The farce at the Konoha cetery quickly devolved into the usual exchange of empty threats.
Tsunade was the first to speak.
"If Grandfather were still alive, he'd surely want to contribute to Konoha. There's no need for the Sealing Team. Let them rest peacefully in their caskets."
"And if Konoha ever faces a true crisis, Orochimaru can resurrect them with the Edo Tensei to repel the enemy!"
Orochimaru's expression twisted into a grimace. Gojo Kaigetsu's earlier "guidance" was coming back to haunt him.
"Return, Hashirama, my guiding light and faith, Wood Release vivid in my dreams, tears falling free, the Rashomon I see, the Hokage's might, repelling foes, ending the fight!"
As Orochimaru ford the seals for the Edo Tensei, he chanted the mantra, much to the confusion of those present. Soon, dust to dust, earth to earth, the resurrected Hokage returned to the Pure Land.
"The previous Hokage, resurrected by Kazuma's forbidden jutsu... I can't say for sure how much of their original power they possessed. But one thing is certain: they weren't at their peak, and they could only be maintained for thirty seconds," Orochimaru explained.
"So, there's no need to worry about disrespecting their mory. If we ever have to resort to such asures, it would an Konoha is facing utter destruction."
Tsunade, who had been feeling slightly guilty about exploiting her grandfather and granduncle, visibly relaxed upon hearing Orochimaru's explanation.
Yes, if Grandfather's spirit lingered, he'd surely wish to protect Konoha.
And if Konoha truly faced annihilation, thirty seconds of their power... wouldn't be considered disrespectful, would it?
Having rationalized her actions, Tsunade's guilt subsided.
Minato and Hiruzen, however, exchanged uneasy glances. Sothing felt off... but since even the granddaughter of the First Hokage had no objections, it wasn't their place to comnt.
"Now then, let's discuss the... cleansing aspect of this situation."
"We'll tell the Daimyo that there were traitors among his advisors. We were rely purging them!" Gojo Kaigetsu declared, his tone cold as he released Tsunade's waist and approached the bound and gagged Kazuma.
In a single day, the Daimyo's envoy had beco a prisoner.
It was fortunate that Kazuma had co to the Konoha morial; if he'd stayed at the guest house, they might have had to stage an "accidental fire."
As for the Daimyo's reaction?
Would he cut Konoha's funding? Reduce them from a military and economic powerhouse to an insignificant backwater?
Unlikely. Such drastic asures required an army of ninja, not a bunch of chakra-less samurai waving swords and chanting about loyalty.
While the rest of the ninja world treated the Daimyo with reverence, Gojo Kaigetsu wasn't so sentintal.
If you don't have ninja, stay in your palace and play "constitutional monarch," funding Konoha's developnt.
"As I said, desecrating the mory of the Hokage is an unforgivable cri, punishable by death!" Gojo Kaigetsu declared, glancing at Fugaku Uchiha.
Fugaku understood. "Even the Daimyo's envoy cannot escape punishnt for such a transgression. It's a violation of the Will of Fire."
"Even disregarding the Hokage... This is the Konoha morial, where our fallen heroes rest. Sparing Kazuma would be a disgrace to their mory."
"This incident, in essence, is a blatant attempt by a radical political faction within the Land of Fire to undermine Konoha!"
"Konoha is loyal to the Land of Fire; the Hokage is loyal to the Daimyo. Kazuma manipulated the Hokage and tried to subvert Konoha. This is equivalent to manipulating the Daimyo and attempting to overthrow the Land of Fire!"
"He's a traitor! He likely colluded with foreign powers! He must be eliminated!"
"We are rely cleansing the ranks. The Daimyo can't fault us for that."
One after another, the Konoha leadership piled accusations onto Kazuma, swiftly reaching a judgnt.
Kazuma, listening to their pronouncents, felt his world crumble. Konoha was a unified front; they all stood with Gojo Kaigetsu.
Tears stread down his face. He wasn't crying for himself, but for the Land of Fire!
This great nation would be overthrown by these power-hungry Konoha ninja!
"Execute him."
Kazuma's world ended there. His head flew through the air, landing with a thud on the cetery grounds.
