The Sand Village's system was producing results. The group of young ninja here were growing up healthy, and the young Konoha ninja were doing the same.
Several years had passed since the end of the Third Great Ninja War. Now the major hidden villages had essentially recovered their strength, including the slowest-progressing Hidden Mist Village which, with additional support and assistance, had completed its repairs and reconstruction.
Next, several major hidden villages began emulating the Sand Village's regulations and systems, adapting them to their own countries and village development situations. In this aspect, Konoha was moving the fastest.
Although the Konoha ninja academy itself had not changed significantly, various public facilities and institutions within the village were being built according to the Sand Village's model. For example, hospitals and specialized schools for training non-ninja civilians.
These things were aspects the Sand Village could not and did not try to conceal.
However, while there were certain aspects other hidden villages could learn from and replicate, there were also resources that other hidden villages simply did not possess.
For example, in recent years the population of the Land of Wind had grown dramatically. The Sand Village had used its methods to quietly develop and enhance the effectiveness of its reproductive medicine, maintaining strict secrecy around its formulas and doing so very effectively.
Although the pharmaceutical industry had become extraordinarily sophisticated by now, with various imitation medicines being released in succession, there remained specific medicinal substances that other countries and villages found extremely difficult to replicate.
After Konoha imitated certain Sand Village pharmaceuticals, in recent years many smaller countries and villages had begun researching and imitating them as well.
But the Sand Village continued to reap profits as before. Their advantage rested on a highly effective and secretive manufacturing approach, utilizing specialized medicines not readily available elsewhere. This had made many powerful forces realize that the pharmaceutical resource industry was not without immense profit potential. The key was researching and developing new medicines that others did not possess. This allowed one to reap enormous rewards, just as the Sand Village had done.
Therefore, many smaller nations and powers had begun investing in pharmaceutical research and development, simultaneously fostering the growth of numerous imitation industries across the ninja world.
"Each village's new mechanisms are now firmly established. The impact of the previous Great Ninja War has almost completely subsided. The subsequent development of the major hidden villages now revolves around preparing for potential future conflicts," Yuji said, setting down his chopsticks after finishing the meal, turning his thoughts over the current state of the ninja world.
He looked at Pakura and said simply, "With you here, our village will have no problems."
"The ninja world has always been like this. Peace cannot last indefinitely. It has always been followed by war," Pakura replied.
After a brief rest, they sat quietly for a while.
The current prosperity and tranquility of the ninja world was only temporary.
"Furthermore, when the Great Ninja War does break out, it will also be beneficial for our village's children. They must experience the brutality of war in order to grow and carry the Sand Village's banner forward into the future. Being protected by the village indefinitely is not a good thing for them."
"They need to understand the reality and nature of the ninja world. Even though they can enjoy this kind of peaceful scenery right now, it is because..."
"Strength is the foundation."
"After all, we are also..."
"They have grown up so much," Pakura added quietly.
Do not be fooled by Pakura's current appearance, which resembled that of a gentle lady, and her softened personality. The moment the topic turned to war, she immediately reverted to her original strong-willed manner. She smiled quietly as she said it.
"I will go to the academy to check on things. You go home first."
Mentioning the children had given Yuji a slight urge to visit the ninja school.
"Alright." Pakura collected the lunchbox and slowly left the office.
Shortly after, Yuji and Baki arrived at the ninja academy.
At this time, on the vast training grounds of the school, many classes of students were practicing simultaneously. The ninja academy's area was now considerably larger than it had once been, so even though the number of children in the village with ninja potential had grown dramatically, the facilities were sufficient to ensure the school's activities and teacher-student system could function normally.
Out on the field, several classes were conducting outdoor training, not all of the same age. Some were older students, some had only just entered the academy.
The two of them stood outside the field watching.
From a considerable distance, they observed without disturbing the teachers or other students.
The newer students at the ninja academy were training in the most basic taijutsu and ninjutsu techniques, including throwing weapon usage and other foundational skills, none of which yet involved chakra. Even so, a quick glance was enough to reveal which children were more outstanding and which were more average.
Some students still needed the teacher's guidance when handling shuriken, but others could already use them with confident skill.
For example, the silver-haired Kimimaro, his small figure moving with surprising swiftness, accurately fired shuriken at distant targets, hitting within the red circle every time.
Another small figure expertly controlled a volley of senbon, piercing all the targets the teacher had suspended in the air.
There was another figure whose physique did not look much like that of a six-year-old boy at all, carrying a load that even an average adult could not lift while running at breakneck speed.
The ninja world was that cruel.
Those with potential and those without, from birth it was already largely predetermined.
Compared to other children their age, Kimimaro and his group had already surpassed the starting line by a significant margin.
Kimimaro, Jugo, and Haku were all freshmen who had enrolled this year. Of course they were not the only ones excelling in the lower grades. Several other children had also achieved outstanding results.
"The Uchiha clan," Yuji murmured.
It had to be said, the Uchiha clan's bloodline was truly formidable. Even without an awakened Sharingan, the children of this clan possessed an undeniable innate talent for ninja arts. Setting everything else aside, their tactile sensitivity when manipulating ninja tools and using throwing weapons seemed almost instinctive. Although unfamiliar with formal training, their skill level at this age was already quite impressive.
"How many members of the Uchiha clan are there in the village now?" Yuji turned to Baki beside him and asked.
"A total of forty people. Their descendants range from the oldest at seven years old to the youngest who was born just this year," Baki replied.
It was only natural. The Uchiha clan members had been brought to the Sand Village by the previous generation. Yuji nodded quietly.
From the initial five people to now forty, they had essentially maintained a rate of roughly one child per year. After a period of development they had reached a meaningful size. This had not disappointed him. It could be considered the completion of the reproduction task he had set for this bloodline.
"These children," Yuji narrowed his eyes slightly, a hidden meaning in his words.
"From what I can see, they all identify themselves as Sand Village people, yes?"
"Lord Kazekage, rest assured. We have taken measures to prevent them from having any contact with information about the Uchiha clan of Konoha. Furthermore, we have signed agreements with Konoha, and their lineage was formally transferred from Konoha. As for the truth of what happened back then, at least until they leave the village, they will never know," Baki said.
"There is nothing to worry about. Wait until they are a little older. If anyone asks, you can tell them the truth. There is no need to hide anything permanently," Yuji said with a quiet smile.
"Yes," Baki replied.
The Uchiha clan was going to find out eventually that their clan in Konoha had been annihilated.
Regardless of the full truth of what had happened in those events, the Sand Village had preserved the Uchiha clan's bloodline.
Consider it a form of salvation for them.
If they wanted to direct their anger somewhere, they could direct it at Konoha.