The morning sunlight streamed through the window, falling across the brand-new uniform.
Uchiha Ryūha stood before the mirror, carefully straightening his dark green Special Jonin vest.
Beneath Konoha's emblem on the vest's left breast was an embroidered silver wave, marking him as a Special Jonin. The vest had been delivered the previous evening by an Anbu directly under the Hokage.
"Command of an independent squad, access to S-rank jutsu, the right to report directly to the Hokage..."
He murmured the terms on his appointment letter, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Good thing people mature early in the world of Naruto. Otherwise, no matter how great my accomplishments, my age would still hold me back."
Looking at his nearly six-foot-tall reflection, Uchiha Ryūha sighed inwardly.
Konoha Training Ground, Seventh Practice Area
"Congratulations, Ryūha!"
Matsumoto Ryūichi bowed deeply, bending until his back was almost parallel to the ground.
Behind him, Haruno Kazuya and Fujiwara Itsuki hurriedly followed suit.
Their faces showed both reverence and barely contained excitement.
"Get up."
Ryūha's voice was calm.
He looked at the Jonin teacher who had once been cold toward him, now standing before him with the utmost respect. He felt nothing.
The strong preyed on the weak. That was only natural.
"Lord Hokage asked me to pass this on to you." Matsumoto Ryūichi took an ancient-looking scroll from inside his robes and presented it with both hands.
"An S-rank jutsu scroll. You may choose one technique."
Ryūha took the scroll, untied the cord, and slowly unfurled it.
The Flying Thunder God Technique: FundamentalsRasengan Development NotesMutually Multiplying Explosive TagsAnalysis of the Four Symbols SealWood Release: Wood Clone Fragment...
One familiar name after another from the original story was listed before him.
Uchiha Ryūha's gaze lingered for a moment on "Flying Thunder God" and "Rasengan," but finally settled on the last entry.
"I'll take this one."
"Spirit Transformation Technique?" Matsumoto Ryūichi asked, momentarily taken aback.
"Ryūha, although this technique is rated S-rank, it's a forbidden jutsu. It takes a tremendous toll on the user's soul.
"Historically, fewer than five people have successfully mastered it and used it safely. And..."
"I know."
Ryūha cut him off.
Complete Hypnosis with Kyōka Suigetsu fundamentally interfered with the mind and soul.
If he could combine it with the Spirit Transformation Technique's "leaving the body, sensing all things, and possessing and controlling others"...
He might be able to develop an even more terrifying application.
More importantly, he had Reiatsu.
The essence of a Shinigami was a highly concentrated spiritual force. The side effects of training in the Spirit Transformation Technique might actually serve as a form of conditioning for him.
Perhaps it could even increase his Reiatsu?
For now, all the gains to his Reiatsu came from system draws and quest rewards, but even a little growth through training would be worthwhile.
"Yes." Matsumoto Ryūichi said no more.
"As for reorganizing the squad..." Ryūha put away the scroll and looked over the three of them.
"By my Special Jonin authority, I'm officially forming the 'Fourth Special Operations Squad.'
"I'll be the captain. Jonin Matsumoto, would you be willing to serve as deputy captain and tactical advisor?"
Matsumoto Ryūichi's body trembled, and an incredulous light flashed in his eyes.
In an independent squad led by a Special Jonin, the deputy captain was usually a Chunin. That was customary.
Given Ryūha's standing with the higher-ups, he was fully entitled to choose a Chunin with powerful backing. Someone from a major clan, for example.
"I'd be honored!" Matsumoto Ryūichi replied without hesitation. "It would be my privilege to follow you, Ryūha!"
"I'll speak with Lord Hokage."
He had never liked leading a squad. Besides, given the strength Uchiha Ryūha had displayed during the Chunin Ninja Exams, Ryūha had already surpassed him.
It was only because of his age that he had merely been promoted to Special Jonin ahead of schedule.
"Kazuya, Itsuki, what about you?"
"Of course we're with you, Big Brother Ryūha!" Haruno Kazuya exclaimed. Fujiwara Itsuki nodded firmly.
