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In other words, becoming Kazuki's guard offered the chance to step into the limelight and showcase one's abilities.
Becoming a Hokage Guard... meant steadily staying put in the village with little excitement.
This was precisely why Hiashi could still smile.
Don't think that sending a few people to serve as Kazuki's guards was merely for the sake of being in the spotlight.
One must understand that this was a matter of alignment, representing the Hyuga clan's binding of itself to Kazuki.
As long as Kazuki accepted, it signified that he would treat the Hyuga and the Uchiha equally.
Even if he leaned slightly more towards the Uchiha, Hiashi could accept it.
As long as they were bound together, as long as Kazuki didn't fall, then the Hyuga clan's development would only flourish, gradually stepping out of their low-profile stance and into the public eye.
If the Uchiha could become a dominant clan in the ninja world, so could the Hyuga!
Even if the overall strength of Hyuga ninja in the later stages was generally inferior to the Uchiha's.
But the Uchiha were a major clan of the ninja world, and the Hyuga were too.
Hiashi didn't want the Hyuga to be a head shorter than the Uchiha.
'You really are something else.' Fugaku's corners of his mouth twitched a couple of times, but he didn't speak.
This kind of matter wasn't for him to interfere with or comment on.
The exams continued.
Soon, it was Hinata's turn to appear. Compared to a few years ago, the current Hinata already bore the semblance of the dark, long-haired beauty she would become.
Seeing his daughter step forward, Hiashi remained very calm.
This level of exam difficulty was nothing for Hinata, even if in Hiashi's eyes, her strength wasn't particularly impressive.
Hinata's performance was very stable. Under Kazuki's continuous guidance and nurturing, Hinata's confidence had been fostered. She wasn't as timid and shy as before.
"It seems Hinata has become much more confident than before." Fugaku's face was serious, but the words coming out of his mouth seemed a bit mischievous.
"Perhaps." Hiashi's expression remained calm as he gave a noncommittal reply.
'I give up on you two. Two people who liked to keep straight faces, gathered together, maintaining serious expressions, yet uttering words that teased each other... how did you even manage that? Didn't it feel awkward inside?'
"I've heard the Hyuga clan head's younger daughter has quite good talent."
"Passable. After all, she bears the heavy responsibility of supporting the clan on her shoulders, so her training is quite diligent."
In terms of pure innate talent, it was unknown whether Hanabi or Hinata had the better. However, when it came to mental fortitude, Hanabi was indeed quite a bit stronger than Hinata. The little girl, though young, trained very hard and diligently. Her unwilling to admit defeat nature had gained Hiashi's attention. The main family elders were also extremely satisfied with Hanabi.
Kazuki, finding it somewhat hard to listen further, decided to interrupt the two:
"For major clans like the Hyuga and Uchiha, sometimes the mind is more important than strength. Those with great strength aren't necessarily capable of managing a clan well. And those with sharp minds don't necessarily possess exceptionally strong talent either. One cannot be too absolute about everything."
Hiashi and Fugaku glanced at each other, both falling into silence. Whether they took Kazuki's words to heart, only they themselves knew.
Kazuki had said his piece; he couldn't be bothered to say more. Strength was perhaps important, but when it came to managing a clan, the mind was more crucial—at least, that's what Kazuki believed.
A clan needed powerful individuals to support it, that was true. Similarly, a clan also needed a powerful mind to organize everything and control the overall situation. This was especially true for ninja clans like the Uchiha and Hyuga. One clan was too set in its stubborn ways of thinking, the other.... Well, best not to mention it, as there weren't many in the entire Uchiha clan who were skilled at using their brains. Fortunately, although Fugaku had his personality flaws, at least he wasn't as rash as the others. He did a decent job managing the clan; otherwise, Kazuki would have long since kicked him out.
As more and more students took their turn, the onlookers reacted with a mix of amazement and pity. At this point, everyone saw even more clearly the gap between the children of ninja clans and those from civilian families.
Most children from ninja clans could complete the exams calmly, while eight or nine out of ten children from civilian families spent their time in a state of nervousness, which inevitably affected their performance.
Fortunately, poor performance wouldn't affect the final score. For students who performed poorly, Kazuki granted them the opportunity to retake the exam privately with their teacher. If they still couldn't perform well even in a private setting facing just their teacher, then they really shouldn't become ninja. They might as well pack their things early and go home to become ordinary civilians.
Although many children from civilian families performed less than ideally in the ninjutsu exam, when it came to the practical combat exam, some students still managed to deliver eye-catching performances. Perhaps combat helped them focus their minds, allowing them to ignore the spectators outside the arena. Kazuki paid a certain degree of attention to these students who performed notably well. With proper nurturing, these students would grow faster and become more outstanding than others.
There were quite a few students who were skilled in combat, had talent for fighting, but whose results in other areas were abysmal. Naruto was the example. Might Guy, who nearly killed Madara, was the same.
Even though the fights between children seemed childish and prone to becoming laughable spectacles, this novel form of public examination still kept the villagers thoroughly entertained.
After the exams concluded, Kazuki parted ways with Hiashi and Fugaku and returned to the Hokage's office.
Tsunade was already waiting for him in his office.
Seeing Kazuki return, Tsunade couldn't help but say:
"The gap is too large. Especially under the conditions of a public exam, a large portion of the children from civilian families performed quite ordinarily, and their results weren't ideal. I'm afraid quite a number of them will be weeded out."
"They still have a chance to retake the exam. If they can't even seize this second chance, then there's no need for further training. It's better to weed out a portion than to have them graduate as ninja only to get themselves killed. Besides, is Konoha lacking these few ninja?"
To be honest, Konoha wasn't lacking these few ninja.
In fact, looking purely at the Genin level, Konoha's ninja population was even a bit bloated.
Having a few more or a few fewer graduates wouldn't have a significant impact on the village's development.
Leaning against the desk, Kazuki continued:
"This year's students might be under relatively greater pressure. But we can't just cancel the plan because the pressure is high. Perhaps it's a bit unfair to them, but do the words 'fairness' even exist in the ninja world? Having gone through this experience, future graduating students will all be psychologically prepared to face anything."
At this, Tsunade had nothing left to say.
Because reforms like these were implemented step by step; there was never a possibility of achieving everything at once. Nor could they revert to the old ways just because it seemed unfair to this year's students. Furthermore, Kazuki had already given the students a second chance to take the exam. Anyone who felt they had performed poorly could apply to their teacher. The first attempt's score wasn't the final result.
If, even with such remedial measures in place, one still felt it was unfair or that it affected their mindset, then, as Kazuki said, it was better not to become a ninja. Wouldn't it be nicer to go back and be an ordinary civilian?
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