Naruto: Starting with Creating a Genius Persona

Chapter 130 High-Level Speech

In Konoha's winter, the sky is a pale grayish-blue, the sunlight shines thinly with little warmth, and the wind blows from the north, carrying a biting chill, brushing across the streets, over the eaves, and over the people who have been gathering since dawn.

The plaza in front of the Hokage Building was filled with people from early morning.

They came from all corners of Konoha, walked through familiar streets, and gathered in this usually empty square. Soon, the square in front of the Hokage Building was completely submerged by the crowd. The dark mass of people stretched from the center of the square to the end of the line of sight, shoulder to shoulder, making it impossible to move.

The villagers and ninjas, unable to find enough space to stand, climbed onto nearby rooftops, high platforms, and even thick tree trunks, crowding every available foothold.

It seems that everyone in Konoha, except those who have to stay at their posts, has gathered here.

Men, women, the elderly, children, ninjas, and civilians.

There were even monks and some people who were clearly ninjas but were not wearing Konoha headbands.

Those with extensive knowledge would recognize these monks as ninja monks from the Fire Temple, while the ninjas not wearing Konoha headbands are representatives of ninja clans from various parts of the Land of Fire.

They've gathered here today, and many people understand what that means!

This means that Hiruzen Sarutobi's speech today is not only in the name of the Hokage of Konoha, but also in the name of the supreme military commander of the Land of Fire!

The square was devoid of the usual hustle and bustle of gatherings; instead, an almost suffocating silence enveloped the massive crowd, broken only by the howling of the cold wind as it swept through the streets and the occasional, suppressed cough.

Hundreds of thousands of eyes, filled with bewilderment, unease, anxiety, and a faint hope, all turned heavily in the same direction.

The solemn platform of the Hokage Building.

The platform was still empty, with only the Leaf Village flag fluttering in the cold wind, its bright red flame emblem standing out against the gray-blue sky.

The area on the right side of the square, towards the front.

Obito Uchiha stood there, shivering in the cold wind. He looked up at his surroundings, then looked down again, then looked up once more. Finally, unable to hold back any longer, he lowered his voice and spoke, "Minato-sensei..."

Minato Namikaze stood in front of him, turning his head slightly to the side.

"Is the village going to be attacked?"

He asked the question very softly, as if afraid of being overheard by those around him, or as if afraid that if he asked too strongly, the answer would become true.

Three days ago, that notice was posted all over the streets and alleys of Konoha. From that moment on, Obito felt that the whole village had changed.

The air in the whole village seemed to be filled with a sense of tension. There were fewer people on the streets, and when you did bump into a few, they were all walking in a hurry and no longer stopped to chat as usual.

Even at his favorite meatball shop, the usually cheerful proprietress had fewer smiles on her face and seemed somewhat absent-minded when she spoke.

For the first time, Obito realized that the words "something big is about to happen" really do have written on everyone's face.

After a few seconds of silence, Minato Namikaze nodded slightly and said, "Yes."

"So, does that mean our Team 7 is going to the battlefield too?" Obito swallowed hard, his voice lowering even further, his heart pounding. He couldn't tell if it was fear or something else entirely.

"Of course, Minato-sensei, I'm not... scared, it's just..."

Obito quickly added, but he didn't know how to continue the sentence.

Minato Namikaze smiled, a warm smile like the winter sun.

"You are still children, still genin. Your primary task now is to continue training and grow."

"Oh..." Obito Uchiha let out a drawn-out sound, whether it was disappointment or relief, was hard to tell.

Then he remembered something and suddenly looked up: "Isn't Kakashi going to..."

As he spoke, he glanced at Kakashi beside him.

Then he froze.

Kakashi's gaze wasn't even on them. He turned his head to the side, looking past the crowd towards another part of the square, as if searching for someone.

Obito Uchiha followed his gaze.

That's where Class 10 is located. Tsunade-sensei stands there with her arms crossed, staring blankly at the platform. Shizune and Kurenai stand beside her, both looking somewhat nervous, occasionally exchanging a few words in hushed tones.

But Shinichi wasn't there.

Obito blinked, then looked again carefully; he was indeed not there.

For some reason, a surge of anger suddenly welled up inside him, and his voice unconsciously rose: "Hey, Kakashi!"

