Promotion to High Ninja

Chiya chuckled, "It is a great honor to receive praise from the Copy Ninja. However, I actually unleashed another technique after those two."

As he finished speaking, Demonic Illusion: Tree Bind was already activated.

Chiya's entire figure suddenly vanished from the sight of Kakashi and everyone else present.

At the same time, a sapling erupted from beneath Kakashi's feet, growing rapidly until, in the blink of an eye, it transformed into a massive tree thick enough for several men to embrace.

Clang.

The katana slipped from Kakashi's grip as his body was bound by the tree, unable to break free.

Chiya then slowly emerged from within the wood, holding his Zanpakuto pointed directly at Kakashi.

"Demonic Illusion: Tree Bind—to think you could even use this technique. You truly are the genjutsu genius Kurenai spoke of," Kakashi said, looking up at Chiya with a solemn expression.

"Mutual, mutual. Senior Kakashi is even more impressive; I suspect the you standing here is just another clone," Chiya said, sheathing his blade and dispelling the illusion.

"Mm," Kakashi replied in a low voice, not denying it.

His entire body transformed into lightning and dissipated before everyone's eyes, while his true self emerged from the hole Chiya had created earlier with the Double Suicide Decapitation Technique.

Chiya sheathed his blade, and Kakashi put away his katana as well.

Neither of them made another move, and the incense had burned to its end.

"Time is up." With the referee's announcement, the duel officially concluded, and Chiya and Kakashi performed the Seal of Reconciliation.

The curtain fell on this battle.

Clap, clap. Sarutobi Hiruzen stood up and applauded, praising, "Chiya, I never imagined you could fight Kakashi to this extent. It is truly remarkable."

"You flatter me, Lord Hokage. Senior Kakashi was merely playing with this humble one," Chiya began his routine humble-bragging. "If he had used Lightning Style: Shadow Clone to paralyze me and then launched a surprise attack, I would have been in trouble. Not to mention, Senior Kakashi has yet to use his signature technique, Chidori."

Neither arrogant nor rash, knows how to be modest, and is a successor to the Will of Fire—a fine seedling indeed. Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed in his heart, feeling more satisfied with Chiya the more he looked at him. He scanned the surroundings and announced loudly, "I believe everyone has seen Chiya's strength just now. There is no doubt he has completed the Chunin examination."

"I stated beforehand that if Chiya could demonstrate sufficient strength, he could be promoted to Jonin by exception. Now, let us vote by a show of hands. Those who agree to Chiya's promotion to Jonin, please raise your hands."

As he spoke, Sarutobi Hiruzen was the first to raise his hand.

Following closely was Kakashi, Chiya's opponent.

Like Uchiha Itachi, he vaguely sensed that Chiya had not used his full strength, though he hadn't either.

The third was Uchiha Itachi. Finally, all the Anbu directly under the Hokage raised their hands in agreement.

It was a joke to think otherwise.

Since the Hokage had already agreed, if they refused, wouldn't they just be asking for trouble?

Moreover, Chiya's qualities in all aspects were indeed worthy of the title of Jonin.

Especially in the field of genjutsu, which was enough to give the vast majority of people present a headache.

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura also raised their hands; these two had always leaned whichever way the wind blew, and Chiya's promotion to Jonin, followed by his undercover mission in the Uchiha clan, aligned with their interests.

They naturally wouldn't oppose something that was beneficial and harmless.

As for Danzo, contrary to everyone's expectations, he—who usually loved to contradict the Third Hokage—surprisingly did not object this time, instead raising his hand in agreement with a gentle expression.

This left the vast majority of those present who knew him stunned.

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction and said with a smile, "Good. In that case, Chiya, congratulations. From today on, you are officially a member of the Konoha Jonin. Keep up the good work. And Kurenai, for being able to teach such an excellent genjutsu ninja as Chiya, the word 'Special' can be dropped from your title."

"Thank you, Lord Hokage." Yuhi Kurenai knelt on one knee before Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Chiya, naturally, would not kneel, so he simply activated Kyōka Suigetsu to create the illusion of himself kneeling before Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Watching the pious expressions of the two, the smile on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face grew even warmer. He waved his hand to signal them to rise and continued, "Chiya, although you have become a Jonin, your offensive methods are still too singular."

"Regarding this, Kakashi, I will give you a day off tomorrow to find time to guide him."

Before long, Chiya and Kakashi agreed on a training location.

He then put on the newly issued Jonin flak jacket and left the Forest of Death with Yuhi Kurenai.

The two strolled down the street. Yuhi Kurenai was in her usual bandage-style outfit; at the prime of her youth, she didn't particularly like this style of combat clothing.

"Chiya, where did you learn your Double Suicide Decapitation Technique and Shadow Clone?" Yuhi Kurenai finally asked the question that had been weighing on her mind, as she had never taught him these.

"I asked Izumi to find them for me," Chiya said, mixing truth with a lie about this secret that wasn't really a secret.

In reality, the Double Suicide Decapitation Technique, the simplest Earth Style ninjutsu, was something Chiya had obtained on the very day he was promoted to Genin.

It was a spring when all things were recovering, and the earth was full of vitality.

Chiya had rarely stayed overnight at Uchiha Izumi's home.

The two of them—one sleeping on the bed, one on the floor—woke up the next day to find Uchiha Izumi sleeping in his arms, which triggered the lolicon option.

1. Kiss Uchiha Izumi, reward: Earth Style: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique.

2. Go all the way, act like a beast, starting with three years in prison and ending with the death penalty, reward: Kido Compendium from the Bleach world.

3. Do nothing, wake her up directly, and become a creature worse than a beast, reward: Chiyo's underwear.

The result was, without a doubt, that Chiya chose one.

Uchiha Izumi was simply too young, only eleven at the time, so how could this Teng possibly bring himself to make a move?

At the very least, she should be of legal age, right?

"Uchiha, huh." Yuhi Kurenai realized, then seemingly recalling something, she spoke up to warn him: "Common ninjutsu like the Shadow Clone Technique or the Double Suicide Decapitation Technique are fine for you to learn, but remember not to touch the Uchiha clan's exclusive ninjutsu, otherwise, they will very likely come looking for trouble."

"Also."

At this, Yuhi Kurenai hesitated, casting a glance at her surroundings.

Seeing that no one was paying attention to them, she lowered her voice to a whisper that only the two of them could hear: "I know you and a little girl from the Uchiha clan are childhood sweethearts, but the relationship between the Uchiha clan and the village is extremely tense right now; remember not to have too much contact with members of the Uchiha."

"Kurenai, are you concerned about me?" Chiya stopped in his tracks, his deep, pitch-black eyes fixed on her with undisguised admiration and ambiguity.

As their gazes met, Yuhi Kurenai's red lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something, but she found herself unable to speak; her pretty face flushed crimson in an instant, and in the end, she swallowed her words along with her breath.

ps: First update, requesting recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Thanks to He Qibao Zhou for the 1500 Qidian coin tip.