Chapter 689: Tough Mugetsu
"Then let me ask you, Advisor Homura. Are you aware of the costs required for this reform?"
Mugetsu did not answer Homura's question. Instead, he returned it with one of his own.
"The cost of adding another academic year. The increase in the number of grades will require more teachers, which will increase salary expenses. There will also be the construction costs for new teaching buildings and classrooms."
Homura tried his best to list everything he had considered.
Mugetsu glanced at Minato.
Minato stood, took out a small booklet, and placed it in front of Homura.
"Revising the elementary school textbooks, compiling new middle school textbooks, expanding the school grounds…"
Minato began listing the detailed expenses required for the reform.
Everything Homura had mentioned was included.
Everything Homura had failed to mention was included as well.
Homura listened while flipping through the booklet in front of him. He quickly realized that Mugetsu and his team had already calculated the approximate cost of every item.
"Since you know this reform will consume so many human and financial resources, why do you still insist on proceeding?" Homura asked, refusing to back down.
So what if the budget had already been prepared?
Who could accurately predict the future quality of the students?
Who could guarantee the results?
Mugetsu himself might possess such ability as a teacher, but he was now the Hokage. It was impossible for him to personally return to the Ninja Academy and teach classes.
"The Ninja Academy established by the Second Hokage became a model copied by every Ninja Village in the Ninja World. For decades, no Village has carried out any major reform. Does that not prove the superiority of the current Ninja Academy?"
Mugetsu picked up his teacup and cleared his throat.
Since Homura wanted to argue, he would not hold back.
"Physical training increases the body's needs. It requires more food and therefore costs more money. Did you avoid training when you were young, Advisor Homura?" Mugetsu asked.
Homura was about to reply that the two situations were completely different, but Mugetsu immediately continued.
"Fortunately, Advisor Homura was only born near the end of the Warring States Period. Otherwise, Konoha might not have been the first Village to propose establishing a Ninja Academy.
"When the Second Hokage wanted to establish the Ninja Academy, every Ninja Village was still using the training methods inherited from the Warring States Period.
"According to your logic, Advisor Homura, since everyone was still using those old methods, the Warring States Period's approach to cultivating ninja must have been excellent, and there would have been no need to establish a Ninja Academy."
Homura wanted to argue back.
Although Mugetsu had not used a single vulgar word, his statement was practically an open accusation that Homura was shortsighted and foolish.
Unfortunately, Mugetsu had merely extended the logic of Homura's own argument, leaving him momentarily unable to find a suitable response.
Koharu's gaze toward Mugetsu changed.
Mugetsu was far too articulate, and every word was exceptionally sharp.
It was a complete contrast to his usual gentle demeanor.
"If the other Ninja Villages do not change, and Konoha also refuses to change, how are we supposed to widen the distance between ourselves and them?" Mugetsu asked, tapping the table to emphasize his words.
Although that had not been his original intention, there was nothing stopping him from attaching a grander purpose to the reform.
Mugetsu's words caused Hiruzen to fall into deep thought.
Konoha was currently powerful, and it had an even stronger future ahead of it.
But was this strength something Konoha had been destined to possess?
Not necessarily.
Much of it had been brought by Mugetsu.
Mugetsu possessed overwhelming power and extraordinary teaching ability. Not only was he personally strong, but he had also trained several disciples with immense potential and a large number of outstanding students.
If Mugetsu's life eventually ended, and another Mugetsu failed to appear in the new era, could Konoha maintain its strength?
That was something Hiruzen could not determine.
While Senju Hashirama was alive, the Ninja World had remained peaceful, and no one dared to provoke Konoha.
After Hashirama's death, wars rapidly erupted throughout the Ninja World, and Konoha became the center of those conflicts.
Hiruzen sincerely hoped history would not repeat itself, even though he knew he would not live long enough to witness that distant future.
However, before Hiruzen could voice his support for Mugetsu's reform, Mugetsu looked toward Minato.
"Minato, you may continue."
Minato nodded, took out several more documents, and placed them before Hiruzen and the others.
"That concludes the proposal concerning middle school. Above the middle school level, the Ninja Academy reform will also introduce a university.
"The university will follow a three year program. Only students whose middle school graduation results meet the required standard will be permitted to continue into university."
Hiruzen, who had been about to speak, quietly closed his mouth.
Although he did not yet fully understand what the university involved, merely hearing that it added another three years already gave him a headache.
From entering elementary school until graduating from university, the entire process would last ten years.
The duration alone was unacceptable to Hiruzen.
