No Way Was He Becoming a Chunin

Asuma's arrival caught Jiraiya's attention.

After coughing twice, Jiraiya stood with his hands behind his back and said, "Oh, Asuma. Are you on a mission?"

Asuma nodded lightly and gave Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha a meaningful look.

How long had I been gone? Those two had already cozied up to Lord Jiraiya. Were they trying to use him to improve their mission evaluation?

People like that-hmph-absolutely couldn't be allowed into the village's inner circle of power.

Still, I wouldn't forget that they saved me. I'd report that to the old man honestly.

Only when he came closer did Asuma notice the trenches left by ninjutsu nearby and the Cloud Ninja lying motionless on the ground. His expression changed.

Had the Cloud Ninja unit caught up with them while I was heading to town?

Thank goodness Lord Jiraiya was here. Otherwise, those two and I would've been in danger. Simple tricks couldn't handle this many ninja.

"Lord Jiraiya... thank you!"

"Th-this wasn't my doing!" Jiraiya waved his hands repeatedly, but then the discount card came to mind. Bracing himself, he said, "No, this was my doing."

After saying that, Jiraiya glanced at Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha.

Having failed to find the ninja who had unleashed that ninjutsu, he turned his suspicions back to Zou Hyuga. Most importantly, he sensed the air of a kindred spirit about him.

A kindred spirit?! Wait.

Jiraiya narrowed his eyes slightly, a hint of a smile showing at their corners.

Perhaps he would no longer be lonely in the village. He had coveted the uses of the Byakugan bloodline ability for a long time, too.

Under Jiraiya's gaze, Zou Hyuga offered an identical smile at just the right moment.

We share the same hobby. Maybe we could become friends despite the age gap.

That would also give me a powerful backer in Jiraiya, setting me on the path to an easy life.

Suddenly, Zou Hyuga felt a chill behind him. He looked back to find Oto Uchiha staring at him, chakra fluctuating around her eyes.

Were there still enemies moving around nearby?

Zou Hyuga surveyed his surroundings but found nothing. He had great confidence in his Byakugan. At least within a kilometer, there were no signs of enemies.

"Oto, gather the spoils. Get ready to head back to the village..."

Relieved, Zou Hyuga walked over to Oto Uchiha. While Jiraiya and Asuma were discussing the intelligence, they slipped away from the edge of the battlefield and headed back to Konoha.

And after Asuma finished telling Jiraiya about Kumogakure's movements...

The two men, their faces grim, discovered that Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha had long since vanished.

Three days later, Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha appeared before the Konoha Gate.

Looking at the three faces on Kage Rock in the distance and Konoha's streets, as bustling as ever, Zou Hyuga breathed a sigh of relief.

This mission had been far too dangerous. It was supposed to be nothing more than clearing out bandits within the Land of Fire, yet it had turned into a major battle involving dozens of ninja.

If I hadn't made plenty of preparations beforehand, I might have come to grief on a C-rank mission.

Sure enough, a Genin like me should just stay put in Konoha and do D-rank missions.

I'd better leave C-rank missions to important people like Chunin. They were far too dangerous.

After returning to Konoha, he still had two things to do: submit his mission report at the mission center and deal with the spoils collected on the battlefield.

He left the spoils to Oto Uchiha. As a member of the Uchiha clan, she had access to their channels and could easily trade them for weapons and equipment.

Zou Hyuga went to the mission center and submitted his report to the Chunin responsible for issuing missions.

In his report, Zou Hyuga focused on the process of wiping out the mountain bandits, downplayed their subsequent encounter with the Cloud Ninja as much as possible, and briefly mentioned Jiraiya of the Sannin at the end.

The Chunin took the report and frowned when he saw Jiraiya's name.

"You met Lord Jiraiya, and young master Asuma too?"

Zou Hyuga nodded and said, "Yes. Thank goodness Lord Jiraiya was there. Otherwise, I would've..."

"Yes, you were very lucky to run into Lord Jiraiya..."

After confirming the details, the Chunin set the mission report aside and carefully scanned Zou Hyuga's ninja credentials. Seeing more than a hundred completed D-rank missions listed there, he reminded him:

"Zou Hyuga, the village will be holding another round of Chunin Ninja Exams soon. Your record is good enough for you to become a Chunin. Only then can you lead a squad and take the next step."

"No, thanks. I think life as a Genin is pretty good right now."

With a light chuckle, Zou Hyuga declined the Chunin's kind offer. Having completed over a hundred missions, he knew most of the Chunin at the mission center.

The Chunin could only look at Zou Hyuga, shake his head, and sigh helplessly.

To think someone would actually refuse to become a Chunin. Genin were at the very bottom of Konoha's hierarchy. Any Chunin or Jonin had the authority to take temporary command of them.

Only after being promoted to Chunin would they be eligible to read the books on ninjutsu and take missions of C-rank or higher.

After collecting his mission payment, Zou Hyuga left the mission center and stepped out onto the street.

Passing the bathhouse, Zou Hyuga watched the white steam rising from it and sighed inwardly.

To conceal his body's secret, he had willingly given up his hobby of soaking in hot springs. He had even given away his most treasured discount card.

And out in public, he could hardly activate his Byakugan and stare openly.

With tears in his eyes, he could only walk past the street where the bathhouse stood.

As for the Chunin Ninja Exams the Chunin at the mission center had just mentioned, he had already skipped them several times. Once he officially became a Chunin, it would be awkward for him to keep doing D-rank missions.

Those D-rank missions were a benefit Konoha reserved for Genin, ensuring that the village's younger generation and retired ninja could cover their living expenses.

However, refusing promotion to Chunin also caused certain problems. He could not become a squad leader, nor could he easily leave the village.

In fact, both he and Oto Uchiha were registered under a Chunin from their respective clans.

Meanwhile.

Jiraiya and Asuma arrived inside the Hokage Building.

Without the slightest hesitation, Asuma pushed open the office door. It was an extremely rude interruption for the Third Hokage, who was busy handling official business.

Even the Third Hokage, known as the Shinobi Hero, showed a faint trace of displeasure.

But upon seeing Asuma and Jiraiya, he put that displeasure aside. After all, they were his own son and his student.

Taking a deep draw from his pipe and exhaling a smoke ring, the Third Hokage remained seated and quietly waited for them to speak.

Following his example, Asuma lit a cigarette before saying casually, "Old man, I nearly died this time... If I hadn't run into those two Genin and Lord Jiraiya."

"The Cloud Ninja really have some nerve. They were actually planning to assassinate the Daimyo of the Land of Fire."

Hearing this, the Third Hokage knitted his brows and his expression darkened, his gaze shifting between Jiraiya and Asuma.

After receiving the intelligence Asuma had sent, he had immediately begun dispatching ninja to protect the daimyo.

He had also shared that intelligence with the other hidden villages.

Planning an attack on a daimyo violated the unspoken rules accepted by the Five Great Nations.

Not only would the other ninja condemn Kumogakure's actions, but even the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning would do so.

After all, if they could assassinate the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, they could also assassinate the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning. The same principle applied.