Chapter 403: Chapter 400 : Hiruzen's Knowledge, Danzo's Opportunity
[A/N: Bonus chapter for reaching 6001 Power Stones last week. We ranked 11th! Keep it up guys :)]
[A/N: Never imagined that I would write 400 chapters and more than 600k words! Thanks for all your support guys :-)]
Hiruzen was surprised by the question. He thought, 'I never imagined that Fujin would be interested in the affairs of the Academy. Now that I think about it, he was very methodological and disciplined in his training.'
He answered, "It is the second case. Our number of ninjas has recovered from the several losses we took. So, there is no need to push the Academy students to graduate earlier or train too hard. Let them enjoy their childhood and maintain their innocence for a bit longer."
Fujin wasn't surprised by the answer. He had expected that such a thing would happen. After all, it was very difficult to maintain the same level of discipline when people lived peacefully and without any grave threat.
However, he was still curious about Hiruzen's thinking. From his point of view, Hiruzen should have pushed for students to be properly trained instead of taking it easy. He asked, "Is that so? I can understand not allowing early graduation, but why is the training lenient as well? Won't it be beneficial if they are trained properly so that they will be able to fight well on graduating?"
Hiruzen shook his head and said, "Your analysis isn't incorrect but you are missing a few critical aspects. Maintaining the same intensity for a long time is difficult. If I sustain it forcefully, then the village will slowly feel the exhaustion and when the time for battle comes, they won't be able to give it their all.
It's like how you felt the exhaustion of continuously doing missions and wanting to take a rest. The same also happens with other ninjas and also the Academy teachers. Once they see their teachers, parents and other elders exhausted all the time, the exhaustion will also brush off on the students and negatively impact their growth."
Fujin was surprised by Hiruzen's words. He hadn't considered that aspect. He thought, 'Now that I think about it, Konoha has been tense ever since Minato's death. When conditions seemed to have improved, the Uchiha clan was massacred and Konoha lost 2 young rank S ninjas and a lot of Jounins and Elite Jounins. Now that the village can relax again, it's no surprise that everyone is relaxing until hell breaks loose again.'
Fujin was snapped out of his thoughts as Hiruzen added with a smile, "Besides, the methodological way of training isn't always good for raising the next generation."
Fujin was confused. He asked, "What do you mean?"
Though Fujin had his thoughts on the matter, he wasn't arrogant enough to think that he knew better than Hiruzen at how to train ninjas. After all, Hiruzen had trained 3 ninjas who were strong enough to become a Kage. And, two of them weren't even part of any clans or had any good background. Not to mention, he had looked over Konoha's academy for decades.
Hiruzen answered, "Training students methodologically is a good way of ensuring that most of them become Chunins and some of them become Special Jounins or Jounins. But it is very rare for an Elite Jounin or a rank S ninja to come from this method of training.
For instance, from your batch, you are the only one to have reached this level. No one else has even been officially promoted to the Jounin rank, though Hoka and Teru have reached that level of strength. The rest from your Elite classroom have become Chunins. As for the other classes, most are still Genins. They will need another 3 to 5 years to become Chunins.
If I compare other batches that graduate a few years before you, they are even worse when it comes to the number of Jounins despite having a similar number of Chunins."
Fujin thought for a few seconds and said, "I see. But I don't see how not following a methodological way would help someone to become stronger."
Hiruzen shook his head and said, "It's difficult to explain. As you grow older and experience more, you might understand."
Fujin nodded and said, "Alright."
He was about to leave when Hiruzen said, "I am surprised that you are so interested in this matter. Do you want to be involved in the academy or perhaps become a Jounin sensei?"
Fujin shook his head and said, "Not in the near future. I was just curious about it due to meeting Naruto. Besides, I am too young to be a Jounin sensei."
Fujin had too many things planned. He couldn't assign any time to guiding more kids. Hiruzen nodded disappointedly and thought, 'He just started his vacation. I'll have a discussion with him before the next batch graduates.'
