Chapter 34- Becalmed

Yama found himself at the academy once more on a fine Tuesday Morning.

As he looked around the classroom, a warm feeling of satisfaction coursed through his chest.

Iruka was working with Hikaru, trying to improve his chakra control.

Mizuki was working on his shunshin for now, improving efficiency and familiarity, but as the morning ran on, he would switch over to the Golden Rule jutsu.

Tsubaki was working on the campfire jutsu, so she was actually outside, near one of the dueling rings, but Yama was still able to keep an eye on her through the window while sitting at his desk.

Domaru was back to practicing the Chakra Forge Technique, and Yama sighed because he knew he could do nothing about it.

However, he had finished the recovery plan last night and was prepared to hand the scroll over to the young lad this morning.

Yama walked over to the young Akimichi and waited until the boy openedd his eyes before adressing him.

"Domaru-kun, this is for you."

Yama held the scroll out in his hand, and Domaru respectfully received it.

"May I ask what this is for sensei?"

Yama smirked.

"Yes."

Domaru waited for Yama to continue, but Yama simply stood there, his smile growing wider as Domaru's frown grew tighter.

After about 10 seconds, as soon as Domaru opened his mouth, Yama interrupted him.

"It's something I've been working on for a while, even before we spoke with your elder.

It's a technique that can both improve your control while also being usable for battle.

I would show it to you myself, but as you know..."

Domaru eyed the scroll warily.

"I thank you for this, but I'm sure it won't be necessary."

Yama smiled.

"Just hold onto it, you cant open it right now anyway."

The boy immediately grabbed the open end of the scroll in order to pull it apart and look inside, but the scroll didn't budge at all.

"Then what good is it if I can't open it, huh?"

"Patience, young shinobi, it will open for you when you need it."

"What's that supposed to mean, geezer?"

"It means you should respect your elders a bit more, punk!"

And Yama knocked the kid lightly on his head with a closed fist.

Domaru sneered as Yama walked away back to his desk. As he passed Shimiko's desk, she got up to follow him.

She pulled up a chair and sat in front of Yama's desk as the old sensei settled into his chair.

Shimiko was watching him, but Yama couldn't get a perfect read on her face with her reflective goggles on.

Yama having found the most comfortable spot in his chair, turned his attention to the young girl.

"How may I help you Shimiko-chan?"

The Aburame girl tightened her lips into a mock serious face.

"As you are aware sensei, I wish to work on skills outside my clan jutsu, which I am working on at home for now.

How about you guide me?"

Yama's eyes crinkled a little bit as he chuckled.

"What does your clan have you working on right now?"

"Does that matter?"

"Most definitely."

"We are crossbreeding my current kikaichu into the specialized tracking line, and within a month, their genes will dominate my hive.

Once that point is reached, I will be training until I can accept another species, at which point I will host the..."

Yama quickly interrupted her before she started talking about the Kochu, the specialized assassination insect of the Aburame clan.

"No need to name them.

Besides, the entire point of what we're doing is to hide your abilities right?

So we should get started with that early."

Shimiko nodded seriously before Yama continued.

"Why don't we continue this discussion in the other room?"

As he rose from his desk, grumbling and stretching his back, Shimiko got up from her chair quickly and followed the man out of the room into the adjacent, unused lecture hall.

Once the duo had settled into a pair of seats, Yama started their discussion.

"Your strains of insects will be specialized in tracking and assassination.

We wish to hide that.

So why don't we use the tenets of genjutsu in order to do so?

What do you know about effective genjutsus?

Take a few seconds, and then give me an answer."

Shimiko immediately answered.

"I remember from a previous lesson, sensei.

The first step in any successful genjutsu is the initiation, whether it be a sound, sight, or gesture that marks the beginning of the technique.

The second step is mirroring your chakra with the targets. Before you start changing their perception, you must match their's.

The third step is the actual execution of what you want them to perceive and is the stage where their perception starts to differ from reality.

It takes all three steps to cast a successful genjutsu."

Yama chuckled and replied.

"I guess I should have been more specific, I didn't mean to ask you how to cast a genjutsu.

What I was trying to ask you, and what you may not have the experience to answer, is what are the hallmarks of a genjutsu that accomplishes its mission?"

"I'm not sure if I understand, sensei."

Yama thought for a few moments.

"Do you know of the Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique?"

"I am familiar."

"Why would someone use it?"

"In order to have their target see their worst fears."

"That's what it does, but why would you want a target to see their worst fears?"

