Chapter 29: Konoha Is My Battlefield! (1/2)

"Fire is spreading in the southwest direction. Team Two, take the lead and use Wind Release to blow it back!"

"Northeast direction! Team Five has created a containment zone with Earth Release. Put out the fire as soon as possible!"

"Captain! There's a final squad hiding underwater in the midsection of the forest river!"

"What!? Rescue team, stay on standby. The rest of you, follow me!"

"Damn it! Did the enemy village ninjas really manage to infiltrate? Everyone, put your all into defending our forest!"

Konoha, with its unparalleled vegetation coverage in the ninja world, has its own emergency firefighting team.

Comprised mainly of Water Release ninjas, with support from Wind Release and Earth Release ninjas, and equipped with medical and emergency rescue teams.

Notably, the firefighting team also includes members from the Hyūga clan.

Although they don't use ninjutsu, the Byakugan of the Hyūga clan is excellent for locating trapped individuals, and the advanced Gentle Fist technique, Return Heaven, can handle some emergencies.

These were all things Wakaho hadn't known before.

So when the Third Hokage explained these details to him, he listened very attentively.

"I understand, Grandpa Hokage."

"The Konoha firefighting team, like the Konoha security department, is a very reliable unit."

"They are all worth learning from!" Wakaho said with a serious face.

The firefighting team would never have imagined that the massive fire threatening to engulf all of Konoha was caused by a little boy from the Hokage's office.

A true little boy.

"..."

The Third Hokage glanced at the pipe on his desk and felt an overwhelming urge to take a long drag.

"Little Wakaho... can you tell me why you started this fire?"

The Third Hokage managed to suppress his urge for a smoke; he valued the education of this little guy more than the momentary relief of smoking.

When a child possesses extraordinary power, if not properly guided, disasters like today's will not be the last.

"Fire? What fire?" Wakaho widened his puzzled eyes.

"Grandpa Hokage, what are you talking about?"

Seeing those clear and innocent eyes, the Third Hokage hesitated for a moment and pointed to the dense black smoke in the distance outside the window.

"You used Fire Release to burn a large portion of the forest during the exam. The firefighting team and the senior and mid-level ninjas have all been mobilized. The fire has still not been extinguished."

"Little Wakaho... this behavior of yours is very dangerous."

Somehow, the Third Hokage's mind wandered back to Tōmura's previous words.

"If he dares to cheat today, he will dare to steal from Konoha tomorrow!"

If this little guy dares to set fires to mountains today and isn't properly educated, then in the future...

The Third Hokage missed his disciple a bit.

At least when Orochimaru was in the village, this kid was always quite normal.

"But those two seniors told me that the exam site is a battlefield."

Wakaho said seriously, "Grandpa Hokage, did I overestimate them?"

"But I did leave them a way to escape..."

"..."

The Third Hokage was taken aback.

A way to escape...

If I hadn't stopped the exam in time and sent the rescue team to assist, this fire might have burned down the Hokage's office!

Is this what you call a way to escape? Where would they escape to, back to Konoha?

And what frustrated the Third Hokage the most was...

This little guy... wasn't lying.

He had observed Wakaho's performance during the exam clearly.

If his main focus was destruction, then with Orochimaru's assessment of Wakaho's abilities, this kid could definitely have made things even more outrageous...

"But why did you destroy the exam site as well?" The Third Hokage rubbed his temples and asked.

"Because I didn't want them to advance," Wakaho said matter-of-factly. "Even though it wasn't a real battlefield, I couldn't let the opponents have it too easy."

"They are my seniors. I wouldn't actually harm them, so I could only eliminate them."

Is there a problem? No problem.

I can't just kill off all the exam participants, can I?

"..."

The Third Hokage was stunned, gazing into those clear eyes.

In a daze, he seemed to see the young Tōmura...

Back then, Tōmura had clear and bright eyes, was very serious, never smiled, always spoke dangerous words seriously, and would act on them.