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As Second Tsuchikage 13
🕑 Added 2025-07-14 13:07:02 +0000 UTCChapter 13: Establishing the Ninja Academy
For several days in a row, Mū remained occupied with reorganizing and redesigning the structure of Iwagakure. One of his first acts was the formal establishment of the Anbu. He personally selected each member, handpicking only those he deemed capable and loyal enough for such a role.
But even that wasn’t his primary concern. What mattered most to Mū… was the ninja academy.
After several days of intense, accelerated construction, Iwagakure’s first official ninja academy was finally completed. Mū immediately had his men compile a list of individuals willing to become shinobi. Once the data was collected and those who couldn’t extract chakra were excluded, the final number stood at 313 registered students.
Every person who could harness chakra had signed up. This didn’t surprise Mū in the slightest. Becoming a ninja was essentially the only viable path for ordinary people to climb the social ladder, and they all knew it.
“Who should take the position of headmaster for this academy?” he mused aloud, caught in momentary indecision.
If Ōnoki had been older, perhaps he would have been a solid choice. But he was still too young, too green. That option was ruled out immediately.
Then there was Ishikawa, but he already bore the responsibilities of Tsuchikage. Asking him to serve in both roles would be inappropriate, and beyond that, the man was on the brink of retirement. Dragging him into this project would have felt like scrounging for scraps.
After weighing all possibilities, Mū made a firm decision.
He would take the role of headmaster himself.
If he wanted the next generation of Iwagakure to be strong and capable, then there was no better solution than guiding them with his own hands. When something matters that much, you take control of it yourself.
…
The very next day, the Iwagakure Ninja Academy was officially inaugurated. The opening ceremony began without delay. Its full name was "Iwagakure Ninja Training Academy."
“Today, on this clear and beautiful day, under the guidance and approval of Mū-sama, the Iwagakure Ninja Training Academy has officially opened. Now, let us welcome Mū-sama to say a few words!”
Thunderous applause erupted from the gathered villagers as Mū stepped calmly onto the stage.
He scanned the crowd below, his gaze passing over the sea of children and villagers. With a composed breath, he began to speak, sharing the ideal he had crafted, the very foundation of his vision for the future: the Will of Stone.
“On this day, the day our academy is founded, I say this to all of you. The new generation of Iwagakure must carry within them the Will of Stone!”
“The Will of Stone means unwavering resolve. It means endurance and persistence in the face of hardship.”
“It is the unbreakable defense that does not falter, even before overwhelming enemies.”
“It means standing your ground no matter how powerful your opponent may be. It means completing your missions with calm, with steadiness, with the strength of stone itself.”
“This Will of Stone must be passed down, again and again. Like layers of rock pressed over time, the wisdom and will of our older shinobi must be passed on to those who come next.”
“And the new generation will leave their own marks on that stone, following the footsteps of those who came before them. Together, they will form an unbroken line of will and strength, as vast and enduring as the mountains.”
“Sheltered by the strength of this Will of Stone, Iwagakure will remain at the peak of the shinobi world for generations to come!”
Below the stage, countless young eyes lit up, brimming with hope and ambition. The dreams of Iwagakure’s future shimmered bright in their gaze.
Even the young adults and elderly who had endured the chaos of the previous era looked on with emotion in their eyes, as if witnessing the dawn of a radiant future. Thunderous applause erupted once again.
“The Will of Stone… Tenacious and unshakable! Sensei’s speech was amazing!”
From a distance, Ōnoki watched with admiration, excitement shimmering in his gaze. Ishikawa stood beside him, nodding in silent approval.
As expected of Mū. He had always believed this man was destined to be the great tactician and guiding hand of Iwagakure.
“Ōnoki, you must follow your teacher closely,” Ishikawa said, his voice heavy with conviction. “Learn his Dust Release. Learn how he speaks. Learn how he thinks. And more than anything, learn his Will of Stone.”
He placed a firm hand on Ōnoki’s shoulder, his tone laden with expectations. The boy carried his hopes for the future. He wouldn’t have entrusted him to Mū otherwise.
