novel-bin Chapter 371 Reactions from All Parties
Chapter 371 Reactions from All Parties
Chapter 371 Reactions from All Parties
Time flies.
Under the clear summer sky, Konoha Village resembles a finely tuned machine, with each gear turning on its predetermined track, yet subtly revealing a rhythm unlike any other.
Pedestrians came and went as usual on the streets, shops remained open for business, and the shouts of young ninjas sweating profusely could still be heard from the training ground.
However, if someone pays close attention, they will notice some subtle changes taking place.
These changes are like pebbles thrown into a calm lake; the ripples may be small, but they spread outwards in concentric circles.
The afternoon sun shone through the windows of the ninja school classrooms, casting diamond-shaped patches of light on the wooden floor.
In the classroom of Class A, Grade 1, the time that should have been spent practicing shuriken throwing was instead spent having a class with the more than twenty students.
Standing on the podium was no longer the usual taijutsu teacher, but a middle-aged man with round-framed glasses and meticulously combed hair—Yamashiro Aoba, a Konoha Special Jonin.
This is truly rare, considering that the usual teachers at the Ninja Academy are only Chunin, but now a special Jonin has arrived.
"Starting today, the practical training sessions every Wednesday afternoon will be replaced with chakra control training —"
Yamashiro Aoba's voice was steady and clear. He pushed up his glasses and glanced at the children in the audience, who were only six or seven years old and still had childish faces.
"As per the Hokage's orders, the Ninja Academy will be adding courses on chakra control and ninjutsu theory starting with your class. Your class is the first pilot class."
A slight commotion arose in the classroom. The children all liked the cool ninjutsu, but few of them liked the hard-earned basic skill of chakra control.
Sitting in the third row, Itachi Uchiha's eyes lit up. That's right, Itachi was going to school too. Under Taichi's interference, Itachi Uchiha started school in the same year as Eta and Yami, and they were even in the same class.
Some students from ninja clans in the classroom frowned slightly, seemingly lost in thought.
Meanwhile, several children from ordinary backgrounds in the back row exchanged excited glances.
In the past, systematic instruction in esoteric techniques often had to wait until graduation and class division, when instructors, including Jonin, would teach according to individual aptitude, or the techniques would be passed down within a family.
This caused these civilian ninjas to miss out on countless valuable opportunities.
"I know that many of you have already been exposed to the art of escape through your families."
Yamashiro Aoba changed the subject, her tone becoming more serious, "But what I'm going to teach is the most orthodox, most basic, and most harmless method of cultivation. You must listen carefully—"
As Yamashiro Aoba spoke, the whispers below never stopped.
"Itachi, do you know what's going on? Why did you suddenly change the teaching plan?"
Jiang Tai asked quietly from the side, seemingly unconcerned about what the teacher was saying.
"Yes, yes, I've heard that it's not just us, even the courses for older students have changed."
Hearing their conversation, Yamei immediately turned around and joined in, her face full of curiosity.
Unfortunately, they asked the wrong person. Although the Uchiha were a top clan in Konoha, they were not in the power center of Konoha and knew nothing about the changes in the Ninja Academy.
The Hokage's office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in casual clothes with a pipe dangling from his mouth, quietly stared at the crystal ball on the table, which contained the image of Itachi Uchiha's class from the Ninja Academy.
"Hiruzen".
A deep voice came from his side; Koharu Utatane had somehow appeared beside him.
"Those three must be Matsushita Taichi's disciples, right? Uchiha Itachi, he's only 5 years old this year, isn't he?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a drag of his cigarette and nodded. "Yes, a very interesting kid. He's a kid with the mindset of a Hokage."
Koharu looked up in surprise; she hadn't expected Hiruzen Sarutobi to have such a high opinion of this child.
However, she quickly dismissed these thoughts; she hadn't come here for those reasons.
"Hiruzen, do you really think this is a wise move? Exposing these children to offensive ninjutsu so early—"
"It's not an offensive ninjutsu, it's a basic principle." Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't turn around, his gaze still fixed on the crystal ball. "The location of the Land of Fire is too good, with vast plains and fertile land, it naturally attracts the covetousness of all sides."
"We don't have the power to subdue the entire ninja world like the First Hokage. In the First World War, the Second World War, and the Third World War, we have become increasingly struggling to cope."
Traditional ninja training is increasingly inadequate for the pace of modern warfare; graduates of ninja academies are often relegated to cannon fodder on the battlefield. This must be changed.
He finally turned his head, and smoke rose from his pipe.
"We can no longer postpone all practical training until after graduation, as we did before. The battlefield won't wait for them to mature."
