When Being a Ninja Became an Academic Qualification

So, for a country to be stable, peaceful, and harmonious, establishing a unified government was essential.

At the same time, the Land of Whirlpools' clan-based state system was both its strength and its weakness...

Its strength was that, to some extent, there were fewer internal conflicts within a single clan, and the authority of the daimyo or Clan Head was extremely strong. But its weakness was its tiny population. Forget anything else—just gathering people with all seven attributes would probably be difficult. A few people might not be a problem, but once large numbers were needed, the Land of Whirlpools might not be able to provide them.

And the Land of Whirlpools needed far more than a handful of ninjas if it wanted to develop!!

Looking at the history of Earth's industrial evolution, it was essentially just finding different ways to boil water—that was, changing energy sources. Although the Shinobi World had a solution to its energy problem, namely its advantage—Chakra—things like coal and oil...

Forget it. They could perhaps be used in special circumstances, but with an unlimited, non-polluting source of energy available, why abandon the Shinobi World's advantage? Still, transforming ninjas from war machines into productive workers would not be easy.

Looking across the entirety of Naruto, their technology was actually quite advanced. Especially in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, they had, in some respects, already entered modernity. Yet they still...

Ran when traveling, and shouted when sending messages!!!

Although Naruto never went into detail about it, a few scenes showed that they probably had some degree of industrialization as well. For example...

Factories belching waste gas!!

So in the end, ninjas probably still stuck to their old trade and underwent no change at all.

That would be fine in the short term, but over time, the Shinobi World would definitely change again. After all, the once lofty ninjas would suddenly have nothing to do and no value anymore??

How could they possibly accept that?

Especially once ninjas lost their value, they would be cast aside by others. But ninjas were not the sort to change easily. When that time came, war would probably be their only option, using it to assert their right to speak in the Shinobi World.

Therefore, developing secondary careers for ninjas was an inevitable trend of history—or rather, giving them a second function.

At the same time, universal ninja education was of utmost importance. Only when being a ninja became an academic qualification, a profession, could the conflict between ninjas and ordinary civilians gradually be worn away to some extent.

Sigh... that could also be called a class conflict!

If Chakra was an external source of energy, then Natural Energy was the Shinobi World's original native mystical power. However, Natural Energy was too difficult to learn and even carried a certain degree of danger in some respects, so it had gradually been replaced by the easier-to-learn Chakra. As a result, Natural Energy simply could not promote industrial development.

But to preserve the Shinobi World's distinctive character, Natural Energy could be added to the research agenda later. After all, having some unique strengths of their own would give them an advantage when dealing with aliens.

In Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, the Shinobi World's advantage over the Otsutsuki Clan was ninjutsu. Ninjas could be said to have taken the use of Chakra, this external energy source, to the extreme. Chakra's uses could broadly be divided into three types: ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu. Compared to the Otsutsuki Clan's monotonous methods of use, ninjas used it far more flamboyantly.

The problem was that there were simply too few strong ones. Even after gathering all the Shinobi World's top experts, they had only barely managed to defeat the four Otsutsuki clansmen sent over by the other side. Not to mention that they were a race capable of crossing the universe.

Who knew how many clansmen they had?

Of course, the top experts of the Shinobi World being discussed here were only those in the open. A certain underground gang did not count!!

Perhaps if ninjas were given more time, they could evolve to become even stronger and develop more powerful ninjutsu and Forbidden Jutsu, but...

Time waited for no one!!!

Thus, Xun Uzumaki's goal for the Land of Whirlpools was to popularize ninja education, put ninjas to use in production and daily life, and clearly define ninja ranks by treating them as an academic degree system.

For example...

The six-year ninja apprenticeship could be elementary school, Genin could be middle school, Chunin could be high school, Jonin could be university, Kage-level could be graduate school, and Super Kage-level could be doctoral students. Some peripheral fields could also serve as supplementary disciplines for academic qualifications, such as Natural Energy...

They could even issue Natural Energy certification later.

As for Six Paths level and the like!!

There probably would not be many of them anyway, so they could be classified as academicians.

And ninjas could no longer be categorized solely by combat strength. To some extent, they would also need to be divided into liberal arts and sciences. The sciences would be the ordinary ninjas common throughout the Shinobi World, while the liberal arts...

Would be ninjas dedicated to research and development.

The Shinobi World had wasted so many genius scientists!!

Therefore...

For society to develop, science and technology were indispensable.

If things continued like this, in a few decades, Jonin would be everywhere and Kage-level experts would be commonplace! Private ninja schools could even be opened to some extent. By then, the number of ninjas would surely become even more terrifying.

But all of that had to be built upon a powerful nation. Otherwise, if it were exploited by someone with ulterior motives, it might bring about another disaster. So this policy would have to wait until the country was developed.

For now, they had to first strengthen the nation and its military capabilities, raise the living standards and happiness of the Citizens of the Land of Whirlpools, and make them dependent on and devoted to the country. Only then could the later plans proceed steadily.

"Prince Xun, the Mist Ninja have sent someone over. They hope to negotiate," a Whirlpool Ninja entered and said respectfully.

Hearing this, Xun Uzumaki snapped back to his senses. He should not think so far ahead right now. He could talk about it after everything had settled down!

"Make the arrangements. Negotiations will be held two days from now at the foot of the mountain to the right of the forest." Xun Uzumaki stretched lazily. The Mist Ninja had finally surrendered. He had thought Hozuki Gengetsu was unwilling to yield and intended to remain deadlocked like this!!

Two days should be enough. By then, the ninjas who had been sent out would probably have completed their missions. Only then could the Land of Whirlpools hold the upper hand in these negotiations. Otherwise, who knew whether that eyebrowless uncle Hozuki Gengetsu intended to take the Tailed Beast back without spending a single coin? There was no such bargain in the world. After all, the Land of Whirlpools had suffered severe losses in this war, in some respects!!

For example...

The national treasury was practically empty, and money was indispensable if the Land of Whirlpools wanted to develop rapidly.

If they did not demand compensation from these invaders, then who were they supposed to demand it from!!

As for Kirigakure suffering massive losses too, so much so that its village head might have to pawn his underwear, Xun Uzumaki could only curl his lip, secretly jerk his chin in Konoha's direction, and say, "What does that have to do with me!"

"You...

Can ask someone else for compensation!!"

"Yes!!" Upon receiving Prince Xun's order, the Whirlpool Ninja replied and withdrew.

Xun Uzumaki yawned and rose to his feet, muttering, "It's time to go speak with the Senju Clan."

He wondered how well the Clan Elders had been getting along with the Senju Clan members??

This was the first chapter. That slacker probably got lazy yesterday, which was why there were so few recommendation votes! Everyone, please give some support! New books need nurturing, and this slacker needs support too! The next chapter will probably be a little late. Today is my last day back in my hometown, so please be understanding.

And today is still the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, so it can still be considered the holiday season. Have fun, everyone. There is not much vacation left.