Shinichi stood in the loft overlooking the hall below, where the children were training in taijutsu under their teachers' guidance.
Nonō approached just then, carrying a file.
These were the children selected from the orphanage. They adapted quickly, and their progress in training and study was also rapid—far faster than at the Ninja Academy.
Reality did not allow them to be slow. Nonō did not know what fate awaited these children if they were eliminated from here. She cared deeply for them, but she could only be as strict as possible, ensuring that every one of them met the standard.
Having come from Root, she was highly skilled at training ninjas.
Shinichi took the file she handed him and flipped through it. It recorded the performances of the children below, along with their strengths, personalities, and other details.
He saw Yakushi Kabuto's information, though it merely described him as relatively outstanding.
After reading it, Shinichi said, "It looks like things are going smoothly."
Nonō said, "The children are simply working hard."
But Shinichi said, "I think the standards I set are too low. Since they have it so easy, make things stricter. Otherwise, some people's talent won't be brought out."
Nonō instinctively wanted to argue, but she still lacked the courage to contradict Shinichi. If she angered him and he took it out on these children again, that would be bad.
Shinichi changed the subject and asked, "Have you gone back to the orphanage?"
Nonō nodded.
Shinichi said, "The children there all like you. You should go back and see them often. Next spring, the Ninja Academy will expand its enrollment. Have all those children give it a try."
Nonō said, "...I understand."
Seeing her expression, Shinichi said, "They're only becoming ninjas. Why resist it so much? Most of those