The Konoha Academy

Although Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a little puzzled, he said nothing. After he finished shaking hands with Kazemori Masaki, someone called out to him. Masaki knew that person too. His name was Shimura Danzō. The Shimura Clan and the Sarutobi Clan had been allies during the Warring States Period, so the two clans were naturally close, and their heirs were good friends as well.

The original Kazemori Masaki had not had much of an impression of Shimura Danzō, but now he knew that this man would become an influential figure in Konoha Ninja Village. He and Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, would support one another and usher in the village's golden age. Later, however, he would sow the seeds of trouble and foster darkness within the village. He could be called the embodiment of Konoha Ninja Village's dark side.

Hiruzen turned and answered the call, then said to Masaki, "Let's both work hard from now on." With that, he turned and walked over to Shimura Danzō.

I really do need to work hard, Masaki thought. As the descendant of an ordinary ninja clan, he would have to put in a great deal of sweat to become one of Konoha Shinobi Village's leading figures. Sage arts were not completely invincible, either. Without sufficient mastery, he would end up like Jūgo, trounced by Kimimaro Kaguya, Sasuke Uchiha, and the Fourth Raikage A.

If Jiraiya and Naruto Uzumaki, who also knew Sage Mode, saw Jūgo in that state, they probably would not dare acknowledge him as a fellow user of sage transformation.

The thirty-eight students filed into Konoha Academy. There was only one classroom inside, which was only natural. The Academy's sole purpose was to provide elite training for the heirs of the Ninja Clans. It had never intended to gather a large number of students. By the time that happened, the Academy's role would have long since changed.

Rows of desks stood in the classroom, each bearing a clan crest that marked the seat of a member of that clan. Everyone began searching for their own crest. After looking around briefly, Masaki soon found the Kazemori Clan's crest. Just as he sat down, someone took the seat beside him.

Masaki paused when he saw who it was. The person sitting beside him was Kagami Uchiha, one of those six. Madara Uchiha had no children, so he had chosen Kagami, his closest blood relative, as his heir. Though young, Kagami had developed his Sharingan to a level few in the clan could match. He was also intelligent and had an excellent disposition, making him an ideal choice to inherit leadership of the Uchiha Clan.

Masaki did not know much about Kagami Uchiha. The manga seemed to have mentioned only that he had died young. It truly was a shame. Of all the members of the Second Hokage Guard Unit, he alone had died so early. Had he lived, perhaps the Uchiha Clan would not have ended up on the brink of extinction.

Kagami noticed Masaki looking at him and gave him a small smile. Although he belonged to the Uchiha Clan, he never acted arrogantly toward others. Everyone thought of him as humble, cheerful, and levelheaded. If not for his distinctive Sharingan, probably no one would have taken him for an Uchiha.

Someone like Kagami was almost impossible to dislike. Masaki smiled and nodded back. If possible, I should try to save his life in the future. But there's too little information. I don't even know which mission he died on. Where would I start?

At that point, everyone began discussing what Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju would teach them. Some said powerful ninjutsu, others said taijutsu, and still others suggested special ways to use Ninja Tools. Opinions varied, but one thing was certain: whatever the two brothers taught them would be far from ordinary.

As the discussion grew lively, Hiruzen seemed to sense something and looked toward the doorway. His movement caught the others' attention, and they looked over as well. Hashirama and Tobirama were already standing outside the door, though no one knew when they had arrived. Everyone had been so absorbed in the discussion that they had failed to notice the brothers' approach.

Everyone hurriedly stood and bowed to Hashirama and Tobirama. Without putting on any airs, Hashirama said, "It's all right. There's no need to be so formal." Then he smiled at Hiruzen. "Sarutobi, you actually noticed us. Looks like you're getting better and better."

Hiruzen felt a little pleased with himself. "It's all thanks to my father's teaching," he replied with a smile. "You're too kind, my lords."

Hashirama smiled. Naturally, Hiruzen had long since been placed on the brothers' list of prospective disciples. He did not even need to be tested; his abilities had already proven themselves. Originally, he had been the only one assured a place, but recently Kazemori Masaki had appeared. With his aptitude for Sage Art, they naturally had to take him as a disciple too.

Masaki knew this himself. Hashirama had instructed him many times. To claim that he was not even qualified to become a disciple would be a joke.

Thus, Masaki was not worried about whether he could become their disciple. His only concern was whether he could surpass Hiruzen and become the successor Hashirama or Tobirama had in mind.

"Today is the Konoha Academy's first day of classes, so I'll just say a few words," Hashirama said with a smile. "You should all know that we established this academy in the hope that you, as members of Konoha Shinobi Village, can get along and recognize one another as comrades from the same village. That's what I hope to see—and, of course, there's one more thing: developing your abilities as ninja. In about six months to a year, we'll assess your abilities and choose some of you as our disciples. If that interests you, make sure you study hard in the days ahead."

Although they had already heard about this from their elders, hearing directly from the First Hokage that they might become his and Tobirama's disciples stirred everyone's hearts. Even those who had initially come only to add to their clans' legacies began wondering whether they should give it a try. Perhaps they would be chosen.

When Hashirama said he would only say a few words, he meant it. Without adding anything else, he nodded to Tobirama and stepped aside. Tobirama moved to the center, looked at the thirty-eight students, and said, "That concludes Lord Hokage's remarks. From now on, I will be your teacher. I will explain nature transformation techniques, taijutsu, Genjutsu, and the use of Ninja Tools. I expect you to train diligently. Is that clear?"

Tobirama's presence was far more imposing than his elder brother's. The sight of his cold face made everyone grow serious without realizing it, and they hastily nodded. "Good," Tobirama said. "We won't begin with any strenuous training. First, I'll explain my views on what it means to be a ninja."

Tobirama was a deeply inquisitive man. His thirst for knowledge drove him to keep exploring the true nature of things, which was why he had been able to create a series of forbidden techniques and establish the basic institutional framework of a ninja village. His views on ninja were likewise rooted in the village's needs: what sort of person should a truly outstanding ninja be, and what skills were needed to reach that level? Put simply, what Tobirama was about to explain was the overall outline of Masaki and the others' future training. He would train them to the standards of an outstanding ninja. Only those who mastered these skills and distinguished themselves could become disciples of him and his elder brother, Hashirama.

Hashirama listened to this theoretical discussion for a while before leaving. Unlike Tobirama, he did not have a deep understanding of theory, so there was no need to stay and bore himself. Besides, he had his own work to do. Although he had entrusted the finer details of government administration to Tobirama, the village's overall direction still rested in his hands. As Hokage, Hashirama could not simply leave everything to others.

He trusted Tobirama to manage the Konoha Academy well. Rather than these Ninja Clan heirs, he needed to consider the current state of the Ninja Clans, especially that fellow Madara. In the early days of Konoha Ninja Village, Madara had still been willing to work with Hashirama to build their ideal village. But their differing beliefs had led to more than one argument, and eventually they had gradually stopped seeing each other.

Naturally, Hashirama did not want his relationship with his closest friend to become so strained. But he had principles he refused to abandon, and Madara had gone beyond what he could tolerate. Their relationship had only grown worse.

I really should have a proper talk with Madara, Hashirama thought. He did not want the bond they had forged in childhood to break just like that. Yet he still did not know that the Madara of today was no longer the Madara he had known.

(End of chapter)