Gojo Kaigetsu turned to Orochimaru. "Orochimaru-sensei, since you were the first witness, please arrange for Kazuma's body and the Daimyo's token to be returned to the Daimyo's estate."
"Heh... understood." Their eyes t, a silent understanding passing between them.
Orochimaru had received the missing piece of the Edo Tensei, and Gojo Kaigetsu had secured political power for himself and the Hokage.
A win-win. Konoha had won twice over, while the Daimyo was utterly defeated.
As for having Orochimaru handle the body...
The head of the Guardian Ninja Twelve was worth at least ten million ryō. Konoha, in its current state of rapid developnt, couldn't afford to miss such an opportunity.
But Konoha, the beacon of civilization in the ninja world, couldn't be seen profiting from a Daimyo envoy's death. Such a thing would tarnish their reputation.
Their carefully crafted image of enlightennt had to be maintained. Gojo Kaigetsu wouldn't make such a blunder.
So, the task of "cashing in" fell to Orochimaru, the new Root leader.
Root, after all, specialized in such unsavory matters.
With darkness in their hearts, they were perfect for the job.
"This incident is now concluded. The Daimyo's envoy attempted to subvert Konoha, violating the 'One Village, One Country' agreent. This... isn't sothing we can publicize."
"For the Daimyo's sake, this matter ends here. If I hear any... unnecessary rumors circulating tomorrow... well~" Gojo Kaigetsu's gaze swept over the clan representatives, his warning clear.
"Yes, Advisor Gojo!"
"What are you saying? I'm just an advisor. You should pledge your loyalty to the Fourth Hokage."
"...Yes, Lord Hokage!"
"Fugaku, imprison the two unconscious Guardian Ninja in the Police Force holding cells. I have... plans for them."
"And you, co here. I have a little sothing for your son."
...
...
The turmoil in the ninja world and the bloodshed within Konoha wouldn't affect the Ninja Academy.
Gojo Kaigetsu, had explicitly mandated that the Academy children be given a relatively peaceful childhood.
The conflicts and hatred of adult ninja should end with them. The new generation had their own stories to write.
Let the cycle of hatred end with the previous generation.
Regardless of the ninja world's state, the village's internal struggles, the Academy's educational quality must be maintained.
Lessons focused on basic literacy and fundantal ninjutsu. Ninja world affairs were only briefly touched upon.
For example, in the newly established Ethics class, under Gojo Kaigetsu's direction:
"Based on Kekkei Genkai and historical achievents, Konohagakure is the greatest ninja village in the world!"
"Do you know how much Konoha had to pay in reparations after that humiliating defeat? 20 million ryō in cash and 200,000 bolts of silk! It took thousands of carts to transport it all! You carry the responsibility of lifting Konoha from those dark tis, of making Konoha great again!"
"Konoha needs land! Konoha demands land! And we will use our shuriken to claim it!"
"Konoha elder and Hokage Advisor Gojo Kaigetsu once said, 'Before stands a village, a village groaning in humiliation!'"
"'After that war, our village's pride was shattered! Those defeated villages, despite their loss, used their combined strength to lord over us, trampling on our dignity, the dignity of the noblest village in the ninja world! Tell , will you choose to be a free warrior like , fighting for Konoha's greatness, or a slave?!'"
The Ethics teacher for Itachi Uchiha, Izumi Uchiha, and Temari's class was an ordinary Chunin.
But his eloquence was undeniable.
Holding the textbook personally written by Gojo Kaigetsu, he spoke with passion and conviction, his voice rising and falling, his body moving expressively.
The usual tedium of the classroom seed to vanish, replaced by a vibrant energy, as if Gojo Kaigetsu's words had pierced through the dark clouds of the ninja world, illuminating the Chunin's heart, dispelling his apathy and allowing him to genuinely express his love for Konoha.
Even this seasoned, middle-aged Chunin was moved.
As for the young ninja in the classroom...
Itachi Uchiha's reaction was the most intense.
His mind seed to travel back in ti, to the Second and Third Shinobi World Wars, to Konoha's darkest and most humiliating periods.
