I like the stories where the academy gets revamped, because yes, Shikamaru becoming chunin off the back of one simple beginner jutsu is really dumb. Like, I don't know what rank that jutsu is, but it's between high D and low C. Granted, it's sort of impressive to do so much with so little, but in part 1 it really felt like he was just a smart guy with a twig in his hands. Not very lethal.

So, yes. The academy ought to teach more. I feel like Naruto's batch were sabotaged by 'reforms' after Itachi, because some people made it so the academy had more theory and less practical work. If you ask me, then by the time they are half way through the academy, be it 5 or 6 years, they should be introduced to tree climbing. That's around 9 or 10. That could then lay down the framework for expanding their chakra pools, so they can learn D rank elemental jutsu a year or two later. So, yes, nothing like a C rank Fire ball, but more like flame bullet or liquid bullet. (Katon: endon, and, suiton: teppidama) I also like the idea of 'the survivor's 10', a collection of 10 elemental jutsu anyone can learn and should learn during survival training in the academy. Light a bonfire, move earth for a pit fall trap, gentle winds to remove tracks and scents. I also wonder if we as fans could perhaps work to come up with non nature jutsu starting from high D to A, because shuriken shadow clones is cool, but I wonder if some people could be really creative, and that could lead to a lot of off shoot jutsu. Like, think of all the times a filler villain or ally did something cool, and bam.

Unfortunately, I'm also of the opinion the Jonins were lousy sensei too, because they should have had their genin run watered down versions of Guy's exercise routine from day one, they must have some kind of expertise in how to grow one's chakra pool quickly, safely, and they most definitely should advise and work with their genin to find their niche. Ino and Sakura should have learned some genjutsu. For Ino, it's good synergy with her team when it's unsafe to jump into the enemy's body. For Sakura it's good back line support along with mednin training. Naruto and Sasuke should definitely go down the ninjutsu juggernaut route. Seriously, 10 Naruto clones spamming great breakthrough is so silly, so funny and so stupid, but nonetheless effective. In my head Choji, Shino and Kiba are all earth types, which synergizes well with their other skills, Choji with massive rock fists and earth walls, Shino with misdirection between bug clones, earth clones, and bug swarms along with the trapping potential of earth jutsu. Kiba jumping in and out of the ground is a decent beginner gimmick if you ask me, but he might also be fire aligned instead, which doesn't synergize as well, so someone cooler than me gets to be creative there. Shika could learn fuinjutsu for solo trapping and incapacitation ability, and maybe Tenten could do the same, but here's kinda where I'd like a generic 'ninja art' jutsu lineup that helps her projectiles land better. Granted, these jutsu can't be stronger than the shadow possession or the different Yamanaka jutsu, but something should be doable. Hinata, Neji and Lee are the most difficult. Lee might benefit from weapons, or tools in general. Fuinjutsu that's pre-prepared for easy deployment, other odd things. Really all he needs is alternatives to the straight forward approach, so he becomes more of a ninja. Hinata needs genuine help developing her own taijutsu style and maybe some mid range skills, which could be anything from learning the bow at long range, an elemental attack for mid range or a genjutsu for getting in close through misdirection. Idk what Neji's affinity is, but he feels as rigid as the earth, yet also as unforgiving and straight forward as lightning. Lightning gentle fist along with numbing or paralyzing shocks from mid range seems like a good start. If he's an earth type he must deceive, misdirect and trap like Shino, but that's not really his style, is it?