Selection of Special Jonin

A few days later, one morning.

Sunlight streamed through gaps in the trees, casting dappled shadows that were breathtakingly beautiful.

As usual, Yei woke up early. After washing up and finishing breakfast, he headed toward a certain place.

"What exactly is this mission? Could something have happened at the border again?" Yei frowned slightly as he walked, deep in thought.

Just yesterday, he had received a mission ordering him to gather at one of Konoha's Training Arenas today. As for what the mission actually was, Yei had no idea.

The border conflicts were not particularly serious at the moment. The major nations were all exercising restraint, so it probably was not an issue over there.

He did not dwell on it any further. Once he reached the meeting point, he would know what the mission was.

"Quite a crowd..." By the time Yei arrived at the gathering point, many people had already assembled there. With a rough glance, he counted dozens, and more were still arriving. The number would probably grow even larger.

Yei did not recognize many of them. There were people both young and old, and some were even over twenty.

Of course, there were also fellow students Yei knew: Might Guy, Kurenai Yuhi, Anko Mitarashi, Genma Shiranui, Asuma, Hayate Gekko, Yuugao Uzuki... They were all there.

Daisei and Nami from Yei's former squad were there as well.

They spotted Yei too and greeted him.

Yei walked over to his fellow students. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he asked, "Why have they gathered so many people? Is the village making some major move?"

Just now, Yei had spread out his senses and discovered that nearly everyone here was a Chunin. That gave him a few guesses.

Asuma, being the Third Hokage's son, was the best informed. He explained, "What major move? The village just wants to select some Special Jonin."

"Special Jonin?" Several of the fellow students were surprised.

Although Special Jonin were not true Jonin, during wartime, they could still lead a Ninja Squad into action.

They could be considered ninjas with a tiny bit of authority.

Asuma glanced around before lowering his voice mysteriously. "Of course, Special Jonin are just a pretext. There are actually other reasons."

The others' curiosity was immediately piqued, and they looked toward Asuma. "What reasons?"

Asuma seemed to enjoy being the center of attention. He said smugly in a low voice, "Didn't the Fourth Hokage just take office? Every Hokage must have their own Shadow Guard Squad. Normally, previous Shadow Guard Squads were selected either from the Anbu or from the village's Jonin. But the Fourth Hokage intends to personally select young people and train a Shadow Guard Squad. That should be one of the reasons for this..."

Perhaps feeling that he had overstated things, he added, "Well, that's probably how it is..."

The Hokage's Shadow Guard Squad was not necessarily made up of the village's strongest ninjas, but they were definitely among those with the best treatment.

In some ways, they even ranked above other Jonin. After all, once they became the Hokage's Shadow Guard Squad, they represented the Hokage in certain matters!

Their positions and treatment were far superior to those of ordinary Jonin!

After hearing Asuma's words, the fellow students all nodded. "I see."

Because of the war, the village's number of Jonin had sharply declined. The village needed to promote people to replenish its Jonin ranks, which was why this selection for Special Jonin was being held!

It would also prepare for the Fourth Hokage's selection of a Shadow Guard Squad, killing two birds with one stone!

Genma Shiranui said, "Then does that mean the Fourth Hokage will be watching this selection?"

Asuma did not dare be certain. "Probably. The Fourth Hokage brought up this selection. Even if he doesn't come personally, the selection process will definitely be delivered to his desk."

Yei's eyes flashed as he thought, If I remember correctly, in the original story, the Fourth Hokage's Shadow Guard Squad seemed to have only three members, and they even learned the Flying Thunder God Technique... Genma Shiranui seemed to be one of those guards...

Yei discreetly glanced at Genma Shiranui beside him and speculated, Being in the Fourth Hokage's Shadow Guard Squad is a pretty good job. There might even be a chance to come into contact with the Flying Thunder God Technique, that space-time ninjutsu. If I could learn it... But there are downsides too. I'd have to stay at the Fourth Hokage's side at all times to protect him. That isn't free enough for me...

Thinking that, Yei shook his head slightly. The Flying Thunder God Technique was certainly good, but if the price was losing some of his freedom, then he did not want it after all...

"A Shadow Guard Squad... That's even more impressive than being a Jonin!" Anko Mitarashi pursed her lips, her eyes full of longing.

Asuma added at the right moment, "I only know that the Fourth Hokage has this idea. I can't be sure whether the selection of the Shadow Guard Squad will happen this time..."

"Tch... I thought you knew everything!" Anko looked at Asuma and curled her lip. "All you do is brag."

Asuma choked up. He secretly glanced at Kurenai Yuhi, then relaxed when he saw no strange expression on her face. He shot Anko a glare. "Anyway, I definitely know more than you do!"

"Forget the Shadow Guard Squad. Even competing for Special Jonin will be extremely difficult. Are you confident?" Genma Shiranui stepped in to smooth things over, a toothpick hanging from his mouth. His tone was not particularly confident. "Just now, I saw people from the Uchiha Clan, as well as people from the Hyuga Clan like Yei. Both bloodline clans are here..."

"The Uchiha Clan? I heard there's an Uchiha Shisui who awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan at around ten years old. He even has a record of killing a Jonin. He's a genius no less impressive than Kakashi!" Hayate Gekko had not yet become a sickly man. He looked toward a section of the crowd where members of the Uchiha Clan stood.

"Uchiha Clan, Sharingan..." Gai looked over as well. Since he considered himself Kakashi's lifelong rival, and Kakashi now had a Sharingan too, Gai had paid at least some attention to the Uchiha Clan that possessed the Sharingan.

"Uchiha Shisui..." Upon hearing that name, Yei followed their gazes. Among the group from the Uchiha Clan, he spotted a not particularly tall young man.

That person was none other than Shisui Uchiha!

Yei knew of Shisui Uchiha. Having read the original story, he knew that Shisui Uchiha's Mangekyo Sharingan ability—Kotoamatsukami—was practically a bug-level genjutsu.

He just did not know whether Shisui Uchiha had already awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan by now.

But when he considered Shisui Uchiha's current age, Yei shook his head slightly. Shisui Uchiha was only around eleven years old. How could he possibly have awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan already?

However, when Yei's Observation Haki swept over Shisui Uchiha, his eyes narrowed. In his perception, Shisui Uchiha was concealing an extremely powerful force!

It even gave Yei the feeling that if it erupted, everyone present would be unable to withstand even a single move from him...

Could he have already awakened the Mangekyo? Yei murmured, somewhat shocked. That feeling did not seem false. Shisui Uchiha definitely possessed an immensely powerful force within him!

It was even something Yei could not contend against in his current state!

Just as Yei's perception settled on Shisui Uchiha, Shisui seemed to sense something. He turned toward Yei, and their gazes met.

Such sharp senses... He can even detect Observation Haki's perception? Yei stiffened slightly, raising his assessment of the Mangekyo...

Seeing Shisui looking over, Yei merely gave him a slight nod.

Shisui nodded in return before turning back, though he muttered inwardly, A member of the Hyuga Clan... Was that probing just now the Byakugan? But that person didn't seem to have activated the Byakugan...

Just now, his sharp perception had indeed sensed someone watching him. Of course, that scrutiny had carried no hostility, so he did not think much of it.

He only assumed Yei had been observing the surroundings and his gaze had happened to fall on him. Shisui's senses were simply too sharp, allowing him to notice Yei's gaze.

It was only a small interlude.

As time passed, more and more people arrived to gather here. There were nearly a hundred of them.