Team Kintsuchi?
Jingxin looked at Ōnoki, already guessing what this was about.
Ōnoki glanced around, then suddenly frowned. "Where'd that brat Deidara run off to?"
"Ahem." Jingxin cleared his throat. "He's probably still in his personal 'laboratory.'"
It was called a laboratory, but in reality it was a field of strange rocks that hadn't been developed.
Ōnoki sighed, then let the matter drop. "Kintsuchi, you're the leading figure among Iwagakure's younger generation."
"Your strength is more than enough for you to serve as a Jonin instructor... You might even be overqualified."
"But I'd still like to put Kurotsuchi, Karin, and Deidara on one team, with you as their leader. What do you think?"
Before Jingxin could answer, Ōnoki added, "Don't worry. You'll only need to teach them the basics."
"Kurotsuchi and Deidara's advanced techniques will be taught by Kitsuchi and me."
"Karin's training is more specialized. You'll be responsible for teaching her Sealing Jutsu, while Yeying will help develop her sensory abilities."
"Hmm..." Jingxin considered it. "Kurotsuchi's strong in close combat, and Deidara can make up for the team's lack of long-range attacks while also providing flexible support. Karin's sensory abilities and Sealing Jutsu will make sure the team has no obvious weaknesses."
He nodded. "It sounds very workable!"
Ōnoki was pleased. "Then it's settled. You can all come to my office tomorrow to discuss the details."
To outsiders, Ōnoki's arrangement seemed completely unreasonable.
Jingxin was eleven, and so was Karin.
Kurotsuchi was twelve.
Deidara was thirteen.
The last three were being formed into a team, but their Jonin instructor was Jingxin, an eleven-year-old who was still young enough to be in the Ninja Academy.
Strangely, none of the Iwagakure shinobi nearby thought it was unreasonable.
After that, Ōnoki left.
Karin looked up at Jingxin expectantly.
He smiled. "To celebrate Karin's graduation, I'll treat everyone to a meal."
"Really?" Karin jumped up excitedly. "I want barbecue!"
"Sure, barbecue it is." Jingxin smiled, then turned to Chinatsu. "Auntie, you should come too."
Chinatsu wiped the excited tears lingering at the corners of her eyes. "Of course, Lord Kintsuchi."
The next day.
The Tsuchikage Office.
Ōnoki sat behind his desk, his expression solemn.
Four people stood in the center of the office. There was a clear age gap between them, yet they were about to become members of the same shinobi squad.
Jingxin stood at the front. The eleven-year-old boy held himself straight, his black hair neatly trimmed, his face bearing a composure beyond his years.
He wore Iwagakure's standard shinobi uniform, a ninja sword slung across his back and a bulging pouch of tools at his waist. He was clearly ready to set out at a moment's notice.
On his left was Kurotsuchi. The twelve-year-old girl already had a graceful figure, especially with those legs that were impossible to ignore.
On his right was Deidara, thirteen, wearing a somewhat dissatisfied expression.
Finally, half a step behind Jingxin stood Karin, looking a little nervous.
"Everyone's here." Ōnoki's voice echoed through the spacious office as he spoke slowly. "Then I hereby announce the official establishment of Iwagakure's Seventh Special Operations Squad, codename 'Team Kintsuchi.'"
"Squad leader and Jonin instructor: Kintsuchi."
"Members: Kurotsuchi, Deidara, and Karin."
"The squad's main duties will be to take on C-Rank and B-Rank Missions, gaining experience and improving your abilities through real combat."
Deidara couldn't wait to speak. He pointed at Jingxin.
"Lord Tsuchikage, I have a question."
"Go ahead."
"Why is he the leader? Hmm!"
His challenge was reasonable and wasn't meant maliciously. It was simply a conclusion drawn from the facts.
When had Iwagakure ever had an eleven-year-old serve as a Jonin instructor?
Wasn't that a joke?!
Especially when the person in question was Jingxin, the one Deidara dreamed of defeating.
Ōnoki smiled. "That's a good question. Come ask me again when you can defeat Kintsuchi!"
