Observation Is the Foundation of All Genjutsu

"Tsunade, Lord Hokage has called a meeting of the Jonin Commanders at the front!"

Tsunade left the Medical Department tent area and headed for the command tent.

Outside the Medical Department, Kawadera Uchiha saw that the person sent to notify Tsunade was another Jonin—Dan Katō.

Unlike the original storyline, Nawaki hadn't died this time. Tsunade had been startled, but she hadn't suffered the severe psychological blow she had in the original.

She might not suggest assigning a medical ninja to every squad at the Jonin Commander meeting. Even if she did, and Dan Katō stood up to support her, she wouldn't be as easily swayed as she had been in the original, when Nawaki's death left her vulnerable.

Tsunade felt hard-edged now, a real tomboy. She wouldn't show a vulnerable side like she had in the original.

What a shame. Kawadera Uchiha was only a Chunin, so he couldn't attend the Jonin Commander meeting.

Tsunade had already walked some distance when she suddenly turned and beckoned to Kawadera Uchiha.

"Come on. You're coming with me."

Kawadera Uchiha raised a hand and pointed at himself. Was she calling him?

"Yes, you, Kawadera. Come with me."

Kawadera Uchiha hurried after her.

Dan Katō, walking on Tsunade's right, glanced curiously at Kawadera Uchiha on her left. He had no idea why Tsunade had brought this Uchiha along.

Kawadera Uchiha had just started to feel like a third wheel, but then he remembered that Tsunade and Dan Katō weren't a couple yet. What did he have to worry about?

Dan Katō was the third wheel. He and Tsunade were on good terms.

When they reached the command tent, Tsunade first went to speak with the Third's aide, Naraichi.

Tsunade said, "Naraichi-senpai, I plan to recommend Kawadera Uchiha for Special Jonin. Could you prepare the recommendation form and paperwork for him?"

Kawadera Uchiha froze. She was recommending him for Special Jonin?

That was something special, all right. A princess of the Senju Clan recommending a member of the Uchiha Clan?

Even within his own clan, he'd never had this kind of opportunity. He hadn't expected to get one through Tsunade.

Naraichi didn't ask any questions. "Let's start with the Jonin Commander meeting. I'll have the staff fill out his recommendation form first and assess his abilities."

Hearing that there would be an assessment, Kawadera Uchiha felt uneasy.

What if... what if the village discovered how strong he was and insisted that he attend the Jonin Commander meeting right away?

Forget it. He shouldn't get his hopes up. That was far too much to expect.

Naraichi, Tsunade, and the other Jonin went into the tent. Kawadera Uchiha peered inside and saw tiered seating like in a lecture hall.

A Nara ninja led him to a nearby tent.

"Dazhou Yamanaka, gather a few people and assess this Chunin. Princess Tsunade has recommended him for Special Jonin."

The ninja named Dazhou Yamanaka had been half-reclining in his chair. At that, he stretched and stood up.

"Special Jonin? Let's see if you're special enough."

Dazhou Yamanaka brought two ninjas—a Nara ninja and an Akimichi ninja—to the open space behind the tent.

The two of them looked somewhat reluctant.

Torches burned all around, lighting up the clearing.

Dazhou Yamanaka said, "Young Uchiha, the big shots are holding a meeting in that tent. Go easy, and don't force your abilities.

"Especially don't use the Great Fireball Technique.

"I've been a ninja for twenty years, and I've never seen the Great Fireball Technique kill anyone. It's a complete waste."

Kawadera Uchiha couldn't help defending himself. "I've killed two or three people with the Great Fireball Technique in the past six months. It's not that useless."

"Six months? Two or three people? I've killed more enemies by throwing rocks in six months than you've killed with fireballs."

Kawadera Uchiha couldn't argue, because... the Great Fireball Technique really did have a low kill rate.

Most Uchiha ninjas opened with the Great Fireball Technique, then finished their opponents with kunai.

