When he returned home, Bieshu Feifan looked thoroughly displeased.
Might Duy and Might Guy, who were sitting together, noticed his expression too.
"Feifan, did Danzo do something to you?
You look a little angry."
Bieshu Feifan sighed.
"Brother Danzo didn't do anything.
He just took me to the Hokage's Office for a military meeting."
"Isn't that a good thing, Brother Feifan?
Why do you look unhappy?
Is the situation really bad?"
Bieshu Feifan shook his head.
"No. This time, after Brother Danzo, Brother Hokage, and I went over it repeatedly,
we unanimously recommended sending troops against Kumogakure."
Might Duy and Might Guy both nodded.
"That's a good thing. The people of Kumogakure really have gone too far."
Bieshu Feifan nodded too.
"Exactly. The people of Kumogakure won't behave unless they're beaten.
But that's not the point. The point is, when they discussed candidates for commander, they never even considered me."
"Huh?"
Might Duy and Might Guy both froze at his words.
Commander. Bieshu Feifan.
This was the first time in their lives they had heard anyone connect those two terms.
"Brother Feifan, you're very smart, but honestly, you still have too little experience."
"That's right, Feifan. Generally speaking, a force's commander is an experienced Jōnin.
We're still just Genin."
Bieshu Feifan slapped the table.
"Exactly. When it comes down to it, it's really a matter of rank.
Brother Duy, Guy, I'm planning to take the exam and get myself a Chunin rank for fun.
Sure, the Hokage is my brother, and so is the Hokage Advisor.
But my rank is too low, after all, and my Brother Hokage is a fair and incorruptible man.
Even with all my talent, he can't very well promote me."
By Bieshu Feifan's own assessment of his current strength, he was among the very best