I, who just wanted to be lazy, was forced to become the Hokage.

Chapter 568 Why did Lord Kazekage rebel?

"Yondaime-sama."

Nara Shikaku took a stack of paper documents from his briefcase and handed them over.

"This is the list of those who passed and those who failed the entrance exam for the Ninja Academy this year."

Nara Rinka took the document and quickly scanned the list from top to bottom.

"Hmm? Is Chino enrolling this year? She's definitely old enough..."

Nara Rinka put down the documents, a look of regret on his face.

"If I had known it would be like this, I would have gone there today."

Nara Shikaku's lips twitched, but he made no comment on his clan leader's reaction.

What's the point of saying this now?

The Hokage speech is over!

This time next year, the "busy" Fourth Hokage will surely continue to find reasons to get rid of this troublesome speech assignment, just like in previous years.

Nara Shikaku reported to his superior without regard for his own safety.

"The number of students enrolling in the Ninja Academy this year has decreased compared to previous years."

Since the Second Hokage ordered the construction of ninja academies, the students of the ninja academies have often been regarded as "ninja reserve forces".

In the past, during times of war, it was common for frontline ninja combat units to be short-handed, and ninja academy students were often temporarily drawn onto the battlefield.

It's not just about sending ninja academy students to the battlefield.

During wartime, it was common practice to temporarily promote some low-ranking ninjas with insufficient strength and experience to the position of chunin.

Ultimately, it was the staggering death toll of the world war that forced the ninja villages to exploit underage children...

But in this day and age, Konoha's overall strength is too great, and there is no need to retain so many ninja troops as before.

Training a ninja force is extremely resource-intensive!

Since taking office, Nara Rinkei has been ordering the Executive Vice Hokage to carry out the task of "small-scale troop reduction".

Nara Rinkachi naturally imposed corresponding restrictions on the Konoha Ninja Academy.

Reduce the number of students admitted to the ninja academy, raise the admission requirements, and increase the difficulty of graduating from the ninja academy...

In the future, Konoha will not need so many combat ninja units.

Take the four wars that have not yet broken out as an example.

The so-called "80,000-strong Ninja World Alliance Army"—regardless of how that number was actually assembled—did these people really play any significant role in the four wars that lasted only about three days?

Following the Nara-inspired philosophy, future ninjas should be of high quality, not numerous.

"It's alright, let it go down."

Nara Rinka said noncommittally.

"Perhaps in a few years, there will only be nine genin graduates in a ninja academy class."

As is widely known, three "senior students" actually infiltrated the future Konoha Twelve.

In the year Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha graduated, a total of 27 students passed the graduation exam, but the supervising teachers would reject two-thirds of the graduates.

In other words, only the "Nine Konoha Genin" from Naruto's generation became Genin.

However, after several months of training, all nine genin were recommended to participate in the Chunin Exams, making them, in a sense, "elite genin".

"How could there only be nine graduates...?"

Nara Shikaku remained silent.

"The Ninja Academy only trained three ninja teams in a year? That's way too few, isn't it?"

Who can predict the future?

Nara Lan Gui shook his head.

"Moreover, the demand for ninjas differs between times of war and times of peace."

That's right!

Nara Shikaku thought for a moment, then stopped arguing and brought up another matter.

"Among this year's list of students who failed the entrance exam, three more children wanted to join the 'Physical Training Unit'."

The so-called "physical training unit" was actually the "Eight Gates Formation Team" established by Nara Rinkei.

As Nara Rinkei continues to raise the bar for admission to the Ninja Academy.

Every child qualified to enter the Ninja Academy possesses the ability to consistently refine chakra and unleash E-rank ninjutsu.

Those children who failed the entrance exam are not necessarily completely unqualified to be ninjas; it just means that their skill level did not meet the requirements of the ninja academy.

For these children who cannot enter the ninja academy but still want to become ninjas, the village offers them a new path—the taijutsu training unit.

The path of ninjutsu is blocked.

Then let's go for physical techniques!

But what if you don't even have talent in physical skills...

It's better to just be an ordinary citizen!

Nara Rinka casually gave an order.

"Follow the usual rules."

Although there are no strict entry requirements for physical training units.

However, this unit is the reserve force of the "Eight Gates Formation Team".

Graduating from this unit and gaining admission to the "Eight Gates Formation Team" is no easy feat.

The Eight Gates Formation also requires considerable physical talent to master!

"Yes."

Nara Shikaku nodded, then took out a new document from his briefcase.

"This is the urban planning document for Konoha New City."

