Senju Nawaki, Sarutobi Ryo, and Namikaze Minato - A Three-Person Team

Years ago, when Sarutobi Ryo was just a young boy, he already seemed a bit distant and detached.

Even then, Sarutobi Ryo carried the memories of a past life within him, but he had no real desire to change the world around him.

Having read the Naruto manga from cover to cover, Sarutobi Ryo knew what would happen to everyone and what the future held for this world.

And in Ryo's eyes, nothing about that future seemed worth altering.

That was, until one of the Hokage's gatherings.

Other kids came with their families - their parents, cousins, friends, or teachers. They played together, laughing and making a lot of noise. It was a cheerful scene.

Sarutobi Ryo, however, sat alone in a corner, not speaking to anyone.

This caught the attention of Senju Nawaki.

By then, Senju Nawaki had already become friends with Namikaze Minato.

Namikaze Minato, still a student at the time, called Senju Nawaki Senpai. Minato being there meant that Jiraiya had already noticed his talent and started to work with him.

"You must be Sarutobi Ryo, son of the Honorable Hokage. It's nice to meet you. I'm Senju Nawaki."

"I'm Namikaze Minato," added Minato.

They introduced themselves with friendly and enthusiastic attitudes.

Sarutobi Ryo simply glanced at them, gave a quick introduction of himself, and then went back to staring at the fireplace.

The logs crackled and popped, and the fire gave off a warm glow.

Senju Nawaki asked why Sarutobi Ryo wasn't playing with the other children.

Sarutobi Ryo shot back, asking why he should play with them. What was the point?

Senju Nawaki immediately felt like he'd found someone who understood him. He said that he'd been thinking about the meaning of life since he was a little kid.

And he'd come to the conclusion that he wanted to protect the Village his grandfather, Senju Hashirama, had created, and to become the Hokage of that Village.

The ambition of youth is always so pure and bright.

This is only natural.

But most people learn how dark and cruel reality is when they grow up.

Senju Nawaki then invited Sarutobi Ryo to join him, hoping he could be his partner and help him achieve his dream.

He explained that becoming Hokage isn't something one person can do alone; you need the help of others.

He reminded Ryo that the Senju clan and the Uchiha clan had joined forces to create Konoha.

And later, the Sarutobi Clan, the Shimura Clan… the Ino-Shika-Cho Formation… the Hyuga… and many others had joined, eventually creating the Konoha they knew today.

Sarutobi Ryo remained blank-faced, showing neither joy nor sadness, as he listened to Senju Nawaki's dream. He didn't laugh at the young boy's idealism.

Instead, Sarutobi Ryo stood up and placed a piece of metal into the fireplace.

Namikaze Minato didn't understand what Sarutobi Ryo was doing, but Senju Nawaki seemed to get it.

"Nawaki-senpai, look… this fire is almost out. How can it make a good sword?"

Sarutobi Ryo pointed to the dying fire and said, driving home his point.

Konoha has so much darkness within it.

Even the Will of Fire, the guiding principle of the village, has been twisted into something ugly.

The Will of Fire was supposed to be about dedicating yourself, sacrificing yourself to protect those you care about.

But it has turned into infighting, assassinating loyal people, treating lives like they're worthless, and letting others die so you can save yourself…

How can such a Konoha be good?

And this twisted version of the Will of Fire started with Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama.

From the moment Senju Hashirama went back on his word, listened to Senju Tobirama, and betrayed Uchiha Madara, the Will of Fire ceased to exist.

So, what's the point of talking about becoming Hokage?

Just wait for the reincarnations of the gods Indra and Asura to come and save the world.

Of course, Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke are just another version of Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama.

Everything is a brand new cycle.

In the official novel _Sasuke's Story: Sunrise , Sasuke, with only one arm, travels the Ninja World, taking out enemies for Konoha, unable to return home for 365 days._

Danzo is dead, and Root has been disbanded.

But Konoha 's darkness remains.

Someone has to do the dirty, tiring work.

Uzumaki Naruto can continue to be the glorious and righteous Hokage, leaving all the darkness to Sasuke. And Sasuke slowly begins to understand Danzo.

Isn 't it ironic that Sasuke, whose entire family died because of Danzo, now understands him and becomes a second Danzo?

What could be more darkly humorous than this?

When Uzumaki Naruto and Sasuke die...

A new Ninja World War will still break out, because nothing has changed. It 's the same as it was in the time of Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama.

Seeing the future so clearly is like watching this fire die out.

No one wants to burn themselves to light the way for others anymore.

Those in power only burn others to keep themselves going.

"..."

Senju Nawaki paused, seeming to understand what Sarutobi Ryo was trying to say.

He rolled up his sleeves, raised his right hand, and spread his fingers.

Then, something unexpected happened…

"Not enough fire? Then I'll use my hand as firewood… to make it enough!"

The next second, to Namikaze Minato's shock, Senju Nawaki shoved his right hand into the fireplace…

"Nawaki-senpai!"

Namikaze Minato reacted instantly.

In less than a second, he pulled Senju Nawaki's arm out of the fire.

Seeing Senju Nawaki trying to ignore the pain, Namikaze Minato said, "Nawaki-senpai, everyone has their own dreams. Why bother…"

Perhaps Namikaze Minato didn't understand the deeper meaning behind Sarutobi Ryo and Senju Nawaki's conversation.

Or perhaps… Namikaze Minato did understand, but he felt that Sarutobi Ryo and he were on different paths.

"Ryo."

Senju Nawaki looked at Sarutobi Ryo, whose expression had changed, his eyes full of sincerity.

"A single spark… can start a prairie fire…"

...

Afterward, Senju Nawaki lied and said he'd accidentally burned his hand, and Tsunade scolded him. Her younger brother's "accident" made her heartbroken and angry.

After all, burn scars aren't easy to get rid of.

And after this, Sarutobi Ryo changed his mind a little and decided to follow Senju Nawaki and see what happened.

Could this world become any brighter?

From then on, the three often met as a team.

Sarutobi Ryo, because of his personality, didn't like to talk much.

He was only really close to Senju Nawaki, and he and Namikaze Minato weren't that close.

Through the image of burning himself, Senju Nawaki had shown how much he wanted to change the Village.

One day.

The three stood at the entrance of Konoha, looking at the Hokage Rock in the distance.

"Minato, what does the Hokage Rock look like from here?" Senju Nawaki asked.

"It looks like a milestone, marking all the great things the three of us will do in the future," said Namikaze Minato, whose dream was also to become Hokage, without hesitation.

"Yes. And you, Ryo, what do you think?" Senju Nawaki then looked at Sarutobi Ryo.

Sarutobi Ryo looked serious, his eyes far away. After thinking for a moment, he said, "It looks like a tombstone. 'One general succeeds, ten thousand bones wither.' I don't know how many people's dreams and lives are buried here…"