Konoha: Who Says the Shinobi World Can't Play Hunter?

Chapter 46: Tactical System

The morning passed in a blur of food and drinks, and as the gathering finally came to an end, Tehisa stood up and bid farewell.

"You three are still here? You didn't come just to freeload a meal, did you? Spit it out—what's the real reason you came."

Hayate had known something was up the moment they showed up. Taking the morning off to drink was already a rare luxury for him, but lately, his two old friends had been struggling to keep up with the increasing difficulty of their missions. Since Hayate had been devoting most of his time to his students, their joint missions had become more difficult. That was why they had all gathered today—to reconnect.

"Grandpa Gousuke, don't leave just yet. We'll need your experience for this discussion. This isn't the place to talk—let's go to the treehouse."

Kazama stopped the old man before he could return to his duties, knowing his insight would be invaluable.

Once inside the treehouse, they arranged seats and prepared tea and snacks—a clear sign that this would be a long discussion.

"Alright, what's this all about?" Hayate asked, sensing the seriousness in Kazama's demeanor.

Kazama explained the morning's events—how Ichirō and Nobuko had come to him for guidance, and how it led him to recognize a fundamental issue within their team.

"This is my failure," Hayate admitted, his expression turning solemn. "As your teacher, I should have noticed this problem and helped you address it sooner."

After apologizing, he straightened up and took on a more serious tone. "Kazama, I know you're always full of ideas. Since we're all here, don't hold back. Speak your mind, and Gousuke and I will give you our thoughts."

Kazama nodded. "Alright. Here's the issue—I realized this morning that the problem isn't just that Ichirō and Nobuko came to me for help. The real issue is that, as Genin, we lack a structured tactical framework to guide us."

"A tactical framework?" Everyone looked at him in confusion, unsure of what he meant.

"Exactly. We don't have a structured system for combat tactics. Because of that, once left without direction, Ichirō and Nobuko were completely lost. They had no idea what to train, how to improve, or what kind of shinobi they should aim to become."

Hayate frowned. "That's my fault. As your team leader, that's something I should have provided."

"No, Sensei, this isn't just your fault. No one even realizes this is a problem—this issue exists across all Genin teams. I'm just the first to bring it up."

Gousuke, who had been silent so far, spoke up. "Then what do you propose?"

Kazama smiled. He had been expecting that question.

"It's simple. Based on each Genin's talents, interests, personality, and environment, we create a tailored tactical model for their development. These individual models can then be combined into a tactical system—a framework where each team member's abilities complement one another."

Silence.

Everyone stared at him blankly. They understood the words, but the concept itself felt alien to them.

Kazama sighed. "Let me put it another way. If I wanted to become as strong as Hayate-sensei, what should I do?"

Nobuko immediately answered, "Train hard!"

Kazama rolled his eyes. "That's too vague. It has no real meaning."

He continued, "Instead, if I specifically set Hayate-sensei as my goal, then I should compare myself to him and identify what I lack. Am I weaker in swordsmanship? Then I train my sword skills. Is my Wind Release not as refined? Then I practice my Wind Jutsu. In short, I would model myself after Hayate-sensei and systematically fill in the gaps in my skillset."

The group began to understand.

"Every elite Jōnin follows a unique and well-developed tactical model. However, because each person has different talents, personalities, and experiences, no two shinobi develop in exactly the same way. Even blood-related siblings will have different strengths and weaknesses."

Kazama let his words sink in before continuing.

"That's why we can't just copy someone else's path—we have to build a unique tactical model for each shinobi. This provides a clear, structured direction for their growth. Right now, Ichirō and Nobuko are confused because they lack a guiding framework. When we did D-rank missions, they still had some structure—they knew to approach each task with a 'ninja mindset.' But now that the missions have become more complex, they're lost."

Hayate rubbed his temples. "So, what you're saying is that every Genin should have a personalized combat growth plan?"

"Exactly."

Kazama looked at everyone, gauging their reactions before pushing forward.

"In my opinion, anyone who graduates from the Academy has at least Chūnin-level potential. But most shinobi waste their talent due to a lack of structured training. Only a few lucky individuals—through hard work, intelligence, and good mentorship—manage to become Jōnin."

The treehouse fell into a contemplative silence.

Gousuke and Hayate, in particular, seemed deep in thought, reflecting on their own experiences and the Genin they had trained before.

Finally, Hayate exhaled. "Can you explain in more detail?"

Kazama smirked. "Sure. The first step is to assess each Genin's strengths and weaknesses. Once we understand their abilities, we create a theoretical version of their 'future self'—a shinobi model tailored to their talents. Then, we systematically guide them toward that model."

This time, they understood completely.

It was similar to how young basketball players were often compared to professional athletes based on their skillset and physique. Instead of forcing a one-size-fits-all approach, Kazama was suggesting a forward-looking, customized growth plan for each shinobi.

"The first step," he continued, "is for us to thoroughly understand Ichirō and Nobuko—not just their skills, but their affinities, chakra natures, reaction times, endurance, and even psychological factors. Sensei, if you had to define their future potential, how would you describe it?"

Hayate fell silent.

For the first time, he truly thought about it.

He had trained countless Genin, but he had never considered crafting a customized combat blueprint for them. The thought had simply never crossed his mind.

It made sense, though.

Without guidance, most Genin floundered, uncertain of their strengths, lost in trial and error. Those who succeeded did so largely due to luck and personal discipline.

Kazama's suggestion was groundbreaking.

After a long pause, Hayate finally nodded. "Alright. We'll start by evaluating your team's strengths and weaknesses. If this method works, it could change how Genin are trained in the future."

Kazama grinned. "Then let's get started."

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You can read advance chapters ahead on patreon.com/fishkiss69, I will upload 1 extra chapter every day there.

THANK YOU

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