"But this will disrupt the balance between the clans and the common people!" Koharu Utatane lowered her voice. "The clans' escape techniques are their foundation, and now the school is openly teaching them. The significance of those secret techniques—"
"What the school teaches is the most basic of the basics," Hiruzen Sarutobi interrupted her, "common sense that every ninja should master."
As for the secret techniques and unique transformation methods of each family, if they can be so easily surpassed by basic teaching, it can only mean that those families have stagnated and should disappear.
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For these words to come from a Hokage, the nature of the statement is quite serious.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, his tone softening slightly but remaining firm: "I've made up my mind about this. I've already spoken to the school. Opposition is welcome, but the reforms must proceed."
Looking at her old friend in front of her, Xiaochun suddenly felt a little unfamiliar.
In her memory, Hiruzen Sarutobi had not pushed through a change that might cause internal controversy in a long time.
At the same time, behind the Hokage Rock in Konoha, there was a secret warehouse, which was originally a storage point for Konoha's war supplies.
The atmosphere here is completely different from that of the ninja academy.
Two layers of barriers were temporarily added around the warehouse, and four members of the secret service wearing animal masks guarded the entrance, vigilantly patrolling the surroundings.
The interior of the warehouse has been completely renovated: the heavy shelves have been removed and replaced with neatly arranged laboratory benches.
Various types of instruments, and rows of culture jars placed against the wall.
Orochimaru stood in the center of the warehouse, his long, golden pupils slowly sweeping across this new territory that had just become his.
He was dressed in a simple white lab coat, his long black hair casually draped over his shoulders, but his pale face bore a rare expression of joy, almost like a child receiving a new toy.
"How unexpected, Sarutobi-sensei—"
He muttered to himself, his voice hoarse yet magnetic.
Three days ago, in the Hokage's office.
When Hiruzen Sarutobi proposed to integrate the village's scattered scientific research resources into a dedicated "Konoha Research Department," with Orochimaru in full charge, Orochimaru's first reaction was, "Has this old guy fallen under some kind of sophisticated genjutsu?"
After all, just a few months ago, he received a secret letter from his teacher, telling him to be more discreet recently.
"Are you sure, teacher?"
Orochimaru, unusually, did not use his usual subtly sarcastic tone, but instead genuinely raised a question.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, the smoke from his pipe blurring his expression.
"Have you seen the mission report for Loulan?"
Orochimaru nodded.
As a disciple of the Hokage, he was one of the very few people allowed to know the details of the Taiyi Loulan mission, and even the two advisors were not among them.
The contents of the book amazed Orochimaru: he realized that there were so many interesting things in this world, and that he had been a frog in a well before.
"Beyond the ninja world, there are threats we don't understand." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was deep. "And Konoha's current strength is too weak. Scientific research is one way to improve our strength."
Currently, Konoha's research capabilities are too fragmented. The Medical Team researches medical ninjutsu, the Sealing Team researches sealing techniques, and the Anbu and Root research teams—each operates independently, resulting in low efficiency.
He raised his eyes and looked directly at Orochimaru.
"I need someone, someone capable, visionary, and not bound by tradition, to integrate these resources."
Research directions can be broader and deeper, not just limited to ninjutsu applied in warfare, but also including basic theories, energy utilization, biotechnology—every field that can potentially enhance Konoha's strength.
Orochimaru laughed, a genuinely amused laugh.
"Aren't you afraid I'll research something—a 'dangerous' thing?"
"I was afraid," Hiruzen Sarutobi readily admitted. "That's why I set up a monitoring mechanism. All projects in the research department must submit progress reports to the Hokage's office regularly. The use of funds requires double review. And—"
He paused, his tone becoming complicated.
"I believe in you, Orochimaru. I believe in your pursuit of truth, which surpasses your thirst for power or destruction. I simply hope that your pursuit can find a point of convergence with the interests of the village."
Recalling this moment, Orochimaru stuck out his tongue and licked his lips.
"The intersection, huh? — Heh, Sarutobi-sensei, you're still as naive and cunning as ever."
He knew, of course, that Hiruzen Sarutobi must have been under immense pressure to make this decision.
The various departments would never sit idly by while he gained so many resources and autonomy, and the families would also be wary that the research department might encroach on their secret domains.
But that's precisely what makes it interesting.
"Lord Orochimaru."
A young ninja in a research suit strode over, carrying a thick folder in his hands. He was a researcher transferred from the medical team, and his face still showed the nervousness of someone new to the job.
"These are the documents transferred from the Sealing Squad. Please take a look."
Orochimaru took the folder and quickly flipped through it. The dense data and runes on the pages looked to him like a beautiful symphony.
"It's about to begin," Orochimaru said softly, whether to the researchers or himself, "Let's see together how many secrets are hidden within the truth of this world."
