After making his decision about the Ninja Academy, Uchiha Takeyasu didn't leave in a hurry. He sat in the Hokage's chair, pondered for a while, then summoned two former Anbu squad leaders.
"Hokage-sama."
Out of their Anbu uniforms, the two men had handsome, proper features. Yet between their brows, they wore a marked chill and air of menace.
After saluting Uchiha Takeyasu, they lowered their eyes, held their hands against their trousers, and waited quietly for his orders.
"Mr. Iino, Mr. Mizuki, how have you been these past few days?"
Uchiha Takeyasu had already read the records of the two Anbu squad leaders, Tiger and Elephant. One was named Karuya Iino, the other Mizuki Hana. Both were outstanding ninja who had come through the ravages of war.
"Reporting to Hokage-sama, we're still a little unaccustomed to it."
Karuya Iino spoke respectfully. "Compared to the hectic pace of the Anbu, life is far too leisurely."
"But unexpectedly, it's nice."
Walking openly beneath the sunlight was a feeling Mizuki Hana hadn't experienced in a long time.
That was how most Anbu members felt, too.
"That's good."
Uchiha Takeyasu nodded. "My Uchiha Clan values fairness above all. We don't play any of those hollow election games. As long as you don't make mistakes, you should be given the status that matches your abilities."
"You're Kage Level ninja, rare talents in Konoha. You deserve positions higher than Jonin."
"Konoha has seven departments: the Anbu, Administration Department, Education Department, Analysis Team, Interrogation Department, Security Department, and Medical Department."
Uchiha Takeyasu spoke slowly. "Leaving the Anbu aside, you can choose any of the other six departments, including the Security Department. Your abilities are enough to compete for the head position in any of them."
"But I also hope you'll be practical and consider which department suits you. The clan heads of the other families, including the elite of my Uchiha Clan, are no pushovers."
"Those with ability rise, and the weak fall. I choose people by merit here. I won't show anyone special consideration."
Mito Uzumaki and Minako Uzumaki looked up at Hokage-sama, who rested his chin on his hands, his gaze stern and his presence imposing. They marveled at his broad-mindedness and his resolve.
(But we're members of the Senju of the Forest!)
Karuya Iino and Mizuki Hana's lips moved slightly. Remembering how Uchiha Takeyasu had defeated them and what he'd said at the banquet, they were utterly convinced by this young Uchiha Hokage.
"Please let me become your Anbu, Hokage-sama!"
Karuya Iino dropped to one knee. "I've served in the Anbu for over a decade. My abilities and experience will definitely be an asset to you. Even if I can't be a squad leader, I'd be happy to lead a team and guide the new Anbu recruits."
"Me too, Hokage-sama!"
"Get up. I have no habit of going back on what we agreed to earlier."
Uchiha Takeyasu waved a hand. "I wouldn't leave you with nothing to do. If you don't choose for yourselves, I'll choose for you."
"We'll follow your orders, Hokage-sama!"
Seeing that the two men were determined, Uchiha Takeyasu made his arrangements without further ado.
"You probably can't compete with Ino-Shika-Cho in the Analysis Team or the Interrogation Department. The Yamanaka Clan's mind-related secret techniques are perfect for those fields. You wouldn't be able to contribute much in the Medical Department, and there's no point in making you squad leaders in the Security Department."
"The Administration Department is just a desk job. It suits people looking to take it easy, or young girls, but not you, while you're still in your prime. That leaves the Education Department, which requires a lot of care and effort."
"Secretary Minako, we'll consider this a meeting from here on. Please take notes."
"Understood, Hokage-sama."
Uchiha Takeyasu had long planned to expand and reform the Education Department. After briefly organizing his thoughts, he began.
"At present, Konoha has only one Ninja Academy, located in the central district. I plan to expand it and build two more academies in the northern and southern parts of the outer district."