"Hmm?" Kakashi turned around and raised an eyebrow.

"What's wrong with you...?"

"quiet!"

At that moment, a powerful shout came from the high platform, interrupting Obito's words.

The scene immediately fell silent.

Everyone fell silent, and hundreds of thousands of eyes turned to the high platform. Obito opened his mouth, but the words he was about to say could only be swallowed back down.

On the high platform, a staff member in formal attire walked to the microphone and spoke in a loud voice that echoed throughout the square: "Now, please welcome the esteemed Third Hokage to deliver an important speech!"

As the words fell, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, slowly appeared in front of the platform. His divine robes fluttered slightly in the wind, and his gaze calmly swept over the dense crowd below.

After scanning the area for a while, the Third Hokage slowly spoke: "My fellow countrymen of Konoha! I believe you have all felt it recently; the atmosphere of the ninja world has changed."

"In your hearts, more or less, there are some guesses, some worries, some... things you don't want to think about but can't help thinking about."

The audience was completely silent, with only the occasional howling of the cold wind as it passed through the crowd.

At this point, the Third Hokage paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping across the crowd once more.

"Today, standing here, I want to tell everyone..."

Unfortunately, those speculations and concerns were all true.

"Peaceful days are about to leave us."

"War is coming."

"The shadow of war is about to fall on our homeland."

The moment the words fell, a suppressed gasp and gasps of surprise rose from the audience.

Some people covered their mouths, some instinctively grabbed the arms of the people next to them, and some turned pale instantly.

But the commotion lasted only a few seconds before returning to an even more tense silence.

Everyone stared at the figure on the high platform, draped in a divine robe, waiting for his next words.

"I know what this news means to you."

"It means that your husbands, your wives, your parents, and even your children may have to leave their homes and go to the battlefield."

"It means that your lives will be affected by war, shrouded in fear, and torn apart by an uncertain future."

"This means that Konoha will face another test of war."

His gaze deepened, as if piercing through time and foreseeing the impending bloodshed.

"but!"

His voice suddenly rose, his divine robes fluttering in the wind: "My fellow countrymen of Konoha, please remember this!"

This is not the first time we have faced war.

"Since its founding, Konoha has weathered countless storms and faced countless life-or-death situations, but each time, we have survived. Why?"

His gaze swept across the audience, over the faces that were filled with fear, unease, or confusion.

"Because we are Konoha ninjas, Konoha villagers, and Konoha family."

"Because behind us is this village, our home, our family, and what we've dedicated our lives to protecting."

"Because we possess the Will of Fire!"

"The belief in burning oneself to illuminate others in order to protect what is important has been passed down from the first generation, etched into the very bones of every Konoha resident—the Will of Fire!"

"The Will of Fire never bows before aggression!"

"Our ancestors and countless heroes, with the will of fire, shed their blood on this land to protect our homeland."

His gaze became incredibly profound, as if he could see into the depths of everyone's heart.

"Now, the shadow of war is about to fall upon us once again."

"The enemy may be powerful, the situation may be dire, but compatriots, please remember why we are fighting!"

The Third Hokage raised his arm, pointing to the crowd, to the village, and to the distant, faintly visible memorial monument.

"For the flowers on our windowsills, for the sweat on our training grounds, for the laughter of our children, for the warmth of our families, for the peaceful times of our elders... for all the ordinary days we love!"

He took a deep breath, and with all his might, he propelled his final words to the heavens: "Unite! Fellow countrymen of Konoha! Trust your Hokage! Trust your comrades! Trust the power within your own hearts! Prepare to face the storm, no matter how powerful the enemy, no matter how dire the situation! Konoha will be an insurmountable steel bulwark! The Will of Fire will burn even more fiercely in this trial!"

"Whoa!!!"

After a brief silence, a tremendous roar rose into the sky, and the Third Hokage nodded slightly and took a step back.

"Next, please welcome the esteemed advisors Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado to deliver important speeches."

Koharu Utatane stepped forward, her expression solemn, her tone firm, and she clearly stated, "War means sacrifice, it means that every Konoha resident will bear a heavy responsibility."

