CHAPTER 16

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Two weeks had passed in Konoha, and the ripples of recent decisions were felt in every corner of the village.

News traveled swiftly, and the streets buzzed with excitement. 

Civilians were abuzz with the thrilling prospect of becoming ninjas.

Training grounds had opened, and many took to them with a fervor that mirrored the warriors they admired. 

In the bustling marketplace, a group of children raced toward the newly established training area, their voices echoing.

"Did you hear? We can train like real ninjas now!" one shouted, determination shining in his eyes. 

"Yeah! And we can even learn jutsu!" another piped up, clutching a worn-out scroll. 

Meanwhile, in the academy, students eagerly awaited the changes to their curriculum, their hearts racing with anticipation.

The news spread through the academy like wildfire—new jutsu, fresh training methods, and an entirely new way of learning. 

"I can't wait for the next semester!" a girl exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. "Imagine learning B-rank jutsu! We'll be so strong!" 

Her friend nodded vigorously. "And the library! There will be so many new scrolls to study!" 

The ninja community was equally enthusiastic. In the Hokage's office, Jonin gathered to discuss the upcoming changes. 

"I've never seen morale this high," one remarked, grinning. "Hiruzen has really outdone himself." 

Another chimed in, "Imagine the talent we'll cultivate with these new facilities. Konoha will be unstoppable!" 

Amidst this backdrop of excitement, Hiruzen had been tirelessly working behind the scenes.

His shadow clones spread throughout Konoha, overseeing the transformation of the training grounds. 

"More chakra seals here, and make sure to reinforce those structures," he instructed his clones. Each clone nodded, vanishing to execute his orders. 

New training grounds opened rapidly, one after the other. The progress on the medical center was remarkable.

The old building had been completely replaced by a larger, more advanced facility. 

Hiruzen gazed at the construction site, satisfied. "The foundation has been laid," he mused to himself, contemplating the future.

"Soon, Konoha will boast five formidable S-rank ninjas. Once Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Sakumo graduate, they'll be under my wing. But first…" 

He shifted his focus, activating his crystal ball to view the Konoha forest. There, a small boy trained with fierce determination. 

Hiruzen observed as the child kicked and punched a tree, sweat cascading down his brow.

Each strike echoed with resolve. "Impressive," he thought. "He doesn't hold back." 

The boy had black hair styled in a 3-7 haircut, clad in a green spandex suit with a vibrant yellow scarf.

This was Maito Dai, the future "Eternal Genin" of Konoha, a child filled with untapped potential. 

Hiruzen noted the boy's tenacity. For a week, he had watched Dai train relentlessly, never faltering. 

A shadow clone of Hiruzen emerged from behind a tree, catching Dai's attention.

The boy quickly fell into a defensive stance, but when he recognized the Hokage, he bowed deeply. 

"Good evening, Hokage-sama. What can I do for you?" Dai asked, his voice steady yet tinged with excitement. 

Hiruzen smiled, pride swelling in his chest. "I've been watching you train, Dai. Your spirit pleases me greatly. I'd like to take you on as my student, if you're willing." 

Dai's eyes widened, disbelief creeping in. "C-can I really be your student, Hokage-sama?" he stammered, tears welling in his eyes. 

Hiruzen's smile grew warmer. "Yes, Dai. I came here just for you. Now, what do you say?" 

Joy erupted within Dai. "I would be honored, Hokage-sama! Thank you so much!" he shouted, leaping into the air and striking his signature "Nice Guy" pose, his enthusiasm contagious. 

Hiruzen chuckled, remembering his own youthful exuberance. "Dai is a breath of fresh air," he thought. "It's people like him that Konoha needs." 

Later that day, Hiruzen took Dai to the Hokage Mountain. The boy could barely contain his excitement as they approached.

Hiruzen pointed to a large house at the mountain's base. "That will be your home from now on. I'll be personally training you here." 

"Yes, Hokage-sama!" Dai shouted, his spirit soaring. 

The following day, Dai arrived at the training field, awestruck by its vastness. "Is this where we'll train, Hokage-sama?" he asked, his voice trembling with eagerness. 

"Yes," Hiruzen replied, a grin on his face. "But first, you should start calling me 'teacher.'" 

"Of course, teacher!" Dai exclaimed, his eyes sparkling. 

"Now, let's discuss you," Hiruzen said, his tone shifting to seriousness.

