Joining Kirigakure

"Let's call it here for today!" Genji called a halt, ending the spar.

Seiji and Ling walked toward each other and formed the Seal of Reconciliation.

"You're quite strong, Young Master Seiji!" Ling praised him, then put back on the mask he had removed during the fight and vanished.

"Truly astonishing, little Seiji. A Jonin at nine years old! Very impressive. Bi, take little Seiji to register now. I'll speak to the Third Mizukage myself." Genji turned and instructed Bi beside him.

"Yes, Elder. Please follow me, Young Master Seiji," Bi replied respectfully.

Name: Seiji Otsutsuki

Age: 9 (Born on February 10, Year 19 of Kirigakure)

Height: 151 cm

Weight: 49 kg

Ninja Registration Number: 005666

Ninja Rank: Jonin

Mission Experience: D-rank 0, C-rank 0, B-rank 0, A-rank 0, S-rank 0

Chakra Attributes: Wind, Lightning, Water, Fire, Earth, Yin, Yang

Kekkei Genkai: Shikotsumyaku

With his information registered, Seiji officially joined Kirigakure under the identity of Seiji Otsutsuki. With Elder Genji vouching for him, Seiji was directly granted the rank of Jonin. Afterwards, Bi returned to Genji with Seiji.

After lunch, Genji summoned Ling, the Anbu squad captain, once more and had him take Seiji to the Anbu base to begin his assignment.

Genji had already spoken with Third Mizukage Hyou. For Genji, guaranteeing Seiji's entry into Kirigakure and making him an Anbu operative was practically effortless.

What Seiji had sought for so long without success—joining Kirigakure and even entering the Anbu—had been accomplished so casually with a single order from Genji.

At the Anbu Main Base in Kirigakure, Ling slowly led Seiji into the Barrier.

At the same time, a masked Anbu ninja approached from another direction, followed by a young boy who had just passed the Anbu assessment.

The boy had a scar beneath his left eye that resembled a stitch mark, along with distinctive green hair and purple eyes. On his back was a club-like weapon with a hooked tip, decorated with green flowers.

"The new generation of the Karatachi clan?" Ling's expression shifted in realization as he recognized the boy.

The boy exchanged a glance with Seiji, a trace of curiosity stirring within him toward this person who had joined the Anbu on the same day.

After arriving at the base and receiving his standard equipment, Seiji officially became a member of Kirigakure's Anbu.

"Young Master Seiji, I'll be heading back first. What comes next is onboarding training for new Anbu members. There's no need to hide your strength," Ling hinted meaningfully.

Seiji went aside to change into Anbu attire, put on his mask, and strapped his Ninja Swords to his back. Just then, the boy he had met earlier finished changing as well and casually came over to Seiji.

"Since we joined the Anbu together, I think we ought to get acquainted," the boy said.

"I'm Karatachi Yagura. And you?" Yagura asked Seiji in a lively tone, extending his hands.

"Seiji Otsutsuki." Seiji did not dislike the overly outgoing Yagura and answered calmly.

At the same time, Seiji extended his right hand and gave Yagura a polite handshake.

"You two really should get to know each other. For some time to come, you'll be teammates!" A calm voice came from the distance.

"I'm an Anbu squad leader. My codename is Wind, and I'll be your captain from now on—provided you earn my recognition. Follow me, rookies!" Wind said to the two before turning toward the training ground.

Seiji felt no reaction inside. Ling had already hinted at this.

Yagura, however, was somewhat nervous. The same age as Seiji, he had only become a Chunin at the beginning of the year. Under his clan's arrangements, he had spent several months finally reaching the Anbu's minimum requirements and passing the assessment to join. But he knew that, among the Anbu, his current strength was surely at the bottom.

Nervous, Yagura could not help looking at Seiji, wanting to know what this newly acquainted companion thought. But to Yagura's disappointment, Seiji gave no response at all. He remained perfectly calm.

Once inside the training ground, Wind introduced it to the two newcomers.

"This is the Fourth Training Ground of the headquarters. There are five training grounds in total here. Training Grounds One through Three are specifically for Anbu members to practice ninjutsu, while Training Grounds Four and Five are for sparring between Anbu members. I'll give you two five minutes to discuss your tactics. The two of you will face me together. If you can hold out for more than ten minutes, you pass. I'll give you one piece of information in advance: I'm a Jonin who uses Wind Release and Water Release!"

Because of Genji's involvement, Seiji's situation was classified at an extremely high level even within the Anbu. Thus, Wind did not know Seiji's strength and was simply treating him according to the normal procedure for new Anbu recruits.

Yagura's face went pale. Two Chunin—or perhaps an Elite Chunin and a Chunin—against a battle-hardened Anbu Jonin. Though they only had to hold out for ten minutes, Yagura still felt they had no chance at all.

"What should we do, Seiji? We definitely can't beat him. Do you know the Hidden Mist Technique? If Captain Wind doesn't have sensory abilities, we can hide our presence and stall for ten minutes." Yagura did not know Seiji's strength. He only assumed Seiji was like himself, a Chunin at most—perhaps an Elite Chunin.

At Yagura's analysis, Seiji's mouth twitched.

"Or do you have any secret techniques that can boost your strength? I'm a Chunin right now, but I have a secret technique that can briefly raise my strength to the level of an Elite Chunin for about two or three minutes. If you have a similar burst technique, we can work together and try to take down Captain Wind quickly." Yagura unleashed a barrage of words at Seiji like a Gatling gun.

"I'm a Jonin," Seiji said calmly, unable to endure Yagura's Talk no Jutsu any longer.

Yagura's mouth kept moving, but then he seemed to hear some unbelievable information.

"Jo... Jo... Jonin?" Yagura's jaw dropped in shock.

"You're nine too, right? How did you train? Do you have any tricks?" After pausing for several seconds, Yagura fired off another rapid series of questions.

"Shut up!" Seiji's head began to ache. He was completely helpless against this lively fellow. Once they passed the assessment, he and Yagura would be teammates. With someone like this around, it seemed his days ahead would not be boring.

"Time's up. Get ready to begin!" Wind, who had been resting with his eyes closed nearby, suddenly spoke.

Seiji and Yagura, ready for battle, bowed to Fū before launching their attack.

Seiji swiftly charged at Fū, buying time for Yagura behind him to perform a jutsu.

"Wind Release: Breakthrough!"

Fū used the D-rank Wind Release jutsu without forming hand seals. Though it was too weak to injure Seiji, its purpose was merely to slow his charge and buy enough time to form the seals for the next jutsu.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

Having finished his hand seals, Fū unleashed his next jutsu. The C-rank Wind Release was already tremendously powerful in his hands, and a fierce gale blasted toward Seiji and Yagura behind him.