Uchiha Kin: "???"
He stared blankly at the gazes directed at him from all sides.
When had he ever taken the Elite Jōnin exam? How had he been promoted out of the blue? No one had even informed him!
What was Sarutobi Hiruzen playing at?
"Due to Uchiha Kin's significant contributions to Konoha, he has been specially exempted from the Elite Jōnin exam and directly promoted as the village's first Elite Jōnin."
As for Might Dai, he had bypassed the Elite Jōnin rank entirely after passing the Jōnin exam, becoming a Title-Bearing Jōnin instead. Naturally, he didn't need to bother with the Elite Jōnin title.
"Let this be a source of pride for everyone."
"Wherever the leaves dance, the flames of the Will of Fire will burn bright, illuminating the village and nurturing new sprouts."
A round of enthusiastic applause followed.
The crowd studied Kin's face intently, surprised that the legendary Uchiha Kin was so young. No one could deny that the jutsu he had developed had greatly benefited the village.
Next, Hiruzen didn't launch into one of his long-winded speeches like he did with the academy students. Instead, he outlined the specifics of the promotion, detailing the expanded privileges of an Elite Jōnin compared to a regular Jōnin.
Once everything was said, the meeting concluded, and everyone dispersed.
"Congratulations, Kin," Namikaze Minato said cheerfully.
"You're the only Elite Jōnin under me now."
White Fang sighed in admiration.
"Fight me to the death, you bastard!!"
Kin's figure instantly appeared in front of White Fang, the Demon-Slaying Thousand Blades already in hand as he swung down.
White Fang's sword left its sheath just as quickly.
Clang!
The two blades collided. White Fang, who had always been able to suppress Kin before, was forced back a step.
The clash left them evenly matched.
Minato sucked in a sharp breath as he watched the two draw blades.
These two are even worse than when Kushina and Kin argue!
"Both of you, calm down!"
They were still in the village—they couldn't settle things with a death match here!
Minato tugged at Kin, only to find him surprisingly easy to pull back. White Fang also sheathed his sword with practiced ease.
"Stay calm, Kin. Women don't like hotheads."
"Hmph. Still better than a married man with kids sneaking off to pleasure houses," Kin sneered.
White Fang's brow twitched. A bad premonition struck him.
Kin pulled out a photo from his ninja pouch—a cherished keepsake of White Fang enjoying himself in the Land of Lightning.
Gasp!
"Such underhanded tactics!"
White Fang and Minato both inhaled sharply, staring at Kin in horror.
"Whose side are you on?!" Kin roared at Minato.
Since when was this guy not on his side?!
And wait—did the upright Namikaze Minato have some shady thoughts too?!
"Sorry, sorry." Minato finally moved to stand beside Kin.
White Fang chuckled awkwardly, rubbing his hands together. "Let's talk this out."
"Scared now, huh? Heh."
Kin wore the smug expression of a villain who had won.
White Fang suddenly reached for the photo, but Kin yanked it back.
"Too slow~"
Kin stuck out his tongue. With this photo in hand, he'd finally have leverage over White Fang.
"You wouldn't want your wife and kid to find out, would you? Hehe."
Watching Kin's despicable grin, Minato patted his shoulder.
"Kin, tone down the villainy."
Kin nodded.
"Sure, I'll tone it down—NOT! Minato, you're totally on his side, aren't you?!"
Realization dawned, and Kin rounded on Minato with a furious roar.
Minato glanced at the incriminating photo in Kin's hand, then at White Fang's resigned, middle-aged expression.
He looked up at the sky.
Hard to say.
"You admit it!! You just admitted it!! We're supposed to be teammates!!"
Kin shook Minato violently.
"Get a grip!"
Minato wasn't sure he could stay composed with Kin acting like this.
"Lord Kin," White Fang said with a strained smile, his voice dripping with faux distress. "My child just turned three."
Wow. This guy!
Truly a man worthy of the name White Fang—utterly shameless.
Even Minato shot Kin a look as if he were some kind of monster.
A vein throbbed on Kin's forehead.
I really want to stab both of them!!
Ahem!
A cough interrupted the trio's antics.
"Lord Third," Minato and White Fang chorused.
You two are definitely in cahoots.
And Kin had proof.
"Yo, old man."
Cough cough cough!
Hiruzen wheezed violently—this time, it was genuine. He touched his face reflexively. No wrinkles. So why was he being called an old man? Was he really that aged?
He fell into deep contemplation.
Then he glanced at Kin.
Oh. It was Uchiha Kin. Never mind.
This guy never showed him respect anyway.
"Alright, we've got a Title-Bearing Jōnin, an Elite Jōnin, and a regular Jōnin all here..."
Well, wasn't this the full spectrum of Konoha's upper echelon?
Now wasn't the time for that thought.
"Uchiha Kin, if you have a moment, come to my office for a discussion."
Hiruzen needed to figure out how to make this guy contribute to the village.
Orochimaru had already hinted that Kin was open to negotiation.
As long as the demands weren't too outrageous, Hiruzen could grit his teeth and accept.
"Lord Hokage, pedophilia is punishable by hanging," White Fang muttered sotto voce.
A vein bulged on Hiruzen's forehead. The Monkey King's staff materialized in his hand, and he swung it at White Fang with a roar.
"I'll kill you first!!"
Seeing the Hokage whip out his weapon, White Fang turned tail and fled, with Hiruzen chasing after him, staff raised.
Kin shrugged at Minato.
"See?"
White Fang's mouth was just too reckless. Even the Hokage couldn't tolerate it.
You're not much better.
Minato sighed internally.
Birds of a feather really did flock together.
In the end, White Fang managed to escape. How such an irreverent ninja had survived this long was a mystery.
Hiruzen grumbled under his breath.
Oh right—it was because of his strength.
Never mind then.
Taking Kin to the Hokage's office, Hiruzen found the rest of the F4 already assembled: Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and the eternal scapegoat Shimura Danzo.
Once Hiruzen took his seat, all four pairs of eyes turned to Uchiha Kin, who stood with his arms crossed, exuding utter disrespect.
The two advisors' expressions soured, the memory of their last verbal thrashing still fresh.
Yet they realized, to their frustration, that there was little they could do about it.
What a headache.
Hiruzen steepled his fingers, covering his mouth.
"Let's cut to the chase."
"Uchiha Kin, what will it take for you to develop jutsu that benefit the village?"
...
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(End of Chapter)