Naruto: Limitless Sage

"Reform Konoha?"

The First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, raised an eyebrow as he heard Naruto's proposal. Looking into Naruto's determined expression, he could tell—

This boy already had a plan.

"Godaime... do you already have something in mind?" Hashirama asked, intrigued.

At his words, everyone present—Second Hokage Senju Tobirama, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato, Uzumaki Kushina, and even the guests from Sunagakure—all turned their eyes toward Naruto.

Under everyone's gaze, Naruto smiled confidently.

"Of course," he said.

"I've already envisioned the direction Konoha needs to move in. We just need the will to follow through."

"Konoha will undergo a complete transformation!"

His voice carried certainty—and hope.

The others glanced at one another, sensing the magnitude of what Naruto intended.

Hashirama, curious and impressed, asked again, "Godaime, what exactly are these reforms?"

He found Uzumaki Naruto to be quite the mysterious figure.

After all, the strength Naruto displayed earlier—especially considering his age—was astonishing. Even Hashirama, once hailed as the God of Shinobi, had to admit he was impressed.

Now that this remarkable young man had become the Fifth Hokage and was proposing sweeping reforms…

Hashirama was eager to know more.

Everyone else was just as curious.

Naruto didn't hesitate. He stepped forward and spoke clearly:

"The first reform will focus on education."

He paused. "Education is Konoha's future. It's the foundation that determines whether our village can continue to thrive."

He continued, "Let me speak from experience—as someone who graduated not too long ago."

"The current Ninja Academy?" Naruto shook his head. "It doesn't teach students anything meaningful."

That claim caused a stir.

Senju Tobirama immediately interrupted, his tone sharp. "Hold on, Godaime. The Ninja Academy teaches plenty of content!"

He remembered clearly the day he and his brother founded the Academy. Strict standards, carefully planned curriculums—it was meant to prepare shinobi for the battlefield and beyond.

"If we sent out graduates without proper training, it'd be the same as sending them to their deaths!" Tobirama declared.

During the days of the Great Ninja Wars, the Academy truly did provide a solid foundation. Back then, Konoha produced one prodigy after another.

Now, hearing Naruto's words, the former Hokage and other elders frowned in concern.

Naruto, seeing their reactions, smiled knowingly.

"You probably aren't aware," he said, "but nowadays, to graduate from the Academy, all you need to do is pass a test on the Three Basic Jutsu—the Clone Jutsu, Transformation Jutsu, and Substitution Jutsu."

His words hit like a thunderclap.

"What!?"

"Just the Three Basic Jutsu!?" Hashirama and Tobirama both exclaimed.

The Three Basic Jutsu were the most elementary forms of ninjutsu—something any trained shinobi should master early on.

"After six years in the Academy, the final graduation exam is just a test on those three?" Tobirama repeated, disbelieving.

Six years... just to learn basic techniques?

Sure, Hashirama and Tobirama were gifted, but even average shinobi in their era could manage the basics well before then.

They turned to others in the room, seeking confirmation.

Kakashi stepped forward, his expression solemn. He gave a slight nod.

Naruto was telling the truth.

Today's Ninja Academy had stopped cultivating true shinobi.

"This is... unacceptable!" Tobirama clenched his fists. Anger rose in his chest—he was the one who had originally proposed the idea of founding the Academy!

To see it now reduced to this...

It was infuriating.

Because even Tobirama knew—education was the key to Konoha's future.

And right now, that future looked grim.

Senju Tobirama was furious. Of all the things he didn't want to see…

This was it.

An entire generation of Ninja Academy graduates—utterly incompetent.

"Just the Three Basic Jutsu?" he muttered, disbelief tightening in his chest.

"You're telling me students graduate by passing a test on those alone? That's ridiculous!"

Naruto caught the fire in Tobirama's expression but pressed forward.

"Think about it," Naruto said flatly. "This is another one of Sarutobi Hiruzen's tricks."

"What!?"

"That Sarutobi again!?"

Tobirama was stunned.

How could this possibly be connected to Hiruzen?

Naruto explained without flinching:

"Sarutobi Hiruzen, in order to cement his position and prestige in Konoha, twisted the Ninja Academy into a tool for indoctrination."

"He filled the curriculum with propaganda about the Will of Fire, loyalty to the Hokage—and more importantly, loyalty to him."

"At the same time," Naruto continued, "he manipulated the curriculum to block civilian students from ever growing beyond the basics."