Forget spending ten years training.
During the Warring States Period, some children had already entered the battlefield several times before reaching ten years old.
This process was far too long.
"The university will divide students into specialized fields according to their strengths and interests. For example, students proficient in Fire Release can enter a Fire Release specialization…" Minato continued explaining.
Homura grew restless.
What was this?
They were even dividing students according to specific chakra natures?
Even the assignments given after graduation, whether under a chunin or jonin instructor, were not divided with such precision.
Yet this university intended to subdivide its students so thoroughly.
When Homura finished reading the university proposal, he completely lost his composure.
The university even intended to establish a Fuinjutsu specialization.
However, this time, Homura did not interrupt Minato.
Instead, he patiently waited until Minato finished.
He had realized something.
Although this university appeared extremely impractical, its proposal was unexpectedly thorough and well developed.
In other words, this might be a reform plan Mugetsu had been preparing for a very long time before finally presenting it.
Homura had already experienced Mugetsu's debating ability and had no desire to place himself in another awkward position by angering him again.
"Assistant Minato, this university is intended to cultivate elite ninja, correct?" Homura asked as soon as Minato finished.
Minato nodded in confirmation.
According to Mugetsu's vision, at least seventy percent of students would be eliminated during the transition from middle school to university.
This was also why Minato believed the university was highly unrealistic.
At present, the Ninja Academy graduated only a little over two hundred students each year.
During wartime, the number might rise slightly due to various circumstances, but even then, it would only reach three or four hundred.
With Mugetsu's proposed elimination rate, little more than one hundred ninja at most would enter the university each year.
Those students would then be further divided among numerous specializations, leaving each field with pitifully few students.
"But spending such enormous resources to cultivate such a small group of elites is far too unreasonable, isn't it?" Homura could not help complaining.
For the middle school proposal, Homura had needed to search carefully to find possible weaknesses.
For the university proposal, impractical flaws were everywhere.
Compared with the human and financial resources demanded by the university, the middle school reform was almost insignificant.
Homura could say without exaggeration that if Konoha attempted to establish this university now, it might bankrupt the Village.
"Establishing a university would indeed require enormous resources," Mugetsu admitted with a nod.
The proposed Ninja University was not comparable to an ordinary university from his previous life.
If he had to make a comparison, Mugetsu intended to establish a top tier institution.
After all, many of the courses would require jonin as instructors.
Jonin possessed enough strength to dominate small nations and easily crush ninja organizations outside the Five Great Ninja Villages.
"The proposal is still incomplete. That is precisely why it must be discussed during a meeting, so we can make it more practical and comprehensive.
"I believe that after careful discussion, we will certainly reach a result that satisfies everyone," Mugetsu said with a gentle smile.
Koharu and Homura exchanged glances, gradually understanding Mugetsu's intention.
Mugetsu might truly have considered establishing a university, but probably not at the present time.
He had likely presented this completely impractical university proposal to give them a graceful way to retreat.
Realizing this, Homura cleared his throat twice.
"Reform is indeed necessary, but we must proceed according to practical circumstances. I believe changing the current Ninja Academy into an elementary and middle school system is entirely feasible.
"As for the university, the time is not yet right."
Mugetsu's behavior today had genuinely surprised Homura.
He had never expected Mugetsu to be so forceful. It was completely different from how he had acted before.
When Mugetsu had served as Hokage Assistant and attended high level meetings, he rarely spoke and almost never openly challenged the other high ranking officials.
That had left Homura with an excellent impression of him.
After weighing the advantages and disadvantages, Homura ultimately decided to retreat gracefully.
Hiruzen's attitude was far too ambiguous, and the two Advisors together could not contend against the Hokage and Hokage Assistant.
"The quality of Konoha's genin does indeed need improvement if we want to strengthen the Village's future potential," Koharu said, changing her position as well.
Mugetsu's previous behavior in high level meetings had caused Koharu to severely misjudge him.
Had she known he would be this forceful, she would never have invited trouble for herself.
Koharu felt depressed.
She had believed Mugetsu would be a younger and gentler version of the Third Hokage.
Now, it seemed that he was closer to a younger and tougher Danzo.
"The middle school reform is excellent. As the principal of the Ninja Academy, I believe it is a very good proposal," Hiruzen finally declared.
With every high ranking official reaching a consensus, Mugetsu's Ninja Academy reform proposal was approved.
After the meeting, Mugetsu and Minato returned to the Hokage Office together.