"Kekkei Genkai, historical achievents... we are the greatest village. The Sharingan is Konoha's—no, the ninja world's—most powerful Kekkei Genkai. Advisor Gojo believes Konoha is the greatest because of this..."
"He's acknowledging the Uchiha. In Konoha's textbooks, praising the Uchiha. This is... encouragent... This is... love!"
Itachi Uchiha seed to have a sudden epiphany.
In his mind's eye, he saw Advisor Gojo smiling warmly, waving at him.
"Go, Uchiha! Go, Itachi!"
"The great rejuvenation of Konoha rests on your shoulders."
These words, echoing in his mind, shook Itachi to his core.
His heart burned with renewed fervor. "A new mission awaits. I can't stand idly by. I will train tirelessly, and my dreams will co true. I will push forward with courage and make the advisor's wish a reality!"
Fueled by this surge of emotion, Itachi Uchiha's eyes transford.
His single tomoe spun rapidly, splitting, until two distinct tomoe erged.
Beside him, Izumi Uchiha clasped her hands to her chest, her eyes sparkling with admiration. Though she didn't understand what had just happened, the chakra fluctuation... it made her feel incredibly safe.
The other boys in the class were consud by envy. Itachi, ever since that "Love and Gratitude Education" event, had been prone to emotional outbursts. And now, after a single Ethics lesson... how infuriating!
Hmph. What's so great about the Sharingan?
If I had the Sharingan, I'd be even more excited!
Driven by this competitive spirit, Itachi Uchiha found himself ostracized by the boys in his class.
But no one dared to bully him.
After all—
A five-year-old Uchiha with a two-tomoe Sharingan? No one wanted to test that.
As for the other Uchiha in the class...
Izumi Uchiha, paired with Temari as a study partner, sat quietly in a corner.
Though she'd been moved by the lesson, her reaction hadn't been as intense as Itachi's. She simply felt a warmth spreading through her eyes.
Temari, however, was practically swooning. Her hands cupped her cheeks, her eyes sparkling like stars. "So... so cool..." she murmured.
"Temari, are you talking about Itachi?" Izumi asked.
"No, not him!" Temari quickly denied. "I an... Advisor Gojo! He's so cool! His words... they're so inspiring!"
"I want to fight to the death for my village!" Her eyes shone with a fiery determination.
Izumi stared at her, utterly bewildered.
Wait a minute... That was our Konoha Advisor, a speech aid at Konoha ninja... What does it have to do with you, a Suna princess?
And... fight for your village? Izumi's knowledge of Konoha history wasn't perfect, but she knew Sunagakure had been on the losing side of every Shinobi World War.
Izumi couldn't help but giggle.
Realizing her reaction was inappropriate, she quickly stifled her laughter.
But Temari still noticed.
"What's so funny, Izumi?" she asked, her face flushing slightly. "Setting aside village affiliations, he was inspiring, wasn't he? I wish we had soone like Advisor Gojo in Suna."
"Alright, alright, I won't laugh anymore." Izumi straightened up, rembering her role in fostering peace between their villages.
Temari, who had initially been wary of Konoha, had already been won over.
Despite her maturity, she was still just a young girl. And Konoha's... assimilation tactics were proving effective.
The high-quality food, the unlimited hot water, access to countless books, and novel entertainnt...
The significant improvent in her quality of life, coupled with Izumi's friendship, had quickly tad Temari.
Perhaps she hadn't even realized it, but she had beco an honorary Konoha citizen in spirit.
During these Konoha Ethics lessons, she often found herself identifying with Konoha's cause, though she always added qualifiers like "objectively speaking" or "setting aside village loyalty." But such justifications were weak, like claiming, "Wearing it doesn't count."
'Konoha is so wonderful... I wish Suna could be like this.'
After the commotion in the classroom died down, Temari sat quietly, lost in her fantasies.
If only Suna had the sa abundance of resources and cultural experiences. She couldn't imagine how much happier her friends back ho would be.
'If only there was peace... If Suna and Konoha were allies, we could learn from their... advancents.'
From Temari's perspective, Konoha's ninja were still largely unknown, but their talent for construction had already beco a stereotype.
After all, from a child's perspective, there wasn't much room for hatred or war. She simply dread of the benefits Konoha's expertise could bring to Suna.
