- So, what did you find, Danzo?
The two longtime friends and rivals were comfortably seated in chairs on the first floor of the Hokage's residence, enjoying a selection of tea supplied by the Sarutobi clan from the Land of Lightning. Despite the night outside the window, Hiruzen didn't show any displeasure at the late visit, realizing that the head of the Ne had his reasons.
- The Nara clan has taken custody of far more than four children," the one-eyed shinobi grumbled, pulling out a scroll and holding it out to the Hokage.
- Hmm?
Sarutobi raised an eyebrow questioningly as he printed out a folder from the scroll he had handed over.
- The questionnaires for over two dozen kids that the smart guys from all the orphanages took," Shimura explained with a frown.
- And?
- They took the best ones, Hiruzen! The ones guaranteed to reach the rank of tokubetsu jonin or even jonin," Danzo explained angrily, "half of whom would have joined the ranks of the Root, now in Nara's hands! The very best! Candidates for both branches of the Anbu!
- Well, two dozen isn't a big deal," Sarutobi shrugged, for whatever the Nara had done, it wouldn't change the real balance of power, unlike the political situation. Obviously, the recent losses were too much and the Nara decided to make up for it this way.
In fact, Hiruzen was even somewhat relieved to determine the motives of Konoha's chief strategists and stop wondering about the reasons for such unusual behavior. Orphans... two dozen were not that important, but a hundred or two were... So he didn't understand his companion's concern over the fact.
- You don't understand, Hiruzen, today one clan will do that, tomorrow a couple more will follow suit and the best potential shinobi will strengthen not the forces of the village, but of the clans! Or should I remind you that Jiraiya is from an orphanage, just like Orochimaru.If such gems fall into the hands of the clans, it will be much harder for us to undermine their influence.
- It's not harder than before," the Hokage said with a hum and shook his head, "It's possible, but you're not taking into account the political moves of such a scenario, looking only at the outside. Everyone knows that the Nara's strength is brains, not strength, so it wouldn't be too bad for their reputation, but the other clans... It would be tantamount to admitting the weakness of their fighters, and none of the heads of the clans would be willing to lose face like that. After all, despite the temptation, only the Nara did it, and Yamanaka and Akamichi stayed away, didn't they?
- Only Nara," Danzo confirmed grudgingly.
- You see, even the Brainiacs didn't do it, so the other clans won't adopt this practice either.
- You may be right," the one-eyed shinobi conceded, "but what about the rest of my ranks? About a third of them come from the orphanages!
- But first they graduate from the academy," Hiruzen said calmly, filling and lighting his pipe, "there are plenty of orphanages in the Land of Fire, why don't you recruit from them? You've been wanting to train your fighters from scratch for a long time, complaining about the softness of the current shinobi and kunoichi, haven't you?
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