Chapter 5: Reforms

Previously:

Anko has had a final meeting with the kids before embarking on her two-year mission. Meanwhile, Kurenai has decided to help and teach the Uzumaki twins to read. Witnessing the neglect of the pre-academy and orphanage, Sarutobi and Anko decided it was best for the twins to start living at Anko's place together with Kurenai. However, first the Third decided it was time for some certain heads to roll.

Shortly after Anko left the Hokage's office

At the exact moment Anko had left the walls of Konoha, her torture and sadistic senses started to go off. With glee she realised that the Third Hokage had made true on his promise, heads did indeed roll. At the same time she wondered if she should have told Kurenai that the twins would be living with her from now on. She snickered at the impromptu image of a shocked Kurenai, she best leave it as a surprise. With a grin she continued her way, jumping up into the nearest tree and set off with two other team-mates following her.

Sarutobi sighed, he really was getting too old for this.

In front of him lay a stack of thick black books detailing the current affairs of the shinobi schools. In the last few years he had left it up to the council to make the curriculum. Thus far he had only read through the pre-academy years and was sitting full regret. He thought he would never utter the next words but he did so now (to himself at least) but Danzo was right, he was becoming soft. Peace had made Konoha lax and complacent. For the next few days, he would spend sleepless nights at his office correcting the numerous errors.

It was true that this had come to light thanks to Anko, but he had thought that it was an incident due to the twins Jinjuriki status. What he found was in fact, so much worse. The standards were low, too easy, as if to make it possible for almost anyone who wanted to be a ninja pass. It took him in total a good 6 hours to read through the books he had come to hate.

He had decided to start with the foundation of the school system, the pre-academy. This should be sorting out if children had it what it took to become ninja, and those not. The ones failing to be ninja would be allowed to pick other classes specializing in different areas. For those who would, could and wanted to be ninja they would receive basic ninja training. Certain classes were indeed shared with all the children ninja-to-be or not. These classes involved; reading, writing, maths, and simple emergency scenario's in case of an attack. Most of the time however was dedicated to forming bonds and installing the will of fire, this was simply done through play and socializing. The one point the classes between civilians and ninja-to-be was that the latter had stricter physical education regimes.

Next up, the ninja academy. This was the academy that Naruto, Naruko and Hinata, along with many other clan heads' children, would start in two months' time. At the moment the taijutsu, history, math and even literature lessons seemed to be perfectly fine. However, the worst part was the rest of lessons, or there lack off. The students only had to pass a written test, perform a basic substitution, some minimal throwing shuriken skills, a Bushin (clone jutsu), and show proficiency in taijutsu. No wonder so many Jōnin sensei chose to fail their teams. How on earth had he not noticed this before? Looking to his left and seeing a stack of paper work left him realising that they had diverted his attention away from what truly mattered, the future generation.

Sarutobi shook his head and focused once again at the task at hand.

Missing from the curriculum was; medical lessons, tactics, espionage, diplomacy and formalities, ninjutsu, genjutsu and kenjutsu. Torture and interrogation was also missing but for now he wasn't sure if he wanted to add that to the curriculum. They were still kids and some of them would not make it to a full ninja career where they would need that. However, it was perhaps an idea to invite guest talks from all the different departments of the ninja systems. This could work positively in two ways. Firstly, it would motivate the children and secondly, it could help them pick out the ones showing promise and potential in their respective fields. It would be a shame to waste talent for medic ninja by not detecting it earlier. Medic ninja were hard to come by.

For now, this would have to do as the changes had to be implemented fast. This was, after all, just the basic gist of it and he would have to go over the details with the head of schools to implement the changes. They only had two months before a new school year would start, so they had no time to spare. Quickly he grabbed four blank papers and ink quill, to write four individual messages.

Sarutobi sat back and leaned in his chair watching the sun rise. He spend the entire night working and was exhausted, yet he had no time for sleep as the stack of paper work on his left was still there. Nevertheless, he couldn't help himself but feel as if he forgot something. Choosing not to dwell on it any longer he set to work as a yawn escaped.

Kurenai was rather pleased with herself. She had helped the three children with setting up a basic schedule to teach them at least 3 hours once a day. Not only that but she had also finally moved into Anko's place last night. She was an early riser and the sun was only barely out, she sat on the couch and sipped her morning tea. Her moment of peace only lasted five more seconds before a hawk pecked impatiently on her window. For some reason she was informed by a message that she had to pick up the twins. All the letter said was an address and time, no further explanation. She was used to secrecy to do with missions but this was just plain weird. Nevertheless, an order was an order and so she stood, a few hours later, in front of the same shabby door once again. Albeit this time she was without Hinata.

"Hello? Anybody home?"

