Naruto stood inside his sensei's office, listening to the report that the teachers of the younger years at the academy were giving right now. It had been discussed that once all results from the mock mission test that Naruto had them perform were in, they would discuss the results with the Hokage. Kakashi listened intently and made some notes.
"I see," Kakashi commented once the last report was finished, "There is still a lot of work to do, but there also are first signs that the children understand what they need to do to get proper grades at the academy, not to mention what being a ninja will be like."
"Yes, Hokage Sama. At the very least, it woke many children that had still thought that they could take the academy easy up. A few will probably drop out by the end of the term, but others will invest more work into their training," one of the teachers confirmed.
"Good. I believe it's better that they realise that they aren't suited for ninja live early on, when they can still switch to the civilian schools and get their education there. We need ninjas that can actually do the job and don't have ridiculous ideas of what being a ninja means.
Sure, we don't want to traumatise children by letting them see the full reality of the job, but I remember too well how much work it cost to break Sakura out of the stupidity her mother had created. It's better they know what can happen and decide if they can manage that or not.
"In case you get requests from parents to talk about options, please handle them with care. You know that soon your students will also be taught certain craftsmen skills at the academy. If those parents would be happier if the child concentrated onto a career as a craftsman ninja, we could lessen some complaints."
The teachers nodded, knowing that the new programs that had been started were taking form and the next graduation class would be introduced to the results. While the jonin senseis would still perform the tests to see if their candidates had what it took to become a ninja, those that were unsuited for the normal job would be given a follow-up test to see if they qualified for other areas.
The first craftsmen ninja teams were nearly ready to start. They consisted of older genin that had either never entered the chunin exams, as they would only die, according to the estimations of the senseis, or had failed several attempts.
Kakashi had interviewed all those that had at least been ninjas for six years to find out the reasons and had then talked to the ones that simply didn't have the skill to advance in the ranks, but also didn't have any other option for their lives.
Mainly they were orphans that depended on getting the payment from the D-ranks and occasional C-rank to pay their rent and the bills. Many were happy to agree to switch into the craftsmen ninja branch.
The idea of getting proper training as craftsmen and combining it with their ninja training appealed to them and the payment for those specialised D-ranks was a bit better than before, not to mention that they would get a basic payment each month independent of the missions they performed that at least covered rent and utilities.
Others that didn't have the talent for craftsmen jobs were delegated to the office ninja branch or, if they had really good chakra control, they were sent to get trained in the medical program. It certainly thinned the ranks of actual ninjas and freed the genin teams to take up those missions that benefited them in their training, getting them ready for higher ranked missions in a reasonable time frame.
"Naruto, what are the overall results of your test? How many did at least collect a third of the possible points?" Kakashi asked.
"Well, on average half of the students in each class got a third of the points or more. The main reason it wasn't more, Kakashi, sensei, was that the students were too bull-headed to stop and think what this test entailed, mainly that they should check the equipment before starting, or they stormed ahead, wanting to prove themselves.
Several times one teammate brought the others down by not being careful when dealing with the traps, in combination of the team not realising that I had given them the ultimate protection from the sleeping gas traps with the masks in their pouches.
"Had they managed to get to their item and decipher the second code, it would have already earned them forty percent of the points I was willing to pass out for the test," Naruto informed the others.
"I see. I would like for all the teachers at the academy that teach the basic classes to use this experience of the students to revise the important things for any kind of mission. The children will be annoyed if they failed and aware of the advantages to always consider these things if they passed. But they will understand why they need to learn this.
I also suggest telling them that a test about all the basic skills and knowledge will be taken in two weeks, to drive home that if they didn't already do it, they should brush up those things properly.
"I think each year should do two mock mission scenarios per month. Both with different focus. For example, one could stress strategies and tactics, the other skills needed on a mission," The Hokage stated.
"It wouldn't be difficult to realise that," agreed Iruka, "We could have three years do them one week, then the other three during the next week."
"True. And if we have each of us teachers create one scenario, we could rotate the years through them until all six scenarios were done and then create new ones. It would make the work better manageable," agreed one of the other two teachers.
