When Arakawa Arashi arrived, he was flanked by a row of mask-wearing ANBU members. As the head of the intelligence agency, he had grown increasingly taciturn over the years.
He remained indifferent to the spark-filled tension between Morimoto Ryoji and Shirogane Tsukasa, taking his seat in silence.
Once the "Three Titans" of the New Sand Village were in place, the host of the Sand Festival—the Fifth Kazekage, Aoki Shiraishi—appeared alongside his wife, Maki.
While the Kazekage's cloak was crafted with traditional techniques, Shiraishi's version featured a deep teal base accented with specialized silver lining and intricate patterns, lending him an even more dignified aura.
Stepping onto the ritual stage, Shiraishi held a torch aloft. The moment he ignited the festival fire, a thunderous cheer erupted throughout the Hidden Sand.
With the ceremony concluded, the main event began: the squad combat evaluations. Each of the six academies had sent three squads. Among them, the most eye-catching was the new genius of the Arakawa clan, Arakawa Haku.
Two years prior, Arakawa Maru had passed away from a severe illness. Not even thirty years old, his early departure was fueled by his indignation and helplessness regarding the decline of the Arakawa lineage.
Since Maru left no heirs, the clan was currently managed by a group of elders.
Haku had emerged under these circumstances. Despite being only twelve, he had already mastered Sand Control to the point of extracting metals to form Magnet Release.
In this new era, the three lineages of the Sand Style—the traditional noble houses—still produced exceptional talent.
As the main branches withered, various branch-family children like Yamaji Kumtake and Arakawa Haku began to rise.
Under the old system, branch-house geniuses would have struggled to obtain the resources needed to reach their potential; under the New Sand Village system, their talents were being fully developed.
Haku's squad was well-balanced: a female puppeteer who doubled as a medical ninja, and a taijutsu specialist named Shira.
Shira's presence was notable—he was the true successor of the Seven Heavenly Breaths in the original history.
With such clear division of labor, the squad effortlessly dismantled the opposition in the first round, securing victory without breaking a sweat.
"Kumtake, that kid looks pretty good," Roshi remarked.
Though he admired the boy, Kumtake maintained a look of disdain. "He's still got a long way to go."
The Rise of the Technical Shinobi
On the observation deck, Shiraishi nodded. "Some of these kids have talent, they're just too nervous to show it."
With the entire village watching, it was natural for some Genin to freeze up. Shiraishi felt a pang of pity for those who underperformed.
"The other Jonin are taking that into account," Maki noted.
Shiraishi looked down at the chaotic brawls. "The village's demand for traditional combat Genin isn't as high as it used to be. On the flip side, Technical Shinobi are very much in demand."
"Technical Shinobi" was a specialized career path Shiraishi had pioneered. Initially, this group was composed of retired veterans handling specialized technical roles. Now, a portion of Academy graduates chose this path directly.
For example, a ninja proficient in Earth Style who understood architectural design was far more efficient than a standard construction worker.
Demand for ninja in repair and manufacturing was skyrocketing. Traditionally, such tasks were seen as beneath a ninja's dignity, even if issued as D-rank missions.
Shiraishi had changed the status quo by ensuring Technical Shinobi enjoyed the same benefits as traditional ninja: housing in the New Oasis District and equivalent mission compensation.
Even so, the prestige of being a "Traditional Shinobi" meant that the graduation rate for combat roles was strictly capped at 25%, while Technical Shinobi only needed to pass basic training to earn a forehead protector.
To keep the path open, Shiraishi had also established a process for Technical Shinobi to transition into traditional roles later.
Navy Might vs. Clan Tradition
Aside from Haku's squad, most of the other academy teams were being swept by the two squads representing the Navy. Though Ryoji had only sent six people, they were dominating the stage.
"The Eight Heavenly Breaths is truly a practical method. It gives these Genin strength approaching that of a Chunin," Shikasa remarked, though his tone betrayed concern over the technique's proliferation within the Navy.
Ryoji was dismissive. "Without a strong enough will, one cannot use the Eight Heavenly Breaths."
"But some children's bodies aren't suited for it," Tsukasa countered. "Forcing this 'will' upon them—is it appropriate?"
As a forbidden taijutsu on par with Konoha's Eight Inner Gates, the side effects were severe. Training from age seven or eight could cause permanent physical damage.
Not every child was a Rock Lee or Might Guy; even they required years of physical conditioning to support such techniques.
In Shikasa's eyes, the only one truly fit for the technique on that stage was Haku's teammate, Shira.
"The Navy fights and dies in the shadows every year," Ryoji said coldly. "The Eight Heavenly Breaths ensures they survive their missions. Staying alive is more important than anything. Put away your face of false compassion."
As the atmosphere between the two grew colder, the crowd let out a collective gasp.
A cloud of black Iron Sand surged from all directions, swarming toward one of the Navy squads. Simultaneously, the three Navy Genin entered the Third Activation of the Eight Heavenly Breaths. The stage became a blur of afterimages.
One Navy Genin's fist ignited with intense heat, unleashing a Whirlwind Blade enhanced by sparks that slammed into the Magnet Release shield.
Amidst the booming vibrations, Haku remained calm. His Iron Sand shifted into a pair of massive fists, leaping into the air to crush the Navy ninja. However, the three Navy Genin—communicating through Nen (Psychic) Links—evaded the strike before it even landed.
The silent Arakawa Arashi finally opened his eyes. "I didn't realize the Navy placed such importance on Nen Arts."
"The Kazekage's Nen Arts may be a basic sensory tool," Ryoji replied, "but with deep development, it enhances perception and pre-reading to the point of precognitive evasion."
Beyond evasion, Nen Arts had boosted the Jonin's resistance to genjutsu. As Shiraishi's first student, Ryoji had made Nen and the Eight Heavenly Breaths the dual pillars of the Navy's training.
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed. Claim early access on Patreon: Patreon.com/kazama677
🔓 You hold the keys to bonus chapters:💬 10 reviews ignite 1 bonus chapter🔷 100 Power Stones summon another
🔥 Your power determines how fast the tale unfolds.