Become the Unshakable Number One in the Ninja World

"The general framework for the Primary School and Higher Education Department will be as follows. Mr. Iino will serve as principal of the East District Primary Ninja Academy, and Mr. Mizuki will serve as principal of the West District Primary Ninja Academy. As for the principal of the Higher Education Department's Ninja Academy, that position will be held by Elder Setsuna Uchiha of my clan."

Beginning at the age of six, after six years of being steeped in the Will of Fire, combined with the personal instruction and example of Uchiha ninja in the Higher Education Department, Konoha's future powerhouses—who valued their comrades—would all bear the title of "Uchiha disciples."

"Because this is the Education Department's first reform, the Primary School and Higher Education Department will temporarily be considered equal in rank."

In Uchiha Takeyasu's vision, the Primary School was the cradle of education, while the Higher Education Department and Science Academy would provide specialized training for talent.

Uchiha Takeyasu then addressed the two primary school principals.

"Any former Anbu members willing to become teachers may all do so. Those unwilling may become ordinary ninja and take missions instead. However, make this clear: a teacher's monthly pay will most likely be lower than that of a ninja completing missions."

"Hokage-sama, please rest assured. Mizuki and I will notify every one of them."

The two already had plans to bring all the former Anbu members over and let them show their abilities at the Ninja Academy.

"Mm. Wait here for a moment. I'll go bring Elder Setsuna from my clan over."

Uchiha Takeyasu had also discussed appointing Setsuna Uchiha as principal of the Higher Education Department with the Uchiha Three Elders. To seize power, one had to hold power.

Though Uchiha Takeyasu usually appeared idle and carefree, the Uchiha Three Elders had long since pulled him into private meetings to study how the Uchiha Clan could rise to power.

Their conclusion was education, military authority, and the economy. The Uchiha Clan could not afford to let go of any of these three major areas.

At the same time, the rise of the Uchiha Three Elders within Konoha's upper ranks was something everyone had expected.

Now that Setsuna Uchiha had risen to the position, neither Karuya Iino nor Mizuki Hana had any objections. Instead, a desire to compete burned in their hearts—those capable rose, while the weak stepped down. This was Hokage-sama's governing philosophy!

Using the Flying Thunder God Technique, Uchiha Takeyasu brought Setsuna Uchiha to the Hokage's office three or four seconds later. Minako Uzumaki turned to a fresh page, ready to continue taking notes.

"The Uchiha Clan will provide the Higher Education Department's Ninja Academy with advanced Uchiha Style swordsmanship, low- and mid-level ninjutsu and genjutsu, as well as the relevant teachers."

The Higher Education Department would not be as cluttered as the Primary School. It would purely be a cradle for the strong. As long as it had combat skills and teachers, that would be enough, and the wealthy Uchiha Clan was willing to supply all of it.

"The Senju of the Forest are also willing to provide ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, and teachers."

Mito Uzumaki was not some naive fool. The moment she realized that the Uchiha Clan intended to monopolize the entire Higher Education Department and turn the higher ninja academy into an Uchiha military academy, she immediately spoke up.

"Fine."

Uchiha Takeyasu agreed without the slightest hesitation. On the contrary, he had been waiting for this.

With the Uchiha and Senju taking the lead, the other ninja clans would follow on their own. He would not even need to say much; all ninja knowledge and teachers, from the Primary School to the Higher Education Department, would be supplied by the remaining ninja clans.

Even certain scientific subjects would be taken over by ninja clans.

No ninja clan would refuse the chance to expand its influence. It would most likely lead to the formation of factional schools.

But Uchiha Takeyasu did not care. He was a powerhouse who possessed the Analects of Fist.

Besides, if Konoha grew stronger, the Uchiha would grow stronger as well. Uchiha Takeyasu intended to keep making Konoha's cake bigger. Under such circumstances, he did not believe he could do worse than Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Furthermore, as more and more ninja laborers began using katana infused with Mangekyo Dojutsu Power, or even more advanced ninja tools, Uchiha Takeyasu would grow stronger by the day.

