As a Chunin who had just joined the Intelligence Department, Chinoike Gaojin had been extremely excited these past few days. Not long after being promoted to Chunin, he had been assigned to work in the Intelligence Department. Just as this "workplace" newcomer was preparing to devote himself to building a career, he had barely spent a few days sorting documents and serving tea before his superiors informed him that he was being transferred to the Secretariat.
Oh heavens, Sage of Six Paths above! The Secretariat! What kind of place was that?! It was the Kazekage's inner circle! The "neck" of all Sunagakure, connected upward to the Kazekage and downward to the entire village! An absolutely vital department! Just as Chinoike Gaojin thought his ancestors' graves were smoking and his future was brilliant, he discovered that his ancestors' graves were not smoking at all—they were on fire!
Lord Kazekage was going to attend the Land of Wind daimyo's Wind Festival. There were only three people on the accompanying list. First, Tsunade—his girlfriend, perfectly reasonable. Second, Pakura, head of the Secretariat—nothing wrong with that either. For such an important diplomatic event, bringing a secretary was only natural. Third, himself! That made no sense at all.
He stared wide-eyed at himself in the mirror, yet could not find anything special about himself. He could only believe that perhaps his ancestors were blessing his official career and sending it soaring.
Even at the moment he set off with Lord Keiko, Chinoike Gaojin could not believe any of this was real. Then Lord Keiko walked over, patted him on the shoulder, and asked.
"Young man, your name is Gaojin?"
Chinoike Gaojin was nearly moved to tears. The leader had called him by name—he really did not treat him like an outsider! He immediately stood at