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

Chapter 267 Isn't this what home is all about?

Despite her small stature, Uzumaki Kyuu was incredibly shrewd and showed no stage fright whatsoever in this high-profile setting. She gave a smug snort, jumped onto an empty wooden crate, and cleared her throat.

She took out a pen and a piece of talisman paper, and began to draw on it with great seriousness.

She was drawing very seriously, her little face was tense, and she was muttering to herself.

A moment later, Uzumaki Jiujiu finished drawing the talisman, stuck it on a large rock next to her, formed hand seals, and shouted.

"seal up!"

The array drawn in ink on the talisman paper glowed slightly... and then, nothing more.

A sea breeze blew by, and the talisman paper fluttered lightly off the stone.

The entire room fell silent for a second.

"puff--"

It's unclear who started laughing first, but then a deafening roar of laughter erupted.

"Hahaha! What an amazing sealing technique!"

"You've sealed the stone so tightly it can't move anymore!"

Jiu Jiu's face instantly turned bright red. Looking at her failed attempt at animation, then at the crowd laughing hysterically, she pouted, but instead of crying, she put her hands on her hips and shouted defiantly:

"What are you laughing at! I... I used an improved version! It's a technique to calm the stone down! You wouldn't understand!"

This caused even the most serious Vortex Elders to burst into laughter.

That hearty, pure laughter seemed to possess some kind of magic, completely dispelling the last trace of gloom and estrangement in everyone's hearts.

Hiruzen Sarutobi held a cup of tea, quietly watching this scene with a gentle smile on his face.

Beside him, the Ninth Generation Uzumaki was also looking at his clansmen, at his niece who was being teased by everyone but still looked smug, and at Nagato who was standing at the edge of the crowd with a slight upturn at the corner of his mouth.

The ninth generation's eyes unconsciously became a little moist.

He thought he would never see such a sight again.

"Lord Hiruzen..." he choked up, wanting to say something, but not knowing where to begin.

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't turn around. He simply drank the tea in his cup in one gulp and then gently placed the teacup on the sand beside him.

He looked at the frolicking crowd in the distance, at the ninjas and civilians singing and dancing around the campfire, at those faces that were either tired, excited, or expectant, and his voice was calm and gentle.

"look,"

"Isn't this what home is all about?"

With just one sentence, all of Uzumaki Kyudai's gratitude, excitement, and respect turned into a silent, forceful nod.

Yes, home.

Isn't that how it is?

In this warm and peaceful atmosphere, a dark figure appeared silently behind Hiruzen Sarutobi, kneeling on one knee, as if he had been there from the very beginning.

The surrounding noise seemed to be shut out at this moment.

"Lord Hokage,"

The voice from the Anbu was deep and clear: "Hokage, Lord Sakumo Hatake on the western front and Elder Homura Mitokado on the northwestern front have received the message."

"He is leading his troops back to Konoha."

The shadowy figure blended into the night, as if it had never existed.

The clamor behind Hiruzen Sarutobi was shut out, leaving only that deep, clear report echoing in his ears.

Western Front, Northwest Front...

Shuo Mao, Men Yan...

These cold coordinates and codes on the map have now transformed into vibrant companions who are about to return.

He turned around, the embers of the campfire flickering in the sea breeze, casting a long shadow of him.

The laughter and joy of last night, the aroma of grilled fish, and the tearful eyes of Uzumaki Kyudai—everything is still vivid in my mind.

Isn't this what home is all about?

Hiruzen Sarutobi repeated the sentence to himself in a low voice.

He picked up the teacup on the sand beside him; it was empty, but seemed to still retain the warmth of last night.

……

The next morning.

Before the sun had fully broken free from the sea level, the massive Bianchao Village base had already awakened.

There were no long bugle calls, nor noisy commands.

Instead, there is a highly efficient and quiet kind of busyness.

The Akimichi clan ninjas were inspecting the racks and axles of the transport convoy, their burly figures appearing exceptionally reliable in the morning light. Each vehicle was loaded with brand-new living supplies prepared for the Uzumaki clan, including everything from clothing and bedding to pots and pans.

More ninjas were distributing breakfast. The steaming hot meat porridge and dry rations ensured that this large group had enough energy to begin their journey home.

The people of the Uzumaki clan, especially the children, had an irrepressible excitement and curiosity on their faces.

This was the first time they had seen such a large and orderly procession, and every detail made them feel both curious and at ease.

"Kushina, look!"

Nagato quietly tugged at Kushina's sleeve and pointed to a Hyuga clansman not far away who was using his Byakugan to check the stability of the caravan's structure.

Those pure white eyes, in Nagato's eyes, were even more peculiar than the legendary pearl.

Wow! His eyes are so beautiful!

Kushina's exclamation was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for the young Hyuga ninja to hear.

Hiashi Hyuga paused for a moment, then slowly turned his head.

He saw the two red-haired children and the pure curiosity in their eyes, without the slightest malice.

That's a truly beautiful gaze.

Hiashi Hyuga's cheeks were slightly flushed. He nodded somewhat stiffly but very seriously to the two children as a greeting, and then quickly turned back to continue his quality inspection work.

However, this time his movements seemed even more meticulous than before.

"Set off!"

As the first rays of sunlight fully illuminated the bay, Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice rang out from the front of the group.

There was no excessive mobilization, just the simplest two words.

The massive allied force began to move slowly, like a dragon awakening, along the wide road in the eastern part of the Land of Fire, heading inland, towards Konoha, beginning its journey home.

At the very front of the group, several figures walked side by side.

"The road's foundation work is too rough."

Danzo Shimura held a simple engineering drawing in his hand, his brow furrowed, completely ignoring the scenery along the way.

"The roadbed is simply compacted without a layer of gravel. Once the rainy season arrives, this main road will turn into a muddy river."

"What are the people of the Land of Fire good for?!"

As he spoke, he made heavy strokes on the drawing paper, as if he had already begun an on-site exploration.

Walking beside him, Akimichi Torifu was tearing off a large piece of jerky and stuffing it into his mouth. Hearing this, he mumbled a rebuttal:

"Danzo, can't you take a break? You were staring at the map while we were fighting, and now that we're home, you're still staring at the map. Just enjoy the joy of victory!"

"Go away, victory is built on an unbreakable foundation."

"The management of the Land of Fire is simply too terrible. This will greatly affect the development of Konoha. Every road, every bridge, might even influence the future of the village!"

"Okay, okay~ You're right."

Akimichi Torifu gave a perfunctory answer, then his eyes lit up as he pointed into the distance, "However, I think you should add one more project to your plan."

"The village has expanded considerably now... How about... building a supply station for Qiudao barbecue every hundred meters? That would be a truly monumental plan to boost morale and solidify the people's hearts!"

"absurd!"