"Oh no, Saya will kill you if she finds out," Shikaku groaned. "And me too, along with the idiot who left such a thing within children's reach! Troublesome!"
"Pfft, don't worry, it's quite a realistic book, I don't think there'll be anything else going on in the war now," I waved off the panicker. "We need to learn from our ancestors' experiences."
"I see, that's all you do — train and stay busy almost round the clock," Shika shook his head.
"Even though I have to exert myself now, it'll increase my chances of survival later," I shrugged. "Anyway, tell me more about how the academy is this year?"
"They're driving us like slaves," Enzui briefly interrupted his reading. "Basics of genjutsu and ninjutsu, increased emphasis on taijutsu, selection of individual style for each, survival course in various terrains, basics of client escort and protection. And thank the gods, they finally finished the general education subjects!"
"Mine just started," I shrugged. "But in the end, the ability to write, read, understand geography, economics, have an idea of the country's power structure and history will help future shinobi develop comprehensively, not just study ways to swing limbs and throw cool techniques."
"Interesting, how will that help us in battle?" Inoichi shrugged.
"To be a shinobi is not just about fighting all the time, but also carrying out missions," my brother explained. "If you're given incorrect information or there are additional factors affecting the mission, you have to decide, based on the situation, which course of action will be more attractive, both for the executor (you) and the client, or it may be more beneficial for the village to fail the mission and quietly eliminate the client. Comprehensive development and knowledge of the current situation on the global political stage, as well as relations between countries, can significantly facilitate making a difficult decision."
"You're just like my dad lecturing," Yamanaka chuckled. "But overall, despite the tedium, there's some benefit from these subjects."
"Ugh, now with Senju, you can't even sleep in class!" Shikaku complained, rubbing his forehead and ignoring the others' giggling.
"Yeah, the first time he tried to doze off with the new teacher, he got smacked on the head with a ruler!" Enzui smirked.
"Hey, you got hit too, so no need to gloat!"
"Oh come on, we need something to argue about!" the blondes grimaced and turned to me. "By the way, have you heard the rumor about additional training organized by Senju?"
"No, what are you talking about?"
"Well, besides taking over the Academy, the founders recently announced the opening of a retraining course for all genin-ranked shinobi."
"Ehh, I don't get it..."
"Inoichi-kun means that seeing the overall level of education, the Senju decided to raise the level of those who have already graduated but have not yet reached the rank of chunin," Shikaku explained. "With the war looming, it's quite relevant, albeit entirely voluntary."
Hmm, a very sensible move, both tactically and politically. It's the same as with the academy, but here they're investing in the near future with the possibility of influencing established shinobi who haven't yet risen in rank.
I bet after these courses, many genin will be able to vie for higher ranks and it's clear who they'll be grateful to. And the most interesting thing is that the Hokage and his assistants won't dare to say anything, since Senju's actions clearly do not harm the village, and the increase in the influence of the clan of the first two Hokages is just an additional bonus.
And you can't argue with that! Who would have thought that Toka Senju had such a grip? Personally, I wouldn't have thought of such an apparently obvious opportunity.
Casting a quick glance at my brother, I saw that he understood the whole point of this event, once again proving his good understanding of the motives of clan movements on the village's political stage and the mindset suitable for the heir of the clan head.
Considering his age of ten — it's a great achievement for someone who doesn't have decades of knowledge and experience like myself.
"And how long will these courses last?"
"About a year, considering the impending war — a significant help to the genin."
Well, at the very beginning, they won't send them to the slaughter, and by the time additional forces are needed, the Hokage will have well-prepared shinobi at his disposal, and then the academy graduates will come in.