章節 11: Chapter 246: Ninja Academy Reform and Tournaments!
After breakfast, Shuichi, accompanied by Nono Yakushi and Asuka, headed to Konoha Hospital. There, Shuichi spent quite some time flirting with Shizune before finally leaving and heading toward the Root Base.
What surprised Shuichi upon arrival was not only how early Tenka was, as usual, but also that she had brought along an unexpected guest.
"Lord Shuichi!"
Little Tenten greeted Shuichi politely.
Shuichi immediately picked up the small child and smiled warmly. "No need to call me Lord Shuichi. From now on, call me Uncle Shuichi!"
Tenka's face lit up with a smile, nodding eagerly as Tenten glanced at her.
Tenten promptly corrected herself. "Uncle Shuichi!"
"Ah, that's better!" Shuichi responded with exaggerated enthusiasm and playfully kissed her on the cheek.
Tenten, giggling, returned the kiss with one of her own.
After playing around for a while, the two were separated by Tenka, who created a shadow clone to take Tenten out to play.
Once Tenten was out of sight, Tenka leaned closer to Shuichi, her voice sultry and breath warm against his ear. "Shuichi, since you like children so much, why don't I help you have one?"
Challenging me? Doesn't she know mornings are when young men's energy runs hottest?
Shuichi smirked and pulled Tenka into his lap, her cheongsam-clad figure fitting perfectly.
Their gazes locked, and Shuichi couldn't resist leaning in to bite her luscious red lips.
"Mmph—!"
Tenka's eyes widened in panic, realizing the office door was still open.
After a moment, Shuichi let her go.
Tenka quickly stood, tidied her clothing, glanced nervously at the door, and then breathed a sigh of relief. She turned back, shooting him a playful glare, though her lips soon curled into a mischievous smile.
Her gaze flicked downward briefly before she hurriedly left the room, leaving Shuichi to sigh deeply.
Meditation… Ice in the heart, calm amidst the storm…
---
The day passed swiftly.
That evening, Asuka didn't sneak into Shuichi's room again, which left him feeling both relieved and slightly disappointed.
At midnight, Shuichi left a shadow clone behind and silently disappeared.
---
In Konan's bedroom, Shuichi appeared without a sound.
Konan sat on the bed, fully dressed, her gaze calm as she looked at him.
"Oh? You anticipated I'd come?" Shuichi chuckled lightly.
Konan's expression didn't change. "Aren't you going to explain yourself?"
Shuichi hesitated for a moment, his face slightly awkward. "Are you sure you want an explanation?"
Konan remained silent, her eyes fixed on him.
Seeing this, Shuichi walked forward naturally, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Well... Ahem, last night I was… occupied, sleeping with a girl I like, so I couldn't get away."
Konan froze, staring blankly at him. It took her a moment to process his words, and when she did, her face flushed crimson as she quickly turned away.
This guy is shameless!
Watching her neck redden, Shuichi found her reaction increasingly amusing. "Come on, it's normal, isn't it?"
"After all, I'm handsome and charming—of course many girls like me."
"Besides, I plan to expand the Hoshita clan. Once I'm an adult, I'll marry multiple wives and have lots of children."
"After I unify the ninja world, I'll be the sovereign above all daimyo. Having a few concubines is perfectly reasonable, isn't it?"
Konan, having regained her composure, snorted coldly. "You're such a pervert!"
"Hey, I admit I'm perverted, but I'm certainly not small," Shuichi retorted with a grin.
"Lust is human nature, and women can be just as lustful as men."
"Unifying the ninja world is just one of my goals. What I truly love is girls, researching ninjutsu, and pursuing immortality."
"But to ensure my loved ones don't suffer from the horrors of war, I must create a world without conflict."
Konan fell silent. His honest words struck a chord, making her believe him despite herself.
After a moment, she turned back, her tone soft. "If you weren't so frivolous, you'd be more convincing."
Shuichi shook his head. "This isn't frivolity—it's sincerity. Unfiltered honesty."
"Of course, this sincerity is reserved for only a select few."
"Enough talk."
He extended his hand toward her.
While Shuichi could have simply grabbed her hand, knowing she wouldn't resist, he chose to let her make the move instead.
After a moment's hesitation, Konan placed her cold hand in his warm palm.
Her fingers trembled slightly at the heat radiating from Shuichi's hand, which felt like the comforting warmth of sunlight in winter.
