Chapter 558: Ninja Academy Principal

Chapter 558: Chapter 558: Ninja Academy Principal

Konohagakure, inside the Hokage Building.

The Third Hokage set aside the pipe he had been holding in his mouth and glanced at Kagami, Guy, and Shisui, who stood before his desk. In a gentle tone, he said, "Regarding your transfer out of the ANBU, I hope you can understand."

Although he had moved out of the Hokage’s office on the third floor, as one of the village’s advisory elders, the Third Hokage still maintained his office inside the Hokage Building.

In contrast, Danzo, who had become the Acting Hokage, had not moved into the Hokage’s office. Instead, he had relocated his office to the underground fortress of the former Root headquarters.

However, this was understandable.

After all, Danzo had not only transplanted a large number of Sharingan into his body but had also implanted the First Hokage’s flesh. Forget dojutsu kekkei genkai users—even ordinary sensory-type shinobi could easily detect several chaotic chakra signatures emanating from his body.

As such, his current body simply could not withstand public scrutiny.

Whenever Danzo appeared in public, he had to apply temporary fuinjutsu to his body beforehand to conceal his chaotic chakra fluctuations and prevent the village’s dojutsu kekkei genkai users from potentially seeing through him.

Consequently, his public appearances had not increased much despite his appointment as Acting Hokage.

As for Kagami and the others, faced with the Third Hokage’s personal reassurance, all three expressed their understanding.

Guy then asked somewhat impatiently, "Third Hokage, do you have any assignments for us? Being suddenly left with nothing to do makes me feel restless all over!"

"Don’t worry. The village won’t let outstanding shinobi like you sit around doing nothing."

After teasing Guy, the Third Hokage turned toward Shisui and asked, "I heard that your Uchiha rescue team encountered members of the Akatsuki and even managed to rescue Sasuke and Neji?"

Shisui nodded and reported, "Yes. Our clan’s rescue team happened to run into the Akatsuki members who had been sent to exchange hostages with Orochimaru. Fortunately, we managed to rescue Sasuke and Neji."

After Sasuke had been abducted, the Uchiha clan had organized a rescue team and searched everywhere for his whereabouts.

As for this supposedly fortunate encounter, it was naturally the result of a tacit understanding between the Akatsuki and its two informants, Kagami and Itachi.

To reassure Kagami and Itachi and encourage them to continue gathering intelligence on Kamigami for the Akatsuki, the Akatsuki had deliberately arranged a hostage transfer and leaked the transfer route to Itachi.

This allowed Itachi to rescue Sasuke and Neji under the guise of an Uchiha rescue operation, thereby fulfilling the Akatsuki’s promise to its two informants.

The Third Hokage nodded gently. "Now that the children have all been rescued, I can finally rest easy."

Shisui hurriedly replied, "We’re sorry for making you worry."

Taking a puff from his pipe, the Third Hokage slowly said, "The Ninja Academy has been completely rebuilt. I’m planning to assign the three of you there."

Hearing this, Kagami’s expression shifted slightly. He instantly guessed the Third Hokage’s intentions.

Kagami, Guy, and Shisui were all jonin who had previously served as ANBU squad captains. Moreover, Shisui was publicly known to possess the Mangekyo Sharingan and was considered a Kage-level powerhouse.

By assigning these three elite shinobi to the Ninja Academy, the Third Hokage clearly had more in mind than simply having them teach students. More likely, his primary objective was to protect Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, who was about to enroll at the academy.

After all, the current shinobi world was far more complicated and dangerous than it had been in the original timeline.

Taking advantage of Danzo’s purge of the ANBU, the Third Hokage was transferring his trusted former ANBU subordinates to the Ninja Academy, strengthening his control over the institution.

It was undoubtedly a clever move.

One had to understand that the abduction of Naruto, Hinata, Sasuke, and Neji had dealt a severe blow to the Third Hokage’s reputation. It had even directly caused the Uchiha and Hyuga clans to withdraw their support for him.

Naturally, the Third Hokage had learned his lesson.

After all, the incoming class of students would include not only Naruto, Hinata, Sasuke, and Neji, but also the next generation of numerous prominent clans, including the three Ino-Shika-Cho clans, the Aburame clan, the Inuzuka clan, and others.

Therefore, the Ninja Academy would become one of the village’s highest priorities. Nothing could be allowed to go wrong!

"The Ninja Academy is currently still missing a principal. Which of you would be willing to take the position?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Third Hokage casually glanced at Shisui. Deep down, Shisui was actually his preferred candidate for the position of Ninja Academy principal.

During the catastrophe that night, Shisui had demonstrated extraordinary combat prowess, reaching a level where he could almost intervene in the earth-shattering battle between the leaders of Kamigami and the Akatsuki.

Moreover, Shisui had protected the unconscious Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Killer B, from the meteor impact.

With the Third Hokage himself gradually growing old, Shisui could already be considered one of the strongest shinobi in the village. Only with someone of his caliber overseeing the Ninja Academy could its safety be assured.

Furthermore, now that Danzo had ascended to the position of Hokage, it was foreseeable that relations between the village and the Uchiha clan would inevitably deteriorate.

Appointing Shisui to the prestigious position of Ninja Academy principal would also serve to appease the Uchiha clan.

However, much to the Third Hokage’s surprise, the moment he finished asking his question, Shisui and Guy simultaneously turned their gazes toward Kagami, who stood between them.

The Third Hokage quickly concealed his surprise and smiled at Kagami.

"Kagami, would you be willing to serve as the principal of the Ninja Academy?"

After a moment of consideration, Kagami nodded. "I’m willing."

Working at the Ninja Academy meant he would no longer have to run around carrying out missions. Not only would the position be relatively leisurely, but it would also allow him to interact closely with Naruto and Sasuke, the two ’saviors.’

Furthermore, in terms of the village’s hierarchy, the position of Ninja Academy principal was a high-ranking post second only to that of the advisory elders.

The principal was even entitled to attend Konoha’s high-level meetings directly, making it easier to obtain intelligence than when he had been an ANBU squad captain.

Thus, Kagami readily accepted the position.

The Third Hokage then turned to Shisui and Guy.

"You two will be assigned to the Ninja Academy as senior instructors. Assist Kagami in managing the school."

"Yes!"

Shisui and Guy answered in unison.

The Third Hokage then handed a document to Kagami and instructed him, "Because of the previous catastrophe, the Ninja Academy was destroyed, delaying the teaching schedule by several months. Therefore, following its reconstruction, the council of elders has decided to merge two incoming classes into one and hold a new enrollment ceremony."

He continued, "As a result, the number of students enrolling this time will far exceed that of previous years. You’ll need to put in some extra effort."

Taking the documents, Kagami casually flipped through them.

Although Neji’s class had already held its enrollment ceremony, the village had been attacked that very same day, and the Ninja Academy had been completely destroyed in the ensuing catastrophe.

As a result, the students of Neji’s class had never actually begun their formal studies at the Ninja Academy, wasting several months for nothing.

Now that the Ninja Academy had been rebuilt, the village’s higher-ups had decided to merge Neji’s class with the incoming class and hold another grand enrollment ceremony...