Time passed slowly. During this period, aside from completing missions, Akiyama Shun occasionally filled in for Tsunade at the hospital.
Relations between the major shinobi villages had grown increasingly delicate, and friction between them was on the rise. The hospital was seeing more and more wounded shinobi.
"Thank you, Lord Akiyama Shun. You've worked hard today."
Inside the hospital, a young nurse thanked Akiyama Shun.
Although Akiyama Shun was still young, he often came to help at the hospital and had solved quite a few problems for them. Even without his status as Lady Tsunade's student, he still held a respectable position there.
"It's no trouble. I don't like seeing shinobi from our village get hurt, either. Just call me whenever you need help."
Akiyama Shun waved a hand. He actually quite liked working at the hospital.
It was tiring, but since he was working there in the capacity of a helper, he earned quite a bit of credit for it.
After leaving the hospital, Akiyama Shun spotted someone he knew at the entrance.
"Kakashi? What are you doing here?"
Akiyama Shun walked down the stairs and went over to Kakashi.
"What else? I graduated from the Ninja Academy, of course, and they're assigning us to teams. What other reason would there be?"
Kakashi looked at Akiyama Shun in confusion.
"You didn't know? Did they not assign you to a team?"
Akiyama Shun shook his head. "No. It's probably because I'm already Lady Tsunade's student, so they didn't assign me to a team."
Kakashi listened, looking at Akiyama Shun with envy.
"I've already been assigned to a team. I came to ask which team you'd been put on, but I guess I came all this way for nothing."
Akiyama Shun smiled. "That's a good thing for you. It's time you learned to get along with your teammates."
At the word "teammates," Kakashi felt a headache coming on.
"I heard you've already completed a bunch of A-rank missions, but now I've been assigned to a team, so I'll have to spend a while doing D-rank missions with them. That's such a waste of time I could spend growing stronger. I... forget it. I'll head back and get some rest. I have to attend the team meeting tomorrow."
Kakashi sighed and left. Watching his dejected figure, Akiyama Shun chuckled and headed to Yuhi Shinku's house.
On the way, Akiyama Shun began to take stock of everything he had obtained from draws during this period.
First, there were the divine artifacts.
He had 24 fragments of the [Kusanagi Sword].
He had 10 fragments each of the [Golden Rope] and the [Seven-Star Sword].
Next were the [Summoning Beasts].
The one he had the most fragments of was [Gamahiro], with 33. Next was [Panda], with 22, followed by [Sand Shukaku], with 14.
He also had a number of fragments for other summoning beasts.
After so many draws, Akiyama Shun had the impression that the odds of getting weapons and summoning beasts were much higher than the odds of getting S-rank ninja.
Among the [Scrolls], [Earth Style: Rock Fall] had reached level 5.
He had also gotten two Wind Release scrolls, [Wind Release: Vacuum Wave] and [Wind Release: Vacuum Blade], which had broadened Akiyama Shun's range of attacks.
Of course, the most important gain was [Mystical Palm Technique: Life (LV3)], a scroll-type version of the Mystical Palm Technique.
Once he used the scroll, the effects of the Mystical Palm Technique would continue healing Akiyama Shun for a period of time.
The effect was astonishing. It was among the strongest scrolls, and greatly improved Akiyama Shun's ability to stay alive.
Combined with the earlier [Forbidden Technique: Yin Healing Wound Destruction], it would be hard for him to die as long as he didn't run into someone far beyond his level of strength.
Finally, there were the changes among the ninja.
[S-rank Ninja]
The one he had the most fragments of was [Hozuki Gengetsu (Second Mizukage)], with 30.
[A (Fourth Raikage)] had 28.
[Otsutsuki Toneri (The Last)] had 20.
Akiyama Shun wouldn't mind which of the three he got first.
One was a mustachioed man with a special Water Release, another was a man with Lightning Release Armor, and the last was an even bigger deal: a movie villain who possessed the Tenseigan.
[A-rank Ninja]
[Gaara] and [Haruno Sakura (Byakugo)] each had 24 fragments.
[Namikaze Minato (New Year Limited)] had 20.
[Sarutobi Hiruzen (Sannin Master)] had 18.
[...]
[B-rank Ninja]
He had gotten [Kimimaro] a long time ago, and had been using him for more than half a year.
But whenever Akiyama Shun used Shikotsumyaku, it was during an assassination. So far, nobody knew he had it.
The [Kimimaro] card was really good. It had given him more than just Shikotsumyaku; it had also given him a special state, "Cursed Seal Transformation." However, Akiyama Shun still hadn't used Cursed Seal Transformation.
He just hadn't encountered an enemy strong enough to warrant it.
Still, whenever Akiyama Shun saw the name [Kimimaro], it reminded him of the past.
Back then, he hadn't been watching Naruto for long, but he'd already been watching someone named "Memamaru" for quite a while.
Whenever he said the names, he always mixed the two up.
Ahem.
Akiyama Shun coughed twice and put those thoughts aside for the time being.
Aside from [Kimimaro], he had also gotten another B-rank ninja, [Yuhi Kurenai (Young)], which helped make up for Akiyama Shun's weakness in genjutsu.
What was more, after getting [Yuhi Kurenai (Young)], Akiyama Shun occasionally made time to teach Yuhi Kurenai genjutsu.
He had also gotten [Nohara Rin (Special Care)], but since she had no use at all, there was no need to worry about her.
He had a number of fragments for other B-rank ninja as well.
[C-rank Ninja]
He had completed the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, and had also gotten [Senju Tobirama (Young)].
He had also gotten a few ninja who couldn't really improve his combat strength, like [Umino Iruka]. In the mobile game, his skills were throwing chalk and books, and his ultimate move was breathing on people. His second skill was a barrier formation, but even that wasn't very useful. Akiyama Shun couldn't even be bothered to sort out cards like his.
"But... the Ninja World War seems to be getting closer and closer, doesn't it?"
As Akiyama Shun mused, he found himself standing at Yuhi Shinku's front door.
After knocking three times, he pushed the door open and walked in.
As soon as he entered, he saw Yuhi Kurenai waiting for him by the door.
Yuhi Kurenai was nine now. She had grown quite a bit taller, and her face had matured since she was little. She was even prettier now, looking much like the illustration of [Yuhi Kurenai (Young)].
When she saw Akiyama Shun come in, Yuhi Kurenai giggled twice and asked him mysteriously, "Guess what big thing happened today?"
Akiyama Shun pretended to think for a moment. "What? Did you learn a new genjutsu?"
"No!"
Yuhi Kurenai jumped up and shouted happily, "We graduated from the Ninja Academy! Now I can go on missions just like you!"
After shouting, Yuhi Kurenai threw her arms around Akiyama Shun. She looked genuinely happy.
"Have you already done lots of C-rank missions? Tell me what you've learned, hmm?"
"No, you won't be able to use Shun's experience with C-rank missions."
Yuhi Shinku suddenly spoke up, bringing Yuhi Kurenai's daydream to an end.
"Newly graduated Genin only get D-rank missions."
"What? Shun never did any D-rank missions, either. He started with C-rank missions!"
Yuhi Kurenai retorted, looking unconvinced.
"That's because Shun is talented, and his teacher is Lady Tsunade."
Yuhi Shinku shook his head.
"Well, what if my teacher also wants us to start with C-rank missions?"
"No. That definitely won't happen."
Yuhi Shinku's expression was resolute.
"Because I'm your team leader."
Before you continue