Naruto: Konoha’s Trickster, Starting as the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki

The news that Sakumo had become the principal of the Ninja Academy spread like wildfire throughout the village. Most were surprised—just the other day, the Konoha White Fang had been one of the village's top fighters, and now he was entrusted with teaching and nurturing the next generation. The contrast was too great.

Still, the village largely embraced Sakumo's appointment. After all, having such a powerful ninja educating future shinobi was undoubtedly a huge benefit. Some children who hadn't even enrolled yet were overjoyed at the news.

Of course, where there is agreement, there is also dissent. A fierce debate was raging in the Hokage's office, where Hiruzen and Sakumo found themselves at odds with Danzō Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado.

"This is nonsense! The Ninja Academy was founded by Lord Tobirama Senju!" Danzō shouted, slamming his hand on the table.

"Its purpose was to train strong ninjas to protect the village! Hatake Sakumo, how dare you undermine the edict left by the Second Hokage? This is a betrayal!"

Danzō, practically a self-appointed coffin bearer, invoked the memory of Tobirama Senju to accuse Hiruzen and Sakumo of disrespecting the former Hokage's legacy. To his surprise, Koharu and Homura supported him.

"Hiruzen, Danzō is right about this," Homura said sharply. "You've gone too far!" His expression was grim, reflecting his disapproval.

Koharu, though silent, wore an expression that left no doubt about her agreement.

Undeterred, Hiruzen took a deep drag from his pipe and met their accusations head-on. "I won't deny this is a policy left behind by Sensei," he said, his voice calm but firm. "But the times have changed. What worked then doesn't necessarily suit the needs of today's village."

He gestured toward Sakumo, then continued. "The comprehensive strength of a ninja is key. It's not just about ninjutsu. Konoha has many talented taijutsu specialists—look at Chen, the founder of the Leaf Dragon God style. His strength rivals that of a Jōnin!"

Danzō snorted, his skepticism clear, but Hiruzen pressed on. "And what about Kazuyama Gekkō? He may lack combat jutsu, but his mastery of concealment techniques makes him just as valuable as any elite Jōnin!"

Kazuyama, who happened to overhear the argument, muttered under his breath, "Weak… very weak. I can barely fight and am just an average Chūnin."

"Hmph! Blindly focusing on ninjutsu while ignoring other skills is a flaw that must be addressed!"

"I'll admit, the power of ninjutsu is undeniable. But let's face it—the three of us are getting older, and our chakra reserves aren't what they used to be. In that state, does ninjutsu hold the same value? Without a strong body and physical endurance, no matter how much ninjutsu you master, it's meaningless!"

Hiruzen's presence burned with such intensity that it felt like a small flash of sunlight. His commanding aura shone so brightly that the three men standing nearby instinctively had to shield themselves, as if from a metaphorical glare.

"That doesn't change the law. The will of the Second Lord cannot be altered," Danzō said firmly.

"If you want to cultivate more talent, offer corresponding courses instead of changing the final assessment content!" Danzō's insistence on upholding the law and will of the Second Hokage made Hiruzen grit his teeth in frustration.

"Everyone here knows very well how powerful the Third Raikage is," Sakumo Hatake interjected, crossing his arms with a confident smile. "He doesn't rely solely on Lightning Release but on his indestructible body. Don't you want to cultivate warriors as strong as him?"

That is the truth: the Raikage's strength stems from his physical prowess. Without a strong body, how could he achieve such power?

"There are already talents at the Ninja Academy who excel through Taijutsu."

"I have no intention of overthrowing the will of the Second Hokage. My goal is to carry out that will and refine the unique strengths of each ninja."

"Take Kazuyama Gekkō, for instance. He may lack absolute combat power, but he's unmatched in intelligence and stealth within the village. I want to cultivate more assets like him so Konoha can continue thriving like a star that never dims!"

As one of the village's strongest veterans, Sakumo's unleashed momentum was overwhelming, leaving most unable to withstand it. Even though the three opposing him were elite shinobi who had endured countless battlefields, their resolve faltered.

With the exception of Danzō, the other two had not fought in years, and their aura had weakened. They were instantly suppressed by Hatake Sakumo's presence. Feeling the sharp edge of Konoha's White Fang, their expressions stiffened.

The most pressing issue was that Sakumo was stating the cold, hard truth. The war was growing increasingly dire, and the village's combat power had stagnated. If the trend continued, it was likely that even children yet to reach adulthood would be forced onto the battlefield in the next war.

"Even so, you shouldn't have announced it so openly in public."

"You've completely disregarded the prestige of the Second Hokage."

Koharu held back her frustration for a long moment before finally speaking, but Sakumo remained indifferent.

"Does prestige even matter?"

"The village is surrounded on three sides.Suna, Iwa, and Kumo are all eager to strike. If we don't act soon, the consequences will be disastrous. Surely I don't need to explain that to you."

Sakumo's tone hardened with resolve. "Let me make this clear: reforming the Academy is absolutely necessary. I won't stand by and let students with unique talents be overlooked!"

He continued, "By the way, Chen has accepted my invitation and will come to the Academy to teach Taijutsu at an unspecified date. I believe that with him here, the students' physical fitness and Taijutsu will increase significantly."

Upon hearing this, the three elders were taken aback. They knew Chen's temperament.

He was as immovable as a rock. Though he was undeniably strong, no one had ever been able to persuade him to do anything. The fact that Sakumo had succeeded left them stunned.

It was clear Sakumo had been planning this for a long time and was determined to see it through.

Danzō's face darkened. Knowing he had lost, he spat his famous words:

"Hiruzen! You will definitely regret this! When problems arise at the Ninja Academy, I'll see how you face your Sensei! Hmph!"

As they watched Danzō leave, Koharu and Homura understood there was no room for negotiation. Sakumo's actions were undeniably for the good of the village—what reason did they have to oppose him?

Thus, the three elders suffered a crushing defeat in this battle.

The reform of the Ninja Academy officially began!