"Young Master, I've been looking into things these last few days. That Namikaze Minato, he's gotten a little better, but he's still nothing special. And he actually thinks he can be Hokage instead of you..." Yamanaka Hui, the blonde girl, said with a nasty grin.
She's definitely playing the villain role.
This is how it always goes.
The sidekick tries to mess with the chosen one but gets completely beaten.
Then, because they can't win, they call for their boss.
The Hokage's son, feeling embarrassed, steps in himself but gets beaten so badly he can't even recognize his own mother.
In the end, the villains become stepping stones on the hero's journey...
"Don't cause trouble," Sarutobi Ryo warned, glancing at Yamanaka Hui.
Yamanaka Hui shrunk back, giving up.
In the story, Konohamaru's parents weren't even named. They were just mentioned on a manga cover as Sarutobi Hiruzen's top Anbu, his right-hand men.
They never even showed their faces. Maybe Namikaze Minato really did embarrass them so badly that they had to wear masks and be Anbu forever.
But Sarutobi Ryo isn't interested in playing those tired hero and villain games. He doesn't want to follow the story's script.
I'll decide my own fate.
He's in this world now, and he'll do what he wants.
As the son of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, he comes from a good family.
He has the Ninjutsu Doctor's talent for "Seven Chakra Attributes" and the Sarutobi Clan's "Divine Power"... he has everything.
When he walks down the street, everyone calls him Young Master.
He's treated just like Konohamaru was in the story; everyone respects him.
With such a great start, talent, and resources, Sarutobi Ryo hasn't wasted any time.
He has to live up to this amazing beginning.
His outstanding talent and hard work since he was a kid have made him strong.
He thinks the Konoha leaders will probably promote him and Namikaze Minato to Jonin soon.
"Nawaki, just watch. I'm going to change Konoha, change this whole ninja world!"
Sarutobi Ryo said this, then turned and left the cemetery.
"Young Master, didn't you say that when people die, their souls are asleep? So, Nawaki definitely won't know what you're doing..." Yamanaka Hui said, holding an umbrella and hurrying after him.
Sarutobi Ryo: "Shut up!"
----
The next morning, the sky was clear after the rain.
Sarutobi Ryo was already practicing in the courtyard.
The huge courtyard was empty; only two people lived in this old house.
After Konoha was founded, the first owner of this house was Sarutobi Ryo's grandfather, Sarutobi Hiruzen's father... Sarutobi Sasuke.
The second owner was Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Later, when Sarutobi Hiruzen became the Third Hokage, he moved to the Hokage Building... to the Hokage's Residence, a public residence passed down from Senju Tobirama.
This large courtyard naturally became Sarutobi Ryo's.
Sarutobi Ryo doesn't like crowds.
A quiet courtyard is the best place to train.
"Young Master, food's ready!" the blonde girl with a ponytail, wearing an apron, called out happily.
Yamanaka Hui, who also works as a maid, has been Sarutobi Ryo's playmate and taken care of him since they were very young.
Sarutobi Ryo finished his stance and went inside to eat.
Another peaceful day was beginning.
After spending years on the battlefield, it feels like a dream to be back in peaceful times.
"Young Master, the war is over. It's going to be peaceful for a while, right?" Yamanaka Hui asked, taking off her apron and kneeling on the Tatami mat.
Even though she's smart, this was her first time experiencing a war, and she's still scared.
"Maybe not," Sarutobi Ryo said, shaking his head.
Yamanaka Hui thought he was talking about missions after the war.
But what Sarutobi Ryo said next shocked her.
"The Second Shinobi World War ended because the countries couldn't agree on how to divide up the smaller countries' land. After they've taken what they want, the Third Shinobi World War will start..."
The Naruto databook says that the Third Shinobi World War was a continuation of the Second.
Because the Five Great Nations weren't badly hurt in the Second War, they started trying to take over more land, feeling confident.
They all thought they could achieve great things.
But it led to the Third Shinobi World War, which was worse than any war before it, with huge losses for everyone.
"Ah?" Yamanaka Hui's face showed disappointment.
There's going to be another war in a few years.
"Why can't those guys just die?" she said.
She meant... the ambitious leaders of those countries.
If you have something to say, say it.
Sarutobi Ryo doesn't dislike his mischievous childhood friend.
They are similar in some ways.
Actually... Sarutobi Ryo doesn't think he's a good person either.
But this world is about who's the least bad.
Even if he's not good, he's better than the ambitious leaders.
That shows how bad this world is, that it needs someone who isn't good to save it.
After they finished eating, Yamanaka Hui cleaned up, and they went outside together.
Konoha is still divided into areas controlled by different clans.
The Sarutobi Clan has its own territory too.
As they walked down the street, Sarutobi Clan members greeted Sarutobi Ryo, calling him Young Master. This made Yamanaka Hui's chest puff out even more.
Everyone in Konoha knows Sarutobi Ryo.
At least in his generation.
As the Hokage's son, Sarutobi Ryo is careful about what he says and does, and he hasn't been arrogant. That's why he's a role model.
Today, he has to report to the Hokage Building.
The Konoha leaders are meeting, and there are new orders to be given.
The war just ended, and everything needs to be rebuilt. Everywhere you look, Konoha ninja are rushing around.
After Sarutobi Ryo greeted many people who called him Young Master, he finally reached the Hokage Building.
"Young Master," someone said, walking over.
It was Hyuga Hizashi... Hyuga Ruri's childhood friend and fiance.
Hyuga Hizashi looks gloomy. He was put in the Branch Family because he was born just a little later than his older brother Hyuga Hiashi, which is very sad.
"Hizashi-senpai," Sarutobi Ryo said, nodding.
"Ruri."
Hyuga Ruri: "..."
The small girl stood next to her fiance, her eyes lifeless.
Unlike Hyuga Hizashi, who was enthusiastic, Ruri seemed even more depressed.
"Young Master, thank you for saving Ruri's life. I went to the cemetery to pay my respects a few days ago, so I couldn't thank you sooner..." Hyuga Hizashi said.
He knew about what happened in the battle against Soragakure.
If Sarutobi Ryo hadn't risked his life to save her, his childhood friend and fiance would be dead.
"It would be better to die..." Hyuga Ruri said suddenly.
Her voice was clear and cold, like moonlight, making people feel sorry for her.
She would rather have died on the battlefield.
That might have been the best ending for her.
"Ruri..." Hyuga Hizashi was speechless.
As members of the Branch Family, he and Ruri can barely protect themselves.
So what if they survived the Second Shinobi World War? The Caged Bird Curse Mark is on their foreheads, and their lives can be taken away at any time.
The Hyuga Head Family sees the Branch Family as slaves.
"Tsk..." Yamanaka Hui clicked her tongue.
There's so much unfairness. Every time they go out, they see the world getting worse.
Damn it, how did this Ninja World become like this?
Let's destroy it.
Yamanaka Hui: "Ruri, don't be afraid. It's just the Hyuga Head Family. We'll crush them!"
"Young Master!" Hyuga Hizashi was terrified.
She can't say things like that...
But when he looked at Sarutobi Ryo, he didn't seem to disagree with his sidekick's words.
He just looked at Ruri, making it impossible to know what he was thinking.
At that moment, Sarutobi Ryo decided to support Yamanaka Hui's words and abolish the old Hyuga system. The system gave him a new task.
[Triggered... Extra Mission!]
[System * Side Quest Function Activated!]
[Weapon of the Will of Fire: Hyuga Ruri]
[Side Quest Objective: Inject the Will of Fire into Hyuga Ruri!]
[Side Quest Reward: Hyuga Power!]