It could be said that most of Konoha's ninja didn't know Yuki Seisui as well as he did.
"Then… can you tell us about him? Don't treat us like we're worthless," a genin said, worry flickering in his eyes.
His father had died in the war a few years ago, and now he himself was about to go to the battlefield.
"You don't need to worry about that at all!"
"Only to sweep through the four directions, and protect a corner of this fleeting world."
Haru's voice rang with pride. "Anyone who can say this is certainly not the kind of ninja who would treat people as nothing!"
"This shows the greatness and magnanimity of this master!"
"To follow this master… that is my lifelong wish!"
Hearing this, the surrounding genin stared at Seisui in astonishment.
And Haru wasn't done.
"Do you know who this master is?"
"Who?"
Haru grinned at the prompt and continued: "This master is none other than Yuki Seisui!"
"From a civilian, he surpassed his peers to become the top of the Ninja Academy, creating the legend of enrolling at six and graduating at seven!"
"What? He's the genius who enrolled at six and graduated at seven?"
"Damn, I forgot his name!"
"Me too!"
"In recent years he hasn't been active—like a fleeting blossom. It's normal if you don't know him," Haru said.
"No, that's not right!" he countered. "I know! After graduating, he and his two companions became disciples of one of the Legendary Sannin, the Toad Sage."
"And there's a rumor that even during Ninja Academy, Master Jiraiya had already started taking disciples."
"Under Jiraiya's leadership, Seisui and his two companions completed countless missions brilliantly."
"You should know what happened afterward," Haru said, voice growing more excited.
"At the chunin Exams—it was the first joint ninja village exam! But Seisui and his two teammates singlehandedly subdued everyone at the time!"
"According to some who participated, Seisui summoned a fifty-meter-tall giant panda, placing it directly in front of everyone."
"No one could pass without kneeling and shouting 'Long live Konoha!'"
"Whoa!" a collective gasp went up.
"A fifty-meter summon! That's incredible power!"
Feeling the heated gazes around him, Haru continued: "This is Seisui!"
"Not only did he dominate Ninja Academy, but he also overshadowed geniuses from other villages!"
"A Sunagakure prodigy injured one of Seisui's friends during the chunin Exams—Seisui promptly incapacitated him!"
"Once again, a new legend was made!"
"Enrolled at six, became a genin at seven, and a chunin the same year!"
"Yeah, I think I remember!" a genin said, excitement lighting up his face.
"My cousin's relative was a genin that year. They told me that pandas are impervious to weapons and explosions! Many people even died back then!"
His words indirectly confirmed Haru's account.
Haru puffed out his chest, feeling like Konoha's walking encyclopedia.
"I didn't lie, did I?"
"Seisui isn't just kind—he's approachable. You might not know, but I wasn't even a Konoha ninja at first. I wandered the ninja world without purpose," Haru said, a touch of sadness in his eyes.
"But then the Jashin Cult captured me to sacrifice me to their god. At that moment… Seisui came!"
"He saved us all. And the words I told you earlier—that was Seisui speaking!"
"In this world where evils and gods rise, I have no desire for power, but I know the suffering of the people. Only to sweep through the four directions, and protect a corner of this fleeting world."
"These were his exact words!"
"They showed me that humans shouldn't just live—they should have ideals to pursue!"
Haru's eyes gleamed as he looked at Seisui, who was also watching him.
"At the time I asked if I could follow him—and you won't believe Seisui's reply!"
"Did he refuse you?" someone guessed, but Haru shook his head.
"Did he agree?" another asked uncertainly.
Still, Haru shook his head.
"Then he ignored you?" one impatient genin concluded.
"No! None of that!" Haru clenched his fists, voice ringing out.
"Seisui said he doesn't need followers!"
"Then… he refused you," the genin said.
"No, you don't understand his magnanimity!" Haru glared at him.
"After I thought I'd been rejected, Seisui told me to return with him to Konoha!"
"He said he would always strive toward the Hokage's position, and as a Konoha ninja, I would be under his command!"
"What greatness!"
"What confidence!"
"This is Seisui, the greatest ninja in my heart!"
Silence fell. Everyone stared at Seisui, who was standing at the front, lost in thought.
Then a quiet voice asked, "Then why has there been no news of him in recent years?"
"What do you know?" Haru snapped. "It's said that the Hokage approved three years for him to train an extremely powerful jutsu!"
"Anyone who has been young knows ninja grow rapidly before eighteen."
"Those three years, Seisui trained rigorously, to protect us!"
"To protect Konoha's civilians, the weak—us!"
"This is Seisui—merciful and powerful!"
Haru pulled a kunai from his pouch, raising it high.
"Seisui!"
"Seisui!"
Others followed, raising their kunai, their unified shouts echoing across Konoha.
Seisui remained silent, a faint smile on his face, as Minato and Haru glanced at him oddly.
"Truly powerful, Seisui-sama," Minato said sarcastically, joining the shout.
They had all heard Haru clearly, and Minato nearly lost it when Haru described Seisui as merciful and powerful.
And that fifty-meter panda—Minato had been nearby but had never seen it. Was this just over-the-top storytelling?
Still, Seisui looked at Haru with satisfaction.
How convenient—no need to boost his reputation himself. With a few more like this, Hiruzen might as well hand over the Hokage seat directly.
Yet, even satisfied, Seisui knew he needed to give a proper war speech.
After all, war meant death.
"Everyone, war has come!"
"War may destroy villages and lives, but it cannot destroy our desire for peace!"
"This world has no fairness, no morality. Only the strong prey on the weak. The Sunagakure thinks itself invincible, wanting to invade the Land of Fire, wanting to strike Konoha!"
"They would trample our bodies, seize our families, slaughter our parents. Sunagakure is already insane!"
"We will protect everything behind us!"
"Where Konoha flies, the fire endures—the flames will continue to illuminate this village, letting new leaves sprout!"
"To the invading Sand ninja—show no mercy! Strike them down!"
"My heart and deeds are as clear as a mirror. All that I do is justice!"
"Everyone, move out!"
Seisui drew his long sword, pointing forward.
"There is no enemy ahead of us!"
"Yes!"
The troops cheered, their blood boiling.
Seisui flashed forward, appearing ahead of everyone, back to Konoha, running toward the Sunagakure.
Minato and Haru didn't hesitate, appearing at his sides, leading at a speed everyone could follow.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, everyone silently watched through the crystal ball connected to Konoha's barrier.
After a while, Jiraiya spoke quietly:
"This… this is the disciple I trained!"
Orochimaru only glanced at him, saying nothing.
Through the crystal ball, Seisui's speech had been visible. Though silent, experienced ninja could read lips.
"Where Konoha flies, the fire endures—the flames will continue to illuminate this village, letting new leaves sprout," Hiruzen murmured, smiling.
Orochimaru went to the window, feeling the breeze, softly saying, "The wind has risen."
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