Naruto World.

Several years have passed quietly.

Konoha Village once again welcomes a new graduating class from the Ninja Academy.

On a bright and sunny morning, the green leaf emblem, symbolizing new life and hope, shines brightly on the gate of the Ninja Academy.

The air was filled with a complex atmosphere of tension, anticipation, and a touch of melancholy among the young men and women.

Compared to a few years ago, Konoha today is a completely different place.

Since the dust settled on the power storm that swept through the upper echelons of Konoha, the old power structure centered around Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado has been completely broken and reshuffled.

Uchiha Yao ascended to the position of Hokage with absolute power and prestige, and with swift and decisive measures, reclaimed all the power that the old higher-ups had tightly held onto and regarded as their exclusive domain.

However, contrary to many people's expectations, Uchiha Yao did not seem to value the "power" itself, which was the envy of countless people and could control the life of the village.

At a high-level meeting, he once calmly explained his philosophy:

"Power itself has no value. Its value comes from whom it serves, and... to whom it is ultimately accountable."

"In this world, power must be accountable to the strongest. And I happen to possess that power."

"Therefore, rather than concentrating these powers in the hands of one person, allowing them to breed corruption and selfishness, it is better to distribute them to those who have truly shed blood, rendered meritorious service, and made contributions to Konoha."

"As long as someone has made contributions, they should receive commensurate rewards, status, and even... corresponding power and voice."

He said it, and he did it.

During the years that Uchiha You held the position of Hokage, the extent to which he delegated power reached a level that astonished even the older generation of ninjas. Many important matters that previously required the Hokage or high-ranking elders to personally approve and repeatedly weigh their options were now delegated to various functional departments and handled by elite Jonin or Special Jonin who had made contributions and proven their abilities in their respective fields.

These delegated powers do not belong exclusively to any particular long-established and powerful clan—such as the once illustrious but also highly suspected Uchiha clan.

Instead, it is open to all ninjas who have contributed to Konoha.

Regardless of whether you come from a commoner or a noble family, and regardless of your seniority, as long as your achievements are outstanding enough and your loyalty and dedication to the village are recognized, you can gain the respect, generous rewards, and some power to participate in decision-making within the Konoha system.

In Uchiha Yao's view, ninjas, especially those outstanding ninjas with special talents, firm will, and a sense of belonging to the village, are by no means "tools" that can be consumed at will, or a high-ranking "privileged class".

They are extremely rare "talents" in this chaotic world of ninjas.

They are a valuable asset that deserves resources to cultivate and nurture, and to be given the respect and treatment they deserve.

After all, with his absolute strength now standing at the pinnacle of the ninja world, all living beings are like ants when he looks down upon them. But he still appreciates the unique abilities, tenacious will, and potential shown by these "talents" and is willing to provide them with support and a platform for growth.

The Hokage's philosophy deeply influenced the entire village's atmosphere.

Driven by this new development philosophy centered on "merit" and "contribution," the landscape of Konoha Village and even the entire ninja world has undergone tremendous changes during the years that Uchiha Yao has been in charge of the Hokage position.

First, there was an explosive increase in Konoha's own strength.

As the status of ninjas has been substantially elevated (no longer merely tools, but a profession with treatment, status, and respect), their sense of responsibility has increased. This, coupled with the significant resources invested by the Hokage's direct subordinates—the Anbu, Root (which has been completely reorganized, removing its dark aspects and focusing on intelligence and covert missions), and the administrative department—in terms of mission systems, ninja welfare, and education and training…

The number of ninjas in Konoha has seen an explosive growth.

Currently, the number of officially registered ninjas in Konoha (including genin, chunin, special jonin, and jonin) has exceeded an astonishing 100,000! This does not include the even larger number of ninja academy students, the bodyguard forces of various clans, and the hired or guardian ninjas affiliated with various business associations and research institutions.

This number would have been unimaginable just a few years ago. It represents Konoha's incredibly deep human resources, sufficient to support multi-front operations, large-scale development and construction, and... the ultimate expansion of its external influence.

At the same time, Konoha's economy reached an unprecedented peak, stimulated by a stable political environment, an efficient management system, and a booming number of mission commissions (especially the support from the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and the high-level escort and protection missions brought about by increased trade with other major powers).

