Ōnoki: I Lack Nothing Now!

Team Kintsuchi?

Jingxin looked toward Ōnoki, having already guessed the gist of it in his heart.

Ōnoki glanced around the room, then suddenly frowned: "Where has that brat Deidara gone off to!"

"Ahem," Jingxin gave a dry cough: "He is likely still in his 'laboratory'."

Calling it a laboratory was a stretch; in reality, it was just an undeveloped cluster of strange rock formations.

Ōnoki sighed, then set those thoughts aside: "Kintsuchi, you are the leader of the younger generation in Iwagakure."

"Your current strength is more than enough to serve as a jonin instructor... it might even be a waste of your talents."

"However, I still wish to organize Kurotsuchi, Karin, and Deidara into a squad under your leadership. What do you think?"

Before Jingxin could answer, Ōnoki added: "Rest assured, you only need to teach them the basics."

"Advanced techniques for Kurotsuchi and Deidara will be guided by myself and Kitsuchi."

"Karin's training path is unique; you will be responsible for her sealing jutsu, while Yeying will handle the development of her sensory abilities."

"Hmm..." Jingxin began to ponder: "Kurotsuchi's close-quarters combat is strong, Deidara can compensate for our lack of long-range attacks and provide flexible support, and Karin's sensory and sealing abilities will ensure the team has no obvious weaknesses."

At this, Jingxin nodded: "It is very feasible!"

Ōnoki looked quite pleased: "Then it is settled. Come to my office tomorrow to discuss the specifics."

To an outsider, Ōnoki's arrangement seemed highly unreasonable.

Jingxin was eleven, and Karin was eleven.

Kurotsuchi was twelve.

Deidara was thirteen.

For the latter three to form a squad with an eleven-year-old—who hadn't even graduated from the Ninja Academy—as their jonin instructor was unheard of.

Yet, strangely, none of the surrounding Iwa-nin felt it was unreasonable.

Afterward, Ōnoki departed.

Karin looked at him with wide, expectant eyes.

Jingxin smiled: "To celebrate Karin's graduation, my treat."

"Really?" Karin jumped up in excitement: "I want to eat grilled meat!"

"Alright, grilled meat it is," Jingxin laughed, then looked at Chinatsu: "Auntie, you should come along too."

Chinatsu wiped the lingering tears of excitement from the corners of her eyes: "Very well, Lord Kintsuchi."

The next day.

Tsuchikage Office.

Ōnoki sat behind his desk, his expression solemn.

Standing in the center of the office were four people; despite the clear age gaps, they were about to become members of a single ninja squad.

Jingxin stood at the front, the eleven-year-old boy standing tall and straight. His black hair was neat and sharp, and his face held a composure that belied his age.

He wore the standard Iwagakure ninja uniform, a Ninja Blade strapped diagonally across his back, and his ninja tool pouch was bulging—clearly prepared to depart at a moment's notice.

To his left was Kurotsuchi; the twelve-year-old girl already possessed a graceful figure, especially her legs, which were hard not to notice.

To his right was Deidara, thirteen, his expression looking somewhat unconvinced.

Finally, standing half a step behind Jingxin, was Karin, who appeared somewhat nervous.

"Everyone is here," Ōnoki began slowly, his voice echoing through the spacious office: "Then, I officially announce the formation of the Iwagakure Seventh Special Operations Squad, codenamed 'Team Kintsuchi', effective today."

"Captain and jonin instructor, Kintsuchi."

"Members: Kurotsuchi, Deidara, Karin."

"The squad's primary mission is to execute C-rank and B-rank tasks, accumulating experience and improving strength through actual combat."

Deidara couldn't wait any longer; he pointed at Jingxin's head.

"Lord Tsuchikage, I have a question."

"Speak."

"Why should he be the captain? Yeah!"

His challenge was reasonable and lacked malice, based purely on a factual analysis.

In the history of Iwagakure, when had an eleven-year-old ever served as a jonin instructor?

This had to be a joke!

Especially since the person in question was Jingxin, the very person Deidara dreamed of defeating.

