After the Ninja Academy was finalized, Ruri also established a shinobi ranking system and a mission grading system. The shinobi ranking system had already been implemented by Konoha and required little change; they could simply adopt it directly.
It was broadly divided into six ranks: Genin, Chūnin, Elite Chūnin, Tokubetsu Jōnin, Jōnin, and Elite Jōnin. Compared to the Warring States period, this added the Elite Chūnin and Tokubetsu Jōnin ranks. Missions were similarly graded into six levels based on difficulty: SS, S, A, B, C, and D.
A team of three Genin could take on D-rank missions, or C-rank missions if led by a ninja of Elite Chūnin rank or higher. A team of three Chūnin could take on C or B-rank missions together. An Elite Chūnin could independently complete B-rank missions or lead a Genin team on C-rank missions.
Tokubetsu Jōnin were Chūnin with special talents in specific areas; they generally did not go on external missions and held special positions within the village. Regular Jōnin could independently complete A-rank missions.
Elite Jōnin were the village's absolute main force, responsible for S-rank and higher missions. However, Takigakure's talent pool at this level was quite limited. This situation could only improve slowly after the Ninja Academy was established.
It's worth mentioning D-rank missions. At this time, neither Konoha nor the other major villages had D-rank missions. The D-rank missions Ruri established involved tasks like finding lost cats for villagers or residents of the Land of Takī, or babysitting—things shinobi during the Warring States period would never have considered doing.
Shinobi from other villages believed their noble status made it impossible to help commoners with such trivial daily chores. But Ruri knew these missions would deepen the bonds between Takigakure shinobi and the villagers, earning the village greater recognition from the residents of the Land of Takī. And what they urgently needed now was the trust of the people.
Of course, many initially objected. How could the Elite Jōnin and Jōnin possibly be willing to search for cats? It was only after Ruri explained that D-rank missions would be assigned exclusively to Genin, primarily those graduating from the Ninja Academy, that the objections subsided.
After all, it would be at least a year before D-rank missions were officially undertaken.
A few days later, construction began on the Ninja Academy. Mu, the Tsuchikage's guard, arrived in Takigakure as an envoy from Iwagakure, leading a diplomatic corps (construction team).
Ruri promptly sent these people off to build the Ninja Academy. The old Tsuchikage had intended to help with Takigakure's reconstruction anyway; otherwise, he wouldn't have brought construction workers.
As the candidate for the next Tsuchikage, Mu naturally didn't participate in the construction. He was very interested in the Ninja Academy and planned to learn about its operation to propose building one in his own village to Ishikawa.
A plot of land flattened by the Tsuchigumo kinjutsu became the site for the entrance exams for the academy's first class of students. Anyone under the age of seven, whether a civilian or from a clan, could enroll. Even those who already had Genin-level strength could retrain if they were under seven.
Furthermore, Ruri invested large sums to purchase ninja tools, medicinal herbs, and food. Once enrolled, students would receive the best treatment. This was a major reason many civilian children participated, as enrollment would ease their family's financial burden and improve their lives.
Upon learning of this, Mu insisted on accompanying Ruri to observe the new applicants. If a Second Shinobi World War were to occur as in the original timeline, this group of students would undoubtedly become Takigakure's main combat force.
Ruri wasn't keen on exposing these students' information to Iwagakure, a potential enemy, but he couldn't withstand Mu's persistent, shameless requests, especially after Mu conceded to have the envoy corps (construction team) stay longer. Annoyed beyond measure, Ruri had no choice but to agree.
The first round of the entrance exam was a running test: one hundred laps around the vacant lot. This was the absolute limit for a slightly trained civilian child. This round tested not the applicants' physical stamina, but their perseverance.
Running a hundred laps under the scorching sun was a grueling test, especially for children. Ruri dispatched ten Chūnin to Sukiya to buy ten servings of roe sushi and ice water as rewards for the first ten children to finish.
Sukiya Sushi's reputation had already spread; everyone in the village craved it, let alone naturally gluttonous children. With the reward of sushi and ice water, the children ran with all their might.
Anyone who has run long-distance knows that maintaining a steady pace is crucial. Going all out from the start quickly depletes energy. Ruri's test began at this very moment. He would pay special attention to those who could maintain a rational, steady pace despite the temptation of ranking, sushi, and ice water. He might even go a little easier on them in the second round, as a shinobi's fights require brains.
Of course, there were also those who defied conventional limits, like Kōmae Moru's son, Kōmae Seichū. As the son of a taijutsu clan leader, he had practiced since early childhood. Despite being only six, his endurance, speed, and other basic physical attributes had already reached Genin level.
Children born at the end of the Warring States period are different, Ruri thought. In Naruto's era, a six-year-old with Genin-level physical prowess would be considered a monster.
Apart from the top performer, Kōmae Seichū, the children from the Fūma and Momochi clans also performed well. The most surprising was the Momochi clan's Momochi Ranpa. Despite being only five years old and a girl, she ranked near the top. In a shinobi world where male physical prowess generally surpassed female, this was extremely rare.
Ruri's disciple, Hatake Masashige, was also in the leading group. At six years old, he already possessed Genin-level strength. Ruri suspected Masashige likely came from a large samurai family in the Land of Iron; his swordsmanship had a solid foundation and seemed well-trained, something a civilian couldn't achieve. The reason for his previous vagrancy was still unknown.
Besides the clan children, the leading group also included children of Jōnin and Chūnin. They all had some talent and could receive guidance from their fathers. These children would become the backbone of Takigakure in the future.
A few civilian children also made it into the leading group, but they were mostly sprinting desperately. They might run out of steam later on. This wasn't entirely their fault. Although most civilian children joined to improve their lives, they were also trying desperately to prove they were no worse than the clan children.
However, bridging the gap between civilian and clan shinobi would require the Ninja Academy to train several generations of new students. These disparities, built up over a century, couldn't be changed in a day or two.
There were also children who, aware of their lack of innate talent or stamina, ran at a steady pace, doing their best. Regardless of their talent, their temperament was commendable. If they could pass the second test and enroll, they would still be promising seedlings.
Time passed slowly. The leading group was not far from finishing the hundred laps. Just then, an accident occurred—a child fell.