"The Village is no longer satisfied with the quality of Academy graduates in recent years."
"The exchange activities with Kumogakure restricted participating Genin to those who graduated within the last three years."
"That ans the root of the problem lies largely with us—specifically, with the Ninja Academy! Especially those who graduated within the past year. Their performance has little to do with the jonin leading them and instead reflects the results of our instruction!"
Iruka sat quietly in the corner.
His thoughts drifted back to last year's Chunin Exams in the Hidden Cloud Village. Back then, he had been knocked flat, forced to lie on the ground and watch as Yūgao and Hayate were defeated one after another.
In the end, Konoha had relied on the leading jonin to salvage its dignity.
Frequent inter-village exchanges had stripped away the illusion surrounding newly graduated ninjas. And the "within three years" condition jointly set by Roshi and Kumogakure pushed the pressure squarely back onto the academy.
After all, if the Chunin perford well, then responsibility for failure could only fall on the place that nurtured the new blood.
"Starting this month, practical training intensity will be increased across the board!" the speaker continued. "Especially for fifth- and sixth-year students. This year's graduation standards will be raised."
"The Three Basic Ninjutsu remain fundantal, but actual combat proficiency will beco the core assessnt criterion. Anyone who fails to et the standard will not be permitted to graduate!"
When the eting ended, teachers filed out one by one, their expressions heavy.
Ebisu did not leave imdiately.
He walked toward the corner of the conference room, where a young man sat calmly, almost out of place amid the tense atmosphere.
"Jonin Roshi."
"Ebisu-sensei." Roshi looked up, closing the docunt in his hands.
"This is the evaluation list of the most outstanding students in the fifth and sixth grades."
Roshi accepted the docunt, unfolded it, and scanned the nas. Uchiha Izumi stood out clearly among them. Itachi's close friend would be graduating next year.
As an Uchiha who had already awakened the Sharingan, even without frequent use, her overall performance was bound to surpass that of her peers.
"Additionally," Ebisu continued, "regarding this batch of graduating students, the academy has a preliminary proposal and hopes to receive the village's support."
"Go on."
"We propose that Genin who graduated roughly a year ago be assigned as sparring partners for graduating students. The frequency doesn't need to be high—once a month, or even once every two months, would suffice."
"The purpose is to allow students still in the Academy to personally experience the gap between themselves and Genin who are actively carrying out missions, and to more clearly understand their own standing."
Roshi studied Ebisu carefully.
This was another investnt. After all, it would effectively count as a public mission commission.
Did Ebisu infer from the Genin training plan that the higher-ups intended to increase long-term investnt in Ninja education?
That aside, the proposal itself was sound.
The expense could likely be absorbed into the Village's routine D-rank mission frawork. Clearing weeds and helping with harvests already existed largely to provide Genin with inco and minimal experience. Redirecting part of that effort toward structured, in-school practical instruction was not unreasonable.
After a brief pause, Roshi nodded.
"Approved."
Ebisu adjusted his sunglasses and continued, his tone more deliberate.
"Furthermore, based on the feedback from the recent practical exchange, conventional Ninjutsu of the five elental natures will play an increasingly important role in future combat."
"If possible… we hope the Village will allow the Ninja Academy to open a limited number of low-level elental Ninjutsu techniques to exceptionally outstanding students."
"For most students, their chakra reserves can only sustain the three basic ninjutsu and basic taijutsu."
"But for truly gifted children, early exposure to one or two suitable low-level elental techniques would be a significant boost—not only to their imdiate combat ability, but also to their understanding of their long-term developnt path."
The room fell quiet, the weight of future change hanging unmistakably in the air.
"This would require not only suitable Ninjutsu but also confirmation of each student's basic Chakra nature, Ebisu-sensei," Roshi said as he set aside the list Ebisu had submitted. "In other words, beyond the jutsu itself, there's also the expense of chakra paper."
Ebisu straightened imdiately. "That won't be necessary. I'll personally prepare the Chakra paper once I've confird a student ets the qualifications."
In truth, he knew he was already asking a great deal of the village.
It was only because the village's attitude toward resource investnt had noticeably shifted this year that Ebisu had dared to submit such a request.
Roshi glanced at him. "Oh… so you plan to cover it out of your own pocket."
He paused for a mont, then continued, "Let's adjust the approach. The Village will provide the Ninjutsu, but to avoid unnecessary waste, the Ninja Academy will handle preliminary qualification screening."
"For students officially recognized by the Academy as 'outstanding,' the Village will grant access to appropriate Ninjutsu. If they successfully master it, the cost of the Chakra paper can be reimbursed—and the teacher responsible will receive an additional reward."
He looked up. "Any further questions?"
Behind his sunglasses, Ebisu's eyes lit up, surprise briefly flashing across his face. "No! Thank you very much, Jonin Roshi!"
