Chapter 9: The New Class Is Formed
"Disaster?"
"The real disaster is knowing what's coming and doing nothing about it!"
"The real disaster is watching child after child, who should have had a brilliant future, fall in the coming catastrophe! It's letting so-called 'tradition' bind our hands and feet while we watch our chance slip away! Concentrate our resources! Focus their training! This is what they need right now—to be guided by Konoha's most elite shinobi!"
Tsunade's words were like cannon fire, so rapid that Sarutobi Hiruzen and Homura Mitokado couldn't get a word in edgewise.
"Old Man, we have to fix the mistakes of the past, starting now. Or do you want to repeat history and watch the tragedy happen all over again?"
Sarutobi's hand, holding his pipe, trembled. Ash fell in a soft cascade.
Tsunade's words, coupled with Kakashi's "prophecy," landed on his heart like a boulder.
He wanted to refute Tsunade's high-handedness, to reject this proposal that broke all protocol. But the word "future" was like an invisible set of shackles.
What if... what if it was true? He was old. His desire for stability was strong. But the absolute resolve in Tsunade's eyes, that unwavering certainty, was causing him to waver. Perhaps... desperate times really did call for desperate measures.
"I disagree."
"I also disagree."
Homura and Koharu Utatane both looked displeased. It had been a long time since anyone had dared to simply ignore their authority.
"Tsunade, even as one of the Sannin, you cannot overturn Konoha's entire system on a whim. The three-man cell model has been proven by countless missions. It ensures tactical flexibility and allows each child to receive full attention. Are you suggesting we cram twelve children into one class? Do you expect four Jonin to babysit them like a kindergarten?" Koharu retorted.
"But, the instructors..." Asuma finally found his voice, his tone full of confusion and worry. "With so many, how would we even assign them? How would we determine mission ranks? How would we coordinate training grounds? This can't be solved with conventional methods."
His questions were practical and echoed the confusion everyone else felt.
"Instructors?" Tsunade had been waiting for this. "Kakashi, Guy, Kurenai, Asuma. All of you! You will all be part of it! You will form a joint-instruction team!"
"Break down the team barriers! Each of you will be responsible for the area you excel in. Cross-train them! Taijutsu goes to Guy. Genjutsu training to Kurenai. Tactical analysis... Asuma, you and that Nara kid will be a good fit. As for Kakashi..."
Her gaze locked onto Kakashi, who was still affecting an air of total indifference. Her look carried a hidden meaning only Kakashi would understand. "You have the most experience. You'll be in charge of combat drills and... drawing out their key abilities. Especially certain children with... special 'potential'."
It was obvious. Tsunade and Kakashi had tacitly confirmed they both possessed "the memories" and were already targeting the key players: Naruto and Sasuke.
"Eh? Everyone teaches them together?"
Might Guy, who had been in a state of semi-confusion, finally grasped the core concept. He leaped to his feet, a passionate fire burning in his eyes, his fists clenched. "Konoha's new green seedlings, all blooming with the fire of youth in one harsh training program! Th-This... this is a genius idea! It's too passionate! As expected of Lady Tsunade!"
Asuma, having listened this long, finally realized what was happening. These people, Kakashi and Guy, clearly had some prior understanding with Lady Tsunade.
This whole "team assignment" meeting was looking more and in charge.
"But what about mission assignments? Large-scale team missions make up less than ten percent of Konoha's system. Most D-rank and C-rank missions don't require twelve shinobi. We can't just let them sit in a training ground all day and gain no real mission experience, can we?"
"I've already thought about the missions!" Tsunade pulled a thick stack of scrolls from her pouch. "This is what's going to happen in the future. These scrolls contain a massive amount of intel on the Akatsuki. We can simulate these mission scenarios for their combat drills. As for daily tasks, we can just consolidate multiple small missions and have them work in groups to complete them. It builds teamwork and doesn't waste manpower."
"Tsunade, have you considered what the other clans will think? Especially the Hyuga..." Koharu tried to seize one last point of objection.
Tsunade waved her hand impatiently, her posture unyielding. "What Konoha needs right now is strength! A core force that can handle the coming crisis! Not a bunch of kids playing house by the rules!"
"Playing house?"
The words stung Koharu. Her fingers trembled. "Tsunade, don't you forget that Konoha is supported by many clans! The conflict between the Hyuga's Main and Branch families is already tense. You're shoving Neji and Hinata into the same class and letting a radical taijutsu specialist like Guy train them? What if there's an accident? The resulting clan conflict isn't something you can just brush aside by yelling 'crisis'!"
Homura immediately backed her up. "Koharu is right! And then there's the last Uchiha, Sasuke. You're forcing him into long-term contact with Naruto... Have you forgotten the lingering issues from the Uchiha massacre? What if someone uses the friction between them? The consequences would be unimaginable!"
Sarutobi watched the tense standoff, the ember in his pipe glowing and fading.
He remembered twelve years ago, watching Kushina and Minato sacrifice themselves to protect the village.
He remembered ten years ago, the cold look in Orochimaru's eyes when he betrayed Konoha.
Now, Tsunade's proposal was like a sharp knife, piercing the "stability" he had guarded for so many years.
He slowly set down his pipe, a sharp glint suddenly appearing in his old eyes. "Homura, Koharu, calm down. Tsunade's proposal is radical, but it's not without merit."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over every person in the room. "Let's do this: we'll run it as a three-month trial. We will form the twelve children into a 'Special Tactical Squad.' Tsunade will be the general supervisor. Kakashi, Asuma, Kurenai, and Guy will each be responsible for different areas of training. After three months, we will re-evaluate based on their growth and mission performance, and then decide whether to continue this model. As for missions, I will personally coordinate with the Mission Assignment Desk to prioritize suitable team-based assignments for them."
Homura started to object, but Sarutobi silenced him with a look.
Koharu sighed and shook her head. "Since the Hokage has decided, we will not object further. But if any problems arise during this period, this ridiculous experiment must be terminated immediately."
"Iruka!" Tsunade commanded.
"Yes, ma'am!" Iruka instinctively snapped to attention.
"Prepare an announcement with the new roster. Immediately! Tomorrow morning, all students on this list will assemble at Training Ground 3! Tell them that Konoha's first-ever 'Super Shinobi Training Class' is officially in session!"