As she steadied herself, Konan channeled her chakra, allowing it to flow into her hand.
Their chakras intertwined, creating a shared mental space.
And so, their Chakra Bonding Training began.
Although Shuichi had only recently mastered Wood Release, his proficiency in nature transformation made learning Wood Release techniques relatively easy.
Not only had he adopted techniques from Hashirama Senju's Wood Release, but he also utilized those derived from White Zetsu's version of Wood Release.
Using Wood Release as a foundation, he developed Paper Release. Given Shuichi's talent, this innovation was hardly a challenge.
In their shared mental training space, Shuichi first demonstrated Paper Release to Konan.
With pure chakra, he created sheets of paper, seamlessly inscribing explosive tag formulas onto them.
The transitions between plain paper and explosive tags were fluid and subtle. Similarly, the switch between Wood Release and Paper Release was so smooth that it left Konan dazzled.
After the demonstration, Shuichi sat across from Konan and asked, "How are your skills in Water Release and Earth Release?"
Konan replied, "Probably at a chunin level."
Shuichi explained, "While the depth of nature transformation mastery doesn't directly affect the merging of kekkei genkai, the more proficient you are, the easier the fusion becomes."
"Let's start with refining your Water and Earth nature transformations."
---
Time flowed like a river, slipping away unnoticed.
Ever since Shuichi began practicing Wood Release with Konan, he would stealthily visit her room every few nights to continue their training.
Unbeknownst to Konan herself, the heart-to-heart connection established during their chakra-link training gradually shifted her perception of Shuichi.
Chakra reflects a person's physical and mental state. Through their shared practice, Konan could constantly sense Shuichi's presence.
To her, Shuichi's chakra felt like a radiant, golden sun, dispelling the perpetual gloom and rain of the Land of Rain that often weighed on her spirit.
Time flew by, and spring arrived. The 50th year of Konoha's calendar rolled forward, marking Shuichi's 17th birthday.
While the ninja world appeared to be in a relative state of peace, undercurrents of turmoil brewed beneath the surface.
In Iwagakure, Onoki blatantly ignored Kumogakure's warnings, continuing to secretly assign missions to the Akatsuki to stage coups in smaller nations.
This activity was concentrated in the western parts of the continent, far from Konoha's sphere of influence.
However, based on intel gathered through White Zetsu clones and other sources, Shuichi speculated that Onoki was attempting to emulate Konoha's strategic methods.
---
In the Hokage's Office
After reading the report submitted by Tsunade, Minato Namikaze smiled and said, "Genma, could you please ask Master Kosuke to meet me?"
"Understood," Genma Shiranui replied before leaving to carry out the request.
Minato set the report aside and picked up another proposal submitted by Tsunade.
It was a plan for the establishment of a Konoha Hospital-affiliated Medical Academy!
The proposal detailed the creation of a dedicated institution for training medical-nin, leveraging both Konoha Hospital and the current Ninja Academy as its foundation.
According to Tsunade's plan, students for the Medical Academy would either be selected from recent Ninja Academy graduates or opt in voluntarily.
In essence, after graduating from the Ninja Academy, a student could choose one of three paths:
1. Pass the exams to become a genin.
2. Return for additional training.
3. Enroll in the Medical Academy for specialized education under the mentorship of Konoha's medical-nin.
The Medical Academy's program would last three years.
After graduating, students could either join Konoha's medical team to work at the hospital or be assigned to squads as their designated medical-nin.
Minato read the plan carefully.
Tsunade had even included a detailed budget estimate.
The most significant expenses for the Medical Academy would involve small animals like mice and rabbits for experiments. To reduce costs, Tsunade proposed that Konoha Hospital and the academy jointly breed these animals specifically for training and research.
The proposal even suggested exporting surplus animals to other ninja villages, such as Sunagakure, where breeding animals was notoriously challenging due to the harsh environment.
In fact, Minato and Tsunade had already discussed the importance of training medical-nin long ago.
Tsunade's plan was well-thought-out and comprehensive, addressing both the academy's establishment and potential revenue streams.
One key point in the plan was encouraging the treatment of patients from outside the village, including ordinary citizens of the Land of Fire and allied ninjas.
Seeing this, Minato couldn't help but smile. This part is definitely Shuichi's idea.
There's no way Tsunade, who spends most of her time gambling and drinking, could come up with something like this.
Having read the proposal thoroughly, Minato made his decision and approved it immediately.