"Mugetsu, you're truly impressive. Everything happened almost exactly as you predicted," Minato could not help praising him.
Before the meeting, Mugetsu had rehearsed the discussion with Minato.
He had predicted how the other high ranking officials would react and prepared appropriate countermeasures for each possibility.
That was why, despite this being Minato's first high level meeting and despite facing seniors twice his age, he had never panicked.
"That's only because they're too easy to understand," Mugetsu replied with a smile as he sat down.
Mugetsu could not say for certain whether Hiruzen loved power, but Homura and Koharu were definitely unwilling to surrender their authority as Advisors.
From before Hiruzen's death until Kakashi retired and Naruto became Hokage, those two elderly officials had remained in positions of influence.
They truly gave the younger generation no opportunity.
Driven by their desire for power, combined with Mugetsu's usually gentle behavior, it was perfectly natural that the two would attempt to pull rank on him.
In truth, Mugetsu did not mind sharing power.
The greater one's authority, the busier one became, and Mugetsu simply did not have enough time to personally deal with every political matter.
The main problem was that those two elderly officials were incompetent.
They had held high ranking positions for so many years, yet Mugetsu had never seen them make any meaningful contribution.
"I believe you also possess extraordinary political talent, Mugetsu," Minato said, shaking his head.
If Mugetsu had merely predicted the Advisors' reactions, that could be attributed to their being easy to understand, or to Mugetsu knowing them well.
However, Mugetsu had also prepared effortless solutions for each reaction.
That made Minato recognize the difference between their political abilities.
"It isn't talent. I've simply studied the subject a little," Mugetsu replied.
Although he had never formally entered politics in his previous life, he had once wanted to advance further.
For that reason, he had studied various television dramas frame by frame, read many realistic political novels, and even specifically sought advice from a retired official among his relatives.
However, Mugetsu believed the most important factor in resolving this matter so easily was not political wisdom.
It was his strength combined with his current position.
Mugetsu's power and popularity guaranteed that he would become an extremely influential Hokage.
Koharu and Homura were not alone.
They also had clansmen, families, and relatives.
If they completely offended Mugetsu, how would those people connected to them survive within Konoha in the future?
…
Night.
Shisui and Obito went together to the Naka Shrine to attend an Uchiha Clan meeting.
Obito usually did not attend these meetings, but Shisui had said there was something important to discuss, so Obito followed him.
"Obito, if you want to become Hokage, improving yourself alone isn't enough. You also need to gain sufficient support," Shisui explained as they walked.
Obito had helped him greatly, so Shisui was happy to assist with Obito's dream.
"For example, there are more than twenty jonin in the clan. If all of them support you becoming Hokage, you will immediately gain more than twenty votes."
"That's true. That poker faced uncle only received twenty eight votes in total," Obito said, finally realizing how much influence the Uchiha Clan possessed.
"Of course, I'm only giving you an example. I don't want you wasting all your effort trying to win support inside the clan.
"If you are nominated as a candidate, the clan's jonin will definitely vote for you," Shisui quickly explained, worried that Obito might misunderstand.
The Uchiha Clan possessed an extremely strong sense of family honor.
Even if they were not personally familiar with Obito, as long as he was the only candidate carrying the Uchiha name, every Uchiha jonin would undoubtedly cast their vote for him.
"I know. I'm just thinking about what I should do," Obito replied.
Suddenly, he thought of the kind elderly people throughout the Village.
"How about creating a huge number of Shadow Clones and using them to help the elderly?" Obito's eyes lit up.
If he gained the support of every elderly person in Konoha, would that not be equivalent to gaining everyone's support?
After all, their children and grandchildren could not possibly disobey their mothers or grandmothers, could they?
Shisui fell silent.
Was Obito still speaking the language of the Land of Fire?
Why did Shisui feel as though he could not quite understand him?
While talking, the two arrived at the Naka Shrine.
"Shisui, Obito, you're here."
Many Uchiha took the initiative to greet them.
Within the Uchiha Clan, strength carried greater importance than seniority.
Even clan members from an older generation would not put on airs when facing someone stronger. They would instead greet them first.
Since too many people approached them, Shisui and Obito did not respond individually.
They simply nodded in acknowledgment and entered the Naka Shrine.
"We will temporarily suspend the Police Force duties of certain members and allow them to accept commissioned missions as Konoha ninja," Fugaku announced, revealing the topic of the clan meeting.
....
https://discord.gg/KvMN2CFsMR
[If you don't want to wait for the next update, read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon.]
[[email protected]/FanficLord03].