Reborn in Konoha; I Think I’m Cultivating Immortality

Although some of them had been in Konoha for quite a while and had drawn their own maps after extensive exploration, they still only had a partial understanding of how vast Konoha truly was.

There were many places they couldn't access, the clan compounds of the ninja clans, various training grounds, and areas restricted to outsiders.

Now, standing at this vantage point, where they could overlook the entire village, they finally had a direct and undeniable impression of Konoha's true size.

It was far larger than they had ever imagined, so massive that even seasoned warriors like the Third Mizukage and Hanzō of the Salamander, who prided themselves on their inner composure, were left speechless as they stared down at the sprawling Konoha.

A wave of shock echoed through their hearts, as though a colossal bell had been struck within them.

"Thirty-nine years ago, the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, and Uchiha Madara established Konoha here, bringing an end to the Warring States Period and ushering in the era of ninja villages.

This place holds a special significance," Hui said, breaking the silence and bringing the group back to their senses.

His tone was calm, but his words carried weight, causing the visitors to grow solemn.

Hui's deliberate mention of this history seemed to carry a deeper meaning.

Was he implying that he, too, intended to usher in a new era, like Hashirama and Madara?

Was this a subtle hint?

Or was it a direct statement of his ambitions?

Their thoughts were thrown into disarray, and their hearts grew uneasy as they tried to decipher his intentions.

Hui sensed their inner turmoil, the corners of his lips curling slightly into a knowing smile.

"Let's continue. There's more to see."

With that, Hui led the group down from the Hokage Rock and toward another section of the village.

They arrived at a location near the center of the village, a place that the visiting ninjas had not previously been permitted to enter:

The Konoha Ninja Academy.

Having seen the present strength of Konoha, it was time for them to witness the future of Konoha.

The current Ninja Academy was vastly different from the one depicted in the original storyline.

Hui valued education highly, which made the academy a priority under his leadership.

At this time, the academy students were in class, and the campus was quiet.

"It seems that one of the classes is conducting a live combat exercise. Let's take a look," Hui said with a smile as he sensed the activity in the training field.

None of the visiting ninja leaders objected.

In fact, they were curious to see the state of Konoha's ninja students.

They arrived at the training field.

The group was large enough that their presence quickly drew the attention of the students.

"It's the Third Hokage, Mochizuki-sama!"

A sharp-eyed young girl was the first to spot them, her voice ringing out in an excited squeal as her eyes lit up like stars.

"Wow, it really is the Third Hokage!"

"It's Lord Hokage!"

In an instant, the students erupted into a frenzy, much like a group of enthusiastic fans encountering their idol.

"Uncle Hui?"

Even Kakashi Hatake's eyes lit up at the sight of him.

Due to the close friendship between Hui and Sakumo, Kakashi had grown up knowing Hui well.

To Kakashi, Hui wasn't just the Hokage, he was also his favorite uncle and his idol, the man he admired the most.

"Lord Hokage!"

The teacher leading the class was just as excited, though he maintained a semblance of professionalism. While Hui was approachable and kind, he was incredibly busy and rarely appeared in person.

Given how vast Konoha had become, being able to see him up close was a luxury for most.

"There's no need to mind us, just proceed as usual," Hui said with a warm smile, encouraging the teacher to continue the exercise.

This particular teacher had been personally selected by Hui.

After all, this was no ordinary class, this was the elite class of Konoha's academy, a class representing the future of the village.

This was... the class that trained future sages.

Every student in this class bore the Sage Seal, a seal inscribed by Hui himself, representing his high expectations for them.

Even the teacher bore the Sage Mark, having reached the level of a Second-Tier Sage.

What this class was learning wasn't ordinary ninjutsu.

The students in this class were special, even the lowest-level techniques they were exposed to were Sage Techniques. Their regular curriculum focused on the mastery of natural energy, combat awareness, and mental cultivation.

This was a practical combat lesson, designed to sharpen their battle instincts and develop their real-world fighting abilities.

"Today marks the first practical combat lesson of the semester. After a break dedicated to your training, I hope you've all improved. Now, for the first match: Taki Toichi vs. Nohara Sei. Begin!"

As soon as the teacher gave the signal, two young boys stepped into the center of the training field. After bowing respectfully to each other, their bodies sprang into action.

