Malphegor
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HSU: Ch. 44
🕑 Added 2024-12-04 15:18:12 +0000 UTCThe next morning, Masashi woke up and, surprisingly, didn't head straight to the training grounds as usual.
It wasn't because he'd become complacent, but rather because he had been invited by Hiruzen to visit the Ninja Academy that day.
It had been a long time since he last set foot there.
The last time he visited, Hiruzen was a passionate young man, and Danzō was a troublesome student and a notorious contrarian.
The Ninja Academy was the central institution of Konoha.
Technically, one might think the Hokage's office would serve as the village's central hub, but in reality, it was merely an administrative building for internal and external affairs.
Today, the true core of Konoha's organizational structure was the Ninja Academy.
Established more than 30 years ago by Tobirama, the Academy was originally a training base set at the foot of the Hokage Rock cliff.
Back then, the ninja population was almost exclusively clan-based, with few civilian ninjas. So Tobirama set the admission standard as "having the ability to use chakra and master the Clone Technique proficiently."
His reasoning? Even the weakest should meet these criteria.
His confidence was justified, as he had directly incorporated the Senju clan's ninjutsu archive into the village's repository, promising that those with the aptitude would have access to learn.
At that time, the Academy had only one mission: to produce ninjas ready for the battlefield.
When Hiruzen became Hokage, he began expanding the student body. Admission standards shifted to a focus on "love for the village, physical and mental health, and a diligent work ethic."
He also reformed the institution, adding departments related to military and administrative affairs. This transformed the Hokage's office into a subsidiary building of the Ninja Academy.
From then on, the Hokage was also the principal of the Academy.
Hiruzen implemented several changes, including increasing the scale of student enrollment, adding new subjects, making the written exams more challenging, and expanding the school campus twice.
Today's Ninja Academy served as a place to not only train ninjas but also to fully develop their potential.
Not everyone was suited to become a ninja, and among those who were, not all were meant to fight.
Some excelled at intelligence gathering, some at interrogation, while others struggled in combat but shone in healing or dissection. Then there were those who were naturally gifted teachers.
Additionally, some were technical geniuses, adept at crafting barriers and seals but utterly useless in the field.
To accommodate such diversity, Hiruzen created specialized training paths. This approach had allowed the Ninja Academy to supply Konoha's ninja forces with well-rounded talent across various roles.
Each year, many graduates from the Academy joined non-combat units or administrative departments. Those selected for combat units were carefully trained and rarely thrown into the front lines immediately, even during wartime.
Weak recruits weren't cannon fodder—they were liabilities.
Only extraordinary geniuses, whose potential justified the investment in their training, might bypass this careful process.
Thus, the Ninja Academy had become a cornerstone for Konoha, encompassing everything from talent development and personnel allocation to ideological education and mission assignment.
In short, it was the backbone of the Hokage's administration.
Masashi, invited as a temporary instructor, was set to take on a part-time teaching role.
Shisui had been invited to join the ANBU.
Both developments were outcomes of the recognition ceremony held at the Hokage's office, where the Uchiha were formally acknowledged for their heroism.
In the public eye, it was impossible to decline both invitations. Even rejecting one could be seen as defiance.
This marked a significant shift: the Hokage faction was finally engaging the Uchiha in genuine political negotiations, acknowledging them as equals in the game.
Previously, the Uchiha weren't even considered worthy of serious negotiation.
All this was made possible by the clan's actions during the Nine-Tails attack. Masashi's efforts had demonstrated his value, and the clan as a whole showed unity, gaining a measure of public support.
The tide was turning.
---
On the day of his assignment, he arrived early at the Academy.
"You're the hero who stopped the Nine-Tails!" a parent called out as they dropped off their child.
This was the time when parents would drop off younger children for basic classes, while older students in the Practice and Application Stage would insist on going by themselves, considering themselves too mature for parental escort.
The Academy's instructors were all chunin, and they strictly adhered to the dress code of wearing Konoha ninja uniforms. Masashi arrived similarly attired.
He reported in and was informed that his specific duties would be assigned by the Hokage himself.
Such formality was familiar to a veteran like him. High-ranking ninjas, despite their elite status, still had to follow the protocols of employment.
The Hokage's office was a short walk from the Academy, connected through internal pathways. The rooftop training area atop the Hokage's building, though officially part of the Academy, was primarily used for hosting ceremonies.
It was here that he had received his commendation and rewards the previous day.
He already had a plan: he would teach taijutsu.
While the Uchiha's taijutsu techniques were best executed with the Sharingan, their foundational methods—particularly their shuriken and kunai throwing techniques—were widely respected in training circles.
Many Uchiha clan members even worked part-time as private tutors.
Accompanied by ANBU, Masashi entered the Hokage's office. To his surprise, Minato wasn't drowning in paperwork as usual.
"Masashi," he greeted him warmly. "How do you feel about the Academy so far?"
"It's quite different from the clan's school," Masashi replied.
"I'm glad you accepted the invitation. Kushina and I are both thrilled," Minato said, his demeanor genuinely friendly.
From a personal perspective, he was deeply grateful to Masashi for saving his wife and son.
"So, which level would you like to teach?"
"The Application Stage," Masashi answered decisively. He'd thought this through.
Teaching the basics would be tedious, and dealing with students in the Practice Stage—those trying to act like adults—would be equally annoying. Application Stage students, however, were disciplined and had foundational skills, making them ideal for his teaching style.
"What subject would you like to focus on?"
"Taijutsu. Anything else wouldn't be practical for me to teach."
"It sounds like you've already put a lot of thought into this," Minato said, clearly satisfied. "As the principal of the academy, I officially welcome you to the team."
