Assessment

After the Ninja Academy discussions concluded, Ruri established a ninja ranking system and a mission classification system. The ninja ranking system was something Konoha had already implemented, so there was no need for major changes; it could be adopted directly.

Broadly speaking, it was divided into six levels: Genin, Chunin, Elite Chunin, Special Jonin, Jonin, and Elite Jonin. Compared to the divisions used during the Warring States period, this added the Elite Chunin and Special Jonin ranks. Missions were similarly divided into six levels based on difficulty: SS, S, A, B, C, and D.

Genin could form three-man squads to accept D-rank missions, or accept C-rank missions if led by a ninja of Elite Chunin rank or higher. Three Chunin could form a squad to accept C and B-rank missions, while an Elite Chunin could complete B-rank missions independently or lead a Genin squad to accept C-rank missions.

Special Jonin were Chunin who possessed special talents in specific areas; they generally did not go out on missions and held special designations within the village. Ordinary Jonin could complete A-rank missions independently, while Elite Jonin were the absolute backbone of the village, responsible for S-rank and higher missions. However, Takigakure did not have much of a talent reserve at this level, a situation that would only improve slowly once the Ninja Academy was established.

It is worth mentioning the D-rank missions. At this time, neither Konoha nor any other major ninja village had D-rank missions. The D-rank missions Ruri set up were for tasks like finding cats or babysitting for villagers or residents of the Land of Waterfalls—things that ninjas in the Warring States period would never have considered doing.

Ninjas from other villages believed that, given their noble status, it was impossible for them to help civilians with such trivial daily chores. Ruri, however, knew that these missions would deepen the bond between Takigakure ninjas and the villagers, earning Takigakure more recognition from the residents of the Land of Waterfalls. What they needed most right now was the trust of the citizenry.

Naturally, there was a lot of opposition at first. How could those Elite Jonin and Jonin be willing to go find cats? It was only after Ruri explained that D-rank missions would only be issued to Genin, and primarily to those who had graduated from the Ninja Academy, that the complaints subsided.

After all, the official acceptance of D-rank missions was still a year away.

A few days later, construction on the Ninja Academy began. Mu, the Tsuchikage's guard, arrived in Takigakure as an envoy from Iwagakure, leading a delegation (an engineering team).

Ruri sent these people straight to work on building the Ninja Academy. The old Tsuchikage had intended to help Takigakure rebuild anyway, otherwise, he wouldn't have brought construction workers along.

As the next candidate for Tsuchikage, Mu naturally did not participate in the construction work. He was very interested in the Ninja Academy and planned to understand its operational model so he could propose building one back in his own village to Ishikawa.

A vacant lot in the village that had been leveled by a Tsuchigumo forbidden technique became the recruitment assessment site for the first batch of students. As long as they were under seven years old, whether they were civilian ninjas or clan ninjas, they could enroll. Even those who already possessed the strength of a Genin could re-enroll as long as they were under seven.

In addition, Ruri invested a large amount of funds to purchase ninja tools, medicinal herbs, and food. As long as they enrolled, they would enjoy the best treatment. This was the reason many civilian children participated; once enrolled, they could reduce the burden on their families and improve their lives.

Upon learning of this, Mu insisted on accompanying Ruri to examine the new students. If the Second Shinobi World War were to occur as it did in the original history, this batch of students would undoubtedly become the main combat force of Takigakure. Ruri really did not want to expose the information of these students to Iwagakure, a potential enemy, but he couldn't withstand Mu's persistent pestering and his concession to let the delegation (engineering team) stay for a while longer. Annoyed, Ruri had no choice but to agree.

The first round of the recruitment assessment was running laps—one hundred laps around the vacant lot. This was the limit for a civilian child who had undergone slight training. This round did not test how good the new students' physical strength was, but rather their perseverance.

Under the scorching sun, running one hundred laps was a true test, especially for young children. Ruri sent ten Chunin to Sukiya to buy ten portions of fish roe sushi and ice water as rewards for the first ten children to finish.

The reputation of Sukiya's sushi had already spread; everyone in the village was craving it, let alone naturally gluttonous children. With the reward of sushi and ice water, the children ran for their lives.

Anyone who has run long distances knows that maintaining a steady pace throughout is the most important thing. Sprinting at the start would only accelerate the depletion of stamina. Ruri's test had begun from this very moment. He would pay close attention to those who could maintain a rational, steady pace in the face of rankings, sushi, and ice water; he might even go easy on them in the second round. After all, ninja combat requires brains.

Of course, there were also those who defied common sense, such as Hagane Maomori's son, Hagane Mashahashira. As the son of a taijutsu clan head, he had naturally practiced taijutsu since childhood. Even though he was only six, his endurance, speed, and other basic physical qualities were already at the level of a Genin.

He was truly a child born at the end of the Warring States period. If this were in Naruto's era, saying a six-year-old already had the physical fitness of a Genin would lead to him being treated as a monster.

In addition to the best-performing Hagane Mashahashira, the children of the Fuma and Momochi clans also performed well. Most surprising was Momochi Rappa of the Momochi clan; at only five years old, she was among the top performers despite being a girl. In this ninja world where male physical fitness was generally a cut above female physical fitness, this was extremely rare.

Ruri's disciple, Hattori Masanari, was also in the first tier. At six years old, he already possessed Genin-level strength. According to Ruri's guess, Masanari likely came from a large samurai clan in the Land of Iron. His swordsmanship had a certain foundation, and he seemed to have undergone some training, which was impossible for a civilian. As for why he had been wandering the streets, that remained unknown for the time being.

In addition to clan ninjas, the first tier also included some children of Jonin and Chunin. They all had some talent, and their parents could provide some guidance. These children would become the backbone of Takigakure in the future.

There were also a few civilian children who ran into the first tier, but they were basically accelerating with all their might; perhaps they would run out of stamina toward the end. One couldn't blame them; although most civilian children were just trying to improve their lives, they were simultaneously trying their best to prove that they were no worse than the clans.

However, the gap between civilian ninjas and clan ninjas would only shrink after the Ninja Academy had cultivated several batches of new students. These issues, which had persisted for hundreds of years, could not be changed in a day or two.

Furthermore, there were some children who knew their talent was insufficient and their stamina lacking, so they ran at a steady pace to the best of their ability. Regardless of their talent, their character was commendable. If they could pass the second round of testing and successfully enroll, they would be promising prospects.

Time passed slowly, and the first tier was not far from finishing their one hundred laps. Just then, an accident occurred: a child fell.