Promotion to Jonin

Shimura Danzō was so furious that he raised his cane and struck the floor, his tone filled with dissatisfaction: "Root is severely short-handed right now. Talent like Aragaki Yasushi cannot be wasted!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen saw this and softened his tone slightly: "Pick someone else. You can choose anyone else you like, but Aragaki Yasushi absolutely cannot be given to you."

Shimura Danzō let out a cold snort, his face showing no surprise whatsoever.

He had already anticipated this outcome.

Aragaki Yasushi was far too dazzling, and as a partner to Sarutobi Hiruzen's second son, Asuma, he was firmly in the Third Hokage's camp.

Before he even arrived, he knew that trying to pry Aragaki Yasushi away from the Third Hokage's grasp and into Root was impossible.

Therefore, Shimura Danzō actually had another target in mind; Aragaki Yasushi was merely a pawn he used for bargaining.

Danzō feigned a gloomy expression as he looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen, sneering inwardly.

Hiruzen, you want to play games with me? You're too naive!

You've already fallen right into my trap.

Thus, Shimura Danzō suppressed his calculations and spoke: "Kakashi, give him to me!"

"I will personally train him and turn him into a blade for Root, to clear away everything for the village..."

"Absolutely not!"

Before Danzō could finish, Sarutobi Hiruzen slammed his hand on the desk and stood up, shouting in anger without a second thought.

"Kakashi can never be handed over to you. If Minato and Kushina found out, they would never agree to it."

"Furthermore, the Uchiha Clan would never allow the Sharingan to fall into the hands of Root."

Shimura Danzō was also provoked; he slammed his cane hard against the floor and roared: "Hiruzen, you are too weak! To think you would actually be wary of the Uchiha."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's face turned livid, his tone unyielding: "I said no, and that is final!"

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

Sarutobi Hiruzen puffed out his chest, his words ringing with ironclad resolve: "I am the Hokage!"

These words struck like a bolt of lightning, nearly causing Shimura Danzō to faint from fury.

He had been infuriated by the Third Hokage.

Burning with rage, Danzō grabbed his cane and stormed out, slamming the door behind him with a loud "bang."

Watching the closed door, Sarutobi Hiruzen instantly shed all his authority, as if he had lost all his strength, and slumped into the Hokage's chair, sighing repeatedly.

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

At the front-line camp, Aragaki Yasushi received the delivered documents.

He tore them open and looked, somewhat incredulous: "What? I've been promoted to Jōnin?"

Sarutobi Asuma, standing nearby, leaned over to look and immediately exploded: "What? You actually became a Jōnin?"

"Damn it! You're way too fast; you've already left me far behind!"

Aragaki Yasushi put away his surprise and glanced at him: "What are you whining about? Have you prepared a promotion gift yet?"

Yuhi Kurenai, standing to the side, was also surprised; her cheeks flushed slightly as she said in a flustered manner: "I... I haven't prepared a gift for you yet either."

Aragaki Yasushi waved his hand and said with a smile: "No need. It won't be too late to talk about it when the war ends and we return to the village."

Asuma immediately leaned in and said: "Who knows when the war will end? Tell me what you want, and I'll prepare a gift for you right now."

"But I reckon I'll be promoted to Jōnin soon too, so I won't be left too far behind by you and Kakashi. You'll have to prepare a gift for me then, too."

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

"At the very least, Kirigakure has lost the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, so they likely can't hold out much longer. The other villages are probably in a similar state."

Asuma's eyes lit up, and he immediately said: "Alright then! When the war ends and we return to the village, my treat! We're going to that barbecue place you love most!"

Yuhi Kurenai stood to the side, her face growing even redder as she lowered her head, muttering to herself.

After the war ends, should I prepare a special gift for Yasushi?

Aragaki Yasushi, meanwhile, continued to look at the promotion document in his hand, still finding it hard to believe.

Who would have thought? I actually really got promoted to Jōnin?

Although there were other Jōnin among his peers, like that guy Kakashi who was promoted at a young age, Kakashi had applied and followed the proper procedures.

As for himself, he hadn't even written an application, and the documents were delivered straight to his door.

And the speed was absurd—it had only been a day.

The efficiency of that old man, the Third Hokage, was simply outrageous!

It seems he had been marked for special attention by the old man.

But upon second thought, Aragaki Yasushi didn't think that was a bad thing.

Promoting to Jonin isn't bad; it means being able to take on more dangerous missions.

The more dangerous the mission, the more generous the point rewards triggered by the system.

Furthermore, the authority of a Jonin is quite significant.

Running for Hokage requires the votes of the Jonin.

Even if it is just a formality.

Public opinion is still very important.

Just then, a ninja from the Uchiha Clan walked up to him quickly and spoke with an expressionless face.

"Lord Yashiro is looking for you."

Having said that, without waiting for Aragaki Yasushi to respond, the ninja turned and left directly, his style crisp and efficient, without a single word of excess.

Aragaki Yasushi raised an eyebrow.

Uchiha Yashiro is currently in charge of this camp; him looking for me is likely about the promotion to Jonin.

Aragaki Yasushi put away his documents and walked toward Uchiha Yashiro's tent.

As soon as he entered the tent, Uchiha Yashiro set aside his official business and looked at him: "Congratulations on your promotion to Jonin."

Uchiha Yashiro was genuinely a bit surprised.

Although, based on the strength Aragaki Yasushi displayed in the battle reports, he was fully qualified for the promotion.

But normally, even in wartime, there should be an assessment process; how could a promotion be so hasty?

However, after a second thought, he understood.

This kid's teammate is the Third Hokage's beloved son, Asuma.

With that connection, taking a green-light path didn't seem so hard to understand; sure enough, having strong backing makes a difference.

Aragaki Yasushi said politely: "Thank you, Jonin Yashiro."

Uchiha Yashiro waved his hand and said indifferently: "No need to thank me, I am just relaying the notification from the village's high command."

He paused, a rare smile tugging at the corner of his mouth: "Come to think of it, I still prefer that unruly look you had before."

Seeing that Aragaki Yasushi remained unresponsive, Uchiha Yashiro stopped joking and got to the point: "Alright, let's talk business."

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

"Therefore, apart from Kiba, Samehada, and Exploding Blade Shibuki, which are your spoils of war and belong to you, the village will reclaim the remaining four Ninja Swords."

Upon hearing this, Aragaki Yasushi said indifferently: "Those were Teacher Duy's spoils to begin with; he can dispose of them however he likes, I have no objections."

Besides, he had already secured Kiba and Exploding Blade Shibuki, the two Ninja Swords best suited for him.

The Great Sword Samehada is the ceiling among the seven Ninja Swords, with only the Twin Blades Hiramekarei barely able to compete with it in terms of utility.

Moreover, Samehada is the only living blade among the Ninja Swords.

Therefore, regarding the remaining four dispensable blades, Aragaki Yasushi truly had no demands; it didn't matter to him whether they were taken back or not.