Shimiko thought for a few seconds.

"To unbalance them?"

"Exactly, fear is how we accomplish the goal, but the goal is to affect the enemy's mentality.

For example, a successful Hell Viewing Technique might show someone their worst fear, but if they don't react to it, then the technique is ineffective.

Someone's greatest fear might be their own mother, but if they saw their own mother on a battlefield, they immediately know its a genjutsu, and the technique is ineffective.

So then the question becomes, what makes a genjutsu effective?"

Shimiko replied.

"I understand the difference, but you're right. I don't think I have the experience to know."

Yama smiled.

"That's why I'm here.

In my time as a ninja, effective genjutsu I've experience or seen fall into one or more of these categories. and this is only my personal opinion, but they are:

Hidden,

Open,

Believable,

Comfortable,

or Unbreakable."

Shimiko quirked her mouth, but Yama continued before she could ask her question.

"Let's talk a bit more about them

.

A hidden genjutsu is just that, hidden.

You never even realize you're under a genjutsu, and so you never question it, leaving you trapped in it.

For example, someone could cast a genjutsu that interferes with your depth perception, and you could think a blade is a few inches further away then it actually is.

You would never realize until a kunai you thought would miss hit you instead, and at that point, you might already be dead.

An open genjutsu is the opposite, not hidden at all.

A successful open genjutsu is a genjutsu that presents a threat that one must react to on the off chance that it is not a genjutsu.

Though it isn't technically a genjutsu, the bunshin technique is a good example of this. Even if you know someone is using the clone technique, you can't not react to it on the off chance you're wrong.

A believable genjutsu is somewhere inbetween hidden and open, but it is neither.

If a hidden jutsu is unnoticed, then a believable jutsu is visible on purpose, and if the open genjutsu only represents a threat, but isn't a threat, a believable genjutsu hides a real threat.

A comfortable genjutsu is a like a believable genjutsu but instead of someone being fooled, we let them fool themselves.

An unbreakable genjutsu is self explanatory."

Shimiko still had that quirk in her mouth.

"I kinda get what you're saying, but I don't see how it applies to my current situation."

Yama stood up.

"Follow me. I can't exactly show you, but I can still get the point across well enough."

Shimiko followed the old man outside and up onto one of the dueling platforms.

As they were walking, Yama explained.

"Genjutsus are mind games. They just happen to be chakra enhanced mind games with extremely large effects and consequences.

However, we use mind games all the time when we fight, or at least we should.

I'll show you how to apply my five types of effective genjutsu to taijutsu, and maybe you'll understand a bit better.

Now take your stance."

Shimiko was up on the platform and watched Yama settle into a fighting stance.

"I'm not really warmed up, can we wait a few minutes, sensei?"

Yama shook his head.

"We're not actually fighting, it'll be fine."

Shimiko sighed. She wasn't expecting to spar this morning, and Yama didn't hold back much. She wasn't looking forward to this experience at all.

"Okay..."

Yama and Shimiko made the seal of confrontation before starting. Tsubaki noticed what was going on from across the training field, and quickly abandoned her jutsu practice in order to spectate.

The other students were actually at the window of the classroom, watching as well. They were curious as to what was going on.

Yama stalked forward, slowly approaching Shimiko.

Shimiko kept her eyes trained on Yama, who stood just outside of striking distance.

As she stepped forward and raised her rear leg in order to lash out with a kick, she suddenly lost her balance and fell over.

She quickly got back to her feet, but another wave of dizziness overcame her and she fell down again.

As she looked up at Yama, he spoke.

"This is similar to a hidden genjutsu. When you blinked, I reached out and tapped your chin,

The slight tilt of your head shook your inner ear and left you with a wave of dizziness.

That's why you fell over. The fact that you didn't see or feel me hit you is what makes it hidden."

Shimiko's mouth was agape as she sat on the ground.

"But how and when..."

Yama smiled.

"Your goggles are reflective, but they're not soundproof."

"Are you trying to tell me you heard me blink?'

"Yep!"

"Can't you tell a more believable lie?"

"Nope!"

Shimiko sighed and stood back up. The dizziness had succumbed somewhat, and she found her stance a little more stable.

Yama faced her and stalked closer, once again stopping just outside striking range.

As soon as Shimiko's front foot shifted forward to bring her into striking distance, Yama's killing intent slammed into her.

She froze for a second, before jumping backwards, her heart racing and cold sweat already starting to form all over her body.