She didn't realize that the "Konoha kindness" she perceived might only exist within the Ninja Academy.
Many veteran Konoha ninja, who had experienced the Second and Third Shinobi World Wars, harbored deep resentnt towards Sunagakure. Only the future population decline in Konoha would eventually silence those voices.
Not even Gojo Kaigetsu's current influence could change that.
Prejudices ran deep.
All Gojo Kaigetsu could do was plant the seeds of peace within the Academy, present a positive image of Konoha to the Suna exchange students, and cultivate a pro-Konoha faction within Sunagakure.
It was a long-term investnt in Konoha's future dominance.
The passionate Ethics lesson soon concluded, and a wave of anxiety washed over the students.
The Sumr Camp activities... they were about to begin. Rumor had it the first event was a shuriken throwing competition.
Though called a Sumr Camp, it was essentially a series of assessnts.
Students who failed would be held back a year, a mark of sha that would follow them throughout their ninja careers. Future clients, seeing "Sumr Camp Failure" on a ninja's resu, might hesitate to hire them.
Therefore, the academy students were taking this very seriously.
So even contemplated cheating, hoping to find older students to take their place.
Ring—
The bell signaled the end of class, and the tension in the classroom reached its peak.
Several boys, sitting together, nodded solemnly, their eyes burning with determination.
"Hey, did you hear? The Sumr Camp starts after this class."
"Should we go easy on the other guys?"
"No way! This is about absolute dominance! Let's unleash our full power and crush everyone!"
"It seems... Itachi Uchiha will be our main rival."
"Hmph, with my chakra... taking him down ten tis in ten seconds shouldn't be a problem."
"Let's make it quick. I still need to practice my taijutsu for the 'Konoha's Strongest Fist' competition after graduation."
Their banter continued until they clasped hands, the force of their grip making them wince.
Unconnected by their shared enthusiasm, Itachi Uchiha felt a surge of annoyance. This class was far too noisy.
He retrieved a small scroll his father had given him that morning, claiming it was from Advisor Gojo.
A gift from Advisor Gojo! Itachi considered it a sacred relic.
He carefully unfurled the scroll, his heart pounding with anticipation.
Inside, there were three shuriken and a note.
"Shuriken?" Itachi blinked, confused. He'd expected so sort of powerful artifact, but these seed like ordinary ninja tools.
No, wait. If they ca from Advisor Gojo, there had to be a deeper aning.
He weighed the shuriken in his hand. "This weight... it's off. The center of gravity is shifted to the left."
He then unfolded the note and read it carefully.
As he read, his expression grew increasingly perplexed.
Taking a deep breath, his eyes filled with determination, Itachi resolved to follow the instructions, even if he didn't understand.
Clang, clang, clang—
The school bell rang, signaling the start of the Konoha Ninja Academy Sumr Camp.
Konoha's usually spacious training grounds were now packed with students.
Iruka Umino, the acting principal, stood on the podium, flanked by academy staff and reporters from the Konoha Tis.
Holding a speech manuscript, Iruka began, "The gentle spring breeze caresses our innocent faces, the warm sun embraces our beating hearts. As spring blossoms, we welco the first ever Konoha Ninja Academy Sumr Camp..."
"Today, we embody the Will of Fire through action..."
"Those who pass all trials, those who persevere until the very end, will receive exceptional rewards: early graduation, the right to choose their Jonin sensei, a full set of high-quality ninja tools... and much more."
"I hereby declare the Konoha Ninja Academy Sumr Camp officially open!"
"The Nine Trials of Sumr begin with the first trial: Shuriken Jutsu!"
"Step forward for your assessnt."
The brutal Sumr Camp selection process had begun. Failure in even the first round would result in a mark of "unqualified" on a student's permanent record, potentially impacting their entire ninja career.
No matter how much they improved later, the initial "unqualified" label was as detrintal as lacking a proper education, hindering their future prospects.
Conversely, those who excelled would receive glowing recomndations.
Material rewards were secondary; the true prize was a significant advantage in the competitive ninja job market.
Even the usual slackers were taking this seriously.
This was precisely Gojo Kaigetsu's goal. To promote competition and push the academy students to their limits.