Ōnoki smiled: "That is a good question. Come back and ask me again once you can defeat Kintsuchi!"

Deidara: "..."

"I will be able to defeat Kintsuchi soon! Yeah!"

"I almost defeated him last time! Yeah!!!"

Ōnoki wanted to laugh at the thought of Jingxin pretending to be nearly defeated by Deidara, but he forced himself to keep a straight face: "Then do your best."

Deidara was truly a genius youth.

Especially when it came to explosions; one could say he was the most outstanding talent in the history of Iwagakure.

But his opponent was: an eleven-year-old with a Mangekyō Sharingan.

His chakra reserves were as deep as a Kage-level ninja.

He was the sole inheritor of the Ninja World's most powerful ninjutsu—Dust Release.

He was proficient in the nature transformation and ninjutsu of fire, earth, and wind chakra.

He had mastered the Scorch Release of wind and fire, and the Lava Release of fire and earth.

He could perform one-handed seals to instantly cast sealing techniques.

He had once used the Eight Trigrams Seal to improve the Tailed Beast seal on Han.

Looking strictly at the milestone of being eleven years old, Jingxin was an existence that Ōnoki could not compare to anyone else in the history of the Ninja World.

Ōnoki looked at these four youths, each with different ages, personalities, and talents.

Gathered together for various reasons, a complex emotion welled up in his heart.

Jingxin, an Uchiha orphan, wielder of the Sharingan, and practitioner of Dust Release.

Kurotsuchi, his own granddaughter, the future of Iwagakure, frank and powerful.

Deidara, a genius of explosive art, arrogant yet pure.

Karin, a survivor of the Uzumaki Clan, gifted in sensory and sealing techniques.

If such a squad could truly unite and unleash everyone's potential, what heights would they reach in the future?

He dared not imagine.

Ōnoki was surrounded by a tremendous sense of happiness.

Just a few years ago, Ōnoki was still worrying about the withering talent in Iwagakure, unable to close his eyes in peace even in death.

And now...

"Alright." Ōnoki clapped his hands and took out a mission scroll: "The squad is officially established."

"Your first mission has been issued: a C-rank escort mission. A merchant caravan is traveling from Iwagakure to a border town in the Land of Earth."

"Depart tomorrow morning. The mission is expected to last three days. Any questions?"

Jingxin took the mission scroll: "None."

Ōnoki waved his hand: "Then dismissed. Go prepare. Jingxin, stay behind; I have things to discuss."

After Kurotsuchi, Deidara, and Karin left.

Ōnoki looked at Jingxin, his expression turning serious: "Jingxin, Dust Release is your trump card. Do not reveal it unless absolutely necessary."

"You are very strong now and can face Kage-level powerhouses."

"But the dangers of the Ninja World go far beyond that. On the surface, there are only five Kage, but the elite jōnin of each village can actually be considered reserve Kage. Most are not called Kage-level only because of seniority, contributions, or a lack of combat records against Kage-level opponents."

This point was very accurate.

Elite jōnin could become Kage-level at any moment.

Wasn't Kakashi the Sixth Hokage?

And there were monsters like Might Guy, who could trade lives with anyone below the Six Paths.

"Jingxin, you still have room to grow. I know your potential is far beyond this."

"So, regarding your revenge, you must wait until you have fully matured and success is certain before considering it."

"By then, those people will be nothing more than targets you can eliminate at any time."

Jingxin appeared very rational: "I understand."

Looking at his clear-headed demeanor, Ōnoki sometimes felt he was facing an old man of several decades who had weathered the storms of life.

"Additionally, you must lead this squad well." Ōnoki's voice lowered: "Kurotsuchi is my granddaughter, Deidara is an important genius of Iwagakure, and Karin is the hope of the Uzumaki Clan."

"Each of them is important, but more importantly, they trust you."

"Trust is the most precious treasure of a ninja, and also the heaviest responsibility. Do not betray it."

Jingxin said solemnly: "I will not let you down."

"I believe in you." Ōnoki smiled: "Go on, prepare well. Starting tomorrow, you are the true captain."