The village has expanded several times, with newly built residential areas, commercial streets, training grounds, and research institutes springing up like mushrooms after rain. Merchants, artisans, and scholars from all over the world have gathered here, giving Konoha a hint of moving beyond the scope of a "ninja village" and developing into the economic and cultural center of the ninja world.

Change also comes from the outside.

About three years ago, in the Land of Water, which is separated from the Land of Fire by the sea, the persecution of clans with bloodline limits reached a new peak. Under the oppressive policies of the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura (actually controlled by Obito Uchiha), many clans with bloodline limits were on the verge of extinction.

At the brink of life and death, several powerful and influential families in Kirigakure, led by the Kaguya clan, the Yuki clan (Ice Release), and the Hozuki clan, finally managed to break through the encirclement and escape across the sea after paying a heavy price.

The place they chose to seek refuge with was not the monolithic Land of Earth, nor the distant Land of Lightning, nor the weak Land of Wind, but the Hidden Leaf Village in the Land of Fire, which was separated by the sea, growing stronger, and had a relatively open attitude towards bloodline limits.

This decision caused a huge uproar at the time.

However, despite the opposition, Uchiha Yao, in the name of Hokage, formally accepted these impoverished powerful families of Kirigakure.

The reasons are quite valid:

First, Konoha has a sufficient number of ninjas and a vast living space (newly expanded territory), which can accommodate and assimilate these external forces and prevent them from forming a country within a country.

Secondly, and most importantly, Konoha has "success stories." Pakura, a scorching ninja from the Land of Wind, and Mei Terumi, a double bloodline genius from the Land of Water, not only did not suffer discrimination or suppression after joining Konoha, but also rose to high positions in Konoha based on their own abilities and achievements, gaining great prestige and power, second only to Tsunade, the princess of the Senju clan, the head of the medical department, and one of the Legendary Sannin.

The plight of these two outstanding women gave the Kirigakure bloodline clans hope and sincerity. They believed that in Konoha, as long as one had the ability and was willing to serve, one could obtain the status and respect one deserved, instead of living a precarious life as in Kirigakure.

Of course, no large-scale migration and integration can be smooth sailing. There are always some stubborn individuals who cannot see the situation clearly, or commoners and low-level ninjas poisoned by the ideas of the old era, who try to sow discord, promote narrow-minded ideas such as "bloodline supremacy" and "those who are not of our race must have different hearts", and even secretly undermine the peace and unity of the village.

Uchiha Yao's approach to dealing with these people was simple and efficient.

There is no need for lengthy preaching or complicated political maneuvering.

Often, all that is needed is his "enforcement team," composed of loyal and powerful ninjas, to step in and "persuade and educate" the villagers according to the village's new rules.

And this process of "persuasion" often involves a series of solid sticks wrapped in chakra.

Under the "Naruto-style Persuasion Method," which can unleash a dozen blows in an instant, causing excruciating pain without fundamental damage, even the most stubborn mind will quickly come to its senses and recognize reality.

What "will of dominance" or "pride of bloodline"? In the face of the "iron rod" that can make even tailed beasts retreat, they all have to obediently bow their heads, abide by the rules of Konoha, and maintain the peace of the village.

Over time, this atmosphere of "merit speaks louder than words, and rules are paramount" has taken root in people's hearts. Even if there are still some lingering resentments among the older generation, the friendships forged by the younger generation in their shared learning, training, and missions have transcended the boundaries of their origins.

Uchiha Yao firmly believes that even if this generation cannot fully integrate, the next generation, and the generation after that, the children who grow up in the new Konoha environment will surely become one with each other and truly become members of the "Konoha" family.

……

Let's return to the present: the ninja academy graduation ceremony.

A large crowd gathered in front of the notice board. The final grades and rankings of this year's graduates had been announced.

The name at the top of the list left many parents and experienced teachers familiar with past trends slightly speechless—

Hinata Hyuga.

The Hyuga main family's eldest daughter, who was known a few years ago for her gentle personality and lack of talent (compared to her sister Hanabi), now has her name prominently ranked first, with a score far ahead of others.