"Then we're done here."
"Yes!"
Roshi, personally, had no desire to pinch pennies.
But the Village's resources were finite, and preparations were piling up rapidly. Preschool education, Genin training classes—each initiative demanded funding.
Truly exceptional individuals, regardless of background, rarely needed to worry about access to Ninjutsu resources in the first place. The "outstanding students" Ebisu referred to were more often those with solid talent but lacking a defining brilliance.
After graduation, they would be assigned to Jonin leaders anyway, and learning low-level Ninjutsu was only a matter of ti.
Ebisu's proposal simply shifted the timing of investnt forward, transferring responsibility from individual ninjas to the village itself.
Considering that Genin who participated in future competitions would, in turn, generate revenue and prestige for the village, this change in investnt logic was reasonable.
Still, judging by today's eting, the carefree academy life seen in the original tiline was likely coming to an end.
When Roshi stepped out of the Ninja Academy gates, the sunlight hit him head-on, dazzling and warm.
He couldn't help but yawn.
Might Gai's training regin was truly brutal. Even with Roshi's physique, the accumulated fatigue was undeniable.
He'd already checked Rock Lee's records—no blood relation to the Might family whatsoever.
So that uncanny resonance between Lee and Gai later on… was it so kind of tic infection?
At the entrance to the Hokage building, Roshi paused.
"Roshi," Samui frowned slightly as she looked him over. "You look sluggish."
"Samui," Roshi replied calmly, "there's a difference between 'exhausted from hard work' and 'sluggish.'"
Her gaze lingered on him for a few seconds as she assessed him coolly. "It appears you're compensating for the workload accumulated during your previous leave."
"No. Physical training."
"Raikage-sama's gift seems to have left quite an impression," she said evenly. "But I don't see any visible changes in your muscle definition."
"…Results don't appear overnight."
He added, "Besides, I'm not the type whose appearance changes dramatically with exercise."
Roshi walked inside, and Samui followed naturally at his side.
"Regarding the practical exchange activities," Roshi said as they walked, "Shikaku-san is now fully in charge."
"The follow-up has been handed over to Dodai," Samui replied. "I'm here this ti for two reasons. First, to deliver Kumogakure's share from the last exchange."
"And second?"
"To discuss matters related to the Joint Chunin Exams in November."
"The funds have already been transferred to your administrative departnt."
They entered the conference room. Roshi pulled out a chair and sat down.
As his body settled against the backrest, he could almost hear his muscles release a long, silent sigh.
"The examination process itself is already very mature," Roshi said with a quiet sigh of relief.
"It's precisely because the August exchange was such a success that Raikage-sama wishes to preserve this openness," Samui replied, her gaze flicking briefly to his slightly relaxed posture. "Roshi, even training requires moderation."
"This is just an adjustnt phase," he waved it off lightly. "Please, go on."
…In short, for this year's Chunin Exams hosted by Konoha, both sides would send true Genin as participants.
"Of course," Samui added, "this proposal is made under the premise that Konoha, Kumogakure, and Sunagakure will all participate."
The Sand Village teams had been respectable three years in a row—but at the end of the day, they were still supporting roles.
That was why the Raikage had insisted on the condition.
"For next year's exams in Kumogakure," Samui continued, "Raikage-sama also promises to abide by the sa rules."
"After all," Roshi interjected mildly, "if the host always wins, the audience will eventually catch on."
Samui nodded without hesitation. "It has already happened three tis."
"Itachi was a genuine Genin back then."
"And for that reason, Raikage-sama did not object to Yamato's participation."
Roshi tapped his fingertips lightly against the tabletop. "That point may still require further consideration. The Chunin Exams are, after all, different from purely comrcial competitions."
For profit alone, the two villages already had dedicated exchange events.
The Joint Chunin Exams, however, had always symbolized a test of strength between allied nations.
Konoha and Kumogakure could set aside their differences—but how would outsiders interpret it? These events were also ant to project strength to peripheral sponsors and observers.
"Our side understands Konoha's concerns," Samui said evenly.
With official matters concluded, Roshi's gaze drifted—almost unconsciously—to the ninja tool pouch at Samui's waist.
She noticed imdiately.
"You're being greedy, Roshi," Samui said flatly. "Suitable seeds don't grow everywhere."
"And besides," she added calmly, "you still haven't returned the favor for the last batch."
"…Right. Then how about ran?"
"In Konoha," she replied without hesitation, "that would naturally be your responsibility."
—
Iruka watched the lively classroom and couldn't help but sigh.
If the graduation standards really were raised… how many of these students would pass?
His eyes settled on Naruto. The blond boy was frowning at his textbook, pen scratching uncertain lines across the page.
How many tis would he have to retake the exam?
His taijutsu and physical abilities were excellent—and his identity…
After class, Iruka stopped him.
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