I, Konoha's Sage of Life-Chapter 162: Trash, Merely in the Wrong Place

"Next up, you graduates will each provide one-on-one guidance. Pick your own student."

"Yes, sir!"

Kamizuki Izumo let out a sigh of relief.

Pick their own student?

That was a relief...

If the juniors had to choose, probably no one would pick them—just average civilian shinobi. That would've been awkward beyond belief.

But if they could choose themselves, there was nothing to worry about.

Just pick someone average, a civilian student like themselves—that way they'd still have more battlefield experience to pass on.

He was just thinking it through when—whoosh—everyone vanished in an instant.

A second later, the ordinary civilian students were already surrounded by a crowd.

Izumo's expression changed drastically.

Crap!

Everyone had the same idea!

He moved immediately, but it was already too late. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead as his eyes scanned the area, and he lunged toward the next-best resources—

Students who had mid-tier grades, according to his memory.

Everyone was thinking fast.

Students like Anko Mitarashi, Hayate Gekkō, and Nara Mayumaru—top of the class—were actually being overlooked.

But...

They weren't completely ignored.

Asuma and Shisui had the guts to step up. Nara Mayumaru was taken under the wing of his own clanmate, Nara Tayuen. Before long, all the standout students had someone for one-on-one guidance too.

What could they do?

The ordinary kids were just too popular.

However, being selected by Shisui didn't make Anko the least bit happy. In fact, she immediately raised her hand.

"Speak."

"Sensei, I'd like to switch!"

Anko was visibly upset.

At least the others were older. But her so-called "mentor" was more than two years younger than her. And yet, she had to call him senpai because of his experience?

I just can't do it!

"Why? You think Shisui isn't qualified to teach you?"

"I... Of course not, but..."

Anko hesitated—there was no way she'd dare say yes.

Shisui was Kyoichi's student. Say yes to that question, and it'd basically be suicide.

"It's okay. I get it. As long as you can beat him, you can pick a different instructor—heck, you can even pick me."

Pick Kyoichi as her instructor?

Anko's eyes lit up, and she sized Shisui up carefully.

If she could win...

She had to admit, the thought was tempting.

"Come on!"

Anko was bursting with energy.

Shisui gave a calm nod. "Alright..."

Kyoichi didn't even need to watch.

Shisui didn't draw a weapon—he was afraid he might accidentally hurt Anko.

After forming the seal of confrontation, the two launched into battle.

Anko used the Body Flicker Technique to close the gap.

However...

The moment she struck, she realized—what stood before her wasn't the real Shisui.

Before she could react—

Bang!

A kick slammed into her.

Anko was sent flying.

It wasn't a difference in raw strength, but in experience and the ability to read battlefield cues. Anko hadn't realized that the Shisui she chased down was a special Body Flicker clone.

"Again!"

Her face darkened.

But—

Shisui didn't use any other techniques. Just pure taijutsu paired with a refined version of the Body Flicker, dancing around her with three afterimages, toying with her without breaking a sweat.

"Is the gap really that big...?" Ishimura Takashige muttered in disbelief.

He knew Shisui was strong, but Anko wasn't weak either—she was one of the top students in class, and she was two years older than him.

And yet she was being toyed with by illusions?

"Those aren't just ordinary clones," someone explained. "They're crafted using Body Flicker fused with clone techniques and genjutsu. If Anko can't identify the real body, she has no chance."

"Body Flicker fused with clones...?"

Takashige blinked.

Even he hadn't picked up on that.

No wonder...

It wasn't that Anko was reading him wrong—her first guess was always correct. It's just that what was a clone a second ago might become the real body the next.

She didn't lose unfairly.

"I yield..."

Anko admitted defeat.

She understood what Shisui was doing—but she couldn't counter it. And what's more...

He only used one technique.

She knew Shisui's main training under Kyoichi had been in kenjutsu and genjutsu, not taijutsu—but he didn't even use a kunai and still beat her cleanly, several times. freewebnσvel.cѳm

On the other side...

Gekkō Hayate was facing off against Asuma—with almost identical results. He was thoroughly defeated.

"Do you understand why?" Kyoichi asked, glancing around.

It wasn't just the instructors watching—the students and the young genin were all paying attention.

These genin had only graduated a year ago.

Many of them didn't think the difference in strength between them and the upperclassmen was all that great—but reality had just slapped them awake.

Anko and Hayate might be a bit behind Asuma and Shisui, but to be completely outclassed like this? That wasn't a matter of raw strength anymore.

"Lack of combat experience. Not fast enough," Hayate admitted.

Anko gave a small nod.

"Speed? No," Kyoichi shook his head. "Being fast with your blade matters, but hitting vital points matters more. If your attacks aren't lethal, what does it matter if you land a hit?"

As he spoke, he drew a kunai and stabbed it into himself.

Gasps erupted all around.

Only Asuma and Shisui remained unfazed.