The killing intent was gone as quick as it had appeared, and Shimiko looked at Yama, doubly on her guard.

Yama drawled out a few more words.

"That was killing intent. We will learn more about it later.

For now though, note where I am."

"You haven't moved."

"Exactly. I didn't step forward at all, didn't move my hands, and didn't shift my body.

The only thing I did was flare my intent at you, and you were forced into reacting, even though nothing else could have been interpreted as a threat.

This is like an open genjutsu.

Too dangerous to not react.

Now step up again."

Shimiko settled into her fighting stance again, and the pair were once again just outside of striking range from each other.

Yama quickly stepped forward and tucked his front fist in a few inches before lashing out with a backfist.

As his backfist approached Shimiko's face, Yama flashed his hand open, spreading his fiingers as wide as possible.

Through a gap in his fingers, Shimiko was able to spot the right hook careening towards her gall bladder.

She quickly took a step back in order to distance herself from the fist, but as soon as the retreat was complete, Yama's right leg made contact in her side. The kick had trailed the fist, preserving Yama's momentum.

He had pulled the kick severely, and she wasn't that hurt when it hit, but her breath was lightly knocked from her.

As she sucked wind to get her breath back, Yama was lecturing.

"That was a feint, or more accurately a doubled-feint, kinda like a double layered genjutsu.

The backfist was like a believable genjutsu. It was highly visible and only represented a threat, but its true purpose was to hide the hook, which was a 'real' threat."

That being said, you're good enough at taijutsu not to fall for such a simple feint.

That's why the punch was also a feint, and it was hiding the threat of the kick.

So the punch was also like a believable genjutsu. It was a visible threat that was actually meant to hide the real threat, the kick.

Thus, that combination was like a double layered genjutsu. You saw through one, but didn't see through the other."

Shimiko was rubbing her left ribs as she listened to Yama.

"Wouldn't that make that series like a comfortable genjutsu.

I wanted to believe that I saw through the feint and knew what you were going to do, but you were still hiding the kick from me.

I got complacent, and so I got hit."

Yama nodded.

"In a way, yeah what I did is a bit like a comfortable genjutsu, but there are some subtle differences.

You simply did not realize that the hook was a feint. It wasn't even a question in your mind.

A comfortable genjutsu analog would make you WANT to believe that the hook is a feint.

I'm going to perform the same three hit combination, front backfist into rear body hook into rear roundhouse.

This time, it'll be like a comfortable genjutsu."

Shimiko frowned before quickly putting on a pleading smile.

"Do you actually have to hit me for this though?"

Yama returned the smile.

"How else will you learn?"

Yama stepped back into Shimiko's range, and her eyes were glued to the backfist coming at her face.

As it approached, his fingers splayed open, the exact same way they had the first time.

Through his fingers, she saw his right fist starting to hook towards her gallbladder.

However, this time, she was looking even more closely, and she saw his right heel come off the ground as he prepared to chamber the rear roundhouse kick.

Shimiko tensed herself and prepared to jump backwards out of the range of the roundhouse kick, and kept her eyes peeled for whatever move would come after that.

She guessed wrong though.

Yama's front backfist was reformed as he curled his fingers back into a tight fist. The rear leg that had lifted off its heel didn't actually come off the ground, and Yama pushed off his back foot using his toes and turned his front backfist into a skipping front backfist.

Shimiko was caught off guard, and she was not able to retreat fast enough. The backfist kissed the front of her nose, hitting it enough to cause pain, but no serious damage.

As she stood there holding her nose, she asked in a nasally voice.

"So that's a comfortable genjutsu?"

Yama replied.

"While the believable genjutsu hides real threats by using fake threats before the real threat materializes, a comfortable genjutsu hides a real threat as a fake threat by implying real threats after it that are in actuality fake threats."

Shimiko was still rubbing her nose when Yama walked to the opposite side of the dueling ring, maybe 10 yards away.

He spoke in a low voice.

"This is an unbreakable threat."

As soon as Shimiko heard it, Yama's fist was already in front of her face.

She had her eyes open the entire time, but Yama had moved too fast for her to notice, much less react.

Yama stepped back before making the seal of reconciliation.

"We're done with the demonstration for now."

He then turned to Tsubaki who was watching from the sidelines and waved her off.

"That's enough break for you, back to your own training."

Tsubaki grumbled as she walked off.

"Stupid campfire jutsu... What's even the point of learning fire jutsu..."

Yama turned to the window into his classroom and yelled.

