And why did Hiruzen insist on Kazuki becoming Hokage only after he turned eighteen?
Kazuki was already invincible in the Ninja World at twelve and possessed the wisdom a Hokage should have. Why couldn't he become Hokage earlier?
The capable should ascend, the mediocre should descend. This applied to those below, and equally to the Hokage.
Hiruzen was stable, but lacked ambition. Of course, this was also related to Hiruzen's strength. Hiruzen did not possess Hashirama's strength, nor Tobirama's abilities. All he could do was maintain the status quo, but for expansion, he was willing but unable.
If Kazuki had become Hokage earlier, wouldn't everything they faced now have already been resolved?
"The Land of Water will eventually take the Land of Lightning. Fugaku, even if he can't compare to you, is still considered outstanding in the current Ninja World."
Tobirama thought for a moment and added, "At that time, we don't know what will happen to the Land of Earth, but if Konoha can quickly assimilate the nearby small countries and the Land of Wind, it's not impossible to assimilate the Land of Earth as well. Actually, I feel that helping everyone improve their living standards is the most important thing. Of course, it's also necessary to improve everyone's strength."
Unfortunately, the Ninja World could not be unified. Otherwise, Tobirama wouldn't mind reminding Kazuki to unify the Ninja World. With Kazuki and the Land of Fire's current strength, they could crush any opposition.
However, no one knew when the Ōtsutsuki would arrive, so the Ninja World needed to maintain a state of conflict.
"What if someone sides with the Ōtsutsuki?" Tsunade asked, somewhat uncertainly.
"Then we'll eliminate them." Kazuki said in a deep voice, his gaze burning.
This would also provide a justified reason. If, when facing aliens, they still thought of using them to deal with Konoha, then they would be seeking their own demise. In any case, Kazuki would strike when necessary.
"Let's start preparing. The Ninja Academy needs to expand further. Hmm, let's set a small goal: expand the Ninja Academy fivefold first." Kazuki thought for a moment and then spoke.
"Expanding fivefold, then the village's land probably won't be enough." Koharu winced.
She also knew that expanding the Ninja Academy was urgent.
Kazuki only proposed a fivefold expansion, which was quite reasonable. Koharu had been worried that he might want to expand it ten or even a hundredfold.
Given the Land of Fire's current finances, even if Kazuki planned to expand the Ninja Academy twentyfold, there would be more than enough funds. However, if it were expanded twentyfold, and if the duration was too long, the number of ninjas might become excessive.
"Then let's do it outside the village. Enclose an area outside the current village to build a new Ninja Academy. The current Ninja Academy will remain. One branch school, one main school. Establish a promotion and demotion system. Those with good grades in the branch school can enter the main school, and those with poor grades in the main school will be demoted to the branch school."
"That's a good idea." Tobirama's eyes lit up at the words.
Konoha now needed many ninjas, and at the same time, more competitiveness.
The Ninja Academy would maintain its current form, but a branch school would be built outside the village. Only the excellent could enter the main school, and those who didn't work hard or whose strength was insufficient in the main school would need to return to the branch school. As long as the balance was maintained, this was a good promotion mechanism.
Following this, Kazuki continued, "After this, anyone in Konoha who wishes to become a local administrator will also need to graduate from the Ninja Academy."
Kazuki said this, looking towards Mikoto, "I hope that all the major clans in Konoha can arrange for their children to study at the Ninja Academy."
Mikoto understood and spoke, "From now on, all Uchiha children will enter the Ninja Academy to study."
Before this, for ordinary civilian ninjas, Ninja Academy was an opportunity and a channel. By entering Ninja Academy, they had hope of becoming ninjas and changing their fate.
However, for clan ninjas, entering Ninja Academy was not the only channel. There were also dedicated instructors within the clans, and some clans even believed that Ninja Academy would corrupt their children. For example, in the Uchiha clan, perhaps less than one-tenth of the children were sent to Ninja Academy for schooling.
Of course, even within the Uchiha clan, not every child was suited to be a ninja. Children without ninja talent existed. Similarly, some children chose to receive instruction within the clan.
Now Mikoto had chosen to express her stance. The current Hokage was Kazuki, so the Uchiha clan naturally had to support him. Moreover, the current Uchiha clan could almost be considered his personal domain.
"The Uzumaki Clan too." Kushina immediately declared.
The current Uzumaki clan only had a few members left. The population was still slowly recovering, but Kushina had no intention of disbanding the Uzumaki clan and integrating into Konoha like the Senju clan.
After graduation, the Uzumaki clan members also had job assignments. In the Ninja World, few ninjas had better abilities in perception and barrier techniques than the Uzumaki clan.
Konoha even hoped that there would be more Uzumaki children. The more the better.
Kushina did not object to the Uzumaki clan's children entering the Ninja Academy to study.
Since arriving in Konoha, the Uzumaki clan members had been diligently having children. Now, the first batch of children had already reached the age to enter the Ninja Academy.
"The Sarutobi clan too." Hiruzen immediately expressed his stance upon seeing this.
He had actually wanted the Sarutobi clan's children to study at the Ninja Academy before. The main reason was that the Sarutobi clan had quite a large number of people, and coupled with his status as Hokage, it was better for the Sarutobi clan to be as low-key as possible.
This time, during Konoha's annexation of the Land of Fire, the Sarutobi clan also experienced significant development.
Kazuki didn't seem to care how powerful a clan was. No matter how many ninjas there were, they were no match for him. Kazuki just disliked those in power acting recklessly based on their status. If anyone dared to reach out carelessly, he would ensure their hand was chopped off.
He liked to follow the rules. If you made money within the rules, then no matter how much money you made, he wouldn't say much, as long as it was acquired legitimately.
But if you took money indiscriminately, then you were finished. Kazuki simply didn't like it and would ensure your downfall.
Hiruzen admitted that some Sarutobi clan members had acted recklessly before, but ever since Kazuki became Hokage, the Sarutobi clan members had been honest and had not caused Kazuki any trouble.
After observing, Hiruzen realized that as long as his clansmen followed the rules, their lives would still be good. The current Sarutobi clan lived better than when he was in office, after all, Kazuki had expanded the pie.
Hiruzen felt that even if the Sarutobi clan's population doubled, it would still be manageable.
Hiruzen naturally understood what Kazuki was trying to do now. The capable rise, the incompetent fall. The Sarutobi clan was a major clan during the Sengoku era, just not as prominent as the Uchiha, Senju, Uzumaki, and Hyuga.
His father, Sarutobi Sasuke, was one of the top five strongest individuals during the village's founding period.
Operating within the rules, the Sarutobi clan feared no one. They might not produce true powerhouses, but they wouldn't be too weak either.
"The Utatane clan agrees." Koharu also agreed without hesitation.
Her clan's strength was not very great, but they had their own advantages. The ninjas of the Land of Fire now were not judged solely on practical combat performance, theoretical performance was also considered.
The Land of Fire now needed a large number of ninjas and talents, especially administrative talents. Almost every member of the current Utatane clan had been brought out by Koharu. In Koharu's opinion, such competition was worthwhile.
***
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