Command Authority

"Yuzuru, you're back, thank goodness... Lost in the chaos? That's not a funny joke."

In the Konoha camp at dusk, Yuzuru saw Torifu Akimichi again.

The captain looked very happy at this moment, genuinely glad for Yuzuru's survival. His concern was neither overstepping nor insincere, appearing quite earnest.

"Captain, it was too chaotic during the great battle. I panicked and, while being chased, I rushed into the Land of Rain..."

Yuzuru hadn't spent much time with Torifu Akimichi, but he could tell the man was a good old soul. If the Will of Fire truly existed, it was probably embodied in Torifu's character.

In short, this ninja wasn't cold-hearted.

"It really is fortunate that I managed to return... I've always had good luck, come to think of it."

"Bringing back intel of that caliber can't be attributed to luck alone, Yuzuru. You did very well."

"Captain, the journey back from the Land of Rain was indeed perilous."

Torifu Akimichi had abandoned the established team system, choosing instead to lead ordinary ninja into battle with the hope of nurturing some who could stand on their own.

It seemed Yuzuru was already developing, though it was a pity...

Torifu Akimichi led Yuzuru into a nearby tent and then served him a bowl of hot soup. It was dinner time, and Torifu Akimichi's style was still to cook for himself.

"I had originally planned to lead you all for a while longer, but unfortunately, I've received new orders."

"There's an urgent mission, and I have to leave the camp before nightfall. I'll be returning to Konoha for a period, so our team will have to be temporarily disbanded."

Torifu Akimichi truly felt it was a shame; he wouldn't witness the further growth of his team members.

Besides Kairi Omori, who was a mature ninja, Hazuki Uchiha was a bit impulsive, but she was an Uchiha with an awakened Sharingan, so impulsiveness was just a minor flaw in comparison.

As for Yuzuru, he seemed to be a ninja with secrets.

In fact, to others, Yuzuru's demeanor might initially seem somewhat similar to Orochimaru's. At the very least, labels like silent and aloof could be applied to him.

This wasn't Yuzuru's true nature, but being thrown into such a war-torn world, could one expect him to be optimistic and cheerful?

Yuzuru subconsciously wanted to ask why the captain was being called back to Konoha, but due to the seriousness and secrecy of the mission, he naturally couldn't inquire.

Although Torifu Akimichi's status was merely that of a Konoha "regular Jonin" without titles like advisor, his position within the Konoha system was certainly quite high.

"Before I leave, there's something I need to tell you..."

"Please, Captain."

"I heard from Hazuki Uchiha about the source of the ninjutsu you use. While resolving enemies is the top priority in war, and other matters can be flexible, jutsu is a bit different."

"The source of the jutsu you use lacks legitimacy. Some techniques are even explicitly from the inheritance of certain ninja clans... This could cause trouble."

"Captain, I..."

Torifu Akimichi stopped Yuzuru's words with a hand and continued, "Unless absolutely necessary, don't use those ninjutsu in front of others. Your Body Flicker Technique combined with your self-created unseal ninjutsu is sufficient for most situations."

"Besides, some jutsu can't be recovered from fallen Konoha ninja."

Torifu Akimichi recalled the previous encounter with Iwagakure ninja. Although Yuzuru had used a Smoke Bomb at the time, he had still recognized the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique.

This was a self-created ninjutsu by the Third Hokage. Who would bring a scroll containing such a technique onto the battlefield?

Torifu Akimichi could guess the origin of this jutsu.

"I know you have contact with Orochimaru, but unless you become his formal disciple, you shouldn't be too reckless when using those ninjutsu."

Orochimaru was once again taking the blame.

However, becoming Orochimaru's disciple? What kind of hellish advice was that? Orochimaru's disciples would sooner or later become his test subjects.

"I know what to do, Captain."

Ninjutsu with typical ninja clan characteristics couldn't be used, so the few Wind Release ninjutsu Yuzuru mastered would have to be "sealed" for now. The only ones he could use were the Wind Blade Technique.

The Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique was also out of the question.

Perhaps he should return to a combat style centered around Taijutsu?

Body Flicker Technique, Rasengan, Summoning Technique, plus "Sage Transformation"... If the means Yuzuru possessed couldn't resolve enemies, there seemed to be no need to use more Wind Release ninjutsu.

"It's good that you understand. Konoha has been established for so many years, yet certain invisible boundaries within the village still exist... Never mind, let's not talk about that."

"Regarding your next assignment, you'll likely be deployed towards the Land of Rivers, joining a new team to assist in monitoring Sunagakure's movements."

"Land of Rivers?"

The Land of Rivers was a good place, at least much safer than the front lines of the Land of Rain.

"Be prepared. Chunin already have the qualifications to become team leaders."

"Captain, that can't be right. I lack the seniority and wouldn't be able to command respect."

The number of Jonin in each ninja village was limited. Chunin team leaders were certainly far more numerous than Jonin leaders, yet only senior Chunin possessed command authority over a team.

If Yuzuru were to become a leader, there would likely only be one scenario: the entire team would be designated as cannon fodder.

Since Torifu Akimichi was leaving soon, Yuzuru didn't linger. After finishing his conversation with him, Yuzuru returned to his own tent.

Then he noticed the problem. Compared to Torifu Akimichi's private tent, his was more like a public dormitory... Several ninja were resting inside.

Without a second thought, Yuzuru immediately returned to Torifu Akimichi's side, intending to borrow his tent.

Torifu Akimichi readily agreed to such a small matter.

With a relatively quiet environment, Yuzuru then began to read the notes he borrowed from Tsunade.

He had a few days of rest ahead of him and needed to seize the time to study medical ninjutsu.

Medical ninjutsu wasn't difficult to understand on a fundamental level, but there was a prerequisite for performing healing effects: one had to master the nature transformation of chakra... without the Yang nature, nothing else mattered.

"Using Yang nature chakra imbued with life force to promote cell regeneration... I haven't mastered the Yang nature yet."

Could defeating a few medical ninja in a dungeon drop the Yang nature transformation? Yuzuru wasn't sure.

The drop rate for "skills" seemed low. Thinking about it, compared to the Fourth Hokage, Kushina Uzumaki's drops were practically barren.

"Let's not worry about that for now. Without the Yang nature, can I achieve self-healing using Natural Energy?"

At the very least, Jugo's innate Sage Body could do it.

Yuzuru attempted to mobilize Natural Energy. As more Natural Energy accumulated within him, he felt filled with surging vitality. However, before his body could undergo any changes, black markings appeared on him first.

"..."

The Natural Energy didn't cause any changes in his body; in fact, the situation seemed to be the opposite. The markings formed by the Natural Energy on his skin were actually restricting his body.

Wanting to transform? No way.

"Hmm? I think I understand what I need to do now..."