Sometimes, he even darkly thought—faced with an increasingly powerful Konoha, the other four nations could not possibly remain unmoved. War would break out sooner or later, and when it did, it would be another harvest season for Ascension Points.

He even hoped such wars would come once every twenty years, repeating endlessly until there were other places for him to harvest.

Faced with the Hokage's open and righteous scheme, Mito Uzumaki could only helplessly accept the reality of being taken advantage of for free.

"To show everyone in Konoha the Uchiha Clan's determination to integrate into the village, our clan happens to own several iron mines in the Land of Fire. Recently, Clan Head Shikata has been discussing the forging of ninja tools with the Inner Leaf Clan, the largest weapons manufacturer in the Land of Fire."

Uchiha Takeyasu continued to raise the stakes. "Any student enrolled in the Higher Education Department will receive a fine katana from the Uchiha Clan free of charge for their use."

"At the same time, any Konoha-affiliated ninja who completes a certain number of missions may turn in their damaged katana, and the Uchiha Clan will provide another one free of charge, easing the financial burden on our ninja."

Explosive Tags, kunai, shuriken, and soldier pills were all necessities for ninja. A ninja might earn a lot, but they also spent a lot. Uchiha Takeyasu's move was clearly meant to win people's hearts.

They would wave around katana gifted by the Uchiha Clan every day while using Uchiha Style swordsmanship, ninjutsu, and genjutsu. It would be strange if they did not become loyal to the Uchiha.

Mito Uzumaki had no choice but to say, "We cannot have Hokage-sama exhaust himself and spend his own money. Let Konoha's finances cover these katana."

"That works too. Then the Uchiha Clan will only charge a small production fee."

Uchiha Takeyasu had already intended to do this, so he naturally went along with it.

His obvious attitude immediately made Mito Uzumaki realize that she had spoken too quickly. Through her own words, she had transferred the Uchiha Clan's expenses onto Konoha's shoulders while preserving the Hokage's generosity. She had suffered a silent loss.

"Now that the Education Department's affairs have been preliminarily settled, I hope the three principals will cooperate with one another and achieve great things in a few years. Furthermore, the future position of Minister of Education will be selected from among the three of you based on merit."

None of the three were the sort to idle their lives away. Faced with such a visible prize, even Setsuna Uchiha loudly voiced his agreement.

Seeing this, Uchiha Takeyasu nodded in satisfaction.

Uchiha Takeyasu had not placed Setsuna Uchiha directly into the position of Minister of Education from the beginning because he wanted to encourage healthy competition. He also wanted the other ninja clans to see that the Uchiha Clan would not keep everything for themselves, thereby drawing those clans closer.

He did not want to see Konoha's upper ranks become stagnant water. If the Uchiha Clan proved incapable, Uchiha Takeyasu truly would replace them—if they were given an opportunity and still failed to make use of it, they could blame no one else.

"Also, tomorrow's Ninja Academy graduates will enroll in the Higher Education Department. Primary School enrollment will be held from June 1st to 3rd every year, which is next month. The two principals need to hurry with the site selection, teachers, and course arrangements. Secretary Minako will fully cooperate with you."

After looking over the Ninja Academy's graduate list, Uchiha Takeyasu had been utterly speechless at their graduation ages. Children of six or seven were carrying kunai to wipe out bandits and eliminate evil—it was simply too absurd and surreal.

There was a reason the Ninja World had so many lunatics.

Now that he had become Konoha's Hokage, Uchiha Takeyasu felt that he ought to do something, so he did. The Konoha of the future would surely be the Konoha he envisioned.

"For now, the Higher Education Department's teaching will begin with the previous squad system. I will also serve as an instructor. The students' primary tasks will be learning combat skills and developing teamwork. Only graduation missions may involve missions where they draw blood."

"Principal Setsuna must take this seriously. When selecting instructors, consult Clan Head Shikata and Chief Secretary Mito's opinions as much as possible."

Feeling that he had said everything that needed saying, Uchiha Takeyasu concluded, "Time will test everything. We will learn from failure through constant exploration, gain experience from success, allow Konoha's future to flourish with talent and its residents to live in peace, and become the unshakable number one in the Ninja World!"