"Princess Tsunade recommended you for Special Jonin. Start by telling me what makes you more special than a Chunin."

Kawadera Uchiha said, "Senpai Dazhou, do you think I'm good at genjutsu because I'm an Uchiha?

"That's a stereotype!

"But stereotypes are usually pretty accurate. I am good at genjutsu. I'd say I'm better at it than the average Chunin."

Dazhou Yamanaka said, "Young man, don't be so confident. Confident ninjas die young.

"Since you say you're good at genjutsu, try using it on me. The Yamanaka Clan has naturally strong mental energy, so let's see what you Uchiha can do."

Kawadera Uchiha said, "Then don't blame me."

"Demonic Illusion: Seeing Hell Technique!"

The two tomoe in his Sharingan spun rapidly.

Genjutsu chakra surged along his gaze and flooded into Dazhou Yamanaka's eyes.

Dazhou Yamanaka's lips twitched. Deep down, he didn't believe this young man had particularly strong mental energy.

Someone came around the front of the tent. It was an Akimichi Clan ninja.

"Hey, Dazhou! Why did you abandon me and form an Ino-Shika-Cho team with Gan Akimichi?"

"I didn't abandon you. It's... it's..."

A Nara Clan ninja walked over too and said, "I know why. Dazhou contacted a bunch of Akimichi Clan ninjas and cast a wide net. He was going to team up with whichever one agreed."

Dazhou Yamanaka hurriedly explained, "I wasn't casting a wide net. I was just observing your personalities ahead of time to see if we'd work well together!"

A pretty Nara kunoichi came around to the back of the tent as well. "You jerk! You lied to me! I turned down Futaka Yamanaka's invitation for you!"

"Listen, I'm not a jerk. I..."

Cold sweat beaded on Dazhou Yamanaka's forehead. It dripped into his eye, the stinging pain jolting him back to his senses.

He shook his head. Everything before him vanished. He looked around the back of the tent, but there was no Nara kunoichi and no Akimichi Clan ninja.

Genjutsu!

He'd fallen for a genjutsu that easily?

He looked at Kawadera Uchiha, who had already deactivated his Sharingan and was watching him with a faint smile.

"You! How did you do that? Why was your genjutsu so realistic?"

Kawadera Uchiha said, "Since this is an assessment, I'll explain how my genjutsu works.

"When I first saw you, you were different from the other Yamanaka ninjas. You were lounging alone in a chair, seemingly relaxed, but every so often you glanced at the other Ino-Shika-Cho teams in the tent. You were uneasy.

"Then, once you got your assignment, you called over the other Ino-Shika-Cho team members and broke up their teams. You seemed pretty pleased with yourself.

"I guessed that you were worried because you didn't have an Ino-Shika-Cho team yet, so I wove a genjutsu around that.

"My approach was effective. It worked much better than forcing genjutsu chakra through your defenses."

Dazhou Yamanaka's face darkened. He glanced at the other two ninjas from the Ino-Shika-Cho teams. They both turned away, leaving him standing alone.

They really hadn't wanted to come here with Dazhou Yamanaka.

Dazhou Yamanaka said furiously, "That's cheating! You didn't use genjutsu; you used psychological warfare!

"You're applying for Special Jonin, aren't you? Are there even Special Jonin who specialize in psychological warfare?"

Kawadera Uchiha said, "Sorry, that's my philosophy of genjutsu.

"Observation is the foundation of all genjutsu!"

At that moment, two claps rang out.

Orochimaru stepped out of the darkness.

"'Observation is the foundation of all genjutsu.' Even I find that thought-provoking. Your genjutsu is impressive."

With that, Orochimaru headed for the command tent, unconcerned that he was late. He casually lifted the tent flap and went inside.

Dazhou Yamanaka had to grit his teeth and say, "Fine. You've passed the Special Jonin ability assessment. Now wait for Lord Naraichi to assess your mission record!"