Reborn as the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen

Time passed unnoticed, and 2 years had gone by since Konoha last saw war.

Morning sunlight bathed the village, casting a warm glow over the streets as they gradually filled with life. The war had ended, and compared to the past, there were more smiles on the faces of the villagers and shinobi alike.

At Konoha's main gate, teams of ninja preparing to depart for missions lined up, completing the necessary procedures.

"You guys in the Guard Department can have it easy since your income is stable. The rest of us weren't selected, so we have to rely on missions. Whether we get a proper meal or not depends entirely on how good the job is."

"It's not as easy as you think," a guard ninja replied. "You freelancers get to pick your missions, but we don't. Orders come in, and we follow them. We only get a few days off each month. Meanwhile, you can stay home for weeks if you don't feel like working."

"Stay home for weeks? How would you even survive without an income?"

The voices faded into the background as the scene shifted.

A group of children raced through the streets, playing ninja games.

"Don't run! I caught you! Haha!"

"Too late! I used the Body Flicker Jutsu! You have to wait until I reappear before you can chase me!"

Meanwhile, a group of women walked together, baskets in hand as they made their way to the market.

"With the war finally over, prices have dropped. We can actually afford to eat now," one of them said with relief.

"Civilians like us always have to worry about the basics—food, rent, daily survival."

"We should be grateful we live in Konoha. I heard entire villages were wiped out in other lands. At least we don't have to fear for our lives anymore."

"That's all thanks to the Lord Hokage."

Hokage's Office —

On the rooftop of the Hokage Building, Sarutobi Hiruzen leaned against the railing, enjoying the morning breeze. Behind him stood Nara Shikaru, his secretary.

"Lord Hokage, did you wake me up this early just to enjoy the view?" Shikaru asked dryly.

Hiruzen ignored him, his gaze fixed on the village below.

"Look down there," he said. "Notice anything different from last year?"

Without waiting for an answer, he continued, "Their smiles are wider. Their lives have improved. They don't look as anxious as they did before."

Shikatsu, ever the tactician, responded at just the right moment, "That's all thanks to you, Hokage."

It was an obvious compliment, but Hiruzen still smiled.

"It's not just me. It's the result of all of us working together to protect this peace. We can't let these smiles fade."

He turned away from the railing, "Get ready. We're heading to the Ninja Academy for an inspection."

And with that, he walked toward the stairs, heading back into the office.

Ninja Academy —

Hiruzen arrived at the academy with Shikaru at his side. Across the schoolyard, students of various ages sparred, played, and practiced their techniques. The building itself was modest—three stories tall, serving as both classrooms and the faculty office area.

Without hesitation, Hiruzen stepped into the teachers' office.

"Ah—Lord Hokage! Good morning, Lord Hokage!" One sensei exclaimed, catching the attention of others.

Soon, the entire room was bowing in greeting.

Hiruzen waved a hand, "No need for formalities."

He strolled around the office, casually observing. The space was small, so it didn't take long to finish his inspection. As he wrapped up, the teachers gathered around, eager to speak with him.

They showered him with polite words and subtle flattery, which Hiruzen took with a practiced smile and nods, occasionally asking small questions in return. Meanwhile, Shikaru stood nearby, diligently taking notes.

After wrapping up the conversations, Hiruzen stepped outside, heading toward the academy's training grounds. He found a quiet spot to sit and watched the students practice their ninjutsu.

As he observed, three half-grown children approached him quietly from behind.

Of course, Hiruzen had already sensed them, but he played along. The three children sneaking up behind him were none other than his own disciples—Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru.

A crisp voice rang out, "Guess who?" Small hands covered his eyes.

"It's Tsunade," Hiruzen answered, humoring her just enough.

"Tsunade, I told you Sensei would figure it out right away. He's too sharp for that," Orochimaru said with a hint of amusement.

Hiruzen turned to look at them, "Shouldn't you be in the class right now? Why are you skipping classes?"

"The lessons are boring! I already know all the theory. We have to do our own training anyway, so why not just skip to the good part?" Jiraiya said lazily.

"'Know the theory'—is that why you keep failing during the written exams?" Orochimaru shot back.

Hiruzen chuckled, "What subjects are you studying?"

"Theory in the morning, practical training in the afternoon," Orochimaru replied.

Hiruzen frowned. 'That's all? No ideology, no ethics, no nature studies, no arts or music? Well, this was the ninja world, after all. Still, the curriculum was too limited. He made a mental note to add a few more subjects. They'll thank me later… probably.'

"You're still too young. Teaching you ninjutsu recklessly wouldn't just be irresponsible to you—it would be dangerous for others, too," Hiruzen said, ruffling Jiraiya's hair. "After you graduate, I'll personally train you every day therefore for now, just focus on building a solid foundation."

Standing up, he looked down at them sternly, "Alright, go back to class. No more skipping."