"Students from ninja clans don't suffer the same. They get proper training at home. Their families pass down jutsu, tactics, and clan techniques."

"But for civilian students?" Naruto's voice darkened.

"The Academy is their only chance to learn ninjutsu."

"And after six years? All they learn is the Three Basic Jutsu and some shuriken throwing techniques."

A heavy silence followed.

Even Hashirama, simple and warmhearted as he was, looked confused.

He scratched his head, clearly struggling to follow the political implications—but not because he lacked intelligence.

Hashirama's strength had always let him resolve problems through power—not manipulation.

Seeing his puzzled look, Naruto offered a clearer explanation:

"It's simple."

"If civilian students were given real education—if they learned real ninjutsu—then based on sheer numbers, many geniuses would emerge."

"And that... would threaten Hiruzen."

He looked at them, calm but pointed.

"Remember, my father—the Fourth Hokage—was once a civilian. A nobody. Yet he rose to become the greatest of his era."

"That legacy gave hope to many other civilians."

"But to Sarutobi Hiruzen—someone forced to step down to make way for my father—it was a threat."

"If more geniuses like Minato Namikaze appeared, Hiruzen and his allies in the old guard wouldn't be able to control the village."

"So, he sabotaged the system."

"He watered down the Academy. He locked the growth paths of civilian ninjas. And ensured that, unless you were born into a clan, you'd never rise."

Hashirama's eyes widened.

Tobirama's hands clenched into fists.

It wasn't just theory—it matched everything Naruto had experienced in his own class.

"Think about it," he continued.

"Students like Sasuke, Shikamaru, and Hinata—members of elite clans—had inherited techniques and private training. They never had to rely on the Academy."

"But the civilian students?" Naruto shook his head.

"They graduated with just the Three Basic Jutsu. Then they were thrown into missions. If they were lucky, they got a good jonin instructor like we did."

"But most of them?"

"They were placed under mid-level chūnin—sometimes even civilian chūnin with limited skill—who couldn't teach them much beyond mission basics."

"If they were lucky, they'd pick up scraps from teammates or seniors."

"But that was it."

No surprise then—few civilian shinobi ever made it to jonin.

"Unless you were very lucky," Naruto said bitterly, "your path ended before it started."

He paused, then added:

"And sure, I understand. Secret techniques should remain within families. That's fine."

"But Sarutobi Hiruzen—he wasn't a clan head. He was the Hokage."

"He should have at least ensured that every child, clan-born or civilian, learned basic combat ninjutsu. Fundamental survival skills."

"Instead?" Naruto's voice sharpened.

"He gave them nothing."

"Let them struggle. Let them fail. All so he and his faction could maintain control over who rose—and who didn't."

"He didn't just suppress the potential of a few students."

"He crippled an entire generation of shinobi."

The First and Second Hokage stared in stunned silence.

They had already heard dark things about Sarutobi Hiruzen before—but this?

This was something else.

Tobirama's eyes were cold.

He, the founder of the Academy, had envisioned it as a place to unify clans and civilians—where every child could be trained equally, regardless of bloodline.

To hear it had become a tool for political control… it made his blood boil.

Hashirama looked crestfallen. "To fear the rise of new talent... and sabotage them for it…"

"That guy Sarutobi…" Tobirama said quietly, voice taut with fury.

"He killed the future of Konoha just to protect his legacy."

No wonder the village was in this state.

You know,

Back during the impeachment session—

Even the First and Second Hokage were shocked at the current number of jōnin in Konoha.

Because—

When you exclude those jōnin who supported Naruto, the total number left in the entire village was less than a thousand.

To Hashirama and Tobirama, this was unbelievable.

In their era, if Konoha didn't have at least a thousand jōnin, how could they have possibly stood toe-to-toe with the Four Great Shinobi Nations?

Now, they finally understood.

This—was the reason.

After thinking it through, Tobirama couldn't help but ask Naruto directly:

"So, Godaime... what do you plan to do about it?"

Naruto didn't hesitate.

"I intend to implement a nine-year compulsory education system across Konoha—and even in Sunagakure."

"The goal is to ensure that every child, regardless of background, receives at least nine full years of structured education."

He broke it down:

"The first six years will guarantee that students reach genin-level proficiency."

"The remaining three years will prepare them to become chūnin."

"And during these nine years, all ninja clans will be required to open access to their secret techniques—for those who meet the qualifications."

Gasps echoed across the room.

