responsible for instructing the children.
He had only been in the Hidden Sand Village for a week.
And Lord Kazekage himself was willing to let him take on the role of teacher.
Even the Village elders, and even Lord Kazekage's own child, were present.
That level of trust… he could never possibly repay.
Compared with Konoha, which he once regarded as a second home but offered no help in times of crisis.
Now the Hidden Sand Village is his true home, his only home!
Uzumaki Shirozu cleared his throat and, with a smile, said,
"My name is Uzumaki Shirozu. I will be your homeroom teacher for the next six years. As for where I live, after you see my face you'll already know. If you encounter any difficulties in training, feel free to come ask me, and you're welcome to visit my home during vacations as well."
He even wrote his name on the blackboard.
Then he flipped through the attendance sheet.
"When I call your name, please respond. And don't forget to introduce yourselves—name, hobby, and dream."
The first student was Oishi.
"Here! I—I—... My name is Oishi. My hobby is... my mother's cooking. My father was rescued by Lord Kazekage, so my dream is to follow Lord Kazekage when I grow up."
Perhaps due to nerves, his words were a bit halting, but he finished his introduction.
One by one, the others began their introductions.
Soon it was the turn of The Three Little Ones.
"I am Konan, I enjoy origami, and my dream is to repay Sayan's father when I grow up, and I hope the Hidden Sand Village remains peaceful forever, never again facing war."
"Uzumaki Nagato, I have no hobby at the moment, and my dream is the same as Konan's."
"I am Yahiko, my hobby is peace, my dream is the same as the previous speakers, but I will definitely become the next Kazekage and continue to protect the Hidden Sand Village!"
"I... I am Uzumaki Kyōko, my hobby is eating delicious food, and my dream is to live in perpetual peace."
"Scorpion, my hobby is puppetry, and my dream is to become the greatest puppeteer."
One after another, the introductions finished.
Uzumaki Shirozu's face also broke into smiles—what beautiful dreams, lives they could never have imagined before.
After the roll call, Uzumaki Shirozu picked up the textbook.
"Now, let's begin our morning reading."
"Listen, this book was personally written by our beloved Lord Kazekage, so everyone must study it seriously!"
He opened the textbook.
"I'll read a line, and you all read it after me."
"At the beginning of man, his nature is good..."
The words fell.
The children obediently lifted their books and began reciting line by line with the teacher.
"At the beginning of man, his nature is good..."
The crisp, resonant reading filled the campus.
Meanwhile,
In another academy, reading voices also rose.
But those voices sounded weak and feeble.
"Do not take extremes, think more, reflect more, communicate more, and never casually abandon wives or children..."
"Ah~~~~"
"Why does Lord Kazekage want me to read this!"
"If I make a mistake, punish me with Ninjutsu, not with reading!"
He then laid his face down on the desk, looking utterly despondent.
"Rasa, take it easy; at least once you finish the morning reading you'll learn new Ninjutsu."
The man lying on the desk was Rasa, the future Fourth Kazekage, currently a Chunin who had just mastered the Magnet Release Blood Technique.
Just a week ago, after completing a mission abroad, Rasa returned home.
The Anbu came to his door; at first he thought it was because of the Magnet Release blood traces he'd produced, as well as his control over sand gold.
Lord Kazekage was preparing to call him forward and take him as a disciple.
Instead, he received an enrollment notice, which read:
[Hidden Sand Village Youth Ninja Re‑learning Notice]!
At first he was stunned.
Who am I!?
Among the younger generation's prodigies, aside from another who mastered Scorch Release, Pakura, everyone else was completely ignored.
Rasa muttered, among the Hidden Sand Village's youth...
He... fears nothing!
Invincible under heaven!
Unrivaled through the ages!
Even he still needs to study more.
Who can teach him!
Who dares to teach him!
Knowing that even the Anbu said Lord Kazekage would also serve as a teacher there,
Rasa grinned and snatched the notice from the Anbu's hand.
Then he stayed at home waiting for school to start.
But no one told him that school required morning reading.
And why was his morning reading content different from everyone else's!
Normally it's [Prosperity, Democracy, Civilization, Harmony, Freedom…]
Why does his notice say "don't take extremes, don't abandon wives or children"!