"Good." Uchiha Ryūha nodded. "The squad's composition will stay the same. Our duties will be..."
"Lord Ryūha."
An Anbu wearing a mask appeared at the edge of the training area with a Body Flicker Technique. His voice was devoid of emotion. "Lord Hokage summons you. Please come with me. Also..."
The Anbu paused. "Lord Danzo is there, too."
Matsumoto Ryūichi's expression shifted.
Ryūha only smiled. "Lead the way."
Hokage Office.
The atmosphere was heavy.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in the main seat, surrounded by curling smoke.
To his left, the two advisors, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, sat with furrowed brows.
To his right, Shimura Danzo leaned on his cane, his single eye cold and sinister.
Hatake Sakumo stood by the window with his back to everyone, his white Hokage half-sleeved robe glaringly bright in the sunlight.
The villagers had recently given it to him of their own accord, a symbol of his status as the "Hero Beneath the Shadow."
He had no title of Hokage, but his reputation was already approaching that of the man currently in office.
"Everyone's here."
Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped his pipe and looked at Uchiha Ryūha. "Ryūha, Kumogakure officially declared war on Konoha yesterday.
"Their reason is that Konoha is harboring a criminal and sent an unidentified Kage Level fighter to attack the Third Raikage, violating the diplomatic relations between our two countries."
"Their shamelessness knows no bounds!" Utatane Koharu said angrily.
"Whether they're shameless isn't important," Shimura Danzo said slowly, his single eye fixed on Ryūha.
"What matters is that the Third Raikage personally infiltrated Konoha, failed to abduct the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and was apparently injured.
"Kumogakure will surely wash away this humiliation in blood. War is now unavoidable."
He paused, his voice turning colder. "And Uchiha Ryūha, the spark that set all this in motion—don't you have something to say?"
Everyone's eyes turned to Ryūha.
The boy remained calm, even wearing a polite smile. "What would Lord Danzo like me to say? That I shouldn't have defeated Kumogakure's envoy in the exams?
"Or that when that Raikage attacked the village, it just so happened that my master was passing by and stepped in to help?"
"Your master?" Mitokado Homura frowned. "Was that berserker who called himself 'Zaraki Kenpachi' really your master?"
"Of course." Uchiha Ryūha spread his hands. "After all, my master saved the lives of Minato and Big Sister Kushina, didn't he?"
"As for where he came from, why he appeared, and why he disappeared... How would a mere Special Jonin like me know the whereabouts of a Kage Level fighter?"
His answer left no room for criticism and shifted all responsibility neatly away from himself.
A cold glint flashed in Shimura Danzo's eye. "Even so, it's a fact that you've acted recklessly and made countless enemies.
"If you hadn't revealed your extraordinary strength so many times during the exams, why would Kumogakure be so wary of you that the Third Raikage himself had to come and test you?"
"So," Ryūha replied without losing his smile, his voice ringing clearly through the office,
"Lord Danzo is saying that Konoha's shinobi should hide their strength in foreign examinations and let our enemies underestimate us?
"Or that when attacked by a Kage Level fighter from another country, we should simply surrender so as not to 'provoke' them?"
He tilted his head slightly, his tone touched with innocent confusion.
"Lord Danzo, are you teaching us that when faced with invaders, we should get down on our knees and beg for peace?"
"You—!" Shimura Danzo slammed his cane against the floor.
Seeing this, a flash of menace passed through Uchiha Ryūha's eyes. The old bastard had lived long enough.
It would be perfectly reasonable if he happened to die mysteriously in the war.
"That's enough."
Hatake Sakumo turned around.
He released no killing intent, yet simply standing there made him seem like a drawn blade.
The air in the room seemed to split beneath its edge.
"What did Ryūha do wrong?" Hatake Sakumo's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable force.
"Bring honor to Konoha in the exams? Rescue his teammates when they were in danger?
"Stand up to a Kage Level fighter attacking a Jinchūriki? Or..."
He looked at Shimura Danzo, his gaze like a knife. "Show restraint when Root shinobi tried to 'test' him, instead of killing them on the spot?"
Before you continue