They knew—Kyoichi had Earth Spear active.

The kunai struck his darkened arm without leaving a mark.

"Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Yes! Even if we're not as strong as you, if Asuma-senpai was willing to trade blows, he might survive being stabbed—but I'd be dead on the spot," Hayate said, lowering his head. He understood now.

"Predicting your opponent's next move, crafting a strategy from the intel you do have—that's the real difference between you and these genin," Kyoichi said.

He nodded in approval.

Teaching smart students didn't require much explanation—and that was exactly why he enjoyed mentoring them.

He turned to Anko.

"Shisui could've beaten you in many ways. But on the battlefield, conserving chakra and stamina is key. In real combat, he wouldn't have used that technique—he'd have killed you in one strike."

"Yes, sir!"

Anko got the message.

Shisui specialized in kenjutsu, but this time, he didn't even use a kunai. He'd gone easy on her—very easy.

Kyoichi gave them a few pointers, then stepped back.

He left the one-on-one instruction to continue.

As for himself, he exited the training field and headed toward the administrative building.

Mitokado Homura's expression was complex. With a touch of concern, he asked, "Aren't you worried they'll slack off? And this kind of peer instruction—doesn't it just waste their training time?"

"It won't," Kyoichi replied calmly. "I didn't have them teach just for the sake of the students."

He paused before continuing.

"They've gained a lot on the battlefield—but even they might not understand what, exactly, they've gained. These students—they're who those genin used to be. In teaching them, they're actually organizing and refining their own understanding."

"...So that's what this is about."

Homura thought for a moment. It actually made a lot of sense.

He sighed and muttered, "Maybe I really wasn't cut out for education. Tell me the truth, Kyoichi—do you kids see me as some outdated old relic?"

"You're only fifty. That hardly counts as old. Ōnoki's over sixty and still rampaging around the battlefield," Kyoichi replied with a half-smile.

But he didn't answer the question directly.

Homura chuckled. "So what you're saying is—I'm not old, but I am outdated? Hah! You and Tsunade really are cut from the same cloth—blunt and decisive... Fine, you win. You'll keep running the elite program."

"Actually, Mitokado-senpai, I came to ask a different favor."

"Oh?"

Homura gave him a surprised look, eyes narrowing in suspicion.

These two—Tsunade and Kyoichi—couldn't wait to push him and Koharu out of the village council. And now they wanted his help?

What, was the sun rising in the west?

"Go on, then..."

"Take a look at this proposal."

Kyoichi handed him the formal proposal for establishing a research institute. Alongside it were a draft plan for using Wood Release to cultivate food, and extended applications of the Rain Tiger at Will technique.

Homura began reading.

His first instinct was to object—but...

There were three documents. He opened the other two.

Then...

He fell silent.

He got it.

Kyoichi wanted to create a specialized department to research ninjutsu—gathering the village's resources to tackle major shinobi breakthroughs.

And the research topics were extremely practical.

The extended uses of Wood Release went without saying—if they succeeded, the Land of Fire would never face food shortages again.

And the applications of Rain Tiger at Will were equally valuable—

If successfully developed, Konoha would gain a powerful sensory technique usable even during storms.

Sure, the village had the Byakugan and insect-based tracking, but who would complain about more options?

The institute would be useful.

If it were the old days, Homura would've rejected it outright.

A research institute might help—but it could also become a haven for rogue scientists dabbling in forbidden jutsu. There's no such thing as perfect security—no matter how strict, something always slips through.

But...

After reading the last two documents—and seeing Kyoichi's reforms at the Academy...

He thought it over and finally said, "If the village approves it, I'll take the role of supervisor—help keep the research institute in check."

"Thank you, Mitokado-senpai!"

Kyoichi gave a respectful bow.

Homura stepped aside quickly and scoffed. "What's with the thanks? Makes me feel like I've lived too long... Sure, Tsunade kicked us off the council and made us look bad, but this has nothing to do with that. I'm doing it for the village."

"Tsunade-nee just acted a bit hastily, that's all."

"Hasty? Heh, don't kid me. You think I don't know you were behind it too? Forget it—I'm done here."

With a snort, Homura walked away, hands behind his back.

Done!

Kyoichi exhaled.

He'd been worried Homura might take it personally—but the truth was, these two old men weren't incompetent—they were just in the wrong roles.

That didn't make them evil.

They were nothing like Danzō.

That guy?

He'd turtle up while sending others off to die. He'd do anything for the Hokage seat. A man with no moral compass.

Kyoichi didn't even want to find a different job for him.

The only good Danzō... is a dead Danzō.

As for the institute—Tsunade had already approved the proposal. All that was left was to convene a Jōnin council.

Kyoichi had also brought up the Hashirama cells and Wood Release topic to her.

At first, Tsunade refused.

But...

When Kyoichi offered to have her join in—not just to supervise, but also to help analyze and research—Tsunade was finally convinced.

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