"All active-duty ninjas are hereby ordered to cancel all non-emergency leave and stand by according to wartime regulations. The mission system will be fully shifted towards strategic defense and logistical support! All departments, including medical, barrier, intelligence, and logistics, must immediately commence maximum operational efficiency!"

"Villagers who are not ninjas, your battlefield is just as important! Stay calm, follow orders, support the front lines, and take care of your homes and the elderly and children. That is your greatest contribution to the village."

After speaking, Xiaochun stepped down from the dormitory. Her speech was brief and pragmatic, clearly outlining the specific direction for everyone going forward.

Then Mitokado Homura stepped forward and spoke in a calm tone: "Suspicion and panic are more terrible than the enemy. In the war ahead, we may face difficult times and hear bad news, but please believe in the village's decisions and the fighting spirit of our comrades on the front lines! Do not spread unverified rumors, do not question the unified plan, and maintain order, which is to consolidate the rear."

"Konoha has withstood the test of two Shinobi World Wars. Our system and our resilience can withstand the storm! Everyone, stay in your positions and fulfill your responsibilities. Victory requires passion, but even more so, it requires a calm mind and solid steps."

After speaking, Mitokado Homura nodded slightly, took a step back, and returned to his original position.

He didn't say many fancy words, but every word he uttered was like a nail, driven into the hearts of everyone present.

"Now, please welcome the esteemed Elder Advisor Shimura Danzo to deliver an important speech."

As soon as he finished speaking, many villagers in the crowd below the stage looked bewildered.

Who is Shimura Danzo?

Does Konoha have such an advisor elder?

Hasn't the village always only had two advisor elders?

They looked at each other, exchanging whispered glances, trying to get answers from those around them, but most just shook their heads, having no recollection of the name.

However, some people, after a brief moment of stunned silence, showed expressions of sudden realization.

In the area where ninjas gathered, especially the older ninjas, they all showed expressions of surprise.

this...

The advisory elder has never spoken in any public setting in the past twenty years.

He's actually going to give a speech this time?

Many people looked curiously at the high platform, wanting to see what this third advisor elder of the village looked like.

Those who knew Shimura Danzo were waiting for the elder, known for his tough stance, to issue an even more forceful declaration of war.

Jiriku, representing the area represented by the ninja monks of the Fire Temple, was attending such a large event with his master for the first time and curiously tiptoed to look at the high platform.

The crowd stirred slightly, but the person who stepped onto the platform was a very familiar yet unexpected figure.

A green leaf-patterned vest, a neatly arranged headband, a still-slender yet ramrod-straight posture—Shinichi Higashino.

A murmur of astonishment rippled through the square.

"What happened?"

Where is Elder Danzo?

"Why is it Shinichi?"

"Could we have gone to the wrong place?"

Even some of the Jonin in the front row showed surprised expressions.

Obito Uchiha stared wide-eyed at the familiar figure on the platform, then abruptly turned to look at Kakashi.

"Kakashi! It's...it's Shinichi!"

Kakashi ignored him.

His gaze remained fixed on the figure standing on the high platform.

Jiro blinked, paused for several seconds, then turned to his master beside him: "Master, is that Danzo? How come he looks about my age?"

"Di Lu!" The master's voice carried a hint of helplessness: "Just watch quietly."

Di Lu let out an "oh" and turned his gaze back to the high platform, but the curiosity in his eyes was even stronger than before.

But Shinichi just stood there in front of the microphone, motionless, quietly facing the hundreds of thousands of astonished voices.

Confused, even doubtful, glances.

wait.

Wait until they calm down.

Gradually, the commotion subsided.

Hundreds of thousands of eyes were once again focused on him.

"Due to the illness of Elder Advisor Danzo Shimura, I, Special Jonin Shinichi Higashino, have been appointed by him to speak on his behalf."

Shinichi finally spoke. His voice was not loud, but it clearly carried throughout the entire square: "Thank you for Elder Danzo's trust and support, which gives me the honor of speaking on behalf of Elder Danzo in front of all my fellow Konoha people today."

"I am relatively young and inexperienced, and I do not know what the Tibetan elders on behalf of the delegation will say to you all. So, I will tell you a story."

"Eighty years ago...

Shinichi's voice slowly rose, like a hand gently pulling everyone's thoughts back to that distant era.