Allocation

Seeing the deep, solemn expression on Yuehua Ai's face, Shizune found herself momentarily afraid to disturb him. Just as Yuehua Ai was secretly pondering how he might better improve his strength, the classroom door was pushed open once again.

Tsunade walked in first, as confident and beautiful as ever, followed by a number of people, including Kato Dan. Whether it was Kato Dan or the others, everyone was carrying a cardboard box in their arms. After Tsunade had them place the boxes to the side of the podium, the others left immediately, leaving only Kato Dan to walk over and sit in an empty seat in the front row.

Seeing that Kato Dan was settled, Tsunade began to speak.

"Alright, I believe everyone understands the purpose of being summoned here. Normally, such a major event would require the Hokage himself to preside over it, but the Third Hokage is currently handling other urgent matters, so he has specifically tasked me with presiding over today's proceedings."

Standing at the front, Tsunade felt quite satisfied as she saw that all the students she had named were present, and that the jonin had also taken their seats behind her.

"Let me reiterate the contents of the Medical Corps Diversion Plan. This is the first pilot program following the medical reforms. Given the current peculiar situation in the Ninja World, this is also a matter of taking precautions. To ensure that graduates of the Medical Corps can quickly become qualified battlefield medical ninjas and better fulfill their roles on the front lines, the Hokage and I have decided to implement this Medical Corps Diversion Plan."

"The ten students sitting here are the most outstanding members of this year's medical class. Your presence here means you have accepted the Vanguard Team plan, which involves a higher level of mission difficulty. As members of the Vanguard Team, you bear heavy responsibilities. Although you will face more dangers and challenges than the other students who follow the standard path, I have always believed that you have the ability to overcome them one by one."

"Combat and missions are the fastest ways to hone a ninja. To help you grow faster and to better ensure your safety, the Hokage has specifically broken with the tradition of three-man squads. You will be assigned to mission squads led by jonin, forming four-man teams."

"The colleagues sitting here are all elite jonin of the highest caliber. I trust that under their guidance, you brats will achieve the fastest growth in the shortest amount of time."

"Since vanguard members must face greater risks, the village has prepared additional resources for you to ensure your safety. Beyond standard ninja tools, we have specifically equipped you with a larger number of ninjutsu scrolls."

Tsunade opened a cardboard box beside her, picked up a dark-colored scroll nearly a foot long, and addressed the novices like Yuehua Ai.

"Compared to the previous class, the variety of ninjutsu scrolls provided this time is more comprehensive. Not only are there defensive and control-type scrolls, but to ensure you can provide firepower in critical moments, we have also included offensive ninjutsu scrolls. In addition to these one-time-use scrolls, the village has specifically provided each of you with a storage scroll."

A storage scroll!?

Yuehua Ai, who usually disliked listening to brainwashing rhetoric, couldn't help but look over. The unremarkable scroll in Tsunade's hand was indeed a storage scroll.

It seemed the village's allocation of resources to the medical class was no joke. Forget the ordinary ninjutsu sealing scrolls; they had actually gone as far as providing storage scrolls!

Looking at those boxes, Yuehua Ai couldn't help but click his tongue. He knew the value of a storage scroll. In the Naruto World, a storage scroll was essentially the equivalent of a storage ring. Although its volume was much larger than a ring, its utility was incomparable to anything else.

Currently, in the ninja tool shops of Konoha, a standard storage scroll was priced at 4 million ryo. What did that mean? It meant that a chunin would have to work missions without sleep or rest for a year, assuming they didn't die or get injured. It meant that even a jonin would have to risk their life several times over to earn that much. It also meant that the price of a single scroll was enough to buy out the entire Ichiraku Ramen shop!

Yet, the village was generously equipping a group of rookies with such precious items. Looking at the ten boxes of standard equipment, the value of the scrolls alone, including the storage scrolls, was already approaching 50 million ryo!

What was the concept of 50 million ryo? In the missions released by the Bounty Guild, the price to assassinate an elite jonin of a ninja village was only about 10 million ryo. Even the Sannin, who had just made such a great name for themselves in the Second Ninja World War—to assassinate one of them would only cost 30 million ryo!

Following Tsunade's introduction, the only ones who shared Yuehua Ai's sentiments were the jonin. As for his classmates, aside from Shizune, who could grasp a fraction of the value of that equipment, the rest were blank-faced. Without a sufficient concept of money, it was difficult for them to understand the true worth of what they were receiving.

"Alright, aside from the allocations, I've said just about everything that needs to be said. Now, when I call your name, come forward. After signing the agreement form, you may collect your box!"

"Right, first, Yuehua Ai!"

Hearing his name first, Yuehua Ai stood up decisively and walked to Tsunade's side.

Tsunade handed him a file and a pen. Yuehua Ai glanced cursorily at the contents, seeing that it was nothing more than a waiver agreeing to the diversion plan and absolving the village of responsibility should any issues arise during missions. He signed his name directly, too lazy to even complain internally, and after collecting his box, he walked back down.

In truth, the clauses in the contract meant nothing to him. He was a loner with no parents. Even if he died on a mission, no family would come seeking answers. As for Jiraiya, his guardian, if Yuehua Ai were hacked to death by an enemy, he could only blame his apprentice's lack of strength—could he really go and cause trouble for the village!?

"Very good, next, Shizune!"

Shizune stood up and walked to the podium.

"Hmm, next, Hyuga Himei!"

"..."

"Next, Takeda Shin!"

"..."

After all ten members of the medical class had signed the papers and collected their boxes, Tsunade checked the forms, put them away, and brought out a new list.

"The vanguard medical ninja equipment has been distributed. Next is the personnel assignment."

Tsunade stepped down from the podium and walked to the row where the jonin were seated, beginning to introduce them from left to right.

"This is Jonin Kurama Unzan. He is the mentor of Team 3. This time, student Takeda Shin will be led by him!"

As Tsunade introduced him, Kurama Unzan stood up, turned to nod at the students, and when Tsunade mentioned Takeda Shin, Takeda Shin stood up with a look of excitement.

After Takeda Shin bowed to Kurama Unzan and they both sat down, Tsunade checked her list and continued:

"This is Jonin Yuhi Shinku. He has incredibly rich experience in training and educating ninjas. He is currently the leader of Team 6. Student Kaiya Kawana will be led by Teacher Yuhi Shinku."

After Tsunade finished speaking, Yuhi Shinku stood up, and a girl sitting three or four seats away from Yuehua Ai stood up and bowed to greet him.

"..."

"This is Mentor Sarutobi Shinnosuke. He is the head of Team 1. Student Shizune will be led by him!"

Shizune, sitting beside Yuehua Ai, stood up somewhat nervously. After bowing to her mentor, she quickly sat back down. The attention of the crowd made her feel a bit uneasy. She was relatively at ease with people she knew, such as Yuehua Ai, but when facing strangers or those she wasn't familiar with, her introverted and shy nature was fully exposed.

Tsunade nodded at Shizune with a smile, and after Shizune sat down, she continued:

"This is Jonin Aburame Shibi. The Team 5 he leads is an extremely excellent squad. Student Yuehua Ai will be guided by him."

Aburame Shibi!?

Yuehua Ai stood up and nodded to the man. Only now did he finally learn the man's identity. He hadn't expected his team leader to be the father of Aburame Shino!

Still, it was fortunate. The man was a ninja who would leave his name in history, not one of those who would perish early. Although the Aburame clan kept a low profile, as long as a ninja came from that family, they were much more reliable than an average jonin!