"I'm sure you've all noticed."
"In the clan district, we now have one more building our own school."
Inside the Uchiha conference hall,
Chiya sat on the main seat, facing the clan elders gathered below.
During the reconstruction of the new Uchiha homes, he had also arranged for an additional building to be constructed a full training facility, classrooms, and a small dojo integrated into one.
"Patriarch, do you intend to open an academy personally run by the clan, and educate our children in it?"
Uchiha Ryunosuke asked solemnly.
"Exactly."
Chiya nodded.
After all, he couldn't allow Uchiha children to continue attending the village's Ninja Academy, where they would receive the Third Hokage's "Will of Fire" ideological teaching.
Otherwise
If too many children grew up like Uchiha Itachi, worshipping the Hokage more than the clan…
One Itachi had already dared to massacre the clan in canon.
If several more appeared, they might not only destroy the clan they might end up digging up the ancestral graves!
Now that the clan had money and resources,
it was better to establish an academy of their own,
and instill true Uchiha pride and clan identity into the youngest generation from the very beginning.
"But… the village leadership may not agree so easily,"
Ryunosuke said with a sigh.
The Ninja Academy had always been under direct jurisdiction of the Hokage's office.
Traditionally, the Hokage served as the school's highest authority, giving speeches, setting curriculum, and even approving instructors.
In a way,
the Academy was a symbol of the Hokage's authority
, the sole institution for training new shinobi of Konoha.
So if the Uchiha suddenly opened a second school…
Friction with the village's top authorities was inevitable.
Ryunosuke understood that such conflict wasn't wise right now.
It wasn't that he feared confrontation,
but Uchiha was in a period of rapid expansion and prosperity and developing internal strength should remain the priority.
Only when the clan's foundation was strong enough
would direct confrontation with the Hokage be favorable.
"Don't worry,"
Chiya said in a steady tone.
"Since I thought of it, and even the building is complete,
then naturally… I already have a way."
...
After the meeting ended, Chiya headed straight to the Hokage Office.
At that moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen was still distressed, wondering how he would monitor Uchiha from now on after the mysterious barrier disrupted his Telescope Technique.
At the same time, the recent disputes involving the clan's tax exemption proposals had caused his hair to turn even grayer.
As soon as Chiya arrived, he didn't bother with formalities and spoke directly:
"Lord Hokage, recently many of our clan's children have reached academy age."
"But as you know, our new Uchiha district sits at the far edge of the village, furthest from the Ninja Academy."
"And… children wake up late in the mornings…"
"So nine times out of ten, they arrive late."
"If they're late, the instructors punish them…"
"So the children have recently been complaining to me. Some even envy classmates who can sleep longer because their homes are closer to the school."
"And because of the distance, when they walk home after class each day, they arrive very late as well. That worries the parents… and me."
Sarutobi: "???"
Impatience flashed through him.
Was this kind of trivial brat problem really worth reporting directly to the Hokage?
Did Chiya think he had nothing else to do?
Taking a long breath, Hiruzen forced himself to speak calmly:
"Then… what solution do you propose?"
"I believe the Ninja Academy should be relocated…"
Chiya said seriously.
"It would be better to move it closer toward the Uchiha district."
"That way, the children won't be late."
Hearing this,
even Sarutobi Hiruzen a man famous for his patience couldn't help rolling his eyes internally.
Was this kid brain-damaged?
Just for something this trivial…
He wanted the Hokage to relocate the entire Ninja Academy?
Absurd!
"The Ninja Academy was founded by the Second Hokage, Tobirama-sama," Sarutobi Hiruzen said sternly, his patience thinning.
"It has existed for over fifty years, and its location has never once changed.
It holds great symbolic weight for the villagers and the entire village system."
"For half a century, the Academy has stood where it is.
If we were to relocate it just because of such a small request, not only would it be unrealistic, the villagers themselves would never accept it."
Every word from Hiruzen was tight, flawless, leaving no angle to argue.
Indeed, the Academy had functioned at the heart of Konoha since Tobirama created it after the Warring States period, strictly under the Hokage's authority.
It was one of the core symbols of Hokage power.
To touch it was to touch the political foundation of the entire village.
After pondering for a moment, Chiya suddenly said:
"Then I've thought of an excellent solution one that doesn't require relocating the Ninja Academy, and also ensures the children won't be late."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed in curiosity and caution.
Chiya continued calmly,
"That is our Uchiha clan will open a second school within the clan district.
This way, the Ninja Academy remains untouched, and our children can attend classes nearby without being late."
This time, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't maintain his gentle façade.
His face instantly darkened, years of experience unable to hide the sudden fluctuation in his killing intent.
A flash of sharp hostility passed through his cloudy eyes.
Everyone knew:
The Ninja Academy was under the Hokage's direct jurisdiction.
The Hokage himself was its head authority.
The Academy represented not just education, but the ideological backbone of Konoha
the Will of Fire.
For the Uchiha to establish their own school…
First a school.
Then a principal.
And after that?
Would they aim for the Hokage's seat directly?
Hiruzen's killing intent rose uncontrollably.
Chiya, however, remained completely calm.
He knew very well this matter would trigger such a reaction.
He had already prepared countermeasures.
At that moment, a cold, gravelly voice echoed from behind Hiruzen.
"The Academy's duty is not merely to teach ninjutsu or basic skills,"
the voice said harshly.
"What matters most is instilling the true meaning of the Will of Fire."
"Do you Uchiha… even understand that?"
Shimura Danzo walked in slowly, leaning on his iconic crutch, one eye cold and sharp.
The instant he appeared, Chiya's gaze swept toward him and immediately noticed the thick bandages wrapped around Danzo's right arm.
His brows lifted slightly.
Then he casually remarked,
"It seems Danzo-sama's confinement period has ended."
"You little—!!!"
Danzo nearly exploded on the spot, beard trembling with rage.
He rarely suffered humiliation.
But this brat
this irritating, sharp-tongued brat
had repeatedly embarrassed him.
And now, the moment they met again, he was openly mocked…
right after Danzo had barely crawled off an operating table.
It made him want to tear the boy apart with his teeth.
His killing intent spiked as well.
Two old monsters of Konoha, both furious.
One Uchiha brat, completely unfazed.
The room grew suffocating.
And the political war between the Hokage faction and the rising Uchiha clan…
continued escalating.