Change is never smooth sailing.
That evening, at Mitokado Homura's residence.
In the conference room, the glow of the oil lamp cast swaying shadows on the walls.
Mitokado Yan sat in the main seat, the light reflected from his glasses obscuring the view of others.
"Hiruzen is too impatient."
His voice was deep and resonant in the enclosed space.
Inside the room, Koharu Utatane sat on the other side. She had come to discuss the recent policy changes of the Hokage with Homura Mitokado.
"The reforms at the ninja academy have already raised concerns among the various clans," Koharu Utatane said, frowning. "This afternoon, several clan leaders from smaller clans approached me to gauge my opinion. They are worried that the widespread adoption of basic education will weaken the ninja clans' power."
"Weaken?" Mitokado Homura sneered. "What they're really worried about is that once commoner ninjas have a systematic entry path, more people like Namikaze Minato will emerge, who, without family background, rise to the top through talent and hard work."
Koharu rubbed her temples and continued, "The research department is even more troublesome. Orochimaru has gained too much authority, and that oversight mechanism—to be honest, I don't think those written reports can really restrain him. If he secretly conducts forbidden jutsu research—"
"He definitely will." Mitokado Homura said decisively, "Root has cooperated with Orochimaru before. His obsession with the essence of life has long surpassed the ethical boundaries of a ninja. Hiruzen is playing with fire."
"We still need to talk to Hiruzen. As an advisor, we should at least find out why he suddenly issued these orders."
Koharu Utatane was also a little angry. The Hokage's orders came out of nowhere, leaving them all feeling at a loss.
"Think about it, this all started after Matsushita Taichi completed that Loulan mission, right? That report also had problems; too much was cut out."
Mitokado pushed up his glasses, looking thoughtful.
"Unfortunately, a gag order has been issued for this mission. The three people involved, whether it's Taichi, Kakashi, or Rin, are people who cannot be easily touched."
"Oh, what about Loulan? Sending someone there to investigate should yield some results, right?" Tsurugi Koharu also showed interest.
"I've already sent someone; we'll have to wait for news—"
Two days later, at Konoha Hospital.
Taiyi sat in the vice dean's office, where he now held the position, but no one raised any objections.
He completed all the work Tsunade had left him in just two days, which was only possible because he had enough shadow clones; otherwise, he wouldn't have been this efficient.
"Taiichi-kun, are you still at get off work?"
""
Lin pushed open the door and came in, carrying two cups of hot tea. She was wearing a green vest typical of medical ninjas, and a Konoha headband on her forehead, making her look more capable than before.
"Soon." Taiyi took the teacup, thanked him, and said, "But you, your training course must be quite demanding, right?"
Lin sat down opposite her, nodded, and said with a serious expression, "But it was very fulfilling. I knew so little before."
She paused, then lowered her voice: "I've never received systematic training before, so this is a good opportunity to make up for it."
Taiichi looked at her and suddenly asked, "Where's Kakashi? How's he doing lately?"
"He's undergoing special training." Lin smiled wryly. "Senior Sakumo has started instructing him in swordsmanship again, and I hear the training is very intense. Also—he submitted an application to join the Anbu, and we should have a result soon."
The room was quiet for a moment.
Taiichi looked out the window. From this angle, he could see the ninja academy's training ground, where several students who stayed behind for extra training were practicing shuriken throwing.
Further away, the Fire Shadow Rock appeared particularly majestic in the setting sun, but Taiichi knew that engineering renovations were also underway there.
"Konoha is changing," he said softly.
Lin followed his gaze and nodded: "The school has started teaching basic escape techniques. Also, I heard that the village has set up some kind of research department, and Lord Orochimaru is in charge of it—"
She suddenly stopped and looked at Taiyi: "Are these changes related to the mission in Loulan?"
Taiichi did not answer directly, but said, "The Hokage also felt the pressure. He is clearing obstacles for the Fourth Hokage."
He recalled the complete report that was classified as top secret, the eerie Rinnegan of Urashiki Otsutsuki, and the enemy that could arrive from beyond the heavens at any moment.
This world is bigger and more dangerous than most people imagine.
"Oh, right," Rin suddenly remembered something, "Where's Lady Tsunade? She's rarely come to the hospital since she came back."
Taiichi's lips twitched: "Having fun at an izakaya. She said she lost weight from being exhausted these past two weeks and needs to regain it."
The two looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh. The laughter eased the heavy atmosphere in the room.
As the sun completely sank below the horizon, the sky gradually changed from orange-red to deep blue, and the first star began to twinkle.
Taiyi put away the documents and stood up: "Let's go, it's time to go home. There's still a lot to do tomorrow."
Lin nodded, and the two walked out of the office together.
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