After becoming a Chunin

"We became Chunin without having to take an exam?"

Zou Hyuga's mouth twitched as he stared incredulously at the Chunin in front of him.

"Yes, these are Lord Third's orders. You're truly lucky to have caught his eye."

The Chunin looked at Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha with envy. Nearly a hundred ninja were promoted to Chunin in Konoha every year, but very few were promoted directly by the Hokage.

After accepting the promotion order bearing the red seal of the Hokage, Zou Hyuga sighed helplessly.

Could the Hokage really do whatever he pleased and promote an innocent Genin straight to Chunin?

Fine! He certainly could. That was Lord Hokage's prerogative.

Zou Hyuga walked out of the Mission Center looking thoroughly depressed. Gazing at the Third's face on Kage Rock, he thought of that teenage smoker.

He should never have saved Asuma. If he hadn't saved Asuma, he wouldn't have drawn attention, and he wouldn't have been forced to become a Chunin...

As a mere Genin, he had already faced dangers like a Kumogakure Jonin.

Now that he had been promoted to Chunin, would he run into enemies on Orochimaru's level? How would he deal with that?

Damn it, when would Genin... no, Chunin finally get to stand up for themselves!

After wrestling with his thoughts, Zou Hyuga reluctantly accepted that he was now a Chunin.

The only advantage of being a Chunin was probably that he could lead a team and choose missions himself, without having to attach himself to another team.

Wait. Zou Hyuga came up with a brilliant plan.

Could he deliberately fail missions to get his ninja rank lowered?

But when he remembered a certain Konoha Jonin who had been driven to suicide after failing a mission, he abandoned the idea.

Hiding at home and picking up a wakizashi to disembowel himself really wasn't his style.

On closer consideration, becoming a Chunin wasn't all that bad. He could still take D-Rank Missions.

As long as he could swallow his pride, he could still keep himself safe.

Zou Hyuga might not have been good at much else, but he had a fair amount of confidence in his thick skin.

As for C-rank or D-Rank Missions, if he didn't take any missions, was someone going to force him?

"Zou, what should we do from now on? We're both Chunin now."

Oto Uchiha noticed the changes in Zou Hyuga's expression. It was hard to imagine so many emotions appearing on a single person's face.

Ferocity, confusion, hesitation, relief, and more.

"We'll just carry on as usual..."

The light returned to Zou Hyuga's eyes. "We're not ANBU reporting directly to the Hokage. We have the right to choose our missions."

"That's good, then..."

Oto Uchiha nodded, only half understanding. She had always trusted Zou Hyuga's decisions.

It was just that their luck hadn't seemed particularly good since they had become Genin and started going on missions. They had always made it through safely in the end, but the process... had been utterly absurd!

"What about today, then? Are we still going to practice in the hills behind the village?"

"No, I want some peace and quiet alone today. And don't ask who Peace and Quiet is!"

Zou Hyuga rubbed his forehead, turning down his date with Oto.

Although he had barely managed to convince himself to accept becoming a Chunin, he still needed to console himself properly and make a plan for surviving in Konoha with his new rank.

So, among the positions and jobs a Konoha Chunin could hold, were there any suited to slacking off?

He still needed time to think.

After saying goodbye to Oto Uchiha, Zou Hyuga hurried straight home.

Before stepping through the gate, Zou Hyuga stopped and looked into the courtyard with a dark expression.

The warning traps he had set had been triggered. Those traps had no offensive capability; they were only there to alert him.

Generally, only the Byakugan's perceptive powers could detect them.

Had his research into the black markings and natural energy been exposed?

Impossible. He had disposed of those test subjects that turned to stone and been crushed long ago.

The senjutsu chakra in the basement should have dissipated along with the natural energy.

After all, senjutsu was essentially natural energy that ordinary ninja couldn't manipulate.

As for why he could manipulate it, that could only be attributed to the black markings on his body. So far, they hadn't seemed harmful.

Just then, the closed door slowly opened. Zou Hyuga activated his Byakugan and nearly used the black markings.

If he used senjutsu, his old house might not survive. It was his ancestral home, and it was worth quite a bit.

But what was money compared to staying alive?

Still, there shouldn't be any completely unbeatable enemies in Konoha, right? Although Rin Nohara had only just died, he and Obito Uchiha had no quarrel with each other.

"Zou, you're home!"

A familiar voice rang out, and Zou Hyuga looked over.

His uncle, Hyuga Yu of the Main Family, was drinking tea inside the house, watching him with a broad smile.

Under the Byakugan, neither the Transformation Technique nor genjutsu could hide.

Although the man really was his uncle, why had he shown up at his house?

He was even waiting for him like some elder of the family-though, admittedly, he really was one.

He was a member of the Hyuga Main Family, and an elder Zou respected.

"What brings you here today, Uncle? I didn't prepare anything in advance. I'm sorry I can't offer you a proper welcome."

Taking off his shoes, Zou Hyuga stepped into the entryway and smiled at Hyuga Yu.

Hyuga Yu beckoned him over, motioning for him to sit.

Once Zou Hyuga had taken a seat, Hyuga Yu looked at him and asked, "You seem troubled. What's wrong?"

Zou Hyuga gritted his teeth, looking deeply resentful. "Uncle, I've become a Chunin. Lord Third appointed me without having me pass the Chunin Ninja Exams."

Hyuga Yu blinked. Becoming a Chunin wasn't a bad thing.

"Zou, this is good news. I know that mission back then left its mark on you, but at your age and with your abilities, you really shouldn't remain a Genin."

"I've been looking forward to seeing you become a Jonin while I'm still alive, though most likely..."

"What mark?" Zou Hyuga looked up in confusion at the first remark, then said, "Since you're hoping for it so much, Uncle, I'd better not become a Jonin. That way, you can live a few more years."

"I have a good idea of how many years I have left. But you may indeed be the strongest of the Hyuga Clan's younger generation. It's a shame you're from the branch family... otherwise..."

Hyuga Yu's expression dimmed. If it were possible, he wanted Zou to become part of the Main Family.

But that went against the Hyuga Clan's rules. It wasn't just a matter of the Caged Bird Seal, but of their traditions.

"Uncle!"

Zou Hyuga frowned at Hyuga Yu. It was precisely the Caged Bird Seal that bound him.

If not for the Caged Bird Seal, he might have defected from Konoha long ago, gone far away, and headed to the Peach Blossom Residence.

"All right, all right. Let's not talk about that."

Hyuga Yu set down his teacup and looked cheerfully at Zou Hyuga. "Let's talk about something else."

Zou Hyuga nodded and said, "Uncle, why did you come to my house today? Young people like me have quite a few secrets adults aren't supposed to know!"

Hyuga Yu gave a knowing, teasing smile, inwardly reflecting on the joys of youth.

"I don't come here often. I just suddenly thought of my brother, your father, and came to have a look..."

"More than ten years have gone by in the blink of an eye. The little kid from back then is already a Chunin..."

Zou Hyuga stared helplessly at Hyuga Yu. The man was playing the nostalgia card again. Zou didn't have much affection for parents he had never met.

Under Zou Hyuga's stare, Hyuga Yu also told him about the major news that had been circulating through the clan over the past few days.

"Just today, the Yellow Flash returned from the front lines. He also drove back the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki and A, who is very likely to become the Fourth Raikage."