Assessment Personnel

"The strategies proposed at the meeting will ultimately increase the number of Civilian Ninja. They offer little benefit to the major clans.

"On the contrary, a higher proportion of Civilian Ninja means a lower proportion of clan Ninja, which weakens the clans' interests.

"The clans of Konoha each have a more or less fixed number of members. They can't simply recruit outsiders, especially clans with Kekkei Genkai or Secret Techniques. Those clans are even more closed off.

"Every member killed is one fewer member they have. Medical Reform can reduce casualties among clan Ninja. Even if the clans can't see the advantages and disadvantages right now, they will in time.

"Without what you said, they would eventually have all agreed to Medical Reform. It affects too many people's interests."

Uchiha Tenjo's words pointed out something Fugaku had overlooked. He had considered the whole while ignoring the individual.

The night passed quietly. In the morning, Konoha's villagers gathered before the Memorial Stone, neatly dressed and holding white flowers. Now and then, a sob carried through the crowd from someone whose family member had died in the Land of Rain.

The funeral was held with great solemnity. Cries rose and fell among the mourners, who did not disperse until nearly noon.

At noon, Elder Shinsuke, Hatake Sakumo, and Fugaku Uchiha met at a Training Ground in Konoha.

"Fugaku, Sakumo, the Hokage has put us in charge of promoting Genin to Chunin. Do either of you have any ideas about how to proceed?"

Fugaku said, "Elder Shinsuke, Senior Sakumo, since the Hokage wants us to relax the assessment standards, I have a method we could try.

"We can select a few of the weaker Chunin from Konoha's Regular Forces and have them spar with the candidates. Anyone who can last three moves passes.