"But maybe even my ancestor didn't expect my ocular power to be more broken than his time-reversal ability—I can choose the future," Seiryu chuckled. Exiting Sage Mode, he began to imitate the crystal's chakra ratio, attempting to refine his own Sage chakra. At the same time, Seiryu activated his Mangekyo Sharingan, and with his left eye's Yasakani no Magatama, countless possible futures spread out before him.
Most of those futures ended with Seiryu failing, natural energy rampaging inside him, and then his body being rewound to before the attempt by the ancestor's ocular power in the crystal. His left eye's chakra was consumed at a terrifying rate.
But Seiryu finally found the one successful path among tens of thousands, at the cost of nearly all his left eye's chakra.
When he succeeded, Seiryu let out a long breath. The chakra expenditure this time far exceeded his expectations.
Since awakening this ocular ability, Seiryu had always used his power sparingly. In battle, he rarely chose the absolute best outcome—sometimes a "good enough" result would do, to save chakra.
But today was different. For this Sage Mode, perfection was required—only absolutely perfect balance would yield the ideal human Sage chakra, so the cost was immense.
The moment he succeeded, his left eye already saw double.
Luckily, the moment the perfect Sage chakra fused within him, Seiryu could feel a world of difference compared to the Ryuchi Cave Sage Mode. Before, he was like a snake on the path to becoming a dragon, merging with nature. Now, he, as a human, directly touched natural energy.
What surprised him more was that as the Sage chakra flowed through his eyes, it reacted with his Mangekyo power. Seiryu could feel the special natural energy slowly filling in what his Mangekyo lacked. It wouldn't be long before his eyes reached the level of the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.
Seiryu went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror.
The vertical pupils from the Ryuchi Cave Sage Mode were gone. The sinister crimson of the Sharingan had been replaced by a brighter red, and the black magatama patterns were edged with faint gold. The eyeliner at the edge of both eyes extended into three lightning magatama lines, converging at the brow and nose bridge, and extending to his temples.
At this moment, Seiryu radiated a calm, almost divine aura.
"Haha… Hahahaha!" Seiryu laughed out loud in the bathroom. He could feel that once his eyes finished evolving, his strength would soar.
Back in his study, Seiryu carefully stored the chakra crystal sealed with the ancestor's ocular power. This ocular jutsu, even more broken than Izanagi, could save his life at a crucial moment.
Having finished, Seiryu made a special trip to the clan shrine, placing the scroll there for incense and worship. Such a brilliant ancestor shouldn't be forgotten by history.
…
The next day, Seiryu and Tsunade, along with several hospital leaders, visited the ninja academy. Now that Tsunade had signed, preparations for the Medical Academy could begin.
The news that the Hokage was visiting quickly spread, and the students, guided by their teachers, assembled on the playground.
On the platform, Seiryu looked at the students' miserable faces and smiled.
Before joining the war, Seiryu had spent years at the academy. He understood why the kids looked like this: whenever the Hokage visited, it meant a Will of Fire lesson—meaning they'd spend the morning roasting in the sun.
After everyone assembled, Seiryu greeted them cheerfully: "Good morning, everyone! This is my first time visiting the academy as the Fifth Hokage. I'm very happy to see you all growing strong—you are the future of the village."
Hearing this familiar opening, the students all groaned. The Third Hokage always started with the same line.
"Don't make those faces. I'll keep it brief," Seiryu said. "After all, I was your age not long ago. About ten years back, I stood right where you are, thinking, 'Why does the old man talk so much about the Will of Fire?'"
A few students laughed, and then the laughter spread across the playground.
Seiryu waited for the laughter to subside, then continued: "But the first time I was saved on the battlefield by an older ninja, I finally understood the Will of Fire. Where the leaves dance, so too does the fire burn. The fire's light will keep illuminating the village, helping new leaves sprout. You are the new leaves. Maybe you don't understand the Will of Fire yet, maybe you find me a bit naggy. That's fine. For now, you just need to grow. But maybe one day, you'll realize you need to burn for the new leaves—and remember a lesson from your academy days. Then, our education will have come full circle."
