Teaming Up

In the end, the Third Hokage flipped through the student roster but couldn't find anyone who met Sakumo's requirements to assign to us.

And so, Kakashi and I formed a two-man team.

I was quite dissatisfied with this and demanded to know why Sakumo hadn't recommended Rin.

"I've observed that girl. With your help, she has indeed developed some close-combat ability and shown talent for chakra control. But she can't keep up with us. Her overall level is still somewhat short of Genin standards, so it's better to let her remain at the academy for now. Most importantly, that child relies on you far too much. That's not a good thing for a ninja."

That was true enough. Rin definitely wasn't the talented sort when it came to being a ninja, and as a civilian-born child, her chakra reserves were inherently insufficient.

Her only notable strengths were her theoretical knowledge and delicate chakra control. She could only become a medical ninja.

"I understand. So what do we do next? Go on missions?"

"Yes. First, you'll spend three months doing the lowest-level requests in the village, things like finding cats and cleaning up."

"Father, I—"

"Kakashi, this isn't because I don't acknowledge your strength. These missions are meant for ninjas whose abilities are lacking, and their fairly decent rewards are enough to support their lives.

At the same time, they're meant to let little brats like you experience missions. Many missions require dealing with high-ranking officials from the Land of Fire. As ninjas, we must maintain the appropriate attitude.

Having you do those requests is meant to cultivate your character while tempering your abilities and mentality. Once you're judged suitable, you'll begin carrying out the missions proper ninjas should undertake."

Thinking about it that way, it was practically an internship, just getting used to work... But after finally arriving in the world of Naruto, I really didn't want to do menial labor!

Then, an ingenious idea suddenly struck me!

"By the way, Kakashi, didn't you say you'd repay me? Whether it was teaching you Battle Aura or what happened before, you don't want the Hatake Clan name to gain a reputation for breaking promises, do you?"

"Hey, don't tell me you're going to..."

"That's right. Do my share too. In exchange, I can teach you even more about how to use Battle Aura!"

Cleaning sewers and looking for cats were absolutely out of the question. In my previous life, I'd already had enough of working at a company, not to mention the summer waiter job I'd had back in school...

No matter what, I didn't want to do that kind of work again!

"That is indeed a reasonable request, but Qingyue, the essence of these missions is to benefit you. Shouldn't you at least do them in moderation?"

Huh? Were you telling someone who, at work, had to not only finish his own duties every day but also bring breakfast and coffee for coworkers, organize meeting materials for the boss, and handle all sorts of other tasks, that he lacked work experience?

"Sakumo-senpai, I believe you've said something similar before."

"Eh?"

In the end, Kakashi, Sakumo, and I reached a deal—the mission rewards would be split three to seven between Kakashi and me, with him doing the bulk of the work while I only helped occasionally.

At the same time, during my free time, Sakumo and I would guide Kakashi's training together. Naturally, Sakumo would also guide me.

Just like that, we formed a special assault squad.

There were still two years until the Third Shinobi World War fully erupted. I still had two years to develop.

By then, I would be exactly ten years old. Hill had told me before that I would receive a guaranteed reward every five years at minimum. As for the other times...

[That depends on whether Lord Qingyue is willing to offer up his beauty for me to admire~]

That was what she had said, if I remembered correctly.

Clang, clang clang, clang!

In an open clearing, Qingyue and Kakashi were sparring as part of their training.

Kakashi held a short blade suited for conducting chakra, while Qingyue gripped the somewhat longer ninja blade his father had given him.

After their frontal clash, Kakashi's hands trembled slightly. In terms of strength, the gap between them was enormous.

[We both used Battle Aura, yet the difference is this great...]

Unwilling to accept it, Kakashi began circling him, relying on his incredibly swift footwork to launch probing attacks from multiple angles in an attempt to find Qingyue's opening.

However, before Observation Haki, everything Kakashi did looked like a juggling act.

[This child has no openings at all? Kakashi is already an exceptionally gifted child, and as my son, he has inherited my strengths brilliantly. Yet Qingyue hasn't revealed the slightest opening against such attacks.]

After failing to find an opening, Kakashi had no choice but to erupt with all the Battle Aura and chakra in his body at once, pushing them to their limit in an attempt to win through speed!

After stepping onto a tree trunk, Kakashi's legs compressed like springs before he shot forward in an instant, the short blade in his hand stabbing out sharply like the fangs of a beast.

[Let's try the Water God Style.]

The instant the short blade came within range, Qingyue swung his sword at an even faster speed, his strike flowing like water.

The moment the two blades collided, Qingyue's seemingly soft and powerless swing easily knocked Kakashi's short blade aside. Then, instead, Kakashi, who had launched the attack, was sent flying backward and crashed heavily into a tree trunk!

"Cough, cough..."

"That's enough! The winner is Qingyue. Both sides, form the Seal of Reconciliation!"

This was about my current level. With Observation Haki, I could better seize the right moment and use Water God Style swordsmanship to parry.

As long as I wasn't facing someone at Sakumo's level, I should be able to handle them. I should even be able to deflect ninjutsu back at opponents, as long as it wasn't too fast or too powerful.

"Your swordsmanship is truly unique. I've been on the battlefield for so long and encountered quite a few opponents with profound mastery of the sword. But I've never seen a sword style like yours. Is it only possible because of the Battle Aura you developed?"

"Something like that, I suppose..."

Fortunately, it was only swordsmanship. As long as it wasn't a powerful Bloodline Limit or some particularly outrageous ninjutsu, it wouldn't draw too much attention. That old bastard Danzo wouldn't set his sights on me just because of this.

In the ninja world, powerful Bloodline Limits were ultimately more eye-catching. Even the Land of Iron, which was populated mostly by samurai, hadn't developed particularly advanced swordsmanship, instead infusing chakra into their blades.

"You previously used swordsmanship with an explosive burst of speed, on top of your ability to react to danger. Qingyue, I think you already possess the strength of a Jonin. Once you've officially left the village and completed some missions, go take the Chunin Ninja Exams. Then I'll speak to the Third Hokage and have you promoted to Jonin."

If possible, I'd rather remain a Genin. After all, Genin were the strongest...

But once I became a Jonin, I would have more freedom on the battlefield in the future, and the pay would be much better too.

"Then thank you for your recognition, Sakumo-senpai. But Kakashi should be ready as well, shouldn't he?"

In the original story, Kakashi became a Jonin at twelve, though there was inevitably some inflation involved, considering it was wartime.

But now, with the Battle Aura I had taught him, as long as he developed his signature ninjutsu—Lightning Release: Chidori—he would truly reach Jonin level.

"Kakashi is still a little early, but after gaining experience for a while, he may be about there too."

Having received recognition, Kakashi turned his head away, looking somewhat embarrassed. Good grief, so that's what a tsundere was like.