Promotion to Jonin

Chiya smiled. "I'm honored to receive praise from the Copy Ninja. But after those two techniques, I actually used one more."

As soon as he finished speaking, Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death activated.

Chiya suddenly vanished from Kakashi's sight—and from everyone else's.

At the same time, a sapling shot up from beneath Kakashi's feet. In the blink of an eye, it had grown into a massive tree that several people could barely wrap their arms around.

Clang.

The sword slipped from Kakashi's hand. His body was bound by the tree, leaving him unable to move.

Meanwhile, Chiya slowly emerged from the tree, Zanpakuto in hand, and pointed it at Kakashi.

"Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death. You can even use that technique now? You really are a genjutsu genius, just like Kurenai says." Kakashi looked up at Chiya, his expression grave.

"Likewise. You're the more impressive one, Senior Kakashi. I'm guessing this version of you is another clone." Chiya sheathed his blade and dispelled the illusion.

"Yeah," Kakashi replied quietly, making no attempt to deny it.

His body dissolved into lightning before everyone's eyes, while his real self climbed out of the hole where Chiya had used Double Suicide Decapitation Technique earlier.

Chiya sheathed his sword, and Kakashi put away his own.

Neither of them made another move, and the incense had burned out.

"Time's up." At the judge's announcement, the match officially ended. Chiya and Kakashi formed the Seal of Reconciliation.

That brought the battle to a close.

Clap, clap. Sarutobi Hiruzen rose and applauded. "Chiya, I never expected you to fight Kakashi to such an extent. Truly impressive."

"Lord Hokage, you're too kind. Senior Kakashi was only playing around with me." Chiya launched into his usual humblebrag. "If he'd used Lightning Style: Shadow Clone to paralyze me and then launched a surprise attack, I'd have been in trouble. Besides, Senior Kakashi still hasn't used his signature technique, Chidori."

He's modest, calm, and a successor to the Will of Fire. What a promising young man. Sarutobi Hiruzen was more pleased with Chiya the longer he looked at him. He glanced around and spoke loudly. "I believe everyone has seen Chiya's abilities. There's no doubt he's passed the Chunin examination."

"I said from the start that if Chiya demonstrated sufficiently formidable strength, I would promote him directly to Jonin. Now, let's vote. Those in favor of Chiya's promotion to Jonin, raise your hands."

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

Kakashi, Chiya's opponent, followed right after.

Like Uchiha Itachi, he'd sensed that Chiya hadn't gone all out, though he hadn't either.

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

As if they had a choice.

The Hokage had already approved it.

If they opposed him, wouldn't they just be asking for trouble?

Besides, Chiya's abilities in every area truly merited the title of Jonin.

His genjutsu in particular was enough to give most of those present a headache.

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura also raised their hands. They always went along with the prevailing winds, and Chiya's promotion to Jonin would help with his upcoming infiltration of the Uchiha, which served their interests as well.

There was no reason to oppose something that brought benefits without drawbacks.

As for Danzo, to everyone's surprise, he—who usually liked to oppose the Third Hokage—didn't object this time. Instead, he raised his hand in support with a warm expression.

Most of those present who knew him were dumbfounded.

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction and said with a broad smile, "Good. In that case, Chiya, congratulations. As of today, you're officially a Jonin of Konoha. Keep up the good work. And Kurenai, too—you've taught such an outstanding genjutsu shinobi that you can drop the 'Special' from your title."

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

Chiya, naturally, didn't kneel. Instead, he used Kyoka Suigetsu to make Sarutobi Hiruzen see him kneeling.

Seeing their reverent expressions, Sarutobi Hiruzen's smile grew even broader. He waved for them to rise and continued, "Chiya, even though you're a Jonin now, your offensive techniques are still too limited.

"As for that, Kakashi, I'm giving you tomorrow off. Take some time to train him."

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

Then Chiya put on his newly issued Jonin vest and left the Forest of Death with Yuhi Kurenai.

The two strolled down the street. Yuhi Kurenai wore her usual bandage-style outfit. At the height of her youth, she didn't like that style of combat clothing.

"Chiya, where did you learn Double Suicide Decapitation Technique and Shadow Clone?" Yuhi Kurenai finally asked what had been puzzling her. She hadn't taught Chiya either of them.

"I asked Izumi to find them for me," Chiya replied, telling a half-truth about a secret that wasn't all that secret.

In truth, Chiya had obtained Double Suicide Decapitation Technique—the simplest Earth Style jutsu—on the day he became a Genin.

It was a spring day when all things were coming back to life, and the earth was full of vitality.

For once, Chiya had stayed overnight at Uchiha Izumi's house.

One of them slept on the bed, the other on the floor. But when Chiya woke up the next morning, he found Uchiha Izumi asleep in his arms, which triggered the lolicon options.

1. Kiss Uchiha Izumi. Reward: Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu.

2. Go all the way, behave like a beast; three years minimum, death penalty at most. Reward: the Kido Compendium from the Death God world.

3. Do nothing and wake her up, becoming something worse than a beast. Reward: Grandma Chiyo's underwear.

The result was obvious. Chiya chose the first option.

Uchiha Izumi was simply too young. She'd only been eleven at the time. How could Teng bring himself to lay a hand on her?

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

"The Uchiha, huh." Yuhi Kurenai understood. Then she seemed to think of something and reminded him, "You can learn common jutsu like Shadow Clone and Double Suicide Decapitation Technique, but be sure not to learn any of the Uchiha Clan's secret techniques. Otherwise, they might come after you."

"Also..."

At that, Yuhi Kurenai hesitated and glanced around from the corner of her eye.

After making sure no one was paying attention to them, she lowered her voice so only the two of them could hear. "I know you and a young girl from the Uchiha Clan are childhood friends, but the relationship between the Uchiha Clan and the village is very tense right now. Be sure not to spend too much time around members of the Uchiha Clan."

"Kurenai, are you worried about me?" Chiya stopped walking and stared at her with deep, dark eyes, his gaze openly admiring and flirtatious.

Their eyes met. Yuhi Kurenai parted her lips, wanting to say something, but she couldn't get a word out. Her pretty face flushed bright red, and in the end, she swallowed her words along with her breath.