---
Compared to the days of Tobirama, the Ninja Academy's training process had undergone significant evolution.
Back then, it was all about "speeding things up." Now, the focus was on individualized teaching.
While the three-stage structure remained unchanged, the content within had transformed to meet modern needs.
The journey began with the Foundation Stage, where young minds took their first steps into the ninja world. Here, through physical training and theoretical classes, the village planted the seeds of its future.
Once students built up their strength and mastered the basics, they advanced to the Practice Stage.
This was where the real excitement began—earning to control chakra, perfecting taijutsu, mastering the Three Basic Techniques, and handling weapons.
Working together and mock battles taught them the true meaning of being a ninja.
The Application Stage marked the final phase, where education became truly personal. Teachers identified each student's strengths and weaknesses, offering private lessons and targeted development.
Competition grew fierce—some students relied on their family resources, while others found different paths to prove themselves. This was where the true spirit of rivalry between future ninjas sparked to life.
After this phase, the school administered a graduation exam. Graduates then underwent a genin selection test conducted by their assigned jonin instructor. Those who passed both tests officially became genin.
Unlike the graduation exam, the genin selection test depended entirely on the jonin's personal preferences. For example, Kakashi, before leading the squad with Naruto, failed every candidate who came his way.
Jonin were that willful. Even the Hokage couldn't force them to take on students if they didn't want to.
After understanding the entire system, Masashi got a clear idea of his responsibilities.
Teaching group lessons for targeted development? Not interested—pass.
Private lessons? Now that's more like it. It essentially boils down to: "Teach whomever you like, however you like."
Masashi loved this setup.
Ordinary jonin were merely seen as willful; legendary jonin, however, were praised for being "unique."
In the office, he retrieved the current student roster from the Academy staff.
The first few pages didn't list any familiar names.
Such was reality—most lives were destined for mediocrity, serving as cogs in society.
The majority of Ninja Academy graduates remained genin for life. Achieving chunin rank was considered elite. Becoming a jonin? That was the stuff of legends—your photo got displayed in the hallways to inspire future generations.
Most of Konoha's jonin were directly promoted by the Hokage. Many of them didn't even attend the academy; they were promoted straight to chunin and then jonin.
They hail from families collectively known as "the clans of ninjas."
During the era of the Hidden Villages, the intense warfare prompted ninja clans to seek transformation. Konoha's clans were among the first to act.
The Senju clan evotransformed into a civilian power base, while abandoning the Senju surname, their influence extended throughout every sector of Konoha, reaching even into the daimyō's court.
The Uchiha clan reluctantly privatized their department, a seemingly powerful model but fraught with hidden dangers.
The Sarutobi clan adopted a "follow the Hokage" strategy, which had its clear strengths and weaknesses.
And the Shimura clan's transition was a failure, leaving them as a collection of small, independent households. Despite this, they retained an edge over ordinary villagers.
Such high-level matters were beyond Masashi's current purview. Nor could he change them.
He flipped through the student roster, each page detailing one student's profile with meticulous precision.
Finally, a familiar name caught his eye.
Morino Ibiki: Described as possessing strong logical thinking, skilled in analysis and code-breaking, meticulous, with strong mental resilience. Recommended for training in intelligence work.
Another name stood out.
Mitarashi Anko: Highlighted as a disciple of Orochimaru.
Orochimaru...
In the original timeline, he defected after being discovered conducting human experiments during Minato's tenure as Hokage. The village was relatively peaceful until the Nine-Tails' attack, which resulted in the devastating loss of both the newly appointed Hokage and its jinchuriki. These losses likely triggered the subsequent war.
Regardless, he viewed Orochimaru's defection differently. While Minato's and Kushina's deaths had consequences for the Uchiha clan, Orochimaru's defection proved to be a boon.
It split the Legendary Sannin trio, significantly weakening the Hokage faction.
The Legendary Sannin were more than three individual ninjas—they were a team.
Currently, they were the strongest kage-level team in the ninja world. Their combined strength wasn't merely additive; it was exponential.
In the original timeline, after losing Minato and Kushina, Orochimaru's defection left Konoha without any kage-level combatants. Its military strategy shifted to passive defense.
Now, Konoha maintained an active defense posture.
What did that mean? It meant Konoha wouldn't just sit back—they'd preemptively strike, even eliminate potential threats.
In contrast, in the original timeline, Konoha remained passive, waiting to defend against attacks rather than preventing them.
---
Anko hadn't graduated yet, but her graduation seemed assured.
Masashi decided to use her as an opportunity to assess Orochimaru's current state.
Plus, it had been a while since he'd taught anyone. He missed it.
"Where is Anko?" he asked.
"She's in class," replied a staff member. "Though she's close to graduating."
"Close isn't graduated yet," Masashi said. "Does graduating mean slacking off? Does learning stop? Skills may take time to develop, but attitude must always be correct."
"Do you intend to teach her?" The staff member sensed trouble and tried to dissuade him. "Actually, she doesn't really need private lessons. Orochimaru-sama tutors her personally."
"And has he taught her anything recently?"
"Not lately. Orochimaru-sama hasn't been to the academy recently."
"Exactly!" Masashi clapped the staff member on the shoulder. "This is his way of testing her. And yet, this child is so clueless. A student handpicked by Orochimaru—how can she waste her talent like this? Leave her to me. I'll make sure she realizes her potential."
"Yes, Masashi-sama." The staff member gave up, resignedly arranging the lesson as instructed. These high-ranked ninja and their games...
After all, he was just a chunin. What did the affairs of these big names have to do with him?
