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

The Senju clan's territory, under the sweeping reforms of the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju, has long lost its former glory.

Most of the clansmen have integrated into the village and moved into ordinary residential areas.

Now, only a desolate mansion remains, along with a few elders who guard the young lady, as well as Nawaki and Lady Mito.

When Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared at the door, an elderly man with white hair and beard immediately came out to greet him respectfully.

"Lord Hokage, why have you come in person?"

"I've come to see Tsunade."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was very gentle.

When the name "Tsunade" was mentioned, the elder looked troubled and sighed.

"Sigh, ever since the news of the Second Master's death in battle came, the young lady has locked herself in her room, refusing to eat or drink, and not seeing anyone..."

"We old folks have talked ourselves hoarse, but it's no use."

Since Tobirama's death, this granddaughter of the First Hokage, and also the Second Hokage's most beloved grandniece, has completely shut herself off.

The immense grief caused her to develop a strange sense of antagonism towards the position of "Hokage" and even towards the entire village.

"Let me give it a try."

Hiruzen Sarutobi dismissed the elders and servants and walked alone to the door of Tsunade's room.

It was a heavy wooden door, now tightly closed, isolating everything inside and outside.

He didn't knock, but stood quietly outside the door, a heavy sadness filling the air.

"Tsunade, it's me, Hiruzen Sarutobi."

His voice was calm and steady, penetrating the door panel.

"My teacher... left something behind before he sacrificed himself."

There was no response from inside the house.

Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't in a hurry and continued speaking.

"He didn't leave behind as Hokage, but as your great-grandfather, as my teacher."

He said that the power of the Thousand Hands should not only be used for destruction, but also for protecting life.

As he spoke, he took out a scroll from his pocket.

It was the copy he personally made that he gave to Orochimaru, the "Elementary Theory Manuscript of Medical Ninjutsu".

He gently slipped the scroll through the gap under the door.

After doing all this, he didn't leave, but instead leaned against the door and slowly sat down.

The afternoon sun shone through the corridor windows, casting dappled shadows on him.

"I remember practicing water escape techniques once when I was a child."

He began to speak to himself in a nostalgic tone.

"My teacher taught me Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique, but I just couldn't learn it. I always made mistakes with the hand seals. As punishment, I had to run fifty laps around the village while shouting 'I'm an idiot.'"

"I hated him so much back then, I thought he was a heartless devil."

Tsunade, who was inside the room with her head covered by the blanket, was completely oblivious to everything outside the door.

But when she heard about Hiruzen Sarutobi's embarrassing story, her ears still twitched.

"Later, I ran fifty laps and was exhausted like a dead dog. The teacher stood at the finish line, didn't say a word, handed me a bottle of water, and then demonstrated the hand seals of the Water Dragon Bullet Technique to me again."

"His movements were slow and clear, making sure I saw every single detail."

That night, I finally learned the technique.

"It was that night that I realized his strictness stemmed from his desire for us to grow up faster and have the strength to protect ourselves and our companions."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice carried a hint of laughter and a barely perceptible sob.

He portrayed the Second Hokage, who was perceived by everyone as stern and ruthless, as a strict but kind-hearted teacher and an elder who was not good at expressing himself.

Inside the room, Tsunade had unknowingly thrown back the covers.

She silently sat up, looking at the scroll that had been slipped through the crack in the door, and listened as Hiruzen recounted stories about her second grandfather that she had never heard before.

From initial resistance to silently picking up the roll from the ground.

Listening to Hiruzen's story, she could no longer hold back her tears, which silently streamed down her face as she covered her mouth.

In her heart, her second grandfather was no longer just a cold "Hokage" symbol, aloof and representing authority and the system.

Instead, he is a living, breathing person who gets angry at his disciples for being foolish, but also cares about them silently afterward.

"The First Hokage used Wood Release to create the village, giving people a home."

"The second generation of leaders protected the village through the system, allowing their home to continue."

"Now, it's our turn."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice became serious.

"Tsunade, your hands inherited the life force of the First Hokage; they are naturally suited to saving lives."

"Don't let this talent, along with your teacher's expectations, be tarnished."

After saying that, he slowly stood up, dusted himself off, and turned to leave.

He knew that no matter how much he said, it would be useless.

The seed has been planted; she needs to break down the walls in her heart and let it sprout.

At the end of the corridor, the elders looked at him with concern.

Hiruzen Sarutobi simply nodded slightly to them, indicating that they should not disturb them.

The next morning.

The door, which had been tightly closed for several days, finally creaked open.

Tsunade came out.

Her eyes were red and swollen, but her gaze was no longer empty and sad; instead, it held an unprecedented firmness.

She clutched the slightly crumpled scroll tightly in her hand.

She walked up to the elder and bowed deeply.

"Please bring me all the clan's books on medicine and human anatomy."

The elders were stunned, then their faces lit up with ecstatic joy.

"Yes, Miss!"

At the same time, in the Hokage's office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the report presented by the Anbu and a relieved smile appeared on his face.

[A shift in the fate of a key figure has been detected...]

The trigger probability of "Tsunade's Hemophobia" is reduced by 20%.

The trigger probability of "Tsunade Leaves the Village" has been reduced by 10%.

[Task Rating: Excellent.]

[Rewards are being distributed...]

[Congratulations, host! You have obtained 'Physical Enhancement (Beginner)', greatly increasing your physical energy!]

A warm current instantly spread throughout his body, and Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a significant increase in his strength, stamina, and chakra recovery speed.

He clenched his fist, feeling the surge of power within.

"very good."

He put the report aside and picked up another document.

Those were three graduation files from ninja academies.

Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Tsunade.

"Now that you've all found your direction, it's time..."

"Let me show you the teacher's 'iron fist of love'."

He picked up his pen, signed his name on the document, and wrote the four characters "Sarutobi Hiruzen" in the column for instructing Jonin.