"Generations of the village have grown up this way." Seiryu smiled.
The children looked a bit lost, their eyes blankly on Seiryu, even Tsunade was moved by his words. Seiryu then smiled and said, "I'm done. Now, onto the real business."
"The village plans to establish a Medical Academy in the ninja school, to train children with talent for medical ninjutsu. Soon, Lady Tsunade and the hospital experts will give everyone a test. Those who pass will have the chance to be personally taught by Tsunade herself."
As soon as Seiryu finished, the students' eyes lit up. Of the Sannin, Jiraiya's fame was only among the older generation, and Orochimaru's had been erased. But Tsunade's stories were known by all, especially among female ninjas—many idolized her. The news gave everyone a boost of energy.
…
By noon, Tsunade had tested nearly 700 students and picked only 30 who passed. Among them, a pink-haired girl's results stood out.
Seiryu wasn't surprised. Sakura was, after all, Tsunade's true successor in the original timeline.
According to Tsunade, Sakura Haruno had solid theory and outstanding chakra control—a natural for medical ninjutsu.
With the first batch of students, the Konoha Medical Academy was officially founded. Thanks to the money Seiryu and Kakashi had confiscated from the Koharu clan and their allies, the Academy's startup costs were covered. Those funds might not last until full success, but by the time big investments were needed.
…
…
Another month passed quickly. Kakashi escorted the last batch of nobles from the Fire Capital to Konoha.
With the relocation settled, Kakashi returned to his post, ready to handle the troublemakers jailed after the last riot.
Kakashi, using Guy's training plan as a base, drafted a formal education and training schedule.
Three days later, Konoha had a new sight:
"Today's training: run a lap around the village. If you don't finish in three hours, you'll frog-jump back!" barked Fujiwara Yoki, wearing a special red hat, to the assembled villagers.
The villagers grimaced; Yoki responded by kicking the frontman and swinging his baton, with the police team following his lead, administering a round of realignment therapy.
"What's with that face?" Yoki roared, swinging his baton. "I remember you! You were so spirited when disrespecting the Hokage and blocking roads, cursing the police and ninja. Where's all that energy now?"
"Coach, stop! I was wrong!" The man tried to dodge, but every blow landed on soft flesh, making him wail in pain.
"Now you know you were wrong?" Yoki scolded. "What were you thinking before?"
After a round of beating therapy, the troublemakers quieted down.
"Everyone, move out!" Yoki ordered, leading them on a run around the village.
"What's our goal?"
"A lap in three hours. Fail and frog-jump back!"
"What's our motto?"
"Spirit!"
"Self-cultivation!"
"Correction!"
"Goodness!"
The Sannin Education team, under their coach's watchful eye, shouted slogans as they ran. Slacking off meant another round of realignment.
Three hours and ten minutes later, they finished the lap—but since they missed the time, they had to frog-jump back.
"Frog-jump back in ninety minutes! Fail and do thirty more sets of pull-ups!" Yoki announced.
For ninja, this was nothing. But for civilians, every drill was just barely possible, but the time limit made it nearly impossible.
A handful who'd had ninja academy training and could use chakra were put in special squads run by chunin. These were the true troublemakers, usually from Konoha's gray areas—Kabukicho (Entertainment District) bouncers, gambling-den thugs—who, even after beatings, still dared to defy their instructors.
On the first day, this special squad was pulled out for solo training.
"All present! Attention!" Among the strongest police force civilians, Sakurai Hideaki was chosen as their instructor. On day one, he meant to make a statement.
But the troublemakers lined up sloppily.
Sakurai frowned: "I am your instructor, here to correct your rotten spirits."
As soon as he finished, someone in the ranks snickered.
"Who laughed? Step forward!" Sakurai's face darkened.
The culprit swaggered forward, sneering: "Who are you kidding? You're just a civilian ninja. If I hadn't been expelled from the academy for bullying, I'd be better off than you now."
Sakurai checked the roster: "Yamamoto Ryota? Former Kabukicho bodyguard?"
The man rolled up his sleeve to show off tattoos, grinning, "Coach, want to take a girl home tonight? I can hook you up."