Konoha Notes

Chapter 223 Background
The air has changed.

It wasn't temperature, nor humidity, but something invisible and intangible that made the skin feel slightly tight. Even the slowest student in the class subconsciously shrank his neck as he walked around campus.

The teachers were in a hurry, their brows furrowed.

What happened?

Walking down the street, I could hear the adults talking.

"Have you heard? The ninjas who participated in the event are back..."

"The village is going to hold the Chunin Exams again in November. With the current level of the village's Genin, how are we going to manage this year's exams?"

"The people who bet on Cloud Village?" The other person seemed to be saying something that would embarrass him.

"Last year there was Yamato, but this year I don't know who else in the village will be able to step up."

"Sigh, this year's genin... are really embarrassing."

Naruto stood by the roadside, tilting his head. These troubles seemed irrelevant to him, but the heavy atmosphere in the air made him feel uneasy.

During the break the next day, Naruto finally couldn't resist and nudged Nara Shikamaru, who was lying on the desk, trying to isolate himself from the world.

"Hey, Shikamaru! Shikamaru!"

Shikamaru buried his face even deeper and mumbled, "...Stop making noise, it's so annoying."

Naruto persistently poked his arm: "What exactly are the Chunin Exams?"

Shikamaru replied, "It's the exam for genin to be promoted to chunin."

Promotion exams...

"Is Yamato a very powerful person?"

"Yamato?" Shikamaru finally lifted his head a little from his arms. "Which Yamato... If it's related to Chunin, there's only that one. He was the final winner of last year's Chunin Exams."

"If we're talking about how powerful they are, they are indeed very strong."

"After all, it was a victory achieved in the joint examination of the four villages."

A cold voice interrupted: "They were just very lucky."

Sasuke was standing to the side at some point, his hands in his pockets, his gaze sweeping over Naruto before finally settling on Shikamaru.

“A true strong person should have stood out a year earlier. It wasn’t his turn.”

After saying that, he turned and walked away abruptly, just as he had appeared, leaving the two of them with his back to them.

Naruto stared at his retreating figure, utterly bewildered. What's wrong with this guy?

Shikamaru sighed, completely giving up on his plan to rest.

"Sasuke's older brother Itachi was the winner of the Chunin Exams held by the three villages two years ago. Although the competition format was different, he was still the one who achieved an overwhelming victory. More importantly, that Uchiha Itachi was only nine years old when he was promoted to Chunin."

"Yamato is already fifteen or sixteen years old."

Naruto counted on his fingers: "One, two... Ah—! So, Sasuke's older brother was already promoted to Chunin in his third year?"

"Itachi Uchiha graduated in his second year."

"Second...second year?" Naruto's mouth dropped open. And Sasuke...could he also...?

“Sasuke probably won’t be able to graduate from his second year,” Shikamaru said.

These were the last words Shikamaru spoke to Naruto that day, after which he slumped back onto the table. He simply couldn't muster any energy. His father, Nara Shikaku, had led the team to Kumogakure this time. Although the overall results of the exchange activity weren't bad, the defeat at the genin level was undeniable.

If I don't do well in this year's Chunin Exams, will my father take his anger out on me?

He couldn't help but think that.
-
"The village is not satisfied with the quality of ninja academy graduates in recent years."

"The exchange activities with Kumogakure limit the graduation time of participating genin to within three years."

"This means that the root of the problem lies largely with our ninja academy! Especially the new recruits within a year of graduation; their performance has little to do with the ninjas leading the teams, but rather reflects the results of our teaching!"

Iruka sat in the corner, recalling the Chunin Exams he took in Kumogakure last year. He lay on the ground, watching as Uzuki Yugao and Gekko Hayate were defeated.

In the end, Konoha could only rely on the Jonin leading the team to regain its dignity.

The frequent exchanges revealed the true nature of the newly graduated ninjas. Furthermore, the "within three years" condition set by Shuji and Kumogakure shifted most of the pressure back to the ninja academy.

Since the Chunin performed exceptionally well, all the blame naturally fell on the training of new blood.

"Starting this month, the intensity of practical training must be increased! Especially for fifth and sixth graders, the graduation standards have been raised this year. The Three-Body Technique is the foundation, and practical combat skills will be the core assessment indicator! Those who fail will not be allowed to graduate!"

After the meeting, the teachers left one after another with solemn expressions.

Ebisu did not leave immediately. He walked to the corner of the conference room, where a young man sat, completely out of place with the restless atmosphere around him.

"Shushi Jounin."

“Ebisu-sensei.” Shuji looked up and closed the document he was reading.

"This is the evaluation list of students who performed relatively well in grades five and six."

Shuji took it, unfolded it, and glanced at it. Uchiha Izumi's name was prominently listed; Itachi's friend, who would also be graduating next year.

As a member of the Uchiha clan who has already awakened the Sharingan, even if he doesn't use it on a regular basis, his performance is destined to far surpass that of ordinary people his age.

"In addition, the Ninja Academy has a preliminary plan for the graduating class and hopes to get the village's support."

"Please say."

"We hope to arrange for genin who have graduated for about a year to serve as sparring partners for graduating students. The frequency doesn't need to be high, once a month or once every two months is enough. The goal is to let current students personally experience the gap between themselves and genin who actually carry out missions, and to clarify their own position."

Shuji looked at Ebisu, thinking that this was yet another new investment, since it was essentially a government-assigned mission.

Did they guess from the genin training program that the higher-ups planned to increase investment in ninja training...?

However, this suggestion does have its merits. This expense could perhaps be incorporated into the village's routine D-level mission system.

In any case, those tasks of clearing weeds and helping with harvesting are essentially for genin to accumulate experience and make a living. Replacing them with more targeted on-campus combat guidance would not be a bad idea.

He hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"can."

Ebisu adjusted his sunglasses and continued, "Furthermore, according to the reports from this combat exchange, standard ninjutsu of the five elements will become a very important tactical choice, if possible..."

"Would the village allow the ninja academy to teach a limited number of low-level ninjutsu techniques to exceptionally talented students?"

"For most students, their chakra reserves are only enough to support the Three Body Techniques and basic taijutsu."

"But for truly outstanding children, if they can be exposed to one or two suitable low-level escape techniques early on, it will be a huge boost to both their personal strength and their understanding of future development."

(End of this chapter)