Promotion to Jonin

Shimura Danzō was furious. He raised his cane and struck the floor, his voice full of discontent. "Root is short on manpower. We can't let a talent like Aragaki Yasushi go to waste!"

Seeing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen softened his tone slightly. "Pick someone else. You can choose anyone you like, but Aragaki Yasushi is absolutely off-limits."

Shimura Danzō snorted, not the least bit surprised.

He had expected this.

Aragaki Yasushi was too outstanding, and he was also a friend of Sarutobi Hiruzen's second son, Asuma—a trusted member of Hiruzen's own circle.

Before coming here, Danzō had known there was no chance of taking Aragaki Yasushi from Hiruzen and bringing him into Root.

So Aragaki Yasushi was never Danzō's real target. He was merely a bargaining chip.

Danzō put on a grim expression as he looked at Hiruzen, secretly sneering to himself.

Hiruzen, you think you can play games with me? You're still too green!

You've fallen right into my trap.

Suppressing his schemes, Shimura Danzō spoke up. "Give me Kakashi!"

"I'll train him personally and make him Root's blade, so he can clear away every obstacle for the village..."

"No!"

Before Danzō could finish, Sarutobi Hiruzen sprang to his feet and shouted in anger, slamming his palm on the desk.

"There's no way I'm handing Kakashi over to you. Minato and Kushina would never agree if they found out."

"Besides, the Uchiha Clan would never allow the Sharingan to fall into Root's hands."

Shimura Danzō lost his temper too. He slammed his cane against the floor and roared, "Hiruzen, you're too weak! You actually let the Uchiha intimidate you."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's face turned livid, but his voice didn't waver. "I said no, and that's final!"

"Hiruzen, you'll regret this!" Shimura Danzō trembled with rage.

Sarutobi Hiruzen stood tall, each word ringing with conviction. "I'm the Hokage!"

Those words struck like a bolt from the blue, nearly making Shimura Danzō faint with fury.

Hiruzen had infuriated him so badly he nearly passed out.

Burning with anger, Danzō snatched up his cane and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

Staring at the closed door, Sarutobi Hiruzen instantly shed all his authority. As if he'd lost every ounce of strength, he slumped into the Hokage's chair and sighed again and again.

He picked up the two documents on his desk, glanced them over, and signed his name.

At the front-line camp, Aragaki Yasushi received the documents that had been delivered to him.

He opened them and stared in disbelief. "What? I've been promoted to jonin?"

Asuma Sarutobi, standing nearby, leaned over to take a look and instantly exploded. "What? You've become a jonin?"

"Damn it! You're moving way too fast. You've already left me miles behind!"

Aragaki Yasushi put away the papers and glanced at him. "What are you whining about? Have you got my promotion gift ready?"

Yuhi Kurenai was surprised too. Her cheeks flushed, and she fumbled for words. "I... I haven't gotten you a gift yet, either."

Aragaki Yasushi waved a hand and smiled. "Don't worry. We can wait until the war is over and we're back in the village."

Asuma immediately moved closer. "Who knows when the war will end? Tell me what you want, and I'll get you a gift now."

"But I reckon I'll be promoted to jonin soon too. I won't let you and Kakashi get too far ahead of me. You'd better get me a gift when the time comes."

Aragaki Yasushi glanced at him, his tone casual. "It should be soon. The war won't last much longer."

"At the very least, Kirigakure lost the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, so it probably can't hold out much longer. The other villages are probably in much the same shape."

Asuma's eyes lit up. "Great! When the war is over and we're back in the village, I'll treat you both to a meal at your favorite barbecue place!"

Standing to the side, Yuhi Kurenai blushed even more. She lowered her head, wondering to herself.

When the war is over, should I prepare a special gift for Yasushi?

Aragaki Yasushi continued staring at the promotion papers in his hands, still finding it hard to believe.

Who would've thought I'd really become a jonin?

There were other jonin his age, of course. Kakashi, for instance, had been promoted at a ridiculously young age.

But Kakashi had submitted an application and followed the proper procedure.

As for me, I hadn't even applied, and the papers had come straight to me.

And it had happened so quickly—it had only been a day.

The Third's efficiency was downright absurd!

It seemed the Third had taken a special interest in me.

But thinking it over, Aragaki Yasushi decided it wasn't a bad thing.

Becoming a jonin was great. He'd be able to take on more dangerous missions.

The more dangerous the mission, the more points the system would award for completing its missions.

Besides, jonin had considerable authority.

It took jonin votes to elect the Hokage, after all.

Even if it was just a formality.

Public opinion still mattered a lot.

Just then, a shinobi from the Uchiha Clan strode up to him and spoke without expression.

"Lord Yashiro wants to see you."

Without waiting for Aragaki Yasushi to reply, the shinobi turned and left, brisk and efficient, without another word.

Aragaki Yasushi raised an eyebrow.

Uchiha Yashiro was in charge of this camp. He probably wanted to talk about Aragaki Yasushi's promotion to jonin.

Aragaki Yasushi put away the documents and headed for Uchiha Yashiro's tent.

As soon as he entered, Uchiha Yashiro set down the work in his hands and looked at him. "Congratulations on your promotion to jonin."

Uchiha Yashiro was genuinely surprised.

Judging from Aragaki Yasushi's performance in the battle reports, he was certainly qualified for promotion to jonin.

But normally, even during wartime, there was an evaluation process. How could they promote someone so casually?

Then he thought it over and understood.

The kid's teammate was Asuma Sarutobi, the Third's own son.

With a connection like that, it wasn't hard to understand how he'd gotten fast-tracked. Having powerful backing really did make a difference.

Aragaki Yasushi replied politely, "Thank you, Jonin Yashiro."

Uchiha Yashiro waved a hand and said mildly, "Don't thank me. I'm only passing along the village leadership's notice."

After a pause, a rare smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Come to think of it, I liked you better when you were so arrogant and unruly."

Aragaki Yasushi showed no reaction, so Uchiha Yashiro stopped joking and got down to business. "All right, seriously."

"Might Duy has decided to hand the Ninja Blades over to the village."

"So, apart from Kiba, Samehada, and Shibuki, which are your spoils of war and yours to keep, the village will reclaim the remaining four blades."

Aragaki Yasushi replied without a care, "Those were Duy-sensei's spoils of war to begin with. He can do whatever he wants with them. I don't mind."

Besides, he'd already gotten the two Ninja Blades best suited to him: Kiba and Shibuki.

Samehada was the best of the Seven Ninja Blades. Only the Twin Blades Hiramekarei could even come close in terms of function.

And Samehada was also the only living Ninja Blade.

So Aragaki Yasushi had no particular interest in the remaining four blades. He didn't care whether the village took them back or not.