***
[Kusagakure Shinobi Academy | Academic Performance Report – Nagato Uzumaki]
Student ID: #0927-UZ
Affiliation: Kusa Shinobi Academy – Senior Year
Instructor(s): Jōnin Overseer Seki
Academic Scores
Academic Scores:
Ninjutsu Theory
Score: A
Remarks: Displays refined chakra control
Taijutsu Application
Score: A
Remarks: Calm and precise strikes
Shinobi Ethics & History
Score: A
Remarks: Excellent grasp of shinobi code
Group Coordination & Tactics
Score: A
Remarks: Natural leadership tendencies
Instructor Comments
"Though quiet, Nagato commands respect through action. He excels in patience-based drills and frequently surpasses expectations when assigned solo stealth missions. His connection to fellow students Yahiko and Konan is evident, they operate seamlessly as a team. His chakra sensitivity is advanced for his age."
, Jonin Eiichi
Behavioral Report
Always greets instructors and senior shinobi with proper etiquette
Has not been involved in any disciplinary cases
Frequently observed assisting injured or struggling classmates
Displays maturity beyond his age, particularly during mission simulations
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Special Notes (White Zetsu)
"Nagato maintains deep emotional ties with the following individuals: Yahiko and Konan , Kana, Lord Charlie of Kusagakure , and his late mother (whom he honors in silence daily). These five figures serve as the emotional core of his loyalty and purpose."
Overall Evaluation:
Qualified for Advanced Shinobi Graduation Trial
Projected Shinobi Classification Upon Graduation: high potential.
***
Following Madara's orders, they were not to interfere with the boy's growth, only keep watch. Nagato was simply a vessel for Madara's eyes, and it wasn't yet time for the Rinnegan to awaken. Madara still needed the God Tree's body to sustain his own life.
If the Rinnegan had truly awakened and the Gedo Statue was summoned, wouldn't that mean Lord Madara's defeat was imminent? Still, it called for some investigation.
After a brief pause, Madara seemed to finish reading whatever was before him and said calmly, "Looks like his grades are good. He hasn't disappointed me."
White Zetsu, puzzled as always, sensed something was off. But just then, Madara slowly closed his eyes and said, "If there's no important intel, I'm going to sleep."
"...Lord Madara is tired? Then I won't disturb you," White Zetsu said, snapping back to attention with a grin. "Lord Madara, if you need anything, just let me know."
A tool must know its place, so despite his curiosity, he didn't press further, besides, he wasn't even sure where to start asking. Just as he turned his head away, he noticed a few slender sticks lying carelessly on the ground.
Chopsticks? When did those get here?
And why were there so many? Where did they even come from?
Meanwhile, elsewhere, Charlie, unaware that he had just been added to Nagato's list of important contacts, finished a simple walk around the academy and headed to the meeting room. Today was the first spring meeting for the Land of Grass, a very important gathering!
Except for one guy still crouching in the corner, all the senior officials were present. With everyone watching closely, Charlie folded his hands in front of his chin, wearing a serious expression as he announced another critical topic:
"We're out of money."
The room fell silent, everyone stunned by their lord's words. Out of money already? When they had visited the Land of Hot Water, they even brought back the wealth hidden by the Land of Whirlpools, and now... no money?
But after some thought, considering all the expenses for rebuilding and development, it made sense they were running dry. In fact, it was almost a miracle that the Land of Grass had lasted this long without selling any intel. 'So what now?' Just as Charlie looked to the others for ideas,
An old shinobi from the Kusagakure timidly raised his hand and suggested returning to the old ways of making money for the village again.
"Why don't we sell intelligence?" someone suggested.
Immediately, voices chimed in. "Yes, we have to sell intel!" "We know how to sell intel!" "Is the Land of Grass really the Land of Grass if we don't sell intel?"
Watching the old shinobi keep pushing the idea of selling intelligence once again, Charlie felt completely helpless. The Hokage was gone, yet these guys were still stuck on the same old plan!
He wasn't entirely against the idea of selling intelligence, after all, other countries were already buying fake information. If it caused problems for them, that wasn't really his concern. But the real problem was this: because of the underhanded tactics used during the First Great shinobi War, it was easy to guess which nations in the shinobi world still trusted the Land of Grass's intelligence. Probably none.
No shinobi village would want to buy from them, even at a discount. Especially now, with the war over and peace settling in, the Five Great Shinobi Villages all knew there wouldn't be another war anytime soon. So who would pay for potentially misleading intel? And relying on just one source of income was far too risky for the Land of Grass.
If something went wrong, the losses would be devastating. That's why, in the last two meetings, he had proposed diversifying their income, suggesting they develop animal husbandry and even the entertainment industry. Unfortunately, those plans were still in their infancy and needed time to grow.
"Why don't we just send out our own shinobi on missions?" Elder Youma wondered aloud near the city gate. "That's how the bigger villages bring in steady funds."
Before anyone could reply, a nearby shinobi sighed, his tone full of resignation. "Don't kid yourself. No one's going to commission missions from the Kusagakure."
"I just don't get it," another chimed in. "Our skills aren't bad at all. So why don't we get any work?"
"Yeah! We might not be on the same level as the Five Great Villages, but we can handle small missions. Plus, our rates are fair, sometimes even discounted. Way cheaper than the big guys!"
"Probably because of our bad reputation," someone else muttered. "Like when we sold fake intel during the First Great shinobi War, quantity over quality. And since the Land of Grass doesn't have its own kekkei genkai or unique jutsu, we mostly copy techniques from other villages. So people just don't trust our credibility or abilities."
As soon as he said that, the others shot him furious looks. Seriously? Why be so bluntly honest? Meanwhile, the shinobi from the Uzumaki and Chinoike clans, having only just joined, quietly looked up at the ceiling, not daring to speak out of turn.
"Ahem, let me say a few words," Elder Youjin, the academy head, cleared his throat twice and spoke with firm authority.
"Calling this Kusa shinobi's techniques 'copying' isn't right. Shinobi skills aren't something you just mimic. We all come from the Land of Grass, it's not something to take lightly. As our lord said, what we're doing here is 'using the enemy's techniques against them.'"
He sighed deeply. "Our Land of Grass is a poor and fragile country, only recently rebuilt. What's wrong with learning from stronger nations and shinobi villages?
Picking up advanced jutsu and better ways to manage knowledge, is that really a crime? If it helps make our country and village stronger, where's the harm in that?
As a member of the Kusagakure, even though I haven't been here long, I have to speak up and criticize this Kusa shinobi. Please, stop this high-minded talk."