On the Feasibility of the Uchiha Establishing Their Own Ninja Academy

The strength Uchiha Tokimitsu displayed in the clan's internal competition swept through every corner of the Uchiha Clan like a gust of wind. Within a single day, Uchiha Tokimitsu's name had become known to everyone in the Uchiha Clan, from women and children to the elderly.

Uchiha Tokimitsu had become famous!

Naturally, Elder Setsuna deserved credit as well. Not only had he not suppressed the news, he had secretly done quite a bit to fan the flames.

In Elder Setsuna's eyes, although Uchiha Tokimitsu was young, after two years of training, his overall strength was still quite impressive. Both his combat skills and combat awareness surpassed those of ordinary Chunin. Though he was only six, during the Warring States period, children as young as four or five had already begun carrying kunai onto the battlefield to hunt enemy Genin and wounded soldiers. Besides, Uchiha Tokimitsu was considered a genius of the Uchiha Clan, so naturally he could not be treated like an ordinary child.

Capable young people needed to be given more responsibility.

Elder Setsuna's calculations were still clicking away.

After Uchiha Tokimitsu, who had received his education entirely within the clan, became famous in a single battle, the Radical Faction of the Uchiha Clan also began enthusiastically promoting the excellence of clan education. Uchiha Tokimitsu was the finest proof—a living, breathing example. Coupled with the clan members' discussions, some parents who had originally planned to send their children to the Ninja Academy abandoned the idea, intending to keep their children at home for ninja education from themselves or their elders. Even the Conservative Faction was no exception.

After all, within the Uchiha Clan, whether Radical Faction or Conservative Faction, everyone agreed that weakness was the original sin.

The next day, after learning of this, Uchiha Tokimitsu took the initiative to seek out Elder Setsuna.

Elder Setsuna was glowing with health at the time, bragging and drinking tea with a group of old Uchiha men. Seeing Uchiha Tokimitsu arrive, he hurriedly called him over.

"Little Tokimitsu, didn't I tell you to rest properly for a few days? Why did you come running over again? Did you miss Grandpa already?"

Elder Setsuna's words were filled with affection and pride.

The old Uchiha men seated around him were Elders from the various branches of the Uchiha Clan, all inclined toward the Radical Faction. Every one of them looked rather glum, especially the Second Elder. His direct grandson was Uchiha Nobutora, the first person Uchiha Tokimitsu had knocked down, and the fiercely competitive Second Elder found that deeply humiliating.

"Grandpa Elder, I just heard that some clan members withdrew their applications for the village Ninja Academy and chose to receive clan education instead. I had a few thoughts I wanted to discuss with you."

"Hm?"

Elder Setsuna was a little surprised.

Surely he isn't going to spout some cancerous nonsense about going to the Ninja Academy to learn the Will of Fire and bonds between comrades, is he?

Elder Setsuna suddenly felt a little uneasy.

"Clan education is naturally good."

Uchiha Tokimitsu got straight to the point, giving Elder Setsuna half a reassurance.

"However, due to differences in strength and age composition among the various family lineages, they may not all be fully capable of handling educational work... And there are also many clan members who are not ninja..."

"Mm..."

Elder Setsuna stroked his beard. Naturally, he knew about these circumstances.

"If we established a ninja academy belonging to the clan in the clan's name... and provided centralized introductory training, wouldn't that be better?"

As he spoke, Uchiha Tokimitsu watched Elder Setsuna and the other old men's expressions. Elder Setsuna stroked his beard in thought. Some of the Elders nodded faintly, seeming to approve, while others frowned as though they had reservations. But since no one voiced opposition, Uchiha Tokimitsu continued.

"Furthermore, since it would be a ninja academy within the clan, we could appropriately make more ninjutsu and advanced Ninja Tool Manipulation Techniques available... That would better strengthen the clan as well."

"Running a ninja academy costs a great deal. The village school was established only because the Daimyo allocated funds to it, and it does not even charge tuition. Little Tokimitsu, you're thinking too simply," one Elder said dismissively.

"Then the various family lineages can contribute toward the academy's funding. After all, this is our Uchiha Clan's own school, and it will train our own clan members." Uchiha Tokimitsu rebutted him, emphasizing the words "Uchiha Clan."

Elder Setsuna, a stubborn Uchiha Radical Faction member and old-school Uchiha supremacist, felt those words strike straight at his heart.

"There aren't many preschool-aged clan members..."

"If there are few students, naturally the costs will be low. Isn't that perfect?"

