CHAPTER 14

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After completing his jutsu creation, Hiruzen called over his clones, and as they assimilated back into him, he felt an instant surge of energy.

His chakra reserves swelled, returning to their full capacity. The revitalizing sensation coursed through him, and a smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

With renewed determination, he set to work on a chakra compression seal.

He traced the intricate symbols on his abdomen, feeling a heavy pressure envelop his body as the seal activated, compressing his chakra within.

The sensation was intense, like a weight pushing against his very core, but Hiruzen welcomed it.

This was a necessary step in his journey to expand his chakra capacity.

Time slipped away, and soon he felt the first round of chakra compression complete. The pressure intensified, pressing against him like an iron grip.

He closed his eyes, breathing deeply as he embraced the discomfort. "This is progress," he murmured to himself.

Next, Hiruzen crafted another seal designed to drain chakra from his body.

As soon as the seal activated, he felt his chakra being siphoned away, leaving only a meager amount for himself.

He resisted the urge to panic, realizing he was teetering on the edge of serious chakra exhaustion. 

"Focus," he told himself, entering a meditative state. As he settled into a rhythm of steady breathing, chakra began to gather within him once more.

The compression seal worked in harmony with his gathering energy, bolstering his reserves.

A cycle of revolution initiated within his body. Gradually, he pressed chakra into his coils, expanding their size.

The pressure felt both exhilarating and painful, a bittersweet sensation that slightly strained his chakra coils.

Noticing the strain, Hiruzen released the healing power from his forehead seal.

A warm glow spread through him, soothing the tension in his body. "A cycle has been formed for chakra revolution," he murmured, a sense of accomplishment blooming within him.

With unwavering focus, he created a chakra refining seal and a chakra revolution seal, connecting them to the compression and draining seals.

This intricate cycle formed a web of four symbol seals designed to maximize his chakra potential. 

He took a moment to connect this new seal to his forehead Yin Seal, which he had meticulously remade using his advanced understanding of sealing techniques.

Over the past year and a half, Hiruzen had delved deeply into the study of the Yin Seal, acquiring it from Lady Mito.

His hard work resulted in a brand-new seal, not only capable of chakra storage but also designed to heal minor wounds—both external and internal.

"If only I had mastered the Creation Rebirth technique," he thought wistfully. "But this will do for now."

His healing seal enhanced his body's natural healing rate, making it comparable to an A-rank medical technique.

The storage seal efficiently gathered the drained chakra and absorbed pure chakra from his regenerated chakra reserves, creating a vast reservoir rivaling the chakra reserves of even peak Shadow Ninjas.

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A day passed, and Hiruzen felt a swell of satisfaction as he reflected on his progress.

"The jutsu and seals are complete," he thought, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "After every cycle, my chakra reserves increase by about 2% of my total chakra.

At this rate, if I complete six cycles each day, I can elevate my reserves to super Shadow level within eight years."

His excitement mounted. "By the time of the Uzumaki Arc, my chakra levels could rival a one-tailed beast, like Shukaku. And all of this while doing nothing!" He couldn't help but grin, energized by the potential of what lay ahead.

"Time to focus on village development," he decided, feeling invigorated and ready for new challenges. "My clones will handle medical jutsu training and some kenjutsu training."

With a sense of purpose, he returned to his residence to rest. The creation of jutsu and seals had drained him, and he welcomed the chance to recharge.

After a short nap, he awoke refreshed and ready for the upcoming Jonin meeting.

Upon arriving at the meeting hall, Hiruzen found all the Jonin and clan leaders standing, bowing lightly in respect.

He nodded appreciatively, gesturing for them to take their seats. 

"Please, everyone, settle down," he instructed, and an air of anticipation filled the room as the meeting commenced.

Hiruzen pulled out a stack of papers and distributed them across the table. One by one, the participants took a sheet and began to read.

"This is a new curriculum I designed for the academy, aimed at fostering the growth of the next generation of ninjas in Konoha," he announced, his tone steady and authoritative.

As the details unfolded, stunned silence enveloped the room.

Many were shocked by the leniency of the new curriculum, particularly its substantial benefits for civilian ninjas.

The clan leaders exchanged uncertain glances, eyebrows raised in disbelief.

Finally, Homura broke the silence, his voice tinged with skepticism.

