125

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat at his desk, the soft glow of the afternoon sun filtering through the window of his office. In his hands was a paper that Tsunade had given him earlier that day. She had passed it along with a curious expression, noting that it had been written by one of the new Genin—Haruto Takeda.

"A sharp one, that kid," she'd remarked. "You should read it. He has some interesting ideas."

Hiruzen had smiled at Tsunade's endorsement, intrigued by the idea that a recently graduated Genin would have something worthy of the Hokage's time. But now, as he sat there, pipe in hand, reflecting on what he'd just read, he realized she hadn't been exaggerating.

Haruto's paper was well-written, filled with thoughtful insights and suggestions that were far beyond what one would expect from a boy his age.

Specialization tracks… mental resilience training… modernization of combat simulations…

The Hokage's brow furrowed slightly. Haruto's ideas weren't just sound—they were practical and forward-thinking, with an awareness of how the ninja world was changing. Hiruzen couldn't help but admire the boy's depth of thought. He was well aware that the world of ninjas was not static, and Konoha couldn't afford to be complacent.

The suggestion of specialization tracks was particularly compelling. Konoha had always focused on producing well-rounded shinobi, but Haruto was right—why not allow students to begin specializing in areas where they showed promise earlier? There were countless missions that required specialists, whether in medical ninjutsu, espionage, or fūinjutsu. It wasn't about narrowing their education—it was about making sure they were better prepared for the roles they would likely fill in the future.

Then there was the matter of mental resilience training. Hiruzen let out a long breath, the smoke from his pipe swirling gently in the air. The boy had touched on something that Konoha had perhaps been neglecting. The mental toll of being a shinobi—of witnessing death, of making life-and-death decisions—was immense. He had seen countless skilled ninjas falter, not because of a lack of talent, but because they couldn't cope with the psychological burden.

Haruto understands the human side of this life, Hiruzen thought, nodding slightly to himself. That insight was rare, especially for someone so young.

Tsunade had been particularly struck by that point. Hiruzen recalled how she had lingered on the subject, her face tightening ever so slightly. It was no secret that she had lost people close to her—her younger brother Nawaki, and later, Dan. They had been strong, but in the end, their strength hadn't saved them from the horrors of the battlefield.

Perhaps the time had come to address this gap in the academy's curriculum.

Hiruzen placed the paper down gently on his desk, his gaze drifting toward the village outside. Haruto's third suggestion, the modernization of combat training, also made sense. The world of shinobi was changing rapidly, and traditional methods alone wouldn't be enough to maintain Konoha's strength. Real-world missions were rarely as straightforward as sparring matches, and Haruto's proposal to integrate more realistic training scenarios was something Hiruzen had considered in passing but had never fully committed to.

This boy is a thinker, the Hokage mused, but more than that, he sees the future.

Haruto's suggestions weren't just about fixing immediate issues—they were about preparing Konoha for what was to come. That kind of foresight was rare, and Hiruzen found himself wondering what kind of shinobi Haruto would become in the years ahead.

He puffed thoughtfully on his pipe again, leaning back in his chair. Haruto's mind was sharp, but it wasn't just intelligence that made a great shinobi. His ideas would need careful consideration, and not all of them could be implemented right away. There would be resistance from certain factions in the village—some of the old guard were bound to question changes to tradition, especially the specialization tracks. But the Hokage knew that change was inevitable. It was the only way to ensure the survival and growth of the village.

Hiruzen let out a sigh, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Tsunade was right, he thought, this boy is interesting.

He set the paper aside for now, making a mental note to discuss it with the academy's senior instructors and council members at the next opportunity. But one thing was clear—Haruto Takeda had earned the Hokage's attention.

As he returned to his work, Hiruzen couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope for the future. If the new generation of shinobi were thinking like this, perhaps Konoha's future was in good hands.