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

Chapter 382 The 1st Konoha Culture and Technology Expo

dawn.

Before dawn had completely torn through the night, a hazy, bluish-gray veil enveloped Konoha Village, which was covered by the first snow.

In the stillness of the night, a deep and powerful rumble came without warning from the northeast of the village.

The sound wasn't loud, but it possessed a strange penetrating power, like the pulse of the earth, traveling along the ground to every corner of the village, and penetrating the ears of everyone, whether asleep or awake.

Asma, lying on the bed, stirred restlessly in her sleep, seemingly disturbed by the unprecedented pulsation.

Biwako looked in the direction from which the sound came with some concern.

"Yes……"

Hiruzen Sarutobi patted his wife's hand to reassure her.

He raised his head and looked in the direction of Nanhe River. His face showed no surprise, but rather a sense of relief and tranquility.

He knew that a new era was being formally awakened in the deepest darkness before dawn.

……

Nanhechuan Reservoir.

The massive steel gate, powered by a chakra-driven hydraulic system, slowly rose upwards with a metallic grinding sound.

The surging river, dammed up overnight and accumulating immense potential energy, finally found its outlet. The raging torrent roared as it crashed into the bottomless underground aqueduct with a thunderous roar.

Below the reservoir, in a vast and empty underground space, lights were on.

Tobirama Senju stood with his arms crossed, his face expressionless, before the massive blast-proof glass, watching the torrent of water within the pipe, powerful enough to tear steel apart. His red eyes reflected the wildly swirling water, yet remained perfectly calm.

Orochimaru, on the other hand, was a completely different person.

He was almost pressed against the glass, arms outstretched, his face contorted with an almost morbid fanaticism.

"Hahahaha... Did you see that?"

Orochimaru's voice trembled slightly with extreme excitement, "Perfect! This surge of energy... is the purest power! More magnificent than any ninjutsu!"

Tobirama Senju turned his head and glanced at his disciple, who had been led astray by Hiruzen, before letting out a cold snort.

"That's just the first step in energy conversion. The real core lies in efficiency."

As he spoke, the surging water was directed into a massive, incredibly complex turbine unit. The high-pressure water jets pounded against the blades, causing the entire unit to spin at terrifying speeds.

The central axis of the turbine unit is connected to a core device composed of countless runes and wires—the "Chakra-Hydropower Composite Generator Unit," which he and Orochimaru designed together.

hum-

With a soft start-up sound, inside the unit, blue chakra energy and physical kinetic energy began to transform and amplify each other in a mysterious way. Dozens of gauges on the control panel began to jump and climb wildly.

"Voltage is stable."

"Frequency synchronization".

"Chakra circulation is normal."

"Energy output... Begin!"

Tobirama Senju issued the final order.

……

Konoha Village, Hokage Avenue.

Before dawn, the roadsides were already crowded with villagers eagerly waiting.

They were wrapped in thick winter clothes, and the white breath they exhaled quickly dissipated in the cold morning wind, but every face was filled with irrepressible excitement and anticipation.

Suddenly, a gasp rang out from the crowd.

At the end of the road, a warm orange light suddenly appeared on the top of an elegant and simple lamppost.

The light wasn't dazzling, but in the hazy dawn, it was as clear as a campfire in the night.

After a brief silence.

Snapped.

The second lamppost lit up.

*Slap.* *Slap.* *Slap.*

Like a lit fuse, the warm light spread rapidly towards the center of the village along the straight and wide Hokage Avenue with an unstoppable momentum.

One, ten, a hundred...

In just a dozen or so breaths, the entire main road running north to south through Konoha Village was completely illuminated by the continuous stream of lights.

The warm orange CD player dispelled the winter chill, illuminating everyone's face clearly and making the entire avenue as bright as day.

"oh……"

Someone uttered a dreamlike sigh.

The next second, thunderous cheers soared into the sky, almost shaking the clouds on the horizon!

"It's lit up! It's lit up!"

"Mom, look! The village is glowing!"

A child rides on his father's shoulders, waving his little hands excitedly.

The crowd erupted in cheers.

This is the most direct proof of Konoha's strength and prosperity.

In the crowd, Kushina Uzumaki tilted her head back, her purple eyes reflecting a dazzling river of light.

Her mouth was agape, completely stunned by the unimaginable sight before her.

I have never seen such a beautiful light show.

"Minato! Minato, look! This is amazing! This is incredible! It's a hundred times brighter than the Lantern Festival in the Land of Whirlpools!"

A warm hand quietly and tentatively took her hand without her noticing.

Kushina's body stiffened slightly, and she subconsciously tried to pull her hand back, but the grip was firm.

She turned her head and saw that Minato Namikaze beside her was not looking at the magnificent lights, but was gazing at her tenderly.

Her blonde hair shimmered under the lights, and her blue eyes were filled with a smile warmer than the lamplight itself.

Kushina's heart skipped a beat, and her cheeks began to burn uncontrollably.

She wanted to say something, but couldn't utter a single word. She could only let him hold her hand, the warmth in his palm seeming to travel all the way to her heart.

Just then, an even louder cheer came from the direction of the expo venue.

At the highest point of the venue, a huge sign made up of countless neon tubes suddenly lit up, flashing with vibrant colors.

A line of powerful, bold characters shone brightly in the night sky—

The First Konoha Culture and Technology Expo

"Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh—!"

After a brief silence came thunderous cheers and shouts, the sound waves almost lifting the entire sky above Konoha.

Amidst the intense attention of the crowd, Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in the robes of the Third Hokage, slowly ascended the main stage in the center of the venue.

Behind him, Nara Shikazuki looked relieved, as if he could finally go home, while Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura exuded undisguised excitement and pride.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze swept across the sea of ​​excited faces below, looking at the eyes that sparkled under the warm lights.

Even his heart, weary from countless reports, was filled with a surge of warmth.

"Villagers."

His voice, amplified, clearly reached every corner of the venue.

"Today, we celebrate. We celebrate the achievements we have made, and we celebrate the dawn of a new era."

Hiruzen Sarutobi stretched out his hand and pointed to the lampposts that illuminated the entire avenue.

"This light, driven by the flow of water and amplified by chakra, is the crystallization of our Konoha wisdom and sweat. It proves that the Will of Fire can not only burn in our hearts and illuminate our path forward, but also transform into real light, illuminating our home and warming every night."

"It proclaims to the entire ninja world—we, the ninjas of Konoha, not only know how to protect, but also how to create!"

"Now, I declare!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, and his voice suddenly rose in pitch.

The first Konoha Culture and Technology Expo has officially opened!

far away.

Danzo Shimura stood like a silent sculpture, facing the coldest wind before dawn, his posture upright.

He was wearing a brand-new uniform tailored to his body, the dark blue fabric perfectly tailored without a single wrinkle.

Above the collar, there was no clan crest of the Shimura family; instead, there was a cold and precise badge composed of intersecting gears and kunai.

Chief Engineer of the Konoha Construction Team.

His gaze swept over the silent village, overlooking the Hokage Avenue, which he had personally overseen the construction of and which ran through the entire Hidden Leaf Village.

Looking down at the faces flushed with excitement and anticipation, and listening to the suppressed, heartfelt whispers and cheers carried on the cold wind.

An unprecedented, burning emotion surged within his chest.

Now, everything he has created is so radiant.

It is the true foundation that is witnessed, anticipated, and praised by everyone.

His gaze finally settled on the brightly lit main stage in the center of the exhibition hall in the distance.

Hiruzen, did you see that?