"Good, I will leave the set-up to you. I expect reports once the first round is over," Kakashi agreed, "Now, you three may leave, continue with the discussed procedure. Naruto, you stay please."
The three adults left, and Naruto was the only one staying behind.
"What is your impression of the academy transformation?" asked Kakashi, as he had given Naruto a secondary job while teaching fuinjutsu.
"It is noticeable, but there is still a lot of work to be done, sensei. But that was to be expected, as the changes have only been in place for about six months and have had the biggest impact with the next graduation class, as their education had been changed the most to allow them to catch up on what they haven't been taught before.
I expect that their group will produce less suitable ninjas than the following years, who simply have more time to practice and study the important parts," Naruto explained.
"I expected something like that. There simply hasn't been enough time to implement the changes that the Sandaime started fully," Kakashi nodded, "What do you think about the proposal that Tsume Inuzuka made during the last council meeting about probationary teams?"
"It has merit, sensei. Considering that we need more time to get all students to a higher level at the time they graduate, it would be an advantage to take those among the graduates that show some promise, but not quite readiness to be full ninjas into a training phase under an experienced chunin that can remedy whatever they lack in their abilities.
Though I would suggest to not put them in groups of three, like Tsume said, but six, meaning two teams.
"That way, it would bind less personnel, which is still a bit limited for us. And a ratio of one sensei to six students would still mean that they get more individual support than the academy can achieve.
If they also take some simple missions that don't strictly fall into the area of craftsmen jobs, and which are left over from the full genin teams, which basically always happens, as there are too many D-rank missions available, they could get the experience needed over the course of one year, or then be transferred to branches that suit their talents better," Naruto pointed out.
"Yes, I agree. And this training could even be done by anybody that isn't cleared for full duty. Training genin candidates would be less dangerous or physically taxing than going out on missions," Kakashi mentioned.
"True. If they feel up to it, even some retired ninjas could be included in this area. Even if there are less of those now that the Sandaime reactivated them to teach at the academy," commented Naruto.
"I believe that there are still enough of them to manage getting a few back into action, at least among the younger ones that simply retired from the job due to injuries and the like.
Most simply didn't want to teach at the academy, not believing themselves to be good at controlling a whole class. But training smaller groups and overseeing D-rank missions might be more to their liking."
Naruto nodded, as there was a lot of sense in that.
"I also have a new mission lined up for you, Naruto," Kakashi informed him.
"What rank?" Naruto asked professionally.
"B-rank. But, depending on how it goes, it could be upgrades to A-rank," Kakashi answered.
"How long will it take normally?"
"It should take between two to three weeks normally. We got a request from the Land of Birds. It's quite a distance away and the type of mission is a bit strange.
I want you to use your abilities to find out what's really going on there. I believe that something fishy is going on over there. The client told about the appearance of a ghost that was terrorizing a high official from that country.
They lost their precious daimyo recently under dubious circumstances, somehow, he was poisoned, and no culprit was found, and after that the daimyo's daughter Toki was also killed, only leaving Sagi, the son, as the one remaining member of the daimyo's family.
"I will be sending a team under the command of Sasuke there. This team will deal with the official mission that was requested, but you will infiltrate secretly to find out the real situation. None of the team members will be informed about your presence there.
Sasuke might notice you if he activates his sharingan but won't mention it to the others. I plan on sending Ino, as she has made a lot of progress on poisons, which would be helpful on this mission, then Kiba and Choji. They have worked well as a team since their teammates were promoted to chunin."
"Okay, I know what to look out for then. I have ways to prevent that Kiba and Akamaru can catch my scent to detect me," Naruto stated.
"Good. I want you to shadow the team until they reach the Land of Birds. I don't expect anything bad to happen, but their guide might reveal valuable information on the way there.
Once you arrive, you will only contact the team if you have finished your part of the mission. The information gathering is B-ranked, should you find out about some plot that you have to deal with, it will be A-ranked," explained Kakashi.
"Alright, I'll prepare for the mission then," nodded Naruto and left the office.
...
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Since it's just the beginning of the story, your support will help it climb the rankings faster and give me the motivation to keep going. Thanks a lot!