"Hiruzen, this is too lenient for civilian ninjas. How can we provide them with so many benefits? What about the clan ninjas? Giving away chakra refining arts to civilians for free seems excessive."

Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, unfazed by the criticisms.

"The goal is to cultivate a greater number of civilian ninjas to increase our overall strength," he explained.

"This way, they won't perish easily in battle. That's why I've included more C-rank jutsu for them."

Koharu interjected, concern etched on her face. "And what is this about having Jonin-level instructors teaching at the ninja academy?"

"Indeed," Hiruzen acknowledged, meeting her gaze.

"Chunin ninjas typically have more potential and time to reach Jonin level, so they should focus on training and missions instead of teaching."

He continued, "Instead, we'll employ elder Jonin. Their vast experience makes them well-suited to guide young ninjas during their formative training years.

They can nurture the next generation, instilling wisdom and skills that might make them proud of their students."

A murmur of disagreement rippled through the room.

Some Jonin paused in thought, contemplating the idea while others felt the elderly should be allowed to rest rather than take on the burden of teaching.

"Oh, and as for the C-rank jutsu," Hiruzen added, his tone firm, "they will be provided by the ninja clans and the Konoha library together. For every 200 C-rank jutsu you provide, you will receive an A-rank jutsu personally created by me.

I have developed ten S-rank ninjutsu, ten A-rank ninjutsu, and one S-rank taijutsu technique. The more higher-ranked jutsu you provide, the more personal jutsu you can receive from me."

As soon as Hiruzen concluded his statement, incredulous looks spread among the Jonin and clan leaders.

They struggled to process the implications of what they had just heard. Some scoffed internally, grappling with the audacity of his claims.

Sensing their disbelief, Hiruzen produced a crystal ball and projected a video into the air.

The image began to play, showing Hiruzen standing before a hill.

One by one, the S-rank Rasengan techniques he had created were displayed, their destructive power visible from above.

As the Jonin watched in astonishment, their expressions shifted from awe to shock.

The sheer magnitude of the techniques demonstrated left them speechless.

Some Jonin found themselves contemplating the potential gains of acquiring even one of these techniques, realizing how significantly their strength could increase with such powerful arts.

"Remember," Hiruzen added, "for every A-rank art I provide, you'll need to submit three to five A-rank jutsu in return. These are seal-less jutsu that can be unleashed in an instant."

The gravity of Hiruzen's proposals settled heavily in the room.

A low murmur of conversation erupted among the gathered ninjas, each exchanging ideas and weighing the benefits of Hiruzen's new policies against the risks and upheavals they might bring.

"Hokage sama," one Jonin named Shira questioned, tilting his head in thought, "how can we ensure that these civilian ninjas can handle the advanced techniques? We can't risk them endangering themselves or others."

Hiruzen met Shira's gaze, appreciating the concern.

"That's why the new curriculum emphasizes thorough training. With proper guidance from experienced Jonin, we can instill a sense of responsibility and competence in them."

"And what about the clan ninjas?" asked another Jonin, his tone sharp.

"Do you expect us to stand by while civilian ninjas receive benefits that we've fought hard for?"

"Not at all," Hiruzen replied firmly.

"This is not meant to undermine the clans. Instead, it is a strategy to bolster our overall strength. When civilian ninjas rise to meet the challenges we face, the clans will benefit as well."

A thoughtful silence fell over the room, broken only by the sound of paper rustling as participants considered Hiruzen's words.

They began to see the potential in his plan, the intricate web of growth and strength it could weave for Konoha.

"Perhaps there is merit in fostering these civilian ninjas," Homura conceded, his expression softening.

"If they can contribute, it would alleviate some pressure from our clan ninjas."

Koharu nodded, finally warming to the idea.

"We must ensure, however, that the training is rigorous enough to prepare them for real combat. We cannot afford to lose anyone."

Hiruzen smiled, sensing the shift in the room. "I believe with our combined efforts, we can create a new generation of capable ninjas. One that is prepared to defend Konoha with everything they have."

The murmur of conversation continued, but it was no longer filled with skepticism.

Instead, excitement began to flicker within the hearts of the clan leaders and Jonin alike.

Hiruzen, confident in his vision for the future, knew he had set into motion a series of changes that could enhance the strength and resilience of Konoha for generations to come.

The path would be challenging, but he felt a surge of hope coursing through him. The village's future was bright, and he would do everything in his power to ensure it thrived.

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