"That goes for you scalawags too. Get back to study!"

The four kids who were watching from the window quickly scurried to their respective desks and put their noses into their books.

Yama turned back to Shimiko and led her back into the empty lecture hall before they sat down and continued their discussion.

"So what did you learn?"

Shimiko was still nursing her ribs and nose.

"That you don't hold back at all."

Yama laughed.

"C'mon now, I know you're smarter than that."

Shimiko thought for a few seconds before replying.

"Genjutsus are essentially chakra enhanced mindgames.

Me hiding my Aburame clan skills is also a mindgame.

As such, if we consider my Aburame skillset the "real threat" then we can apply the five classes to them.

First, we ensure my Aburame Skillset is "hidden".

This means no identifying marks or characteristics, and no immediately noticeable effects of my insects.

I'll have to rid myself of my goggles and clan insignia. I also can't show any of the holes the my kikachu use to enter or exit my body.

Second, we create an "open" threat that people cannot afford to not react to.

This would be constructing my profile so that my enemies see me as a fighter who uses anything but insects.

Aburame are not known for taijutsu or elemental ninjutsu, so on top of hiding my skillsets as an Aburame, I must also advertise a completely separate skillset.

The easiest way to do this would be to heavily and visibly arm myself with weapons and armor, suggesting that I am a close range fighter.

Thus I have to select a weapon to specialize in so that its not completely dead weight, and I'll have to up my physical conditioning to support wearing increased armor.

Third, we create a believable scheme.

I must coordinate my Aburame and non-Aburame skills such that my non-clan skills can hide my clan-skills.

For example, I can use taijutsu to spread my insects, which also feeds back into creating an open threat and suggesting that I am not an Aburame.

I'll have to figure out my elemental affinity before I theorize how to incorporate insects into ninjutsu.

For the fourth scheme, we create a comfortable scheme.

People will eventually figure out that I am an Aburame, No matter how well I hide, it will slip eventually.

So I need to be able to use my clan skills to distract from non-clan skills which must also be deadly in their own right.

Someone should think that I'm an Aburame pretending to be good at taijutsu and ninjutsu, but I actually will be good.

As for an unbreakable scheme..."

Yama, who had been nodding intensely along with what Shimiko was saying, took this time to speak up.

"You don't have to worry about the unbreakable threat at this point.

Almost no one even has one anyway."

Shimiko replied.

"The problem I have is with the believable and comfortable schemes.

They seem to conflict with each other.

If I use ninjutsu and taijutsu to hide my insects, but I get figured out, then they will already know that I am dangerous with ninjutsu and taijutsu anyway, so I don't see how a believable scheme works.

My enemies will just treat everything as dangerous, and then I'll have no hidden advantage."

Yama nodded.

"That's sort of true.

However, try to think a few layers deeper.

Here is an example.

You could use shoddy taijutsu to 'hide' the fact that you are a ninjutsu 'expert'.

Then, when they figure out you are a ninjutsu expert, they'll want to close distance, at which point you can use your 'shoddy' taijtusu to infest them with your insects.

Or you could do the reverse, and pretend to be a taijutsu expert with limited ninjutsu, and they'll want to fight at a long range where your insects are strongest.

If they found out that you are an expert in all three, then you reveal you're a genjutsu expert as well.

Furthermore, if an enemy realizes that you are dangerous in all 3 branches as well as your clan jutsus, that turns your entire existence into an open scheme.

They have to respond to everything you do because they will die if they don't.

It's one of the things that makes S-class ninja so dangerous, they are able to throw low-energy feints over and over again until you are exhausted.

Then they can kill you as easily as you could a chicken.

Look at the fourth Hokage, everyone understands what the Flying Thundergod Technique does, but they can't fight against it.

They have to treat every single kunai of his like he is personally there.

It overloads them, exhausts them, and at that point, he is able to reimplement all the other schemes and mindgames.

An argument could be made that being aware of the Flying Thundergod Technique is just as dangerous, if not more, than not knowing about it.

Shimiko leveled a dead gaze at Yama.

"So I just need to become an expert at taijutsu, ninjutsu, genjutsu, and my own clan techniques."

"Yeah, that should cover it, besides, if you became an A-ranked threat in all four, you would be an S or potentially SS rated threat overall.

It's extremely hard for someone to have a defense against so many diverse threats.

That's why the Sandaime Hokage is know as the God of Shinobi, he knows enough techniques that he can find anyone's weak point."