With the end of the war, Konoha's population was booming, creating the perfect environnt for competition. Those with talent could join the ninja forces. Those without could contribute to the village's infrastructure projects.
The students at the front of the line began throwing their shuriken.
The assessnt was designed to prevent cheating. All students had to hand over their shuriken, which were then randomly distributed.
The instructors would test each shuriken, morizing them and ensuring their quality, before returning them after the assessnt.
ticulous and thorough.
After all, a ninja had to adapt to any situation.
If a ninja's aim suffered because they weren't using their own shuriken... the enemy wouldn't offer a second chance.
The harsh reality of the ninja world was revealed to the academy students for the first ti.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—
The assessnt proceeded swiftly. One after another, shuriken were tested by the instructors and handed to the students.
So celebrated their success with a fist pump, while others, dejected, retreated... The varied reactions added to the pressure for those still waiting.
Temari, standing near the back, felt a twinge of anxiety. Not for herself, but for her fellow Suna students.
If they, as exchange students, excelled, it would bring honor to Sunagakure. But if they failed in the first round... it would be a disgrace.
Soon, it was Itachi Uchiha's class's turn.
They dutifully handed over their shuriken, and the instructors began their chanical assessnt.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—
One instructor, after throwing a shuriken, frowned. The blade veered sharply to the left, completely missing the target.
The other instructors exchanged puzzled glances. "Seriously? You missed? With a shuriken? You might lose your Chunin certification."
Embarrassed, the instructor tried again, twice, before handing the shuriken to Itachi. "This shuriken's center of gravity is off. It's defective. Whose is it?"
"Mine, sir!" Itachi Uchiha stepped forward, his expression unreadable.
"You..." The instructor looked at him, a flicker of recognition in his eyes. "You're... Uchiha Itachi, the prodigy, aren't you?"
"Indeed. You certainly have the aura of a prodigy." The instructor spoke loudly, his words quickly recorded by the Konoha Tis reporter.
"But... why are you using a defective shuriken? Weren't you aware of today's assessnt?"
The interrogation began.
This was a hidden test. A ninja who brought faulty equipnt to an assessnt showed a lack of preparation, a serious offense.
If Itachi Uchiha couldn't provide a reasonable explanation, even a prodigy like him would be eliminated in the first round!
All eyes were on Itachi.
The students behind him whispered among themselves. The "school bullies" smirked, while Izumi Uchiha's face was filled with worry. Temari patted her shoulder reassuringly.
Itachi Uchiha, however, remained calm. Recalling the instructions on the note, he cleared his throat. "Sir, my shuriken is not defective. Its center of gravity was deliberately shifted to the left."
"That's absurd! A shuriken with a shifted center of gravity is defective by definition!"
"Not in this case, sir. It's... a personal modification. I didn't consider the possibility of... shared shuriken during the assessnt."
Intrigued, the instructor handed the shuriken back to Itachi. "Explain yourself."
"On the battlefield, if I were to die fighting for Konoha, for the Will of Fire, for the Hokage, for Advisor Gojo... I wouldn't want the enemy to pick up my shuriken and use it against my comrades."
"A shuriken with a shifted center of gravity... it could save a life."
The "school bullies" froze. Though reluctant to admit it, they had to concede—Itachi Uchiha's words were... damn impressive.
A bright, genuine smile spread across young Itachi's face. Even the jaded Konoha Tis reporter was moved.
The photographer snapped photos, while the reporter diligently recorded Itachi's every word.
Could a shuriken truly be used like this?
The instructor was stunned. "But... you're also using this shuriken. Can you guarantee accuracy with a modified shuriken? Even seasoned Chunin like myself struggle with that."
"Yes, sir. I've practiced with these shuriken extensively. I can guarantee pinpoint accuracy."
"Show ." The instructor stepped aside, giving Itachi the stage.
"Five ters. Moving target." As if to make things even more difficult, the instructor increased the challenge.
Not only the distance, but the stationary target was now mobile... Such a test, for a five-year-old, seed excessively harsh.
The girls in the back murmured in protest, defending their idol.
Whoosh—
Itachi Uchiha, his expression calm, threw the shuriken. It struck the target dead center.