Mito Uzumaki furrowed her brows. Konoha had just paid out a large sum in compensation, and its funds were tight. Still, a subordinate shouldn't contradict a superior at a time like this.
At the same time, she wanted to see what Uchiha Takeyasu had in mind.
"I'll designate the Ninja Academy in the central district as a three-year Higher Education Department, and the two academies in the outer district as six-year Primary Schools."
"I'll also relax the old admissions requirements. All six-year-old children of eligible age in Konoha can enroll in Primary School. They'll mainly study three subjects. The first is the Will of Fire."
"Wherever the leaves dance, the fire will continue to burn. The light of the fire will continue to illuminate the village and allow new leaves to sprout."
"But only a fire that brings warmth and hope can help new leaves sprout and grow strong, passing hope on to the next generation."
Uchiha Takeyasu spoke slowly and deliberately.
"I hope you two principals will teach every child that 'a ninja who breaks the rules and violates discipline is trash, but someone who doesn't value the lives of their comrades is worse than trash.'"
"Yes!"
His solemn words made the four Kage Level ninja in the room bow their heads. Karuya Iino and Mizuki Hana felt a wave of warmth spread through their hearts. In the Anbu, it was common to sacrifice one's comrades to complete a mission.
But everyone had a heart. Even a dog could grow dear to you if you spent enough time together, let alone comrades who had your back and fought by your side, risking their lives together.
The two men swore they would devote themselves wholeheartedly to teaching the children to understand this and put it into practice.
"The second subject is the basic knowledge of being a ninja: Chakra extraction, the Transformation Technique, the Substitution Technique, Kunai throwing, and other basic training and combat skills."
"The third is public administration, construction engineering, agriculture, biology, and technology."
Uchiha Takeyasu paused for a moment. Seeing the confusion on their faces, he knew he was taking a big step, but preparations to cultivate talent could never start too early.
He explained, "Konoha currently has no foundation in the third subject. Its main purpose is to cultivate the children's interests. It takes all kinds to make a world. Not every child has a talent for combat, and some children may be able to contribute more in technology than one or two Kage Level ninja."
This was also preparation for taking over the Land of Fire later on.
"We need to make use of the children's talents, not simply turn them all into ninja. Konoha isn't short of Genin. What it lacks is outstanding talent in every field. Six years is plenty of time to identify the children's strengths."
"Hokage-sama, we understand."
Karuya Iino and Mizuki Hana nodded repeatedly. As former Anbu squad leaders, they were sharp-minded, not rigid, rule-bound ninja. They'd seen plenty, and already understood what Uchiha Takeyasu meant.
They were especially envious of the Flight Devices used by the Sky Ninja of the Land of Sky.
"If Konoha lacks certain talents, we'll invite experts from the Land of Fire or other countries to teach the children, so they can choose the paths best suited to their abilities."
Uchiha Takeyasu smiled and nodded at Karuya Iino's words, then looked toward Mito Uzumaki. "Chief Secretary Mito, please explain the funding issue to the Daimyo. If he refuses, the Uchiha will make him agree."
(If he refuses, are you planning to take it by force?)
Not wanting that suspicion to become reality, Mito Uzumaki nodded, feeling a little flustered.
Uchiha Takeyasu continued.
"After graduating from Primary School, students who meet the academic requirements can be divided into combat and science tracks, depending on their areas of expertise. The remaining students will be given the status of Life Ninja and take up other work. That's unrelated to the Education Department, so I'll leave it aside for now."
"Students in the combat track will continue their studies in the Higher Education Department. They'll take part in practical exercises led by Jonin while learning intermediate and lower-level combat skills such as the Great Fireball Technique, swordsmanship, and Taijutsu. Outstanding students can learn advanced ninjutsu and swordsmanship. The average graduate should have the strength of a Chunin."
"Students in the science track will continue their studies under teachers in their respective fields. If we have enough talent in the future, we'll establish a Science Academy on the same level as the Higher Education Department."
Before you continue