Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 289 Antlers: No!

"I……"

As the antlers struggled, Uchiha Kagami smiled and handed him a cup of warm sake.

"Deer Antlers, you've worked hard. We're all relieved to have the village under your care."

Jing's smile was gentle and warm, but her words carried an undeniable force.

Nara Deer Antlers was in despair.

Looking at his group of "bad friends," each one more energetic and able to drink more than the last, he felt like a little lamb that had strayed into a pack of wolves.

In the end, he could only pick up his glass in grief and indignation and down it in one gulp.

The fiery liquor slid down his throat, causing him to cough.

Looking at his most trusted companions, friends, and family, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a warm and reassuring feeling fill his heart.

The smoke of war has dissipated, and the shadow of sacrifice is being diluted by the laughter and joy of this moment.

Kagami Uchiha awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan, but instead of leading to destruction, he became the village's most steadfast protector.

Danzo set aside his fanatical darkness and devoted his extreme dedication to the great cause of building the village, making it the most solid foundation of Konoha.

Shuo Mao did not wither away amidst the rumors and gossip, but instead found a way of protection that was more profound than the edge of a blade among the fields.

Jiraiya, Tsunade... they're all still here, safe and sound.

And those children who should have perished in the tragedy—Kushina, Nagato, Yahiko, Konan…—will soon have a bright future at the Ninja Academy.

All of this was worth it.

Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly stood up and picked up his wine glass.

Instantly, the previously noisy private room fell silent. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at their Hokage.

"This cup,"

Hiruzen raised his glass, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears, "I toast this land beneath our feet, I toast Konoha."

"A tribute to our comrades who sacrificed their lives to protect this peace."

His words were plain, without any rousing vocabulary, yet they carried immense weight.

Everyone stood up in awe, silently raising their glasses.

"And a toast to everyone here."

Hiruzen's gaze slowly swept over everyone, from Tsunade and Jiraiya to Danzo and Sakumo, and finally landed on Nara Shikanobu, who looked exhausted and just wanted to go home and sleep.

"In particular, we must pay tribute to our acting Hokage, Nara Shikanobu."

A genuine smile appeared on Hiruzen's face.

"During my absence, you single-handedly coordinated the rear and made effective arrangements, allowing us on the front lines to focus on our work without any worries. Every bit of peace and prosperity in the village is inseparable from your hard work."

"On behalf of Konoha, I thank you."

These words were spoken with heartfelt sincerity.

Nara Shikano himself felt a little embarrassed. He scratched his head, about to say something modest, that it was all thanks to everyone's hard work.

————◆

Amidst the chaos and jubilation, in a corner unnoticed by anyone, the clamor of the celebration seemed to be separated by an invisible wall.

Uchiha Dessert Shop.

This is the sweetest corner of Konoha Village tonight, filled with the aroma of red bean paste, glutinous rice, and icing sugar.

As one of the organizers of the celebration, almost the entire Uchiha clan was present.

Young girls dressed in pretty yukatas stood at the shop entrance, beckoning customers and handing out samples with a fan logo.

The men were busy in the kitchen and at the counter, packing up delicate wagashi (Japanese sweets) and handing them to the smiling villagers.

Fugaku Uchiha stood behind the counter, meticulously wrapping a portion of three-colored dumplings in oiled paper and handing it to a little girl standing on tiptoe.

"Take it." His voice was steady, with a hint of the coolness unique to young people.

"Thank you, Fugaku-nii!"

The little girl happily took it and turned to run to her mother.

"Fugaku, you take a rest, I'll take care of things here."

A warm hand offered him a cup of hot barley tea, and Uchiha Mikoto stood beside him with a faint smile.

She wore a light purple yukata, her long hair was tied up with a simple hairpin, and a few strands of hair fell beside her cheeks, appearing particularly soft in the warm light of the shop.

Fugaku took the teacup and nodded.

He looked around at the bustling scene inside the store, where Uchiha clansmen chatted amiably with passing villagers, and children chased and played with cotton candy shaped like fans.

This is a sight never seen before.

Once upon a time, the pride of the Uchiha clan was built upon mission completion rates, the power of their Fire Release techniques, and the prestige of their Sharingan.

Their glory is only reflected in the cold reports from the battlefield and the guard units.

Now, seeing the satisfied smiles on the villagers' faces as they savored the desserts, Fugaku felt a different, even warmer sense of honor.