Naruto continued firmly:

"As long as a student can prove—through test scores, instructor evaluations, and loyalty assessments—that they are no threat to Konoha or the shinobi world…"

"They will have the right to learn any jutsu. Clan techniques included."

He wasn't done.

"After reaching chūnin level," Naruto added, "we'll establish a Ninja University."

"A place where chūnin can continue their studies, aiming to become jōnin."

"And more importantly—"

"At the university, they'll also be allowed to study forbidden techniques, under strict supervision, of course."

"Ninja University will also be a research hub—where new jutsu, new tactics, and even new technological advancements can be studied and developed."

Naruto paused, then added:

"And beyond just the ninja curriculum, there will also be general education schools."

"Subjects like science, engineering, mathematics, and technology will be introduced."

"We need to cultivate well-rounded talents who can adapt to a future beyond chakra alone."

"These schools will serve not only Konoha and Sunagakure, but eventually the entire shinobi world."

He stood tall as he spoke, voice filled with conviction.

At that moment—

Hashirama, Tobirama, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade all looked at Naruto, stunned.

The scope of his vision.

The boldness of his reforms.

The openness of his ideas.

They were far beyond anything one would expect from someone so young.

Yet the more they thought about it—

The more they realized: If Naruto's reforms could be carried out fully…

Then both Konoha and Sunagakure—

Would reach a level of prosperity they had never even dreamed of.

They couldn't help but begin to imagine such a future…

And Naruto's plan wasn't even done.

Still immersed in amazement, the group was shaken once more as Naruto announced:

"The second reform—will focus on science, technology, and industry."

"I believe this with all my heart—science is the power that can shape and control the future."

Orochimaru's eyes gleamed instantly at those words.

He had long believed the same thing.

"Science," Naruto explained, "isn't just about machines or tools."

"It's an organized, testable system of knowledge based on understanding the world through reason and experimentation."

"It's a discipline that allows us to predict, create, and improve."

"And for the new Konoha to thrive, we must embrace it."

Science—

A path to understanding everything: the universe, existence, and truth itself.

Through science, Orochimaru had made incredible progress in his research into ninjutsu.

In fact—

By combining scientific principles with chakra theory and experimentation, he had even managed to develop what could be considered a pseudo-immortality technique.

Yet, aside from Orochimaru, almost no one present truly grasped the potential of science.

Perhaps Tobirama Senju, the famed creator of many forbidden jutsu, had some understanding.

But even he hadn't studied science in a systematic or modern sense.

So, with a curious frown, Tobirama asked the question on everyone's mind:

"Naruto... what exactly do you mean by 'science'?"

Naruto smiled.

"Science," he began, "is a force that seeks to answer one simple question—'Why?'"

"Why does anything exist?"

"Why do we have chakra in our bodies at all?"

"Why can a small sealing scroll store such a large number of ninja tools?"

He paused, letting the questions settle.

"For example," he continued, "if we can fully understand the principles behind a sealing scroll—how it works at the most fundamental level…"

"Then what's stopping us from storing S-rank jutsu inside a scroll, ready to be unleashed instantly?"

The room was silent.

"Think about it," Naruto said.

"If, before war breaks out, we prepare thousands of S-rank jutsu sealed in advance..."

"Then once we step onto the battlefield—"

"We won't even need to use chakra."

"We just open the scrolls—and unleash destruction."

For a brief moment, the entire room fell into stunned silence.

Then came a collective gasp.

Just imagining it—a scene where thousands of S-rank jutsu were released all at once—was enough to make anyone shiver.

It would be nothing short of apocalyptic.

And the most frightening part?

It wouldn't even cost the users their chakra.

Just preparation, resources, and strategy.

Realizing this, both Hashirama and Tobirama finally began to understand what Naruto meant by the "power of science."

It wasn't about flashy tools or gadgets.

It was about removing limits.

It was about taking what a shinobi could do—and multiplying it.

They no longer clung to the old belief that jutsu must be cast by a person, using chakra in real time.

Science broke that assumption.

Naruto smiled again.

"And this—" he said, "is only the beginning."

"The true strength of science lies in how it enhances productivity."

"Productivity?" Tobirama echoed, raising an eyebrow.

It was a word completely unfamiliar in the ninja world.

Everyone else in the room—from the First Hokage to Tsunade, from Orochimaru to Jiraiya—shared the same confused expression.

What was productivity?

And how could it possibly change the future of shinobi?

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TN:

Sorry for missing yesterday's update — the internet wasn't working properly 🌐😓

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