The Hokage's office was bathed in the warm morning light, the faint scent of old scrolls and fresh ink filling the air. Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, sat behind his desk, a mountain of paperwork before him, yet his focus was on the uniformed shinobi standing at attention.
"The registration for the new Academy year is complete, Lord Hokage," the head instructor reported, his voice crisp and formal.
Minato leaned forward, his blue eyes sharp and attentive. "And the numbers?"
"Higher than anticipated, sir. Roughly one thousand five hundred children have appeared for the entrance examination."
Minato's eyebrows rose slightly. A post-war baby boom. A sign of peace and hope, but a logistical nightmare for the Academy. He steepled his fingers, his mind working with the lightning-fast efficiency that had earned him his moniker on the battlefield. A standard exam would be inefficient, lumping prodigies with those who might never even mold chakra.
"We need a new protocol," Minato stated, his voice calm but firm, leaving no room for debate. "Wasting time on a standardized curriculum for such a diverse group is a disservice to them all. Here is what you will do."
The instructors listened intently as their leader laid out his plan.
"Phase One: Chakra Presence. Your first task is to filter. Have every child attempt to channel their chakra. Anyone who cannot yet feel or manifest their energy is not ready. Be gentle, but eliminate them from the main course for now. They can join a preparatory class. Gather the rest."
"Phase Two: Chakra Control. For the remaining students, I want a demonstration of basic control. Tell them to focus and release a sudden, controlled burst of chakra from their hands. It doesn't need to be a jutsu, just a pulse of energy. Those who can't manage it, whose chakra just leaks out, are also to be separated. They have potential, but their control is raw."
"Phase Three: Natural Affinity." Minato continued, his gaze distant as if seeing the entire process in his mind. "Ask the students who passed if they are aware of their chakra affinity. Have them demonstrate it using chakra induction paper. Those who succeed, move to the final phase. Those who fail, or don't know, will form our largest group."
He paused, letting the structure sink in before delivering the final, crucial step.
"This is how we will form the new classes. The children who failed the affinity test will be placed in Batch C. These will be our foundation—mostly civilian-born, full of potential that needs careful nurturing. They'll require extra attention to build their fundamentals."
"The students who successfully demonstrated their affinity will proceed to Phase Four: Taijutsu Sparring. Arrange one-on-one matches. The winners of these spars will form Batch A. These are our budding prodigies, children with natural talent, most likely from the clans. We will push them hard."
"The losers of the spars will form Batch B. These students have the talent and the affinity but lack the strategy or physical conditioning. Their curriculum will focus on shoring up their weaknesses. This way," Minato concluded, his eyes sweeping over the instructors, "we tailor their education from day one. We can judge their talent level and efficiently guide them to become the best versions of themselves. No child is held back, and no child is left behind."
The instructors were stunned by the simple, brutal efficiency of the plan. It was a Hokage's solution—pragmatic, insightful, and aimed at strengthening the entire village. They bowed in unison. "We understand, Lord Hokage. It will be done."
As they exited, Minato sighed, the weight of leadership settling on him for a moment. Then, with a flicker of his hands, three shadow clones poofed into existence beside him, each grabbing a stack of paperwork. "Let's get this done," he said to himself with a grin. "I have somewhere to be."
The Academy grounds were a vibrant, chaotic sea of families. The air buzzed with nervous energy, the excited chatter of children mixing with the low murmurs of their parents. Minato arrived not with the flash of his teleportation jutsu, but on foot, a warm smile on his face. His presence sent ripples through the crowd, whispers of "The Yellow Flash!" and "Lord Hokage!" following him.
He quickly spotted a familiar splash of vibrant red hair. Kushina Uzumaki, his wife, was standing near the entrance, her arm linked with her best friend, Mikoto Uchiha. Standing stiffly beside Mikoto was her husband, Fugaku, the formidable head of the Uchiha clan, his arms crossed over his chest. And between them stood a small boy with dark, intelligent eyes that seemed to see everything: Itachi Uchiha.
"Mina-kun!" Kushina called out, her grin wide and infectious. "You made it, ya know!"
"Wouldn't miss it," he replied, his smile softening as he joined them. "Mikoto-san, Fugaku-san. Itachi-kun. Today is a big day."
"It is," Mikoto said, her voice a gentle melody as she placed a proud hand on her son's shoulder. "He has been looking forward to it."
Fugaku gave a stiff, formal nod, though his eyes burned with an undeniable fatherly pride. "He will bring honor to the Uchiha clan and to Konoha, Lord Hokage."
"I have no doubt," Minato said, crouching slightly to meet Itachi's gaze. "Just do your best, Itachi. That's all anyone can ask."
Itachi looked at the hero of the Great War, the leader of his village, and gave a solemn, respectful bow that was far too mature for his five years. "I will, Lord Hokage."
Kushina playfully ruffled Itachi's hair, earning a rare, fleeting smile from the boy. "Look at him! Not a nerve in sight! You're going to be at the top of the class, I just know it!" she declared, her fiery energy a stark contrast to the Uchiha's reserved demeanor. As she spoke, she scanned the crowd of children, a thoughtful look on her face. "So many kids this year. I hope they all find their way."
As a loud bell chimed, signaling the start of the examinations, Minato watched as Itachi gave his parents one last look before turning and merging with the sea of children being ushered into the Academy building. Among them, for a brief moment, Minato caught a glimpse of a small, determined-looking boy with a shock of cherry-blossom pink hair, his green eyes holding a fire that seemed just as intense as the famed Uchiha prodigy's. The new generation was here, and the future of Konoha was about to be forged.