"Your body is unique, Dai. You may lack chakra, but your willpower surpasses many ninjas in the village. You have the potential to become an S-rank shinobi." 

Hiruzen continued, "You've been training diligently, but it hasn't been effective. We'll work on that together.

I've noticed you practicing the Eight Inner Gates Formation—a forbidden technique. It requires immense physical strength, which is why I'm here." 

Dai listened intently, soaking in every word. Hiruzen began demonstrating various techniques, his movements fluid and precise.

Dai's eyes widened in awe as he witnessed high-level taijutsu executed flawlessly. 

"Is that… is that really what I could do?" Dai whispered, barely able to contain his excitement. 

"Yes, with hard work," Hiruzen replied. "Here's a scroll with Konoha's Six Styles, including Rokugan and Seimei Kikan techniques."

He handed it to Dai, who accepted it with trembling hands. 

Dai's heart raced. "Thank you, teacher! I'll study hard!" 

"Good. You'll also need to understand your body. Here are medical scrolls detailing its structure, pressure points, and muscle development." Hiruzen emphasized the importance of knowledge in training. 

"Knowledge is power," he reminded Dai, who nodded vigorously. 

After examining Dai's body with medical ninjutsu, Hiruzen healed any lingering injuries. "Now, for your training routine," he said, a clone appearing with a detailed plan. 

"Follow this closely. You'll need it," Hiruzen instructed. 

Finally, he stepped forward, placing a token in Dai's hands. "This will allow you to take D-rank missions from the mission hall for practice." 

"Thank you, teacher! I'll work hard to make you proud!" Dai vowed, determination blazing in his eyes. 

"Now, I'll place a few seals on your body for training purposes. These advanced seals can be activated or deactivated by voice command." 

With careful precision, Hiruzen inscribed a seal on Dai's chest. A Taiji symbol glowed faintly. "Say 'Turn on gravity seal,'" he instructed. 

Dai followed the command, and immediately felt an immense weight pressing down on him. With a loud thud, he collapsed to his knees, panting. 

Hiruzen facepalmed. "Don't be so hasty, Dai." 

"S-sorry, teacher," Dai stammered, struggling to stand. 

"Turn off," Hiruzen commanded, and the weight vanished instantly. 

"Now, remember to follow the routine and spar with my clone daily. I'll also teach you bukijutsu and various weapon arts along with taijutsu." 

"Yes, teacher! I'll learn them all!" Dai replied, enthusiasm radiating from him. 

As the days turned into weeks, Dai immersed himself in training, pushing his limits. Meanwhile, within the clans of Konoha, Hiruzen's earlier comments hung heavily. 

Whispers filled the air during clan meetings. 

"Can you believe what the Hokage said about our secret techniques?" a member of the Nara clan scoffed, frustration evident on his face. 

Another chimed in, "He's overstepping his bounds. Asking us to share our most prized jutsu?" 

The room buzzed with murmurs of dissent. 

A large man with a deep voice, a member of the Uchiha clan, slammed his fist on the table. "He has no right to speak of our secrets so openly! What does he think he's doing?" 

An older member shook his head, his brow furrowed. "We need to be careful. The Hokage has his vision, and he's determined. If we refuse him…" 

"What can he do?" the Uchiha retorted. "He's just one man. Our techniques are our legacy!" 

Others nodded, but a flicker of unease passed through the room. 

"Let's not forget his strength," the older member warned. "He can rally the civilians against us. We need to tread carefully." 

"Are we really going to let him dictate our actions?" a young member asked, challenging the elders. 

The tension in the room thickened as the clans debated. While some were furious, others were intrigued. 

"What if we collaborate with him?" a voice suggested cautiously. "Imagine the advancements we could achieve." 

Another member snorted. "And risk losing our unique techniques? Never." 

Yet, the seed of doubt had been planted.

Hiruzen's bold words stirred both fear and ambition, forcing the clans to reconsider their positions. 

Meanwhile, Dai trained tirelessly under Hiruzen's guidance. Each day, he pushed beyond his limits, testing the seals and routines given to him. 

With every success, his confidence grew. "I can do this! I can become strong!" he shouted during training sessions, determination fueling his every move. 

Hiruzen watched, a proud smile on his face. "You're on the right path, Dai. Keep it up." 

In the shadows of the clan meetings, a new alliance began to form, fueled by Hiruzen's vision for Konoha.

As challenges loomed ahead, the village held its breath, ready to witness the unfolding future.

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