In late spring, a fine drizzle clung to the walls of Konoha. Upon assuming Tsubasa, Tianyi immediately convened a meeting of the major clans. On the high platform of the council hall, his gaze, sharp as lightning, swept over the thirty-three clan heads of Konoha below (there were over a hundred clans when Konoha was founded). Some of these people had serious expressions, while others had wandering eyes, but all, in this moment of impending storm, chose to remain in Konoha.
"Gentlemen," Tsubasa's deep and powerful voice echoed through the hall like a resounding bell, "I have summoned you all here today to begin a new chapter for Konoha. From this day forward, Konoha will be divided into two parts: the Inner Village and the Outer Village. First of all, congratulations on making the wisest choice. Regardless of your reasons for staying in Konoha, you are now qualified to enter the Inner Village."
Upon hearing this, a murmur rippled through the hall. Tsubasa raised his hand to signal silence and continued, "The people of the inner village will be subject to Nine-Grade Family System. Each family will be divided into nine ranks based on its size and strength, with the ninth rank being the lowest and the first rank the highest. Above the first rank is the Immortal Rank. The benefits and powers enjoyed by each rank are different."
At this point, Tsubasa paused, his gaze sweeping over each clan leader in turn. "Let's first talk about the evaluation criteria. In terms of numbers, the number of clan members is naturally one metric. But strength isn't simply about the number of ninjas. It depends on the number of the clan's strongest ninjas, especially those at the Kage Level or above. In addition, the clan's reputation in the Shinobi World, its connections, and its contributions to Konoha are also considered in the evaluation."
"Take a ninth-rank family as an example," Tsubasa said slowly, "The family must have more than fifty members and one Jonin. Family members can live in the inner village and enjoy certain benefits."
First, each family will receive ten rune-inscribed houses in the inner village, each 300 square meters in size and as luxurious as the Phoenix Tower Hotel. The rune-inscribed houses can withstand attacks from Kage Level powerhouse, and each house is the family's private territory, sacred and inviolable.
Second, you can enjoy 50% medical reimbursement.
Third, children can enjoy maternity benefits and attend Ninja Academy for free.
Fourth, each year, one can receive 100 basic cultivation pills and a set of rune weapons from the village.
Fifth, one will be assigned work within the village, but must abide by village rules and refrain from causing trouble.
"An eighth-rank family has more than 200 members and must have ten Jonin ninjas in charge. The benefits they can enjoy are different from those of a ninth-rank family. First, they can enjoy 50 sets of 300-square-meter rune houses. Second, they can enjoy 60% medical reimbursement. Third, they can enjoy 500 pills to assist in cultivation and five sets of rune weapons."
"A seventh-rank family, with over 800 members, must have one Elite Jonin and thirty Jonin masters in charge. Their benefits differ from those of an eighth-rank family: 1. Ten 500-square-meter rune-inscribed houses and 200 300-square-meter rune-inscribed houses; 2. 70% medical reimbursement; 3. 2000 pills to aid cultivation and 20 sets of rune-inscribed weapons."
"A sixth-rank family with more than 3,000 members needs to have ten Elite Jonin masters stationed there. First, fifty 500-square-meter rune houses and eight hundred 300-square-meter rune houses. Second, they can enjoy 80% medical reimbursement. Third, they will receive 8,000 pills to assist in cultivation and 80 sets of rune weapons."
They can also be recommended to work in the Konoha Military Police Force and Anbu outside the village; Elite Jonin can serve as squad leaders and wield a certain amount of power.
"A fifth-rank clan, with a population exceeding ten thousand, must have one Kage Level ninja and 50 Elite Jonin charge. First, they must possess a 1000-square-meter rune villa, two hundred 500-square-meter rune apartments, and three thousand 300-square-meter rune apartments. Second, they are entitled to 90% medical reimbursement. Third, they receive 30,000 pills to aid cultivation and three hundred sets of rune weapons. Clan members are eligible to participate in the village's Council of Elders selection; once elected, Kage Level ninja can participate in some village decisions, wielding considerable power. Additionally, the clan can have its own private guard, with a maximum of one hundred members."
" Fourth-Rank Clan, with a population of over 30,000, must have ten Kage Level experts. First, they will receive ten 1,000-square-meter rune villas, eight hundred 500-square-meter apartments, and nine thousand 300-square-meter apartments. Second, they will enjoy 90% medical reimbursement. Third, they will receive 100,000 cultivation-aid pills and 1,000 sets of rune weapons. They will be able to control some important industries within the Land of Fire, such as mines and forests. Family members will hold numerous seats in the Council of Elders, and Kage Level experts can participate in major village decisions. They will have a private guard of 300 people, equipped with the village's best weapons and equipment."
" Third-Rank Clan, with over 50,000 members, must have Super Kage expert in charge. First, the family possesses its own rune-inscribed clan land; second, they enjoy free medical care; and third, they receive 300,000 pills to aid cultivation and 3,000 sets of rune-inscribed weapons. The clan land is a super estate within the inner village, a veritable paradise. It can monopolize some key industries outside the village, such as the production and sale of pills and magical artifacts. The family holds a dominant position in the Council of Elders, almost controlling some village decisions. It can possess a private guard of 500 people, and this guard can draw upon some of the village's resources at any time."
"A second-tier family, with hundreds of thousands of members, must have ten Super Kage Level experts in charge. They are allowed to possess their own pill production line, tens of thousands of rune-enhanced weapons, and their clan territory is an incomparably luxurious rune-enhanced palace-style building within the inner village. They can own a city within the Land of Fire. They have absolute say in the Council of Elders of elders, and almost all matters, large and small, require their approval. They can possess a private guard of a thousand men, and the guard's specifications are no different from the village's Anbu army, allowing them to participate in external wars and expansion."
" First-Rank Clan, with over 300,000 members, must have Sage Level expert in charge, and at least 30 Super Kage Level experts within the clan. They are the elite clans of Konoha. Their clan territory is the inner village's rune-marked territory. They control an army and can potentially control a small country. They hold absolute authority and veto power within the Konoha' Council of Elders. They can command a private guard of 3,000 men, with each guard at least at the Elite Jonin level, capable of sweeping away any force in the Shinobi World at any time."
"As for those Sage-Rank Clan," Tsubasa's voice suddenly became sacred and solemn, "They are legendary existences. Each family needs ten Sage Realm experts or High Immortal to guard it, resisting external enemies and maintaining peace in the Shinobi World."
The hall was silent as all the clan leaders were awestruck by the detailed ranking system. They pondered their own clans' strength and Mirai direction. Some clan leaders had resolute eyes, clearly determined to improve their clans' power and advance to higher ranks; others wore worried expressions, concerned that their clans might struggle to reach the higher standards.
Tsubasa, observing the crowd's reactions, felt satisfied. He knew that this Nine-Grade Family System would completely transform Konoha, leading it towards a more prosperous Mirai. "Gentlemen," he spoke again, "This system is not static. Every twenty years, a clan rank assessment will be conducted. Outstanding clans will be promoted, while lagging clans will be demoted. Our goals are twofold: first, to encourage more births—more people, more strength; and second, to encourage all clans' ninjas to train diligently, thus increasing the number of strong individuals. I hope that upon your return, you will strive to improve your clans and lead them to glory."