Ōnoki nodded with determination. There were so many qualities in his teacher that he admired and yearned to learn from. In his eyes, no one in this world was perfect—
Except for his teacher.
His teacher was perfection itself.
“All right, that’s enough,” Mū said, waving lightly at the crowd with a faint smile. He was clearly pleased with the mood he had created. These children, this next generation, would revere him as a god.
And when Iwagakure’s history was written in the years to come, his name would shine even more brightly than that of the First Tsuchikage, Ishikawa.
After a short pause, Mū resumed his speech.
“Starting today, all of you will study ninjutsu, taijutsu, theory, and many other disciplines at this academy. But remember this: skills are just tools.
The Will of Stone is your true soul. In the days ahead, you will face countless trials, and only by holding firm to that will can you become true Iwa shinobi.”
As he finished speaking, a small hand rose hesitantly from the crowd. Mū raised an eyebrow and gave a slight nod, signaling for the child to speak.
“What is it? Don’t be afraid. If you have a question, ask it directly.”
Mū valued open expression. He believed deeply in the importance of free speech. Even if someone stood up in Iwagakure and shouted, “Down with Mū-sama,” he would still allow that voice to exist. A village could not grow strong without being able to endure and reflect on criticism.
The child stood, visibly anxious, but finally managed to ask, “Mū-sama… what if we face an enemy we can’t defeat? Do we still have to fight?”
The moment that question left the child’s mouth, the crowd immediately split into two loud camps.
“Of course! Isn’t that the core of being a ninja? Even if you can’t win, you fight. Worst case, you die. What are you, a coward?”
“I disagree! That kind of mentality is too much. These are children!”
“Hmph! We grew up in the Warring States era! Back then, every kid was basically treated like a walking explosive tag!”
Arguments and shouts broke out from every direction.
Some, shaped by the brutal chaos of past wars, believed that a ninja’s duty was to fight to the death if necessary, even if that meant going down like a human bomb. To them, it was about pride, honor, and sacrifice. But others, mostly newer residents or concerned parents, saw such thinking as madness. These were still children. They believed the priority should be learning how to protect themselves, how to survive.
Mū remained calm. He didn’t need time to think. A light smile crossed his face as he stepped forward and answered without hesitation.
“The Will of Stone isn’t about blind recklessness. It means staying calm in the face of adversity and finding a way forward. If the enemy is too strong, then retreating to preserve your strength is also a form of wisdom. But what matters is that the belief in your heart never wavers.”
That was his answer. Spoken with quiet firmness and absolute clarity. It was not a speech meant to provoke cheers. It was a declaration of principle, one that would echo through the hearts of all who heard it.
The child who had asked the question gave a small nod. He didn’t fully understand, but he knew he’d been heard, and that was enough for now. He sat back down quietly.
Mū gave a faint smile, then turned to the crowd once more.
“Before we conclude, I would like to propose a school motto for our academy.”
He walked calmly over to the school gate. A large boulder sat at the entrance. With a slight flick of his hand, he moved it into position and gathered chakra at his fingertips. Slowly and deliberately, he began to inscribe words onto the stone.
The scratching sound of chakra against rock filled the silence as everyone held their breath, watching, waiting to see what words their leader would choose to define the future.
“I want our motto to be just eight characters long,” Mū said as he carved.
“It is: All the hard work will not be in vain but must be rewarded.”
He paused for a moment to let the words sink in.
“Some of you may not be familiar with the meaning. Let me explain.”
“No effort is ever wasted. Every bit of hard work will be rewarded.”
“Just like jade is polished only through grinding and pressure, only by enduring hardship can we truly refine ourselves.”
With steady, unwavering strokes, Mū completed the inscription.
And the crowd erupted once more in thunderous applause.
The children stared at the stone with wide eyes, dreams of the future dancing in their hearts. Determination rose within them. They would train hard. They would hold to the Will of Stone. And one day, they too would become the pride of Iwagakure.
