Chapter 33

"So, what I'm saying is — have you heard about the academy?"

"No, what do you mean?"

"They say the Senju took over the leadership of the academy after their new head attended the latest graduation exam and was unpleasantly surprised by the low level of preparation and the weakness of the students, as well as the fact that no one teaches chakra control from the first year of study. They say the Hokage got an earful from her. Considering they educate their children within the clan, it must have been a real shock."

"Wow! Man, I regret being done with school already! If the Senju are taking charge of education, the quality of the graduates will definitely improve!"

Hearing a very interesting conversation between two Chunin nearby, I set aside my spoon and directed chakra flow to my ears. I wonder who they're talking about? Sitting almost constantly at home, I don't always hear all the news and rumors.

Before, at least from Mom's gossip, you could hear something useful, when she used to take me for walks when I was a baby. Now it's just studying and training, training and studying. Actually, the only entertainment is shogi.

"Oto-san says that the decline in the level of the shinobi academy happened around the end of the Great War when, with the death of the Second Hokage, our forces started suffering heavy losses and it was necessary to find reserves to plug the emerging holes on the front lines — though it was meat, but there was some benefit, you just didn't hear it from me," the Chunin speaking lowered his voice.

I had to strain and amplify my hearing even more to make out the words, but it was worth it.

"They say, just as the Uchiha got themselves the village police, the Senju have now decided not to lag behind and recruit all teachers and staff from their own clan. Sarutobi-sama apparently tried to object, saying that the founding clan always fought on the front lines, bringing victory to Konoha, but the new head put him in his place, saying that they can't win alone and if such weak shinobi participate in the new war, the village will simply be crushed. And to prevent this from happening, the Senju clan will take on the task of raising worthy defenders of Konoha. So the Hokage had to back down and even increase the allocation of funds for the academy. When my oto-san heard about this, he laughed for a long time."

"Why?"

"Politics — it's a dirty business. As the village head, Sarutobi-sama has great power, and the clans serve as a counterbalance to him in the council, but the word of the founders carries a lot of weight and initiatives that lead to excessive strengthening of the Hokage's power and his supporters are simply rejected. With this move alone, he lost the opportunity to send the overwhelming majority of the clan to the battlefield, further reducing the number of Senju, and with their numbers, their influence. But you didn't hear it from me and it's better to keep quiet on such topics. You'll be safer."

"Yeah, clans are like snakes in a jar. Some are more or less normal, while others are too proud and look at ordinary shinobi like trash under their feet."

"And don't I know it. The Senju may have founded Konoha, but they don't stick their noses up, and you can talk to them normally without fearing that one wrong word will get you accused of disrespecting the clan with all the consequences. It's only Tsunade who's different. Well, she's the princess of the clan, after all, so she can afford to be arrogant."

"And the Akimichi and Nara are normal too. I have a guy from the former in my team, just simple and without all this 'my clan is better than all the others' nonsense! And their lunches!"

"Yeah, I had lunch at their restaurant once... Yeah, getting back to the previous topic. The Senju with this move not only get those advantages I just described but also something very significant."

"What do you mean?"

"Think, dummy! Think carefully about what else could come from this event?"

"Hm... Well, I don't know, it seems like you've already said everything..."

"Oh, you! You need to pay more attention to what's happening around you! When you become a Jonin, knowing the political situation in the village will greatly ease your life!"

"I have you, so if I need it, I'll just ask."

"You dummy! The answer is obvious! The Senju get the opportunity to gain support not only from the other clans by educating their children but also from non-clan shinobi, whom they'll give decent basic training, ensuring greater survival in the field. Trust me, when you stay alive thanks to the knowledge and skills your teacher instilled in you, you'll be very grateful!"

"Wow, clever! But you still haven't said, what's the new head of the clan's name?"

"Toka. Just Toka Senju. She saw the times of Konoha's founding and fought in the clan wars alongside Hashirama and Tobirama. And despite her quite advanced age, she's still one of the strongest in the village. They say even the First Hokage was afraid of her illusions!"

Ha, well hello, consequences of my intervention! How long has it been since that memorable meeting? A little over a year. And in such a short time, the old lady managed to achieve such great results?! Shaking my head in amazement, I returned to eating my partially melted ice cream.

It can be said that it was a stroke of luck that just one remark at the right time could have such a significant impact on the course of local history. And I suspect that the further we go, the more the initial plot of the manga will change with the existing reality.

"So, in the last class, we finished the basics of providing first aid for severe injuries in field conditions," a young man in a white coat and headgear typical of Konoha's main hospital workers paced around the small room, his hands folded behind his back, his thick, neatly trimmed beard and small glasses giving him a very colorful appearance of a lecturer, "and with that, I congratulate you. 

Stopping in his measured stride from one wall to another, the teacher, provided by the hospital for the education of future medical workers, surveyed the class and sighed sadly.

"Of course, it would have been better if all the beginning students were present at this significant moment, but even four out of fifteen is not a bad result!" Smiling, he looked at me and winked. "I'm especially glad that our little genius turned out to be among the four of you!"