Starting with rogue ninjas, building the insect kingdom.

Chapter 477 Konoha Reforms: Wood Release Awakening

After the Aburame clan defected from Konoha, defections of civilian ninja began to occur frequently.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, frowned. He was old and his energy was waning, so the two elders had to be reinstated.

"Hiruzen, this can't go on!" Koharu Utatane looked at the runaway socialites with eyes that seemed to be filled with venom.

"In my opinion, it would be better to reorganize all these orphaned ninjas into a single unit. After all, with the Daimyo's full support, Konoha no longer needs to rely on missions to maintain its financial operations."

Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately objected, "No, they didn't do anything wrong. We can't treat them like criminals. We shouldn't completely condemn them because of their individual actions."

"Then what do you suggest we do, Hiruzen?" Even Mitokado Homura, who considered himself a wise man, didn't know what to do. Perhaps they really were getting old, not just physically, but also mentally, and couldn't keep up with the times.

At this point, Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Then recall them to the academy for re-education. This time, I will personally write the teaching materials to guide them. Konoha is too weak now; if it wants to develop, it must open up its ninjutsu."

"Hiruzen, what are you thinking? Teaching them ninjutsu for nothing is just encouraging their desire to defect."

"Yes, Hiruzen, not everyone has a smart head to learn those exquisite ninjutsu. Teaching them would only harm them."

The two tried to persuade him earnestly, but Hiruzen Sarutobi just looked up at them and said, "Times have changed. Koharu, En, and some other ninja clans without distinctive characteristics will eventually disappear into the long river of history."

Soon, Konoha Village ushered in its first major reform.

The Hokage Mission Hall and the Hokage Secretariat have been tiered to handle all the trivial and mundane matters, allowing the Hokage to focus solely on major decisions.

Next came the Konoha Ninja Training Academy.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, personally presided over the meeting, with two elders assisting in the integration process, and the teaching procedures were completely revamped.

Hiruzen Sarutobi pulled out his most prized possession: thousands of ninjutsu techniques he had collected, researched, and mastered throughout his life. These included the Five Elements Ninjutsu, medical ninjutsu, sensory ninjutsu, and general ninjutsu…

He selected those that were easy to learn, powerful, easy to master, and highly functional. Each type of ninjutsu, ranging from simple to complex, comprised approximately twenty different techniques.

It covers all combat modes, including movement, defense, reconnaissance, healing, short-to-medium range attacks, and long-range attacks.

Over two hundred ninjutsu techniques are gradually introduced and taught at each level, all free of charge. At the same time, Konoha is re-selecting civilian ninjas, implementing a second-stage enrollment system.

Although it was said to be a selection of the best of the best, everyone could see that the vast majority of the chosen civilian ninjas were orphans with no relatives or friends.

They have no family background, no complicated social relationships. They were once the most steadfast warriors of Konoha, but now they are the most restless group.

Of course, in addition to ninjutsu instruction, ideological education has also been elevated to an unprecedented level.

Konoha ninjas must possess the Will of Fire; a steadfast will is the only ladder to becoming a strong person.

The Third Hokage's speech at the opening ceremony was printed into a booklet and distributed to every ninja.

The news shocked the entire ninja world.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, broke with decades of Konoha tradition by making ninjutsu public and widespread.

What courage that is! What's even more miraculous is that no ninja clan stood up to oppose it.

In the Land of Iron, at a certain hotel.

Tsunade sat by the window, holding a newly delivered intelligence report, her expression complex.

"It seems the old man has been driven to the brink." She tossed the intelligence report onto the table, picked up her wine glass, and downed it in one gulp.

Uchiha Mamoru sat opposite him, with the same information placed in front of him.

"The Ninja Academy, so our ninja clan has always been an obstacle to Konoha's development?" Uchiha Mamoru had seen through this and began to doubt himself.

"The ninja clans of the past were indeed a bit stubborn." Tsunade poured herself another glass of wine. "But when it comes to teaching, the old man was definitely much better than my great-grandfather and second great-grandfather."

Uchiha Mamoru really wanted to ask why, since the First and Second Hokage should have been far stronger than the Third. But in the end, he couldn't bring himself to ask, because it was no longer relevant to him.

After gulping down her beer, Tsunade stood up and said, "I can't stay in the Land of Iron any longer. Where should we go next?"

"Why?" Uchiha Mamoru asked, puzzled.

"We've been in the Land of Iron for half a year now. The Three Kage Summit can't be kept secret any longer, and the Land of Waterfall will take action against the Land of Iron sooner or later. That old man Mifune is still oblivious, thinking that neutrality will protect him."

"Takigakure won't let him go! We can't just keep hiding here, can we?"

"Now that you mention it, I'm actually quite interested in visiting the Land of Waterfalls."

Uchiha Mori sternly advised, "Lady Tsunade, we are enemies."

Tsunade put down her wine glass, looked out at the streets of the Land of Iron, and asked, "So, where do you suggest we go?"

"The Land of Fire, but not Konoha."

Tsunade paused for a long time before saying, "Alright. Go pack your things, I'll be there in a bit—"

Before he could finish speaking, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.

The door was flung open, and Senju Kazuya rushed in, his face flushed, panting, and his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Mother! Mother!"

Tsunade frowned: "What's wrong? Why are you in such a panic?"

Kazuya raised his hands, his face beaming as if he had won the lottery.

Two emerald green sprouts slowly grew from the palms of his hands. The sprouts quickly grew, thickened, and intertwined, forming a small piece of log in his palms.

"Hahahaha!" Kazuya jumped up excitedly, "I've awakened Wood Release! Wood Release!"

Tsunade's hand trembled, and the wine glass fell to the ground. She stood up abruptly and looked at the seedlings that had sprouted on the ground.

Wood Release, her great-grandfather's bloodline limit—it was bound to happen. Her premonition had come true.

Tsunade showed no joy on her face; she had previously thought that Wood Release would disappear completely with her grandfather's passing.

Unexpectedly, after several generations, it appeared in his own son. One can only imagine the expression on the old man's face when he learned that his son had awakened Wood Release, and how crazy the old guys in Konoha who were still alive were.

No, absolutely no one can know!

"Okay, but remember, you're not allowed to use Wood Release in front of anyone without my permission, understand?" Tsunade sobered up and looked serious.

Kazuya Senju didn't understand why his mother had that expression, but he still nodded and said, "I will, Mother."

"Leave here now."