The Ninja Academy Is Out of Your Depth

"Third Hokage?"

Shinji and Shisui looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi in confusion.

"What brings you here?"

"..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi studied the two youngsters for a moment. "What exactly happened in the Uchiha Clan last night?"

"Hm?"

Shinji and Shisui exchanged a glance. "What do you mean, Third Hokage? What happened to the Uchiha? Did some brat cause trouble? I'll deal with him!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed. "Word of the commotion at the Uchiha Clan Compound last night has spread to every major clan in the village. What's the point of hiding it? Shinji, can't we speak frankly with each other?"

Shinji's expression shifted. "Third Hokage, I honestly don't know what you're talking about. I spent the whole night at the compound and slept soundly."

Hiruzen Sarutobi fixed his gaze on Shinji. "Oh? Is that so? There were fires at the Uchiha Clan Compound last night, and in more than one place!"

Shinji pressed a hand to his forehead, looking troubled. "Yes, I only found out when I woke up. A few brats stayed up late practicing Fire Release and burned down some empty houses. Such a small matter got around to everyone and made them worry. Honestly..."

"..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent. This conversation was going nowhere.

He thought for a moment.

Then he tried changing the subject. "Well... all right. I heard you discussing whether the Uchiha children of school age should enroll at the Ninja Academy?"

"Yes."

Shinji rubbed his temples. "Third Hokage, eavesdropping and spying aren't good habits. Aren't you a little old to be behaving like this?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed. "What do you mean? At my age, if I still can't do as I please, what have I worked so hard for all these years?"

Shisui gave a foolish grin and said with no tact whatsoever, "It does seem like all those years of hard work went to waste."

Hm?!

Shinji and Hiruzen Sarutobi both whipped around to look at Shisui.

One looked stunned.

The other's gaze was... complicated.

"You... Shisui! What's gotten into you? How can you make fun of the Third Hokage? Apologize!"

Startled, Shisui sprang to his feet and bowed ninety degrees. "I'm sorry! Third Hokage, I didn't mean it! Please forgive me!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at Shisui's right eye, which had regained its sight.

He waved a hand.

"I'm an old man. I'm not going to hold a grudge against someone younger. Sit, sit... Shisui, I'm sorry about what Danzo did to you. But you're the Head of the Konoha Military Police Force now. You need to carry yourself with the composure a leader should have!"

"Yes, Third Hokage!"

Shinji smiled helplessly. "Third Hokage, what were you about to say?"

"Oh, I wanted to say that your idea is a good one. We all live in the same village. We can't shut ourselves off, and if we want to get along, we need to interact often. The Ninja Academy is an excellent place for that."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke earnestly. "We can only fulfill the duties of our own generation. But once we establish the system and its rules, those who come after us will follow in our footsteps and pass them down. Before long, the Uchiha will become a peaceful part of the village."

"Well said!"

Shinji clapped his hands in admiration. "It wasn't until I became clan head that I understood how hard it is to keep such a large clan on the right path."

"And there are so many problems within the clan that need to be handled one by one. Disagreements are inevitable... Most of the elders don't want to send their children to the Ninja Academy. What a headache!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi grumbled inwardly. You've only been clan head for a few days, yet you talk as if you've done it your whole life.

I've been Hokage my whole life. Who sympathizes with me?

He sighed. "Shinji, when you're in charge, everyone needs something from you, and you can't afford mistakes. Otherwise, you've failed in your duty. Your subordinates will criticize you, and even the villagers won't understand you!"

"It's hard. So hard!"

"But if you believe something is right, you must keep doing it, even if people curse your name for it! Don't you agree?"

Sarutobi looked at Shinji encouragingly.

"Of course!"

Shinji nodded in agreement. "This is a major step toward bringing the village and the Uchiha Clan together. I won't give up!"

"But..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi paused.

This whole exchange felt strangely familiar.

Still, he couldn't help asking, "But what?"

"It's the Konoha Military Police Force! Shisui's having a hard time as its head. We're often short-staffed, and the clan elders want to send their boys there for training. They're only eight or nine. What can they do?"

Shinji sounded conflicted. "I've wanted to reform the Konoha Military Police Force for a long time. Yes, Uchiha can inherit their positions, but should the Uchiha monopolize every post in every department? Isn't that just shutting ourselves off?"

"We can't go on like this!"

Shinji rose to his feet and declared passionately, "If we keep following the older generation's path, the divide between the village and the clan will only grow wider. The Konoha Military Police Force must bring in new blood from outside the Uchiha!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes lit up.

"Oh?! Shinji, you understand that? What an admirable attitude! Perhaps we could start with the ANBU Reserve Forces..."

"Hold on!"

Shinji swept a hand through the air, his expression righteous. "Absolutely not! ANBU reports directly to Lord Hokage. They're the best of the best, the spearhead on the battlefield. How could we waste their time in the Konoha Military Police Force, settling petty disputes between villagers?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned. "Actually..."

Shinji cut him off. "I do have an idea. Would you hear me out?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi grew wary, but Shinji seemed sincere, so he nodded. "Let's hear it."

Shinji chose his words carefully. "Third Hokage, what if the Konoha Military Police Force set up an office at the Ninja Academy..."

"Absolutely not!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes widened. He shot to his feet with a rustle and swept a hand out, rejecting Shinji's proposal outright.

His reaction was unexpectedly fierce.

Shinji: "..."

Shisui: "..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi drew a rough breath. Seeing them both stare at him in astonishment, he said earnestly:

"Shinji, it's not that I'm against you. It's just... a school is a place for learning. What would it look like to have a police office there? It would make everyone nervous!"

"Make everyone nervous?"

Shinji was baffled.

"It's just one office with two or three clerks. They wouldn't even need to be ninja. Why would that make anyone nervous?"

"..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's brow furrowed deeply.

After thinking for a long while, he managed to say, "The Ninja Academy is more complicated than you think. You're young. You wouldn't understand..."

"Then tell us. How can we understand if you don't?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi waved a hand. "Enough. Let's drop it. As long as the Uchiha children can attend the academy, that's enough. Forget about bringing ninja from other clans into the Konoha Military Police Force! One place for everyone to interact is enough. The Will of Fire must be nurtured from childhood..."

Shinji Uchiha looked thoughtful.

"All right. If there's nowhere else to find people to fill the vacancies in the Konoha Military Police Force, the Uchiha children will have to join directly. It's mostly minor disputes between neighbors. The veterans can show them the ropes, and they'll get the hang of it."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes flew wide.

Wait, what?

That's the game you're playing?