After testing Iruka's current strength and letting him experience his new Ninjutsu, Satoru handed him a scroll containing his latest research: a sound-based genjutsu designed to make people experience extreme tastes.
The Ninjutsu had eight variations:
Beijing Douzhi, Cilantro, Houttuynia Cordata, Herbal Tea, Citric Acid, Facing Heaven Pepper, Stinky Tofu, Wasabi.
Since it was a complete set, Narakumi no Jutsu · Modified was no longer applicable, so Satoru gave the new Ninjutsu a new name.
"Fire of Eight Fragrances."
"Fire… of… Eight… Fragrances…"
Iruka took the scroll and eagerly opened it to read.
"'The Fire of Eight Fragrances,' a classic genjutsu inheriting the Will of Fire, is a great genjutsu that makes mischievous students and those who don't listen well in class pay attention. It was created by Konoha's greatest genjutsu master, Satoru. This Ninjutsu is now passed on to my disciple Iruka, with the hope that he will carry it forward and make it flourish."
Iruka glanced at his teacher. "Teacher, you know how to glorify yourself."
He thought this, but as he read the specific release methods of the genjutsu and its eight variations, his eyes grew brighter and brighter.
"Beijing Douzhi, what a strange name. This must be that disgusting, mouldy rag taste.
Cilantro… Houttuynia Cordata…"
It only targeted the taste organs of Ninja; Summoning Beasts, monsters, etc., were not applicable.
The advantages were also very clear: this genjutsu's specific target was the enemy's physical body, not their mind.
It caused the central nervous system, chorda tympani nerve, and glossopharyngeal nerve in the body to experience genjutsu, producing specific tastes, which were then transmitted from the body to the brain.
Compared to the method of Narakumi no Jutsu · Modified, the sound-based genjutsu Fire of Eight Fragrances omitted the process of causing the enemy's mind to hallucinate through their eyes, transmitting it to the body, and then having the body feed it back to the brain. Instead, Ninja who heard the sound directly experienced physical hallucinations, which were then fed back to the Ninja's brain.
The difficulty of breaking it was higher.
"Teacher, you're so perverted! You even created this kind of genjutsu.
You're not just going to use it for your twisted amusement, are you?"
Although Iruka was happy that he could learn this super perverted genjutsu, he wasn't so happy when he thought about it being used on himself.
Before, it was vision-based; now it was auditory, making it even harder to guard against.
"Nonsense, is your teacher that kind of person?
Look at the introduction, a genjutsu inheriting the Will of Fire.
That's a great genjutsu that has helped generations of descendants succeed. How could you think that?
Is that right?" Satoru did not admit this claim.
Iruka's eyes darted. "Teacher, to verify if I can learn it, stand there and let me try it. Don't defend, let's see if your genjutsu is truly successful."
"You brat, still trying to get revenge on your teacher, huh? Get out of here."
Satoru kicked him away.
"If you don't give it, you don't give it…" Iruka dusted off his backside and slipped away.
Satoru shook his head and went home.
…
Satoru becoming a formal Jonin made his father very happy. That night, he drank two glasses of wine and passed out at the dining table.
Ayame was also happy for him.
Late into the night, after completing his daily genjutsu research, Satoru began to consider the matters of being promoted to Jonin and the head of the Analysis Team.
He thought and thought, and it seemed there was no harm.
His work would also be freer, and he wouldn't have to worry about his superiors' moods.
No,
Inoichi Yamanaka was still his superior, but this position no longer required him to worry about his moods.
Moreover, he would have a say in various matters.
Jonin represented an increase in his abilities; the Ninja under him would trust him more, which came from his competence.
Of course, it also meant greater responsibilities.
"Sleep, sleep. I can handle this position."
…
The next day.
Analysis Team.
Satoru officially took over the position of head of the Analysis Team from Inoichi Yamanaka, witnessed by many colleagues.
This left many colleagues sighing with emotion.
That genius captain from back then was now their superior.
They had practically watched him grow up.
Especially Seishimon, he had witnessed Satoru's growth: marriage, Jonin, and head of the Analysis Team.
The colleague he used to drink and chat with was now his superior.
Dokuro was also like this, lamenting how talent plays tricks on people.
His 'Ghost Sergeant' ability hadn't even been fully utilised, and Satoru was already a Jonin and his superior.
"It seems my ability is very strong; I've trained a Jonin so quickly." Dokuro's gaze fell upon the recruits in the Analysis Team.
At this moment, they respectfully faced their new head.
They were completely unaware that Captain Dokuro, known as the Ghost Sergeant, had already set his sights on them.
Satoru's first order of business upon taking office:
As usual.
The Analysis Team's workflow was already very mature and didn't require any changes.
Only he, the new head, needed to make changes.
Aside from the difficult Ninja, he only needed to organise and report the intelligence collected by his subordinates.
The work was relatively easy.
Of course, being the head of a team didn't mean there was nothing to do.
This was already a high-level position in a department, and there was still much to learn.
In this regard, he had to learn from Inoichi Yamanaka.
He had to handle liaisons with other departments and with the Hokage.
…
Just as Satoru was diligently dedicating himself to his work with a strong work ethic,
A document from Hiruzen Sarutobi was issued.
Hidden Cloud Village,
Will come to Konoha in three days to discuss an alliance.
Looking at the document in his hand, Satoru froze.
"Is the famous major event from the original story about to happen?"
The moment he saw Kumogakure coming for an alliance, he immediately thought of the death of Hizashi.
And the order he received was to instruct his subordinates not to conflict with Kumogakure's people.
Indeed,
He was the head of the Analysis Team, not the Defence Force; he only needed to fulfil his duties.
He wouldn't even encounter Kumogakure's people.
As for saving people, he was powerless.
In terms of perception, aside from different characteristics, the Hyuga Clan, with all their Byakugan, were no worse than him.
If Kumogakure could still infiltrate, it meant their espionage activities used some method to bypass the Byakugan's perception.
Or perhaps the Hyuga Clan couldn't freely activate their Byakugan within their clan.
In short, the threads were too tangled inside; even with a good mind, he couldn't untangle them.
Unless he read each mind one by one.
Moreover, when it came to politics, he felt inferior to the Third Hokage.
Every time the Third Hokage faced a junior, a single mention of the Will of Fire could make them diligent.
And him?
His methods involved forceful approaches like the Fire of Eight Fragrances, or tempting with advanced Ninjutsu. How could that compare to the Third Hokage's simple Will of Fire?
So these were not his concerns.
He was just a lowly worker; doing his job well was already quite good.
Only a few hundred thousand a month, why risk his life?
Now, he just needed to steadily grow stronger.
At the same time, he once again felt fortunate that he hadn't transmigrated into the Uchiha or Hyuga Clans.
That kind of life, with a golden finger but no freedom, looked very empty.
False freedom.
"Perhaps the other higher-ups are already busy running around, but the Analysis Team is indeed the most relaxed department."