I Loaded the Will of Fire

"?!"

Sarutobi Ryo's mind, which had been about to fade away completely, suddenly became clear again.

He saw rows of strange symbols light up in his right eye.

These symbols kept changing, like a waterfall of code pouring down.

It felt like it could have been a second, or maybe forever.

[Current Time Point... Established... End of the Second Shinobi World War!]

The right eye he had lost in the fight could see again.

Sarutobi Ryo knew at once that this amazing thing was happening because of something called a "System."

Sarutobi Ryo had been reborn into this world, so he knew about Systems, but he was still a little surprised.

A strange eyeball grew in his right eye socket. It blinked with strange lights, and then changed to look exactly like his left eye. You couldn't tell them apart.

"My right eye... it's grown back..."

Sarutobi Ryo lifted his hand and touched his eye.

His right eye, which had been hurt in the battle, was now healed.

[System Ultimate Main Quest: The Path of the Hokage! Spread the Will of Fire Throughout the Ninja World! Strive to become stronger and ultimately defeat Ōtsutsuki Kaguya...]

Ultimate quest?

Sarutobi Ryo quickly read it over.

His dream had always been to become Hokage and live by the true Will of Fire, not some twisted version of it.

And Kaguya? Well, almost everyone who got reborn into this world had to fight her.

Kaguya was also the reason why they had to face the alien Ōtsutsuki clan.

But then Sarutobi Ryo read the next line of the System's quest and stopped in surprise.

[...and inject the Will of Fire into Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, causing her to give birth to new offspring. Ultimately, let the light of the Will of Fire completely illuminate the entire planet!]

[Final Mission Countdown: Years Remaining...]

Sarutobi Ryo: "..."

"Young Master, Young Master!"

A girl, limping from her injuries, came up to Sarutobi Ryo from behind and started checking to see if he was okay.

She saw him standing still and thought he was dead.

"I'm fine, Ah Hui... go see how Ruri is."

[T/N: The "Ah" prefix you see is a Chinese term of endearment, like adding "Auntie" or "Brother/Sister" in English. It shows warmth and familiarity! 😄]

Sarutobi Ryo was kneeling on one knee. He turned to look at the girl. Her worried face was made even more beautiful by the dirt and colors of war.

The Yamanaka Clan were usually very good-looking.

The girl, a ninja named Yamanaka Hui, was no different.

She was his childhood friend, follower, classmate, teammate, and helper... Yamanaka Hui supported him in almost every part of his life and in battle. She was a rare and useful assistant. Because she was there, he could focus on improving his skills without worry.

When she was sure that Sarutobi Ryo was really okay, the blonde girl with a single ponytail quickly turned to check on the Byakugan girl who had fallen down.

"Young Master, Ruri is okay. She might just have a concussion..."

Yamanaka Hui told him what was happening.

Sarutobi Ryo, Yamanaka Hui, and Hyuga Ruri - their names sounded like characters you'd see in the background.

And really, that's what they were... Sarutobi Ryo thought.

He was the oldest son of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, but in the original story, he was only mentioned on a bonus page.

And Yamanaka Hui... as his childhood friend, she was probably the future mother of Konohamaru, and also a background character.

And Hyuga Ruri.

She was a childhood friend of Hyuga Hizashi, and a member of the Hyuga Clan's Branch Family. In the original story, she was the mother of Hyuga Neji.

But now that he was here, he wouldn't let things happen the way they were supposed to.

Because...

"It's time to inject the true Will of Fire into this planet!"

Sarutobi Ryo stood up quickly.

A cool feeling spread from his right eye to his brain, and his whole body felt strong.

As he stood up straight, Sarutobi Ryo felt different - stronger.

His body, which should have been exhausted, now felt great, as if he hadn't been hurt at all.

"I'll figure it out later..."

Sarutobi Ryo grabbed a kunai from the ground, since he had used up all his ninja tools.

He coldly killed the remaining ninja from Soragakure on the battlefield. None of them lived.

On his side... only the three of them had made it.

Finally, Sarutobi Ryo looked around the forest, made sure there were no dangers, and went to Yamanaka Hui.

Unlike the young Yamanaka girl with the curvy figure and golden ponytail,

The Hyuga girl, who was being helped to sit up, was small, and her chest was flat.

A flower-like ribbon tied her hair into a ponytail.

She looked much younger than them.

But Hyuga Ruri was really the same age as him and Yamanaka Hui.

Her delicate face and sad eyes made her look like a porcelain doll in a shop window.

Her being a member of the Hyuga Clan's Branch Family had made her who she was.

The lonely girl's face, and the green Caged Bird Curse Mark on her forehead, made people feel sorry for her.

Yamanaka Hui hugged her tighter.

"Young Master, look!"

Suddenly, Yamanaka Hui pointed into the distance, sensing something.

Sarutobi Ryo turned to look. A huge Air Fortress, several kilometers away, was pouring out thick smoke, tilting, breaking apart, and falling to the ground. It blotted out the sky as it fell.

Air Fortress Anke Bandian, the headquarters of Soragakure.

Its crash meant that Soragakure's dreams were over, and it showed that the Second Shinobi World War was ending.

Soon, a very loud roar came from the distance.

They could feel the ground shaking even where they were.

"Did the main force win?" Sarutobi Ryo wondered.

Soragakure, being attacked by all Five Great Nations at once, couldn't survive.

Whoosh!

After a moment, they heard the sound of people jumping through the trees.

Sarutobi Ryo became alert.

"Young Master, it's our people." Yamanaka Hui knew it and could tell who was in the jungle.

Soon.

A silver-haired ninja led a team and came into view.

He looked around and saw that Sarutobi Ryo was safe. He sighed in relief and smiled kindly, like a friendly uncle: "Young Master Ryo, you're okay... that's great."

Sarutobi Ryo: "Sakumo-sensei..."

The person who came was Sarutobi Ryo's teacher, who taught him swordsmanship and was known as the Konoha White Fang, Hatake Sakumo!