Nara Rinka sighed, took the document, and casually flipped through it.

"Is there a problem?"

"There's nothing major wrong, it's just that the new city is developing too fast and needs to be expanded again."

Nara Shikaku replied.

"Resources in all aspects, including human resources, material resources, and financial resources, all need to be reorganized and planned."

"If we don't have enough Earth Release ninjas, we'll go to the Senju clan and have their Wood Release units take action!"

Nara Rinkasa gathered the documents and offered his suggestion.

"As for professional questions, you can consult with Wedge Real Estate Company."

"Miyajo En has been cooperating with our village for many years."

Wedge Real Estate Company, the personal construction company of Miyajo En, is among the top in the Land of Fire in terms of professional expertise.

All I can say is that Oyajo En's business is developing quite well!

"Yes."

Nara Shikakuchi finished his mission report cleanly and efficiently, and was about to turn and leave.

"Wait a minute, Brother Shikaku."

Nara Rinka called out to him.

"Has there been any new developments coming from Sunagakure lately?"

"Sunagakure?"

Nara Shikaku raised his head and gave the Hokage a strange look.

I never expected that the Hokage, who has been lazy for several years, would actually take the initiative to talk about official business...

"I haven't heard anything about it."

Nara Shikaku gave a serious report to his supervisor.

"Trade between our village and Sunagakure has been going very smoothly, and there have been no unexpected incidents."

"There might be some minor changes happening in Sunagakure recently."

Nara Rinka gave her some instructions.

"If the village is planning to send ninjas to Sunagakure anytime soon, then let them postpone it for a few days."

Nara Shikaku was stunned.

"Fourth Hokage, Sunagakure wouldn't be planning to attack our village, would they?"

How long has it been since World War III ended?

Is Sunagakure trying to start another war?

"That's not it."

Nara Lan Gui shook his head.

"According to my intelligence, the Fourth Kazekage of Sunagakure plans to kill the Jinchuriki of their village."

clam?

Nara Shikaku stared in disbelief, doubting his own ears.

"The Kazekage... the Jinchūriki..."

Although according to legend, Jinchuriki are indeed very difficult to cultivate, and they can easily go out of control or go berserk if not careful;

Although Konoha had never encountered such a problem before, even the fiercest and strongest Nine-Tails was well controlled by the Whirlpool Sealing Technique;

Although Sunagakure is poor and backward, the Kazekage still has to take the initiative to act as a gold miner for the village to make a living by mining.

But in the history of ninja villages, are there any cases where people actively attacked their own Jinchuriki?

It's not "sealing," not "imprisoning," not "protecting," but "eliminating"?

"Yondaime-sama."

Nara Shikaku swallowed hard.

"If I remember correctly, the current Jinchuriki of the One-Tailed Beast in Sunagakure should be the child of the Fourth Kazekage, right?"

Thanks to the existence of a special spy, Konoha had a very comprehensive and thorough understanding of the internal intelligence of Sunagakure.

Information about the One-Tailed Jinchuriki was naturally within Konoha's grasp.

As the Executive Vice Hokage, Nara Shikaku also knew about Gaara's information.

"That's right."

Nara Lan Gui shook his head, clicking his tongue in amazement.

"Rasa has given the order to assassinate his third son—Gaara!"

Nara Rinkei had assumed that Rasa would not send anyone to carry out this order.

Let's not talk about "even tigers don't eat their cubs".

After all, there are plenty of weirdos among ninjas.

There are even beasts who kill their fathers and mothers, let alone kill a son...

It's just that the world's trajectory has shifted so much.

The difference in "overall village strength" between Sunagakure and Konoha is now like heaven and earth.

Instead of considering how to strengthen his village, the Fourth Kazekage made a firm decision to cripple himself...

What's he after?

Nara Rinka really doesn't understand Rasa's thought process.

"I have a question."

After taking several deep breaths, Nara Shikaku suddenly realized something and raised his hand to signal.

"Fourth Hokage, why do you know so much about the Kazekage's plans?"

"Oh, because the exceptionally intelligent Fourth Kazekage entrusted the task of assassinating his own son to my people."

Nara Rinka said expressionlessly.

"And my people can't understand the Kazekage's irrational behavior at all, so they plan to elect a new Fifth Kazekage."

Nara Shikaku's lips twitched.

"Lord Fourth Generation, what do you mean by 're-election'?"

"Of course, the fourth generation died, and the fifth generation succeeded him!"

Nara Rinka answered readily.

"I can't exactly elevate the Third Kazekage to the position, can I?"

Second update.

(End of this chapter)