"Gee, that sure is really helpful. All I have to do is master 4 branches of shinobi arts. No biggie."

Yama's face got serious.

"No one said it would be easy."

Shimiko sighed.

"Yeah, I know, but still.

I'm a little scared of how much is on my plate right now."

"Then eat it one bite at a time.

For now, let's find out your chakra nature and pick a weapon?"

Yama reached over to ruffle the girl's hair.

She scowled but didn't move.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in his office, hands clasped under his chin. His face gave away nothing but a profound disinterest. Those who knew him though would recognize that his mind was working at a mile a minute under his facade of stillness.

The afternoon sun streamed into his office. One of the windows was open and a light breeze ruffled his Kage robes every few minutes.

Unexpectedly, there was little paperwork on his desk.

It was the first thing to go once Konoha declared itself on a wartime footing the previous night.

The Hokage only dealt with civilian matters during peacetime.

Now that the village was preparing for war, he delegated all civilian reports and proposals to Koharu Utatane.

She wielded wide discretionary power only superceded by the Hokage's, but unless he deigned to overrule her, her decisions were final.

Homura Mitokado was delegated as the overall coordinator or wartime materiel. He became the village quartermaster, and it was now his responsibility to ensure the force of the village were well and properly equipped.

Like Hiruzen, he had witnessed both the first and second Shinobi Wars, which made him one of the most experienced shinobi in the village along with Danzo and Koharu.

Speaking of Danzo, he was delegated as the Black Ops and ANBU commander. He would be in charge of all wetworks, sabotage, and other unsavory missions, answering only to the Hokage himself.

It was no longer the time for ANBU to stay separate from ROOT. Both organizations had lost too many members in the Third Shinobi War and the attack by the Nine-Tails.

For the groups to remain as effective fighting forces, they would have to merge.

Though Hiruzen was wary of giving his ANBU to Danzo, there was no other solution, as ROOT would obey no one but Danzo. Any combined force that included ROOT was by necessity, headed by Danzo.

Two men sat in front of the Hokage's desk.

One of them was Shikaku Nara, and he was sloppily draped over the cushions on the couch with his head laid back, staring at the ceiling.

The other man was sitting on the edge of a chair, staring directly at his teacup on the table in front of him.

That was Fuuma Daiichi, current head of the Fumma Clan. He was unused to his current position as Chuunin commander, taking the role temporarily from his father after his tragic passing in the Nine-Tails Attack.

Three quiet knocks rang out form the door. Hiruzen looked up and commanded.

"Enter."

Heguri, the principal of the Shinobi Academy entered the room without a word. He bowed in deference to the Hokage before sitting on an empty chair.

He was not as nervous as Daiichi, but neither as slovenly as Shikaku. He was perfectly formal, but not overly restrictive either.

Heguri, after seating himself, simply turned to the Hokage and waited for him to begin.

Hiruzen placed his hands on the desk before speaking. As he spoke, he gestured at the parties in question.

"I'll make the introductions.

This here is Shikaku Nara, the jonin commander chosen by the Yondaime.

This here is Fuuma Daiichi, temporary chuunin commander following his father's demise.

The one who just joined us is Heguri, the principal of the Shinobi Academy and as of this moment, our new genin commander."

The three men looked at Hiruzen who put his hand up before any questions could be answered.

"The previous genin commander is still in the hospital recovering, and I have no other ninja with the abilities to manage such a large force.

Thus, Heguri, you are now the genin commander. This is an order, and you are not to refuse."

"I understand and obey, Hokage-sama"

"Good. I know you are wondering about the academy, but we will address that later. There are bigger concerns now.

Fuuma-san, Heguri-san, Shikaku-san here will brief you in.

Shikaku-san, go ahead."

Shikaku Nara stood up from his slovenly position and grabbed a file that he then opened. He wasn't actually looking at it, he had long since memorized his contents, and he started speaking.

"Over the last 24 hours, each major nation and almost every minor nation has locked its borders and recalled all diplomats.

We do not know why the other countries have done so, but any attempt to communicate with another country has been rebuffed.

All current signs point to a total and complete breakdown in communications that will not end anytime soon, considering that our diplomats are being held hostage.

Konoha has declared wartime preparations, and you two will be in charge of bringing your cohort to battle ready status."

Shikaku picked up another two files from the coffee table in front of him and handed it to Daiichi and Heguri.

"You will find additional details in your folders, but here is the major lay of the land with regards to our forces.

