Chapter 137: Ninja Academy And Ninja Army Plans
The night in the Star Capital was as dark as ink, with all sounds silenced.
Menma’s figure appeared out of thin air on top of the military base building complex in the Star Capital.
The hem of his clothes seemed to still retain the cold aura of Otogakure, gradually dissipating under the night.
The convenience of the Flying Thunder God Technique allowed him to easily travel to various places in the Ninja World, maximizing time efficiency.
Standing at the high point, Menma removed the White Three-Eyed Fox Mask and overlooked this city reborn.
After more than a year of development, this city, once squeezed dry and lifeless by nobles and the Daimyo, had now completely transformed.
Divided by a river called the Ghost River, the entire city was split into two major zones.
East of the Ghost River was the city street block where ordinary people lived, with lights gradually turning on, and pedestrians’ faces shedding their former numbness, now showing a bit more longing for new lives.
West of the Ghost River was the military zone and administrative zone, also including the experiment zone, family residential area, and the future Ninja Academy.
These buildings, constructed with near-modern technology, referenced the architectural style of the Land of Fire, with an overall pale tone dominated by white, exuding solemnity and dignity.
The entire city was thriving, permeated everywhere with a vibrant aura of vitality.
After lingering on the rooftop for a moment, Menma used Body Flicker to arrive at the experiment zone.
The main laboratories in this area were all underground, connected via elevators and some passages.
When Menma arrived at a certain laboratory on the third underground level, a group of Shadow Clones wearing white lab coats was surrounding various experimental equipment, conducting related research.
They each performed their duties, handling scientific research across all industries of the Land of Stars, even national administrative affairs and the future education system.
When Menma’s main body appeared, the Shadow Clones immediately stopped their work and looked over neatly.
“This is the latest research achievements obtained from Orochimaru.” Menma handed a scroll containing the cloned cell sample and cloned Sharingan technology to one of the Shadow Clones responsible for biological research.
He instructed the Shadow Clones: “Quickly analyze the technology within, and begin large-scale cultivation, especially Shin’s cells, research their rejection-free properties, strive to achieve perfect transplantation and replication of Bloodline Limits as soon as possible, and don’t stop the Sharingan research either, aim to break through to three-tomoe soon.”
Excitement gleamed in the Shadow Clones’ eyes as they took the samples and scroll, immediately diving into intensive analysis work.
Menma nodded in satisfaction; with these Shadow Clones’ assistance, his forces could develop comprehensively, and research on various ninjutsu technologies would far surpass the Five Great Nations.
In comparison, the Akatsuki was still developing in secret, and even Hanzo of the Salamander had not been eliminated.
After handing the items to the Shadow Clones in the laboratory, Menma left and headed to a house in the residential area to rest.
He frequently traveled between Konoha and the Star Capital, so he naturally had his own small courtyard in the Star Capital, right next to the Uzumaki mother and daughter’s home.
“You’re back.” As soon as Menma landed in the courtyard, the sliding door on the veranda was pulled open from inside. Uchiha Hikari, dressed in a kimono, sat on the tatami, half her body tucked into the kotatsu, leisurely watching television. Seeing Menma return, the corners of her mouth curved up slightly, unable to hide her inner joy.
“Mm.” Menma sat on the veranda, a faint fragrance wafting from the living room.
Originally, Menma had only used this place as a stopover and resting spot, living alone, with Uzumaki Kushina occasionally coming personally to clean.
Some time ago, Uchiha Hikari had insisted on moving in. Though they stayed in different bedrooms, living under the same roof brought a lot of life to the house.
Menma couldn’t help but feel a sigh; having a woman at home made all the difference.
“I’ll heat up some food for you.” Uchiha Hikari got up from the kotatsu and headed to the kitchen.
Menma listened to the sounds from the kitchen, walked into the living room, sat on the tatami, and put his legs into the kotatsu.
Winter was approaching, the courtyard already rustling with autumn winds and scattering fallen leaves; the kotatsu was indeed warm.
Soon, Uchiha Hikari returned to the living room with a plate, placing a plate of warm food on the table before shrinking back into the kotatsu opposite Menma.
The food consisted of glutinous rice pastries and similar sweets; eating them warmed the stomach, and Menma, busy all day, enjoyed this leisurely time.
“This afternoon, Kushina brought over a list, saying it’s the first batch of enrollment list for the Ninja Academy, along with teacher resources, for you to review.” Uchiha Hikari took out a scroll and placed it on the table.
Menma ate the glutinous rice pastry with one hand while opening the scroll with the other, his gaze scanning the list.
Ninja Academy—this was the important cornerstone he had set for the future development of the Land of Stars.
For a country to achieve long-term stability, nurturing talent was crucial, and in the Ninja World with superhuman powers, ninjas were the talent; it could be said that in the Ninja World, nothing could be done without the ninja system.
For this Ninja Academy, he would personally serve as principal, using Shadow Clones as part of the teachers, while Uzumaki Kushina’s personality suited her to concurrently serve as vice principal and psychological counselor.
After all, ninjas were essentially killing machines; aside from a few medical ninjas and research ninjas, most would be trained in a military mode, so their mental health also needed attention.
Uchiha Hikari, with powerful strength and as Jonin Squad Leader, Menma planned to have her serve as the Ninja Academy’s guidance director and security director, responsible for students’ practical combat training and ninjutsu guidance, etc.
This would also let the students get acquainted early with their future superiors.
At present, although various countries’ ninja villages had Ninja Academies, ninja clans had their own internal training methods passed down for hundreds of years.
The ninja academies of each ninja village mainly trained civilian ninjas from the village or took in some orphans with ninja talent for training.
Menma’s method of screening nationwide was unprecedented.
The Land of Stars had selected thirty-seven children with ninja talent nationwide, aged six to sixteen; Menma planned to divide them into three classes for education.
Class A would educate children aged fourteen to sixteen; after at least two years of high-intensity systematic learning, qualified graduates would become genin and join the newly formed Star Ninja Army of the Land of Stars.
Class B would educate children aged ten to thirteen; after at least three years of high-intensity systematic learning, qualified graduates would become genin and join the Star Ninja Army of the Land of Stars.
Class C would educate children under ten; after at least five years of high-intensity systematic learning, qualified graduates would become genin and join the Star Ninja Army of the Land of Stars.
In addition to the current thirty-seven, schools throughout the Land of Stars continued to report discoveries of new children with ninja talent, who would be sent to the Ninja Academy each year for in-depth study.
These later children would undergo six-year systematic education, with exceptional talents allowed early graduation.
The former Hoshigakure would completely vanish into the river of history, replaced by the Star Ninja Army of the Land of Stars.
Once scientific ninja tools entered mass production, even those with small amounts of chakra could become genin, forming the foundational soldiers of the ninja army, using quantity to produce qualitative change.
Beyond internal to the Land of Stars, Menma also had his subordinates issue tasks to passing merchant travelers: if ninja talent children or orphans were discovered in other countries, they could be brought to the Land of Stars, and the Land of Stars government would give merchants certain rewards.
For those with families, relocating the entire family to the Land of Stars would also grant certain subsidies, allowing them to settle and establish roots in the Land of Stars.
With so many small countries around the Land of Stars, some internally chaotic with annual disasters and man-made calamities, such policies could greatly absorb children with ninja talent from neighboring countries.
Menma’s hand passed over these names one by one.
Suddenly, his finger stopped on one name.
Orphan from Kumamoto Castle in the Land of Stars… Kabuto?