From the very first movement, the eyes of the spectators widened in astonishment.

These children moved with incredible speed.

Of course, to the Kage-level leaders observing, this speed wasn't impressive in comparison to their own. However, when compared to children of the same age from their own villages, it was utterly overwhelming, a level of superiority that was impossible to ignore.

Even Yahiko and Nagato's eyes widened with disbelief, their hearts shaken.

The two children in the center exchanged taijutsu blows.

Their fluid, precise movements caused yet another wave of awe among the spectators.

These children, who appeared to be only five or six years old, had combat abilities that were at least on par with Genin-level ninjas.

Their speed was exceptional, and their reaction times were even more impressive.

Moreover, their combat awareness was unusually sharp.

Although their attacks still retained some childish inexperience, their creativity was remarkable.

The way they adapted and countered each other's moves was nothing short of extraordinary.

The audience found their battle to be a visual spectacle, fluid and exhilarating, impossible to look away from.

It wasn't long before the match concluded, with one victor emerging.

Then the next pair entered the ring.

Uchiha Obito vs. Might Guy.

Yūhi Kurenai vs. Nohara Rin.

Shiranui Genma vs. Ebisu.

Morino Ibiki vs. Mitarashiano.

One pair after another, each showcasing talent that left the spectators stunned.

Every student demonstrated skills so extraordinary that the observers couldn't help but label them as prodigies.

With each successive match, the hearts of the visiting leaders sank further and further.

"Next and final match: Sarutobi Asuma vs. Hatake Kakashi."

The teacher's announcement drew everyone's attention to the center of the training field.

These were the two strongest students in the elite class, the two with the highest combat scores.

Sarutobi Asuma was the second son of Sarutobi Hiruzen.

In this world, where Hiruzen had not become Hokage, their father-son relationship was not strained as it had been in the original timeline.

As the son of Sarutobi Hiruzen, Asuma's innate talent was extraordinary, making him the second-strongest in the class.

The strongest, of course, was Hatake Kakashi.

It was important not to forget Kakashi's lineage, his mother was from the Uchiha clan, renowned as a clan of geniuses, and his father was none other than Sakumo Hatake, the White Fang of Konoha.

Kakashi, born from such a lineage, possessed unparalleled talent from the very beginning.

Moreover, at the time of his birth, Hui had engraved a special Sage Mark on him, causing his body to continuously evolve as he grew.

Now, Kakashi's abilities had reached an almost unbelievable level.

Compared to others his age, Kakashi was like a towering, insurmountable peak.

His reputation as a genius was well-known throughout all of Konoha.

"It's you again, Kakashi. This time, I won't lose so easily!"

Asuma looked at Kakashi, who for once showed a rare battle-ready expression, and he felt his scalp tingle.

He knew exactly why Kakashi was showing this level of intensity.

After all, wasn't he himself more motivated because the Third Hokage was present?

Despite his bravado, Asuma had subconsciously acknowledged himself as the likely loser.

"Begin!"

The teacher's voice rang out, and in an instant, both Kakashi and Asuma moved at the same time.

At that moment, not only the leaders of the smaller villages but even the Third Mizukage and Hanzō of the Salamander gasped in shock.

Kakashi's speed was incredible!

In the original timeline, Kakashi graduated from the ninja academy at the age of five and became a Chūnin at the age of six.

However, in this world, Kakashi's bloodline was even stronger, his body more refined, and naturally, his strength at five years old was far superior to his counterpart in the original world.

His current level was that of an elite Chūnin!

If the other students in the class were geniuses, then Kakashi was an unparalleled genius, a prodigy among prodigies, a monster of talent!

The next moment, the two clashed.

Kakashi then demonstrated what true taijutsu mastery and raw talent looked like.

But he didn't immediately defeat Asuma.

Instead, he treated Asuma as a "training dummy" for refining and showcasing his skills, carefully controlling his movements to demonstrate his prowess without hurting Asuma.

It was almost cruel.

The way Kakashi fought left the spectators dumbfounded.

The visiting leaders from other villages felt an overwhelming sense of hopelessness as they watched.

Kakashi's performance made it painfully clear to them that the gap between Konoha's future and their own was impossibly vast.

For many of them, the sight of this battle extinguished any lingering hope they had of competing with Konoha.

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