In Konoha, at the start, Hinata was given the Tenseigan.

He took off running towards Xia Mu.

"Natsuki-kun!"

Hinata followed closely behind.

Next up is Kiba Inuzuka.

Ino, Choji, and Shikamaru are located further away.

"So his name is Xia Mu."

Immediately, the crowd was also stirred up.

Everyone rushed towards the place where the smoke and dust were gradually dissipating, the location of the boy.

"Xia Mu! How could you do such a reckless thing?"

Do you know how dangerous that was?

Just as Xia Mu put away the sealing scroll, her sister's voice was already very close.

The next moment, I fell into a warm embrace.

"Um, sister, everything's alright."

Xia Mu scratched his head.

"You dare talk back? What if something happens?"

"You're absolutely not allowed to do that again next time."

Kurenai wanted to discipline her younger brother, but she was already holding him tightly and didn't want to let go.

It had no choice but to unleash its most powerful weapon, its fine, pearly teeth, and imprint them on Xia Mu's shoulder.

"Ouch, that hurts. Are you born in the Red Maru year?"

I was just about to retaliate and cheer my sister up.

Suddenly I felt water droplets falling on my shoulder.

Looking up, I saw that Kurenai was already in tears.

"Sis... I won't do it again next time."

Xia Mu's voice softened immediately, and she raised her hands to hug her sister.

……

A moment later, the crowd surged in.

Xia Mu was thrown high into the air, and then caught again.

"Hero of Konoha!"

"Hero of Konoha!"

The crowd quickly formed a ring around the group.

Cheers rose in waves, easing the fear of impending death and the joy of surviving a near-death experience.

On the outskirts of the crowd, the Third Hokage, who had lost his hair, was helped up by several Anbu members.

Natsuki was surrounded by a dense crowd and was very popular.

Feeling the emptiness of chakra within his body, he pressed his aching back and touched his bald head.

Something feels wrong.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze instinctively sharpened.

But when he thought about how he had used all his strength, twisted his waist and fallen to the ground, only this clever boy had risked his life to save him and Konoha.

His gaze softened involuntarily.

Well, thankfully there were no major casualties, and the biggest crisis is clear now.

But looking at himself like this, when facing dignitaries from various countries in the upcoming Chunin Exams, isn't it a bit too shabby?

Or, how about letting our old friend Danzo act as his agent for a while?

I'm finding it increasingly difficult to be Hokage.

In the end... I'm getting old!

By the way, I wonder how Xia Mu's photos turned out?

(Soon after, several photos appeared in the Hall of Fame at the Ninja Academy. Unlike the previous photos that simply depicted the figures' styles, these were images of battle.)

(The first image is titled "The Will of Fire": an old man with a burned beard, a face covered in soot, but eyes brimming with fighting spirit. This is the Third Hokage.)

(The second image is titled "The Strongest Hokage": The Third Hokage stands out from the crowd, dragging his injured body, using powerful Fire Release techniques to lead the Konoha ninja in attacking the terrifying and enormous Flame Beast!)

(The third image is titled "Inheritance": A young boy and an old man stand together, using Fire Release techniques to attack a Flame Beast. Their Fire Release techniques are worlds apart, like the difference between a watermelon and a sesame seed. The Third Hokage, who stands proudly above everyone else, is that sesame seed.)

(The fourth picture is titled "Heroes of Konoha": Under the red light of destruction, there are Konoha ninjas with horrified expressions all around, but a bald old man lying on the ground is in despair.)

All eyes were fixed in shock on the boy in the air, who was raising his greatsword to face death—Xia Mu!

The glorious deeds depicted in the painting were passed down by word of mouth among the teachers of the Ninja Academy, inspiring generation after generation of new students. Even those who were not studying at the Ninja Academy would go to see them.

Among them was Hinata Hanabi, who has idolized Natsuki ever since.

As for how the photos were taken, who took them, and who put the names on the paintings, the teachers had no idea.

It is said that the last two paintings were put up when the Fifth Hokage took office.

Furthermore, after the Fifth Hokage took office, the names of the first and second paintings were switched.

The title of the third painting was changed several times, including titles like "New Life and Decay," "Watermelon and Sesame," and "Youth and Old Age." In the end, because it was to be placed in the Ninja Academy, it was finally settled on "Inheritance."

……

Back home, Yuhi Hong was radiant with joy.

Today was so exciting!

The younger brother escaped unharmed and even killed the monster, preventing its self-destruction and becoming a great hero of Konoha.

This is a very high honor.

She was even happier than if she herself had become a hero of Konoha.

So I prepared a delicious meal.

"cheers!"

The older sister raised her wine glass high and called out to her younger brother.

"I suspect you're deliberately using this as an excuse to drink."

Xia Mu's face darkened.

"What? You've become a hero of Konoha today, shouldn't you celebrate?"

"Look, nobody's celebrating for you, only your sister is putting in this much effort."

Kurenai pouted and swirled her wine glass.

As long as there's alcohol to drink, she transforms into a little girl—lively, cute, spoiled, and a bit cheeky.

"How dare you say that? Your friends all wanted to celebrate the joy of surviving this ordeal with me."

"You rejected them all."

Xia Mu shook her head. Although she had embarrassed her sister, she didn't want to spoil her fun this time.

clink!

It was finished in one gulp.

The shochu in this world is quite potent; no wonder even someone as strong as Jiraiya couldn't handle it after drinking too much.

Of course, it's also because they don't want to use chakra to release it.

"Cheers to everyone's safety today!"

clang!

"Cheers to Natsuki becoming a great hero of Konoha!"

clang! !

"Oh right, we haven't had a toast to celebrate you becoming a qualified genin yet!"

clang! ! !

"And congratulations on your successful graduation! Cheers!"

"Stop, stop, stop, can you go a little further off topic? How about we celebrate the first time you learned to walk when you were little?"

Xia Mu quickly stopped his sister, who became unreliable after drinking.

"Yes, Xia Mu, you're so smart. Then let's talk about your childhood..."

Kurenai's eyes lit up, and she raised her glass again.

“Duk!!!!”