Hiruzen glanced at the last student's status panel, and his brows furrowed slightly.
His physical abilities were barely above zero, yet his spiritual strength rivaled that of a jōnin. A two-point Body? At first, Hiruzen suspected an error or maybe even cheating but then he checked the skill list. An entire page of intermediate-level mastery. This student had maxed out everything taught at the academy.
Impressive… but then another detail stood out. Oh? Turns out… he's Hiruko.
Hiruzen's gaze fell on the boy before him—pale, frail, and barely standing. A quick chakra scan revealed hidden injuries all over his body. Just how much suffering had this child endured to make it this far?
Hiruko stood frozen, anxiety written all over his face. He had seen the hesitation in the Hokage's eyes and was screaming internally, 'No—please! Don't take this chance away from me! I need to be a ninja! I have to be a ninja!'
Noticing Hiruko's tension, Hiruzen smiled kindly, like a father reassuring his child.
"Hiruko, right? From today onward, you are officially a Genin of Konoha."
Hiruko's breath hitched.
As Hiruzen tied the forehead protector around his head, he added, "A strong body is essential for a shinobi. I can see yours is a bit weak—it needs proper training. After the ceremony, come to my office."
With that, he finished distributing the forehead protectors and returned to the podium.
Below, the students chattered excitedly, still buzzing with the reality of their graduation. Hiruzen let them enjoy the moment, his eyes scanning the crowd until they landed on Kagami. The man stood near the selection board, representing the Konoha Guard Department as he reviewed potential recruits.
Hiruzen approached him. "Kagami, this first batch of graduates is full of promising talent. Can you leave some for other departments?"
Kagami gave him a half-smile, playing his role well. "Lord Hokage, our Guard Department is already stretched thin. You know how it is—we have a big clan to protect, a lot of responsibilities. If anything, we need more people, not fewer. Honestly, even if we took them all, it wouldn't be enough."
Hiruzen chuckled. Kagami had spent years being groomed as the Head of the Guard. He had become diplomatic, yet he had also perfected the skill of subtly "playing the victim" to secure better deals.
"But look at the Anbu," Hiruzen countered. "They don't even have a full battalion yet. We need to staff them properly. If you don't let some of these graduates go to the Anbu, Danzo's going to cause a problems the moment he returns."
He needed the Anbu fully operational as soon as possible. They were a direct force under his control, and more importantly, he had come to realize that the current setup of the Guard Department was risky.
Previously, he had assigned both customs security and patrol duties to the Uchiha-led Guard, consolidating their power. But now, looking ahead, he saw the flaw in that decision.
Right now, the Guard Department was under Kagami, a loyal and level-headed man. But what about the future? Would the Minister of the Guard Department one day wield more influence than the Hokage?
He needed a counterbalance.
The Anbu had to be structured properly, and his next set of reforms required troops directly under the Hokage's command.
Kagami sighed, rubbing his temples. "Fine. A squadron of recruits to the Anbu, then?"
"You wish," Hiruzen scoffed. "There are other departments to think about. I'm setting up a Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and we're lacking manpower. The Medical and Government Administration Departments need recruits too. Even my Hokage Office could use some new faces."
Kagami smirked, "Why not just assign your disciples to the Hokage Office, then?"
Hiruzen sighed dramatically, "Did you think I haven't tried? Those brats are already tired of seeing me every day. They'll probably take this as their chance to escape. Ah… kids. Just a few years ago, they were overjoyed when I took them out for ramen. Now, they're all chasing their own dreams."
Kagami chuckled, "From what I see, your disciples are well-behaved. Tsunade, especially—she always calls me Uncle Kagami when she sees me. Are you sure you're not imagining things?"
Hiruzen sighed again, shaking his head. "Just wait until you see the department assignment forms they submitted. Every single one of them wants to join the Guard Department."
As Hiruzen and Kagami reminisced about the past in hushed tones, time slipped by, and soon, it was time for the final step of the graduation ceremony—assignments.
Three departments were recruiting fresh graduates:
1. The Security Department – The largest enforcement agency in Konoha.
2. The Government Affairs Department – The administrative hub managing village operations.
3. The Anbu – The most secretive unit, currently lacking leadership since Danzo had been sent to the Fire Trade Company, leaving only squadron leader Sakumo to oversee recruitment.
Standing at the front to represent their respective departments were:
° Uchiha Kagami for the Security Department
° Utatane Koharu for the Government Affairs Department
° Hatake Sakumo for the Anbu.
A few days before the ceremony, most of students had already filled out their preferred department choices. Unsurprisingly, the majority aimed for the Security Department.
It was the most prestigious force at the moment, and its patrol police brigade allowed shinobi to travel across the Land of Fire while earning a salary—an appealing prospect for fresh graduates who had never left Konoha.
However, due to an unspoken agreement between a certain Hokage and a certain Head of the Security Department, the Security Department wouldn't be taking in too many recruits. The excess applicants would be distributed among the other departments.
Many students also applied for the Government Affairs Department. It was a stable job with minimal combat, providing a comfortable life.
Meanwhile, the Anbu was the least popular choice. The unit operated in secrecy, handling classified missions, and its members rarely appeared within the village. It was not an attractive option for those seeking visibility or stability.
As expected, Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya all chose the Security Department. Kato Dan did as well—but was reassigned to the Anbu.
Once the assignments were finalized, it was time for the department heads to address their new recruits.
Kagami stepped forward first. His eyes swept over the 68 graduates he had selected. That's right—he took in 68 of them, leaving 23 for the Anbu and only 12 for the Administrative Department.
The Government Affairs Department, being primarily civilian-run, didn't require many ninjas. So, naturally, the remaining recruits were absorbed into the Anbu.
Facing his new subordinates, Kagami spoke with confidence,
"From this day forward, you are proud members of the Konoha Security Department."
"Our duty is to protect the village, maintain public order, and patrol the Land of Fire. We are responsible for securing checkpoints and ensuring Konoha's safety."
"Remember this—anyone who threatens the peace of our village is an enemy of the Security Department"
"Do you have the confidence to stand beside me and protect Konoha?"
"Yes!" A resounding, enthusiastic response erupted from the recruits. Their excitement was palpable.
In the past few years, Kagami had matured greatly. His experience in the Security Department had honed his leadership skills—he was no longer the young man who once needed Hiruzen to write speeches for him before addressing the Uchiha at Naka Shrine.
After Kagami, Koharu and Sakumo took the stage. While they each delivered a few words to their recruits, neither of them stirred the same passionate response that Kagami had.
When the speeches concluded, Hiruzen turned to the department heads and instructed, "Take your recruits back to their divisions. Kagami, come to my office later."
With that, he placed a hand on Kagami's shoulder and led him away.