Naruto Uzumaki

"The first matter is that, because you were stationed far away on the border, your jonin promotion report has been delayed long enough.

"Given your achievements over the years, the advisory council and I unanimously agree that you possess all the qualities required of a Konoha jonin. Therefore, starting today, you will be promoted to Konoha jonin."

Being promoted to jonin was something Aoba had expected. What he cared about now was the second matter.

After accepting the letter of appointment, Hiruzen Sarutobi continued.

"Now that you are a Konoha jonin, you need to fulfill the role expected of you. I have an S-rank mission here that requires your completion.

"Rest assured, you will not be going alone. For this mission, ANBU and Root will each send a jonin squad to join you. Here are the mission details. Go back and make your preparations."

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not directly explain what the mission was. Instead, he handed him a mission scroll. This was considered a highly formal and high-level mission procedure.

Aoba accepted the scroll, then took his leave.

After leaving the Hokage's Office, he opened the scroll and glanced at it.

"Pursue Orochimaru... Interesting."

The mission was somewhat unexpected. Aoba had guessed that Konoha's upper ranks would not allow him to remain in the village, so they would certainly arrange an outbound mission for him. He simply had not expected the mission to be the pursuit of Orochimaru.

A proper jonin like him was not merely treated as high-end combat strength within the village. Under normal circumstances, jonin would hold positions of real authority.

But for now, it seemed the higher-ups had no intention of assigning him a specific post.

Because it was an S-rank mission, he had two days to rest and prepare. So Aoba was in no hurry. Instead, he casually wandered around Konoha.

After all, he had not returned here in three years.

The Land of Fire could be called the chosen land of this world. It occupied the finest land resources on the continent. Konoha was also the most prosperous and bustling of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

Even by the standards of his previous life, this village, which was roughly the size of a small town, was built quite well.

When he came upon a snack shop, Aoba bought several skewers of Konoha's famous specialty, three-color dango.

He was not particularly fond of sweets. But after not having them for three years, trying something familiar was not a problem.

However, just after buying them, his hand paused slightly. He sensed someone watching him.

Turning around, he saw a short blond child standing not far away, staring at him.

Naruto Uzumaki, the absolute protagonist of this world. The future Seventh Hokage, the reincarnation of Ashura, the strongest practitioner of Talk no Jutsu...

Aoba shook his head, casting aside all the ridiculous information surfacing in his mind, and walked straight over to Naruto.

"Do we know each other?"

"Ah, sorry, big brother. I just thought you looked unfamiliar. You're a ninja, right?"

Naruto pointed at the forehead protector on Aoba's head as he spoke.

"That's right. I'm Konoha's newly promoted jonin, Aoba Kamikawa."

"Ah, I'm Naruto Uzumaki. I'm a student at the Konoha Ninja Academy. Just wait and see, big brother. I'll become a ninja like you soon enough. And I'll become the greatest ninja of all—the Hokage."

Naruto's whole vibe was somewhat similar to Guy's. But Guy's was even more awkward. Naruto, on the other hand, had an air of pure, clear-eyed stupidity...

Aoba really wanted to tell Naruto that the Hokage was not the strongest ninja. By the later stages, the Third Hokage would not even rank in the top ten. But he was still willing to give Naruto some face at this point.

"What an energetic kid. Here, this is for you. Consider it an early celebration for when you become Hokage."

"...Ah..."

Naruto suddenly let out a cry, startling Aoba.

"What's wrong?"

"Big brother, you acknowledge my dream?"

"Why wouldn't I? No one has the right to deny another person's dream."

"That's right. No one can deny my dream." Naruto wore an expression of profound realization, leaving Aoba looking awkward. Mainly because the kid was shouting so loudly that quite a few people around them had turned to look.

He turned and ordered two more bowls of sweet red bean soup, handing one to Naruto.

"Alright, we're blocking the way here."

Quite a few people in the crowd were openly showing hostility toward Naruto. They simply did not dare speak loudly because of the forehead protector on Aoba's head.

Aoba had barely ever seen Naruto Uzumaki. After the Fourth Hokage died, Naruto had only just become the Jinchūriki. His identity had been kept absolutely secret.

Since Orochimaru had once competed with the Fourth Hokage for the position of Hokage, Aoba, as someone from Orochimaru's faction, naturally had no access to Naruto.

Afterward, Orochimaru completely fell into darkness and began conducting human experiments without restraint. The village discovered this, and the reinstated Third Hokage personally pursued him, only to let Orochimaru go at the very end. The exact timing of Orochimaru's defection is disputed; this follows my own setting.

Only then did Aoba's exile happen. So strictly speaking, this was Aoba's first time meeting Naruto Uzumaki.

In fact, the moment he came into contact with Naruto, he could sense four different sets of eyes focused on him from different angles.

But Aoba did not care. He even seemed inclined to provoke them. He directly bought Naruto dango and sweet red bean soup, and the two ate as they walked.

The four ANBU behind them were so tense they nearly rushed forward. Aoba was a key person of interest designated by the higher-ups, while Naruto Uzumaki was an absolute taboo.

As if he felt nothing, Aoba continued chatting with Naruto.

"Big brother, do you know any ninjutsu? At the Ninja Academy, all I do every day is study theory. I haven't learned a single ninjutsu."

"Of course I know ninjutsu. Watch." Aoba casually tossed out the bamboo skewer in his hand. A moment later, a leaf fell from a branch.

"What? Isn't that just shuriken throwing? That counts as ninjutsu?"

"Don't rush. Watch carefully." Aoba told Naruto to be patient.

The leaf drifted gently down in front of Aoba. But when it reached eye level, the entire leaf suddenly split apart.

As though sliced by some invisible blade, the leaf broke directly into more than a dozen fragments and scattered through the air.

"Eh... What happened? You obviously didn't do anything."

"Heh, this is ninjutsu. Ninjutsu that belongs to me alone."

So that was it. Naruto naturally did not understand what the scene he had just witnessed meant. But in his confusion, he still felt that move must have been amazing. After all, this big brother had done nothing, yet the leaf had shattered.

"Big brother, can you teach me that move?"

"Heh, Naruto. Every person's ninjutsu is a secret that belongs to them alone, understand? Don't casually pry into someone else's ninjutsu. That's very rude."

"Ah, so that's how it is." Naruto visibly became somewhat dejected.

"However, I can still teach you something. You've already learned how to extract chakra, right?"

"Of course. My chakra extraction is excellent."

"Good. Come with me."