Our total active forces number 2000. We have almost 1000 personnel that are retired and still fit for battle.

Total Jonin force is a little over 100 while the Tokubetsu Jonin number approximately 200.

The Chuunin Brigade has a pool of about 600 ninja while the Genin Corps makes up the rest at approximately 1000 strong.

This is quite literally the smallest force Konoha has had in our recorded history. We even had more directly after the formation of the village than we do now.

Heavy losses in the Third War and the Nine-Tails attack have laid us low, and there is no way to hide it.

We are extremely weak. We cannot survive an invasion launched by any two Great Nations and may succumb to an assault by Kumo or Iwa alone.

You two will report directly to me, and are hereby formally appointed your positions.

Your current objectives are twofold.

First and foremost, we are to go into a state of active training. The armory is open to you, and I want any shinobi under your command not on mission to be training 6 out of 7 days minimum.

You will have to reorganize your commands.

The current four man cells throughout your forces have been formed through friendships and peacetime missions.

You must, and this is an order, reorganize all troops not already in a specified division, such as Intelligence, Logistics, or Medicine, into 4 man cells with the following specialties.

For the Chuunin Brigade:

Heavy Assault Teams with Med-nin

Light Assault Teams without Med-nin

Scouting and Tracking

Fortifications

Communications

Support

You'll find further details about each specialty in your folder, but also be aware that you must take into account command experience when building these teams. They will not always get a jonin commander and may have to operate independently.

As for the Genin Corps:

Village Defense

Civilian Security

Deliveries

Messaging

Operations

Let me warn you right now, Deliveries, Messaging, and Operations teams will be outside the walls. Please only place your best genin into these positions.

We would prefer not to risk genin at all for morale reasons, but we don't have the man power. Genin will be the primary force for battlefield messaging, base resupplies, and base upkeep operations.

Included in either of your packets are lists of all registered shinobi that are retired and under the age of 55 in your respective ranks.

The second standing order is with regards to the lists I have provided you; you are ordered to conscript them.

We cannot afford to let anyone sit out on this one. Any who refuse conscription are to be referred to ANBU forces for detainment via Danzo Shimura.

Hokage-sama, I believe the next part should come from you."

Huiruzen sighed.

"Very well, Shikaku-san.

I am dissolving the Uchiha Military Police and replacing them with Civilian Security and Village Defense Teams. All crimes committed by Chuunin and Higher are to be entirely handled within their own chains of command.

As such, the Uchiha are hereby released from the home arrest and are to be conscripted into the general forces.

Do not discriminate against them. They are a great resource and it would behoove you to not squander them.

I expect you to finish conscription within the next two weeks, and you should be training full tilt soon after. I want 10% of the Genin, Chuunin, and Tokubetsu Jonin forces to be ready to advance in rank within the year.

Shikaku, go lift the house arrest and inform the Uchiha of their conscription notice. You are dismissed. Except you, Heguri, stay."

As Shikaku and Daiichi shuffled out of the office and went about their business, Heguri and the Hokage began to chat.

"What is the status of the Academy, Heguri? How many are close to graduating? How many Jonin track?"

"Hokage-sama, we expect to graduate 246 Genin this upcoming spring. We have three classes of Jonin-track Genin, numbering 27 Genin.

Total enrollment is down historically, and we have less than 1200 total students across 4 years."

" I am instituting a rolling graduation policy. As soon as the criteria are met, each student is graduated and placed directly into the Genin Corp. Institute monthly testing.

We don't have the jonin to spare for the Jonin-Track children. They will also be going directly into the corps.

Lastly, while academy teachers are usually exempt from conscription,which is why they are not on your conscription list, however, desperate times call for desperate measures.

Conscript all of them and fold them into the Genin Corps as trainers and sub-commanders, even if they are Chuunin. They will be replaced at the academy by infirm ninja who can no longer serve.

Bring on more academy teachers than you conscript. I have half a mind to start conscription of civilians, or at least heavily subsidizing their enrollment, and I plan to greatly expand our training program.

Do you have any questions?"

"No, Hokage-sama."

"Dismissed."

Heguri stood up and tucked his folder under his arm as he walked out the room.

He turned around and bowed one more time as he stepped through the doorway.

As he looked down at the folder in his hands, his hands were sweating and clammy.

His knuckles were white and his fingers were shaking.

Children on the battlefield? What is the world coming to?

The normally taciturn and stoic man clenched his hands around the folder and cursed under his breath.

Fuck.