"What about the Senju Branch? That Hokage monkey is still Tobirama's disciple! They will definitely oppose it!"

"We are the proud Uchiha Clan! Why should we be concerned about Senju's lackeys?"

"From the standpoint of relative strength, our clan is ultimately at a disadvantage..."

"You shameless old vermin! You should know shame!"

What had begun as a discussion of the feasibility of the Uchiha establishing their own ninja academy gradually turned into a heated argument, with the Elders exposing one another's shortcomings and launching personal attacks...

Uchiha Tokimitsu was rather speechless.

"Enough!"

Elder Setsuna's face grew darker and darker as he felt the conversation becoming increasingly outrageous. He roared, stopping the Elders' quarrel.

"The younger generation is still here! Do you have no shame at all?"

Turning back, Elder Setsuna spoke to Uchiha Tokimitsu in a warm tone. "Little Tokimitsu, do you have any other good suggestions?"

"Grandpa Setsuna, and all Elders, centralized clan education will certainly be stronger than the basic education offered by the Ninja Academy. It will absolutely help improve our clan members' strength."

Everyone agreed that this was true.

"But I do not understand why the clan's actions should take the Hokage Faction's opinions into account."

An Elder opened his mouth to speak, but Elder Setsuna waved him off. "Little Tokimitsu, continue."

"As far as I know, the Hyuga Clan seems never to send their juniors to the Ninja Academy to play those boring games about passion and bonds..."

"How many members does the Hyuga Clan's main house even have? Those decayed old main house members would never let their little slaves leave their sight."

The moment one Elder heard the word Hyuga, he immediately mocked them as if by reflex.

Elder Setsuna glared at him, signaling Uchiha Tokimitsu to continue.

"...And the clan's ninja academy does not necessarily have to be called the Uchiha Ninja School..."

Uchiha Tokimitsu paused.

"We can call it—"

"Konoha Military Police Force Reserve Training Academy!"

The instant those words were spoken, everyone felt as if they had discovered a New World.

"So that means we can allocate funds from the Konoha Military Police Force toward clan education!" This came from an Elder who loved money.

"And the Senju Branch's monkey will have nothing to say!" Clearly, he was a diehard Uchiha supremacist.

"Mm... We can also repackage its purpose. After all, it would be an internal institution established by the Konoha Military Police Force to improve its overall strength, professional standards, and reserve personnel. That way, the Senju Branch will have nothing to say either!"

"And we can have some clan members in the Konoha Military Police Force who are lacking in strength attend the Uchiha Ninja School... Ahem, the Konoha Military Police Force Reserve Training Academy for retraining!" This came from an old Uchiha bureaucrat.

"Exactly! The clan members of this New Era have become utterly disgraceful, whether in spirit or strength. They are simply a disgrace to the Uchiha!"

The Radical Faction Elders each added their own remarks, quickly refining Uchiha Tokimitsu's proposal.

"Very good!"

Elder Setsuna made the final decision.

"The clan's ninja... Konoha Military Police Force Reserve Training Academy must be established. I will immediately go discuss and confirm it with the clan head!"

"You are all Elders of your respective family lineages, so you naturally understand the clan's actual circumstances and difficulties. Therefore... who supports it, and who opposes it?"

Elder Setsuna swept his Three-Tomoe gaze over the Radical Faction Elders present, imposing and dignified.

"I support it!"

"I firmly support it!"

"Let's go together! We shall pressure the clan head and those vermin from the Conservative Faction together!"

"Hold a Clan Meeting today!"

The Elders, whose horizons had been broadened, grew more excited than the last.

Elder Setsuna nodded slightly.

The people's will could be put to use!

Turning back, Elder Setsuna said kindly to Uchiha Tokimitsu, "Little Tokimitsu, this is a very good idea. Grandpa will arrange everything. Go back and get some proper rest first, all right?"

Then he took out a scroll from his sleeve and handed it to Uchiha Tokimitsu. "This contains advanced Fire Style Ninjutsu that Grandpa copied out especially for you. Read it first. Consider it a small token from Grandpa."

"Okay, Grandpa. Elders, please allow me to take my leave first!"

Uchiha Tokimitsu nodded obediently.

After Uchiha Tokimitsu left, Elder Setsuna sighed with emotion to the other Elders. "If all our clan members were like Tokimitsu, why would we fear that the clan would not prosper?"

"Our Uchiha Clan's Konoha Military Police Force Reserve Training Academy must be established! It cannot be stopped! Neither by the clan head nor the Hokage!" The Radical Faction Elders all wore resolute expressions.