The second place, right behind the rest, is a tie between two people:

Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto.

Beneath the notice board, amidst the crowd, the girl surrounded by people had shed the timidity she had shown years ago.

A simple white training uniform outlined her gradually maturing figure, and her long purple hair was tied into a neat ponytail at the back of her head. Her delicate face was calm, her eyes were clear, and she exuded a dashing air in her every glance. Just standing there, an aura of composure and subtle strength far beyond her years emanated from her, making her impossible to ignore.

Those in the know secretly marveled at how "monster-like" this young lady of the Hyuga main family was when it came to training. Her terrifyingly large appetite, far exceeding any normal level, had already become a "legend" among her peers. It was this massive food intake, combined with the Hyuga clan's secret Gentle Fist body tempering method and some advanced body-refining technique privately taught by the Hokage, that forged her "monstrous strength" that even her Jonin instructors found terrifying, as well as her unfathomable chakra reserves.

With her almost unfair basic abilities, combined with her increasingly refined Gentle Fist techniques, Hinata Hyuga overwhelmingly crushed all the geniuses of her class in the graduation combat assessment, including the two renowned Uchiha orphans and the Hokage's son.

The graduating class's homeroom teacher was a former Special Grade Jonin who had retired from frontline work due to injury and was hired to teach. Standing on the stage, his gaze swept over the energetic and expectant faces below, and he announced in a loud voice:

"Based on their overall graduation assessment scores, the top thirty graduates of their class will go to the Hokage Building tomorrow morning for a graduation photo!"


"Wow--!!!"

After a brief silence, a huge cheer erupted that nearly lifted the roof off the auditorium!

Head to the Hokage Building! Meet the legendary Hokage, Uchiha You! You'll also get a sneak peek at your future team leader!

For these young men and women who had just graduated and were full of aspirations for their ninja careers, this was undoubtedly the highest honor and inspiration! Every child who made it into the top thirty was so excited that their face turned red, their fists were clenched tightly, and their eyes burned with a fiery passion.

……

The following day, in the morning. Hokage Building, top-floor strategic conference room.

A giant crystal ball floated in the center of the conference room, clearly displaying a live view of the graduating class about to have their photos taken inside the Ninja Academy auditorium.

Inside the meeting room, several figures, some sitting and some standing, were Konoha's current core leadership and top combatants.

"Oh my, this year's top spot belongs to the Hyuga clan's little princess." Kakashi Hatake, with silver hair covering half his face and a lazy demeanor, leaned against the wall, twirling a shuriken in his hand. His exposed eye curved into a crescent shape, and his tone carried his usual teasing tone. "Hizashi-senpai, congratulations. Your daughter is truly... a woman who doesn't yield to men." He deliberately emphasized the word "woman."

Standing on the other side of the crystal ball, Hyuga Hizashi, whose face was serious but whose eyes and brows could not hide his satisfaction and pride, simply nodded slightly upon hearing this and said in a deep voice, "Hinata has indeed put in far more effort than ordinary people. The Hokage's guidance has also played a crucial role."

His inner excitement was far from the calm he appeared to be. In the old days, the Hyuga main clan, due to its rigid and strict "Caged Bird" system and relatively conservative approach, often occupied a delicate position in Konoha's political landscape. Now, with Hinata emerging from the main clan, a genius who far surpasses her contemporaries, the Hyuga clan has undoubtedly gained crucial attention and leverage in Konoha in this new era. Even the Uchiha orphan and Hokage's son, who were always arrogant and haughty, have been overshadowed; this glory is enough to make any main clan elder stand tall.

"The younger generation is truly formidable."

Minato Namikaze appeared beside Kakashi with a gentle smile on his face. However, when he looked at the profile of his son Naruto in the crystal ball, which was calm yet stubborn, a complex mix of relief and expectation flashed in his eyes.

"Naruto's personality has become much more composed than when he was younger, which is a good thing. However..." He smiled and shook his head, "In terms of talent and the solidity of her foundation, it seems that Hinata of the Hiashi family still has the upper hand. She still needs to work harder."

Uchiha Yao sat upright in the main seat, looking at the vibrant faces in the crystal ball. His gaze lingered on Hinata, Naruto, and Sasuke, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

……

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