Fujin said, "I'll see you later, Grandpa. Thanks for the promotion again."
Fujin turned around and left. Hiruzen smiled and thought, 'Perhaps, getting him into the council would bring more benefits to Konoha than I assumed.'
He went back to his work while Fujin went back to his basement and continued working on the Flying Thunder God Seal until noon.
At noon, Fujin asked Naruto to stop training and took him out to lunch. Their experience was quite similar to the Sushi restaurant. Naruto couldn't help but marvel as he thought, 'Wow! Fujin is so good. Just a smile from him turns all their angry faces into a smile and they treat me so well.'
Fujin could read Naruto's thoughts from his expressions easily. He couldn't help but wonder what Naruto's reaction would have been had he known what was actually happening.
After lunch, the two returned to the training ground. Fujin grabbed a leaf and said, "This is the next trick to help you. Observe carefully."
Naruto observed the leaf in Fujin's hand with full seriousness. Suddenly, it was cut into two without Fujin taking any action. Fujin explained, "This is the training to improve your ability to manipulate the Wind chakra. Once you can do it, it will help you in learning other Wind jutsus. So this, along with keeping the leaf stuck to your forehead for two hours, are two things you'll need to complete if you want to learn all my four jutsus quickly."
Naruto nodded and said, "Alright, it's just cutting the leaf. I'll get it done in no time, believe it!"
He immediately began trying it. Fujin thought, 'It's good to see that he is still upbeat despite failing in everything I have asked of him so far. Oh well, these should keep him busy for a few days until his patience runs out.'
Fujin left a Shadow Clone to watch over Naruto and answer his doubts if he had any. While the two of them trained, the news of Fujin's promotion reached the Clan Leaders in Konoha. Since they already knew about his bounty and title, they weren't surprised. However, they wondered why Fujin was no longer in Anbu.
Under Konoha, in a dark hidden room, Danzo sat with two scrolls in front of him. Both were open. He stared at them but wasn't reading and instead was analyzing them. He thought, 'Hiruzen promoted Fujin to Elite Jounin. On the surface, this doesn't look odd. He promoted Hatake Kakashi and Might Guy not too long back. Soon, he will promote his younger son as well. These new promotions signal to our enemies that Konoha's next generation is ready.
However, Fujin's promotion is different. It means that he is no longer a part of Anbu. But...'
Danzo wondered, 'Why would Hiruzen let go of such a good piece? No, that isn't his nature. It's too early for him to allow the boy to retire. Most likely, Fujin quit himself. As for the reason...'
Danzo's eyes moved towards the second scroll as he thought, 'My Root spies in the Land of Water sent an intelligence report. Hozuki Mangetsu led numerous Hunter Ninjas into the land of Waterfall. He returned with the Kubikiribocho and the news that Biwa Juzo was dead.
However, they didn't claim that Mangetsu killed him. That means someone else killed Juzo. In addition, several dozen Kiri ninjas died.
Fujin's Anbu squad didn't go to the Land of Waterfall and instead went somewhere else. Most likely, he took that mission to the Land of Hot Water. However, instead of just facing Kirigakure, he also had to face an Akatsuki member.'
Danzo analyzed it for some time. A glint appeared in his eye as he sensed an opportunity. He thought, 'In his previous mission, he was ambushed by Iwagakure and put in a difficult spot. This time, he had to fight Juzo, someone who shouldn't have been there. Did he get upset at how bad Hiruzen's intelligence reports are?
If he did and is upset with Hiruzen, then it makes sense for him to quit Anbu in frustration and disappointment over Hiruzen. In that case, this is the right time to recruit him into Root. But I need to prepare first.'
Danzo sensed an opportunity. An opportunity that he wasn't willing to let go of. Fujin was unaware of Danzo's misunderstanding, but he was expecting him and waiting for him either way.
[A/N : Bonus chapter on next Sunday if the fic gets 1000 Power Stones. Bonus chapter on next week's Saturday if the fic gets 2000 Power Stones.]
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