The instructor's jaw dropped. "Ten ters! The apple on that tree!"
Itachi, as if forgetting the assessnt was over, retrieved a second shuriken and threw it.
Crack—
The apple split cleanly in two.
The instructor was utterly shocked. His decades of shurikenjutsu mastery... surpassed by a five-year-old.
"Twenty ters. Enemy ninja – Konoha Chunin."
"Fire at !" With that, the instructor, codenad Hayate, darted away, moving swiftly at a distance of twenty ters.
Another instructor, watching from the side, shouted, "Run, Hayate! Sixty miles per hour!"
Hayate, playing along, weaved and dodged, his movents unpredictable.
At that speed, hitting him with a normal shuriken would be difficult, let alone one with a shifted center of gravity.
But Itachi Uchiha didn't even activate his Sharingan.
He calmly crouched down, picking up a handful of sand and letting it sift through his fingers, observing the direction of the wind. He then plucked a blade of grass and held it in his mouth, using its movent to further gauge the wind's direction.
"The wind... He's calculating the wind's effect!" The "school bullies," despite their usual taunts, were now impressed.
This display of ticulous preparation had won them over.
Whoosh—
The mont the last grain of sand slipped through his fingers, Itachi Uchiha moved. The shuriken flew in a graceful arc, covering the twenty ters in a blink of an eye, piercing Hayate's chest.
Poof—
A cloud of smoke erupted.
Hayate reappeared beside them, clapping as he walked towards Itachi. "Excellent! I wasn't mistaken. You, Itachi Uchiha, are a true shurikenjutsu prodigy!"
"Is the assessnt over, Hayate-sensei? If there's more, I'll need my other shuriken back. I've used all three," Itachi said, spreading his hands.
Hayate chuckled awkwardly. "Of course. You've undoubtedly earned first place in the first trial."
Clap, clap, clap—
Iruka Umino, leading the applause, stepped forward, his hands raised high.
"Magnificent! A true Konoha prodigy!"
The thunderous applause echoed throughout the training grounds, and the other students, as if waking from a dream, joined in.
Itachi Uchiha, for the first ti, felt a twinge of embarrassnt. Advisor Gojo's instructions... they were surprisingly effective.
After Itachi left the stage, the next group consisted of Suna exchange students, seemingly eager to emulate Itachi's performance.
They approached Itachi, asking to borrow his modified shuriken.
"We want to try that too!" they declared to the instructors.
Suna ninja never backed down!
The instructors' playful smiles vanished. "Are you sure? Failure ans automatic disqualification."
"Uh... can we... take the regular assessnt first and then try this as a bonus challenge?" one of the Suna students asked hesitantly.
"Sure."
"Alright! We Suna ninja are the strongest!"
Temari, watching from the sidelines, facepald. If they failed, it would be a disgrace to Suna. Why were they so obsessed with showing off?!
While she understood that a performance like Itachi Uchiha's would bring honor to Suna... shuriken with a shifted center of gravity? Even Sunagakure's rigorous training didn't include such bizarre thods.
The Uchiha clan... From what Izumi had told her, they had their own unique shurikenjutsu techniques.
Itachi Uchiha was a master of the Uchiha Shuriken Style. He could even manipulate the trajectory of thrown shuriken by having them collide mid-air.
He was practically a Shuriken Jinchuriki.
To challenge such a prodigy in shurikenjutsu? Temari found it foolish. If they wanted to show off, why not request a puppet demonstration?
Let the Suna students showcase their mastery of puppetry.
Young Temari, of course, couldn't comprehend Gojo Kaigetsu's sinister machinations. She simply attributed their behavior to youthful immaturity.
As Temari predicted, aside from her, all the other Suna students attempted to emulate Itachi's performance.
And without exception, they all failed miserably. Only one managed to hit the outer ring.
The crowd jeered, while the Konoha Tis reporter diligently recorded the scene.
The Suna students dejectedly returned to their group.
After a short break, Hayate, the instructor, approached with a list of nas.
"The following students have passed the first trial, ranked by score: Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Izumi..."
"If your na wasn't called, you've failed!"
"Now, everyone, proceed to the Konoha Forest for field training!"
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