The three grumbled but turned to leave. As they walked away, Hiruzen shook his head with a smile. 'Kids these days.'

Hokage's Office – Afternoon

Later that day, Koharu knocked on the Hokage's office door and stepped inside.

"Hiruzen, what is it? You've been busy all morning, and now you suddenly have free time to chat?"

"I wanted to discuss something with you. Come in and sit," Hiruzen said, picking up a folder as he led her into the reception room.

"I visited the Ninja Academy today," he continued, handing her the document. "I noticed major gaps in their curriculum—far too few subjects, and a lot of inefficiencies. I had Shikaru compile a report. Take a look."

As Koharu flipped through the papers, Hiruzen took out his pipe, lighting it with practiced ease. He inhaled deeply, letting the smoke swirl through his lungs before exhaling. The familiar sensation was oddly refreshing. So, I've started smoking again… just like before.

He walked to the window and pushed it open, watching the village below. Reforming Konoha wouldn't be easy—it was a slow, meticulous process.

Time passed as Koharu read. By the time Hiruzen took the final puff from his pipe and set it down, she had finished reviewing the report.

Looking up, she said simply, "Too few teachers, too few courses, and too few students."

Hiruzen didn't respond to that. Instead, he moved on to another matter.

"Did you finish the disability statistics I asked for? And what about the history project? Since Homura is assisting the Security Department, I left that task to you. What's the progress?"

"The disability report is nearly complete—I'll have the full document ready for your review tomorrow. As for Konoha's history… it's complicated."

She sighed, "Each clan submitted their own version, but there's a problem. They keeps exaggerating their own contributions while downplaying—or outright dismissing—the role of others. If we publish the history like this, it could create tensions between the clans and destabilize the village."

Hiruzen nodded thoughtfully, "We'll collect all the versions, have a neutral team verify the facts, and put together an objective, accurate record. Once it's complete, we'll make Konoha's history a mandatory course in the Academy. The next generation needs to understand that the peace they enjoy today didn't come easily."

Koharu nodded, the weight of responsibility settling between them. There was much to be done, but this was the path to building a stronger Konoha.

Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, "What's the status of the disability statistics? How many are still unable to work? How many can still contribute to the village? And how many are willing to teach at the Ninja Academy?"

Koharu thought for a moment before replying, "There are currently 16 people with severe injuries, over 100 with moderate injuries, and more than 1,000 lightly injured individuals who can still take on missions. As for teaching, we have more than 100 willing to join the Academy."

Hiruzen frowned, "Has it taken this long because of a manpower shortage? Some of these ninjas rely on disability subsidies to survive, yet the statistics are still incomplete."

"There are several reasons," Koharu admitted. "Yes, we lack manpower, but some families are also deliberately obstructing the process and, of course, there are a few cases where people are exaggerating or outright by faking their injuries."

Hiruzen was momentarily puzzled, "Why would clan leaders block their own members from receiving disability aid?"

Koharu sighed, "It's about status and internal politics. Some families don't want their clan members labeled as 'disabled,' fearing it will harm their prestige. Others are trying to manipulate the system for more benefits."

Hiruzen's expression hardened, "Fine. If any clan obstructs the process, their members' subsidies will be postponed. You have three days to finalize the rest. As for those 100 willing to teach, I want them at the Academy. They'll handle two new courses—Konoha History and Combat Theory."

Koharu hesitated, "That includes some from the Sarutobi clan."

Hiruzen's gaze was firm, "I don't care which clan it is. I'm the Hokage. If anyone opposes this policy, they can come speak to me directly. No special treatment, even for our own families."

Koharu nodded, "Understood. We'll handle our own clan."

She then shifted the topic, "By the way, I noticed the Academy's student numbers aren't very high, and enrollment is uneven—mostly civilians. Is it really a resource-rich ninja school?"

Hiruzen exhaled slowly, thinking.l, "We'll rename it Konoha Ninja Academy to emphasize its role in serving the whole village. Also, since large-scale conflicts in the ninja world aren't likely in the near future, I plan to extend the school duration. The first six years will be primary education, followed by three years of secondary training. This way, students will graduate at 15, giving them more time to mature."

Koharu nodded in approval, "That makes sense. A longer school period will better prepare them for real missions."

"I also want to lower tuition fees," Hiruzen added. "Education should be more accessible."

Koharu raised an eyebrow, "Can the village afford that? We've been spending a lot lately, and we still need substantial funds for disability allowances."

Hiruzen sighed, "I'll handle the funding. First, I'll see if the Daimyo can allocate more money. Then, I'll talk to the clans—maybe they can contribute. I'll meet with them tomorrow."

Koharu stood up, "Understood. I'll finalize the disability reports and personally oversee the distribution of subsidies. No one will be allowed to embezzle funds."

"Good. Keep me updated."

As Koharu left, Hiruzen glanced around his office, piled with unfinished documents. He sighed.

Not everything from my past life can be applied here. The ninja world operates on its own rules.