Chapter 085: Sarutobi Hiruzen’s Obsession

“I understand, truly I do.” Naruto lowered his gaze, sighing softly. “Those who have never witnessed war cannot grasp the warrior’s devotion to peace. Those who have not lived through chaos cannot comprehend what it means to ‘rather be a dog in peaceful times than a person in times of turmoil.’ Konoha will certainly endure. Though it’s not absolutely safe, it remains a haven where many can live in peace. For those who struggled so hard to crawl out of the fires of war, only to enjoy a few years of tranquility, throwing them back into the flames would be unbearably cruel.”

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a surge of relief—Naruto understood the preciousness of peace. Yet he puzzled over how Naruto could possess such profound insight into the ravages of conflict. He knew he had never neglected Naruto in childhood, and Naruto had never set foot on the battlefield before graduating. Why, then, did Naruto seem like a veteran who had returned to the land, weary yet wise?

“I am, in a way, such a veteran,” Naruto replied, “I never had the chance to speak with you before, so I never told you. But now, I won’t keep it from you. When I was three, while asleep, my soul traveled to another world. In that world, I lived until I was thirty, then returned to the shinobi world.”

“Oh?” Hiruzen’s curiosity was piqued. “Can you tell me about it? I’m quite intrigued by another world.”

Naruto quipped, “It’s clear you’re truly Orochimaru-sensei’s teacher. He, too, was deeply interested in other worlds.” After gathering his thoughts, Naruto began his tale:

“In that world, I was also called Naruto Uzumaki. I lived in a country named the Eastern Federation, my hometown a small city on the eastern frontier. My fate seemed destined for tragedy; there, too, I was an orphan. As the posthumous child of a warrior, I never met my father. My mother died soon after my birth, suffering from years of malnutrition. The orphanage teachers told me that when I was found, it was as if a skeleton was cradling me in its arms.

My childhood unfolded in a public orphanage. Though conditions were humble, it was my haven for growth. In the orphanage, I found a sense of home. I studied and played alongside other orphans, and together, we became a family.

From an early age, I displayed an intense thirst for knowledge. Basic education was something I devoured eagerly, and my fascination with mechanics and engineering began to blossom. The teachers placed great emphasis on character, teaching me responsibility and kindness. These experiences forged my optimism and resilience.

But peace is always fleeting.

When I was ten, war swept through my city. The attack came in the dead of night; the invaders struck without warning. After a barrage of artillery, the orphanage was reduced to rubble. Many familiar faces vanished forever—only I survived. From that moment on, the blood of a warrior’s child determined my path.

To survive, I was forced to take up arms, fighting for food with invaders far stronger and older than myself. By the time I joined the Eastern Federation’s resistance forces, I had already endured half a year of combat.

In the army, the other soldiers were reluctant to let such a young child keep fighting. But stubbornly, I continued both fighting and learning. Through sheer will and determination, I mastered the manipulation of spirit machinery and engineering techniques that many adults could never grasp.

Armed with these skills, I stood out on the battlefield. As I grew older, my remarkable military talent was recognized, and I achieved a cultural education equivalent to a Federation high school graduate.

At eighteen, as a rising star on the eastern front, I was sent to the capital’s military academy for two years of combat engineer training. Those years were even harsher than life on the battlefield, but I never gave up. Ultimately, I graduated through unwavering perseverance, becoming an exceptional combat engineer.

For the next ten years, to drive out the invaders and reclaim my homeland, I gave my all on the battlefield. My courage and ingenuity were proven in countless campaigns. By the day peace finally returned, I was thirty years old.

I retired as a first sergeant, enjoying the same privileges as the elite commanders of the Federation’s mechanized combat brigades, colonels included. Yet, as a combat engineer who had only attended temporary training and not full-time systematic education, I could not attain the rank of colonel.

But in the Eastern Federation, first sergeants were rarer than generals, so I felt no dissatisfaction.

After the war, I believed I could finally enjoy a peaceful life. I bought a luxury apartment in the capital, planning to raise the orphans of fallen comrades and spend my days in quiet retirement.

But fate had other plans. In my sleep, my soul unexpectedly returned to the shinobi world, back into my three-year-old body—with the mind and memories of a mature thirty-year-old.

At this point, Naruto’s tale drew to a close.

Now Hiruzen Sarutobi understood at last—the mature, seasoned aura Naruto possessed had its roots in three decades of war in another world.

“Since you understand the value of peace, I need not say more,” Hiruzen said. “I am an old man now. This world will ultimately belong to your generation. The future of the Hidden Leaf will be entrusted to you and your peers. To recognize the worth of peace and refrain from starting wars hastily—that alone gives me peace of mind.”

“But endless compromise cannot secure peace,” Naruto added. “You must struggle, must fight, so that the other side knows your resolve will not waver. Only then will they not take advantage.”

“And so, this is the first thing I wish to ask of you—it’s tied to the conviction I just mentioned.”

Hiruzen gazed at Naruto and said, “The Chunin Exams are about to begin, Naruto. I hope you will demonstrate your power in the exams, to deter enemy nations. This will grant the Hidden Leaf enough time for peaceful development.”

“The Chunin Exams?”

“Yes, the Chunin Exams,” Hiruzen explained. “This system of promotion, from Genin to Chunin, was established by my teacher, the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. Held twice yearly, it is usually a key occasion for allied nations to gauge each other’s strength.

If a village’s Genin shine in the Chunin Exams, allowing outsiders to see firsthand the abundance of talent, it greatly reduces the risk of war.

In other words, the Chunin Exams are a microcosm of the world’s shinobi wars—a chance for nations to resolve their conflicts through displays of power.”