Promotion to Jonin

"Elephant! Take two ANBU squads to support Kakashi and Doichi Hyuga! And track Orochimaru's whereabouts while you're at it!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi gave the order in a grave voice.

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

Two days later, the ANBU found Kakashi and Doichi Hyuga.

After asking about the battle site, Elephant left with one ANBU squad...

Five days later, Doichi Hyuga and Kakashi returned to Konoha.

The two entered the Hokage's office and turned in their mission.

"Doichi, Kakashi! You're back! You completed this mission exceptionally well. Thank you for everything you've done for the village!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi set down his documents, a gratified smile on his face.

"The report said you encountered Orochimaru! Tell this old man all about it!"

Kakashi recounted their mission, while Doichi Hyuga added a few details from the side.

"Kakashi! I heard you were injured. How are your wounds?"

"Fortunately, Doichi was there. I've fully recovered now, Lord Hokage!"

"Mm! Was Doichi injured as well?"

"I suffered a minor injury, but I've recovered! I should also thank Senior Kakashi for looking after me. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been such a minor injury."

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not expose him. It was a good thing for young people to remain humble!

"It's good that you both returned safely!... Orochimaru, that bastard—I definitely won't let him get away with this!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression darkened, his words brimming with killing intent. Back then, he should never have spared that traitorous disciple out of softness.

"Doichi! What plans do you have for the future?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked with a genial smile.

"Well! I haven't really thought about it. I'll probably just stay at the hospital."

Doichi Hyuga knew that this old fox was testing him, so he first threw out an ambiguous answer.

"I see! Since you're interested in medical ninjutsu, how about I recommend you to Tsunade?"

"Really? Lord Hokage, thank you so much!"

Damn it, I messed that up!

Feeling somewhat helpless, Doichi Hyuga could only keep acting.

"I'll send ANBU to look for Tsunade. The moment they find her, you'll be notified. When that happens, head straight out to find her!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's smile grew even kinder, satisfaction and approval shining in his eyes.

"As previously agreed, this old man will promote you to jonin today. I hope you'll continue working hard and make even greater contributions to Konoha!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi took out a new ninja identification card and a set of documents, then handed them to Doichi Hyuga.

The ninja rank on both the ID card and the documents had already been changed to jonin.

"Kakashi! Please take Doichi to the Supply Department to collect his jonin equipment!"

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

After taking their leave, the two first went downstairs to the Mission Department to settle their payment.

After the village's cut was deducted, they each received 8.55 million ryo.

Converted into currency from his previous life, that was roughly 400,000.

After collecting his jonin equipment, Kakashi offered to treat Doichi Hyuga to dinner.

Kakashi felt that the money was too much, almost too hot to hold.

And Doichi Hyuga had completed the mission; he himself had barely been of any help.

It was also meant as thanks. He had never dared imagine that they could encounter Orochimaru and still return alive.

Doichi Hyuga did not want to get too close to Kakashi. After all, this guy had every possible bad-luck buff stacked on him. A lone star of doom—anyone who got close to him died.

Still, since Kakashi was willing to be generous for once, Doichi Hyuga could not simply reject his goodwill.

They agreed to meet at Akimichi BBQ that evening, then went their separate ways.

After returning home, Doichi Hyuga recalled his Shadow Clones one by one.

Natural energy rolled in like waves. The Bagua Five-Elements Transformation circulated within his body, slowly drawing that energy into his flesh.

Ever since his physical strength had advanced another step two years ago, Doichi Hyuga had stopped meditating in person and begun using Shadow Clones to refine natural energy. His cultivation had officially entered the fast lane, making him half a cheater himself.

Doichi Hyuga used the Flying Thunder God Technique to arrive at the experimental base. He took out Kaguya Kimimaro's finger and placed it on the laboratory table.

He recalled all the experimental Shadow Clones, and the results of their research over the past few days flooded into his mind.

"I'll leave this to you."

After creating another group of Shadow Clones, Doichi Hyuga used the Flying Thunder God Technique to return.

The research on the First Hokage Cells had reached a sufficient point. He could notify Itachi Uchiha now.

After organizing the experimental results, Doichi Hyuga went outside the village and released a ninja crow.

Toward evening!

Doichi Hyuga arrived at Akimichi BBQ. Kakashi was squatting outside the entrance, reading Make-Out Paradise.

"Why aren't you going in, Senior?"

"Ah! Doichi! I was waiting for you! A few more people showed up than expected. You don't mind, do you?"

Kakashi closed the little yellow book and smiled awkwardly.

He had originally planned to invite just a couple of people, but after the bigmouth Might Guy spread the word, nearly everyone who could come had come!

"It's fine! The more people, the livelier!"

What else could Doichi Hyuga say? He was already here. It was not like he could turn around and leave.

"Sorry! I'll treat you separately next time I get the chance. This time, I can introduce you to some people."

The two entered the restaurant and went into a large private room.

"Let me introduce everyone! This is Doichi Hyuga, a newly promoted jonin personally approved by Lord Hokage. He's an exceptionally skilled medical ninja!"

Kakashi sat down after speaking.

"Hello, everyone! Please look after me, seniors!"

Doichi Hyuga said.

"Hello, Doichi! I am Konoha's Blue Beast, Might Guy! That's me! Hahahaha!"

The green-suited freak gave him a thumbs-up and laughed arrogantly.

"I'm Asuma Sarutobi, a jonin!"

"My name is Kurenai Yuhi, a special jonin!"

"I'm Tenzo, a jonin!"

"My name is Aoba Yamashiro, a special jonin!"

"Genma Shiranui, special jonin! We've met at the hospital, when Raido and I were hospitalized together. You treated us, so I should thank you! Too bad Raido isn't in the village! Haha!"

Removing the senbon from his mouth, Genma Shiranui said with a smile.

Raido Namiashi was practically a regular at the hospital. He was probably the special jonin who had been admitted the most times.

"I'm Anko Mitarashi, a special jonin! Say, little Doichi, becoming a jonin so early makes us special jonin feel pretty bad about ourselves! You have to punish yourself with three cups!"

After fishnet-clad Anko said that, the group of special jonin awkwardly scratched their heads.

"Since Senior Anko says so, then I'll drink first as a sign of respect!"

Doichi Hyuga downed three cups of sake in a row, and everyone clapped and cheered.

With several socially fearless people keeping the conversation alive, the atmosphere quickly rose to another level.

Plates of barbecue kept disappearing one after another, and even the servers struggled to keep up.

Crates of sake were carried in one after another as well. After several rounds of toasting, everyone was already pleasantly tipsy.

Kakashi drunkenly started recounting their mission, completely missing the looks Doichi Hyuga gave him.

When they heard that Doichi Hyuga had driven Orochimaru back, everyone looked at him with even more fervent eyes.

Who could refuse a teammate who could take hits, fight, and heal?

Might Guy threw an arm around Doichi Hyuga's neck and said he wanted to duel him.

After two hours of fooling around, everyone got up to leave.

When Kakashi saw the bill totaled 100,000 ryo, his eyes went wide.