Deidara: "..."
"I'll defeat Kintsuchi soon! Hmm!"
"I almost beat him last time! Hmm!!!"
Ōnoki thought of Jingxin pretending he'd nearly been beaten by Deidara, and he almost laughed. He struggled to keep a straight face. "Then keep working at it."
Deidara really was a genius.
Especially when it came to explosions. You could say he was the most talented shinobi Iwagakure had ever seen in that field.
But his opponent was an eleven-year-old with the Mangekyō Sharingan.
His chakra reserves rivaled those of a Kage.
He was the sole inheritor of Dust Release, the most powerful technique in the Ninja World.
He mastered the Fire, Earth, and Wind chakra natures, their shape and nature transformations, and their associated techniques.
He had mastered Scorch Release through Wind and Fire, and Lava Release through Fire and Earth.
He could form Hand Seals with one hand and cast Sealing Jutsu in an instant.
He had even used the Eight Trigrams Seal to improve the Tailed Beast seal on Han.
Just considering Jingxin at the age of eleven, Ōnoki couldn't find anyone in the history of the Ninja World who could compare to him.
Ōnoki looked at the four youngsters, all different in age, personality, and talent.
They had come together for all kinds of reasons, and a complicated feeling rose in his heart.
Jingxin, an orphan of the Uchiha clan, a Sharingan wielder, and a Dust Release practitioner.
Kurotsuchi, his granddaughter, the future of Iwagakure, honest and strong.
Deidara, a genius of explosive art, rebellious but pure.
Karin, a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan, gifted in sensory abilities and Sealing Jutsu.
If a team like this could truly unite and make the most of everyone's potential, how far could they go?
He didn't dare imagine it.
Ōnoki was overwhelmed by a tremendous sense of happiness.
Just a few years ago, he'd been so worried about Iwagakure's dwindling talent that he couldn't even rest easy in death.
And now...
"All right." Ōnoki clapped his hands and took out a mission scroll. "The squad is officially established."
"Your first mission has already been assigned: a C-Rank escort mission. You'll escort a merchant caravan from Iwagakure to a border town in the Land of Earth."
"You'll set out tomorrow morning. The mission is expected to take three days. Any questions?"
Jingxin took the mission scroll. "No."
Ōnoki waved a hand. "Then you're dismissed. Make your preparations. Kintsuchi, stay behind. I have something else to tell you."
After Kurotsuchi, Deidara, and Karin left,
Ōnoki looked at Jingxin, his expression turning serious. "Kintsuchi, Dust Release is your trump card. Don't reveal it unless you have no other choice."
"You're strong now, strong enough to face Kage-level opponents."
"But the Ninja World is far more dangerous than that. Though there are only five Kage on the surface, the elite Jonin in each village can be considered candidates for the position. Many of them aren't called Kage-level only because of their seniority, contributions, or lack of experience fighting Kage-level opponents."
That was true.
Any elite Jonin could become Kage-level at any time.
Wasn't Kakashi the Sixth Hokage?
And then there was a monster like Might Guy, who could trade his life for an opponent's against anyone beneath the Six Paths.
"Kintsuchi, you still have room to grow. I know your potential goes far beyond what you've shown."
"So you'll have to wait until you've fully matured before pursuing revenge. Make sure success is all but guaranteed before you act."
"When the time comes, those people will be easy for you to deal with."
Jingxin remained perfectly levelheaded. "I understand."
Seeing how clearheaded he was, Ōnoki sometimes felt as though he was speaking to a man decades older, a weathered veteran with a steady disposition.
"Also, take good care of this squad." Ōnoki's voice lowered. "Kurotsuchi is my granddaughter, Deidara is an important talent for Iwagakure, and Karin is the hope of the Uzumaki Clan."
"Every one of them is important. But more importantly, they trust you."
"Trust is a shinobi's most precious treasure, and also the heaviest responsibility. Don't betray it."
Jingxin answered solemnly, "I won't let you down."
"I believe you." Ōnoki smiled. "Go on, get ready. Starting tomorrow, you'll be a real squad leader."
Before you continue