---
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
"Come in," Minato said, looking up.
An elderly man with a slightly hunched back entered.
"Fourth Hokage," the man greeted respectfully.
Minato smiled warmly. "Master Kosuke."
"I need your approval on something," Minato began.
"Tsunade and Shuichi have developed a technique for cultivating and transplanting limbs. The first-phase trials have been successful, and they're ready to proceed to the second phase of implementation."
Maruhoshi Kosuke, the Eternal Genin, was a highly respected veteran ninja who had served under the Second Hokage and continued through subsequent generations.
Despite his rank, Kosuke possessed the strength of a jonin.
However, he had lost one of his eyes and a leg in battle.
Currently, Kosuke could still walk freely, but only thanks to a prosthetic limb.
After observing Hayate Gekkō for an extended period, Minato Namikaze had essentially confirmed that the transplant procedure was viable. Thus, Kosuke was the first person who came to mind.
Kosuke, with a kind and gentle smile, didn't appear overly emotional after hearing Minato's explanation. He neither refused nor became too excited but instead replied, "I will follow the Fourth Hokage's orders."
Minato nodded. "Then, Master Kosuke, please head to Konoha Hospital and find Shizune. She'll make the necessary arrangements for you."
"Understood!"
Kosuke accepted the instruction and departed.
Minato then picked up another document, this one submitted by his disciple, Shuichi Hoshita.
It was a proposal for reforms to the Konoha Ninja Academy.
After quickly skimming through it, Minato couldn't help but remark, "Looks like the academy students won't have it so easy anymore."
Shuichi's proposal didn't involve extending the academic years but rather enhancing the curriculum for the six-year program.
In Shuichi's view, the current education at the Ninja Academy was far too lax.
Students sleeping in class and not paying attention? Unacceptable.
Even the graduation exam—focused solely on the Three Basic Jutsu—was child's play.
On top of that, the academy didn't even teach fundamental skills like tree climbing or water walking.
Such inadequate training turned fresh genin into cannon fodder, especially civilian-born ninjas.
Therefore, Shuichi's plan aimed to enrich the curriculum for all six years.
In particular, he advocated for more intensive training for talented and capable students, regardless of their background—whether civilian or clan-born.
Of course, Shuichi's proposal wasn't overly aggressive, and the additional content was modest.
For example:
- Basic chakra control exercises, including tree climbing and water walking, targeting civilian ninjas.
- In the fifth year, students who passed the Three Basic Jutsu exam would begin learning nature transformation and new jutsu.
- By graduation, students would be tested not only on the Three Basic Jutsu but also on a newly learned jutsu.
Naturally, Konoha had never lacked geniuses who graduated early.
For such prodigies, Shuichi proposed a tailored plan:
A Genius Advancement Class within the Root training department.
This class would provide specialized training, with field support from the combat division led by Sarutobi Shinnosuke to guide them through their novice phase.
Furthermore, early graduation would come with stricter requirements: mastery of at least one nature transformation and proficiency in a minimum of one C-rank jutsu, in addition to the Three Basic Jutsu.
Minato understood Shuichi's intent:
By enriching the curriculum and raising graduation standards, new ninjas would have a much greater chance of survival in the field.
"Hm?"
Minato noticed something unrelated to the academy reforms at the end of the proposal.
Genin Tournament? Chunin Tournament?
Minato's expression grew curious.
The Genin Tournament, as described, would invite allied genin to participate in a ranking competition.
On the surface, it resembled joint assessments, but in reality, it served a completely different purpose:
To provide genin with more combat experience against other ninjas.
After all, during times of peace, newly graduated genin often spent long periods without encountering enemy ninjas, primarily taking on low-risk, sub-C-rank missions.
The Genin Tournament wasn't designed to evaluate promotion potential but rather to foster interaction and combat skill development.
The tournament featured two formats:
1. Team Mode – conducted in the Forest of Death.
2. Solo Mode – one-on-one battles inspired by the Chunin Exams.
As for the Chunin Tournament, it involved a significant escalation in stakes.
Unlike the Genin Tournament's friendly sparring, the Chunin Tournament would revolve around life-or-death missions.
Participants wouldn't compete against each other but would instead tackle assigned targets: hunting down wanted criminals or rogue ninjas.
After reading through the plan, Minato couldn't help but silently praise Shuichi: As expected of Shuichi, he always comes up with such brilliant ideas.
(End of Chapter)
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