"Hi Kurenai-sensei. We are almost done" Naruko's tone was cheerful and upbeat as she helped her brother pack some random items in a box.

Kurenai couldn't help but see the gigantic mess in front of her, with in the midst of it two boxes. Hold on, what on earth did they mean with almost done?

"Ohayo Kurenai-sensei! This rocks! I am so glad we get to move in with you, now you can teach us all the time." Naruto was ecstatic. Don't get him wrong he didn't mind living with his sister but when a letter from the old man told them this morning that they were moving in with Kurenai at Anko's place he thought he was dreaming. This was his chance at a family. He already saw Anko as his role model, and after all the help from Kurenai in the library yesterday, he came to see her as an older sister.

Kurenai on the other hand was shocked silent. She nearly face-faulted once the words got through to her. Yet, seeing Naruto's enthusiasm she didn't have the heart to say no. Not that anyone had given her a choice in that matter but surely she was only a Chūnin... they must realise that she might not be the best suited to look after two children? She was only a young adult herself.

"Well come one then pack faster, we need to get moving if you want another lesson in today." Kurenai replied with a grin and helped them pack. Despite being young she promised to herself that she would take care of them. Any issues she would face in the future could be dealt with and she would cross that bridge when it came.

A few hours later and everything was sorted. She was glad Anko had such a huge house, perhaps she would move up to Jōnin rank sooner than later, seeing that it must pay well to afford such a place.

"Kurenai-sensei, can we have Ramen for dinner please?" Naruto asked.

"Sure, I don't see why not. However, Naruto, you may call me Kurenai when I am not teaching you ok? That counts for you too Naruko."

"Hai" Naruko replied and continued to draw.

"Alright Kuri-nee" Naruto replied and bounced around at the prospect of eating Ramen tonight.

Kurenai had no idea how to respond to that. She had expected Kurenai-san or even Yuhi-san but this? She had a feeling that she would have her hands full with these two. Her thoughts took a slightly darker turn, whoever was behind the idea of not informing her was going to get it.

Two simultaneous sneezes occurred at that moment. One was located in the village tower, in the Hokage's office, unsuspecting what was wrong. The other, was somewhere in the forests outside of Konoha, knowing full well who was just cursing her and causing her to laugh. Anko's temporary team mates sat in silence around the camp, they were used to her strange behaviour.

It was two months later and a lot had happened in such a short time.

Kurenai and the twins had several moments of... adjustments to living together. The twins were not used to supervision and as a result it caused quite some confusion when Kurenai gave them tasks such as cleaning, or going to bed before a certain time. The cleaning they were used to, however never before had someone told them when to do it. Back in their old apartment they just did it, sporadically. Going to bed when told was a whole other story, very unusual indeed. However, with some minor bumps in the road they had found a way to all live together without too many problems.

Though there was this one time that was a problem. When Hinata wanted to visit she had gone to their old place, and in a panic for finding it abandoned had ran to the Hokage saying her friends had been kidnapped. Seeing her history with kidnapping, this had brought up some old wounds for her and it took them a while to settle her down. Yet, this was now all in the past and talking about things had greatly helped the shy Hyūga, so much so that her stutter around them was gone.

"So kids, excited for your first day at the academy?"

Two nervous pair of eyes looked at her.

"Well no worries, you will be fine." Kurenai said. Although a small part of her was worried about them, she knew they would be just fine. She had come to see them as younger siblings and at times she felt even motherly towards them. These past two months had taught her a lot about the two of them.

Naruko and Naruto, twins... and yet so very different. Where Naruko was silent (in comparison with Naruto at least) and watchful, Naruto was loud and out-going. Naruko had more trust issues than her brother, who unlike her seemed to see the best in everyone. It had taken Naruko an entire month before adopting the same nickname Naruto had for her. She had to give it to them though, they were equally stubborn, resourceful, temperamental and head strong. Both kids were talented too, they took like fish to water with the lessons she had given them. They were almost at the same level as Hinata, something that was no small accomplishment.

"Do you really think so Kuri-nee?" Naruko asked, for once voicing that she too was uncertain.

"Yeah nee-chan, how do you know we won't suck with the whole reading thingy?" Naruto added his bit.

Kurenai grinned. Trust Naruto to somehow make her smile at his way at stating things.

"I don't."

The reactions that followed were comical, both twins had their mouths hanging wide open and huge sweat drops on their heads. A flash went off.

"Haha- I got you both there! Oeeh I cannot wait to show these pics to Hinata" and Anko. Kurenai added the last bit in her thoughts. They didn't know that she and Anko had been writing occasional letters to each other.

The little practical joke was all that was need to shake the twins out of it and they bombarded her with their usual enthusiasm.

"Enough, let's get going or else you will be late." With that the three of them set off to the Hyūga compound to pick up Hinata before going to school.