Chapter 130: Promotion to Chunin
A few hours after the exams concluded, an ANBU operative used an underground passage to enter a secret base.
The facility was covered with numerous sealing jutsu to prevent detection.
It was dark inside. After navigating through several corridors, the ANBU operative entered a small room.
He knelt and greeted respectfully, "Danzo-sama."
Danzo looked at him and asked, "Did anything important happen during the exams?"
The Root member replied, "Nothing major, Danzo-sama. Just some minor developments. The Hokage and the Senju clan made a move against Gato Company, extracting 210 million ryo through gambling winnings."
This surprised Danzo. Although he hadn't paid much attention to Gato, it was still highly unexpected for the company to lose such a massive amount when hosting the betting operation. He asked, "Who did Hiruzen bet on?"
The Root member replied, "They placed bets on an orphan named Kaito. He defeated a Kirigakure genin who could use Ice Release, another Kirigakure genin who possessed the Hydrification Technique, then Uchiha Mieko, and finally a kunoichi from Kirigakure who could use Vapor Style. He specializes in Wind Release and the Body Flicker Technique, and his chakra reserves nearly reach jonin level!"
This greatly astonished Danzo. He thought, How did we miss such a talented orphan when recruiting Root members?
He asked, "How is his Wind Release talent?"
Danzo was very curious about this. In Konoha, Wind Release users were rare, and truly exceptional ones even rarer!
The Root member replied, "He can enhance the Great Breakthrough jutsu in just a few seconds. He can perform all Wind Release techniques with only a single hand seal. His Wind Blast technique requires no hand seals at all and can be cast instantly. Moreover, the power of his enhanced techniques is considerable—something difficult for anyone below elite chunin level to achieve."
Danzo was genuinely impressed. But soon he frowned.
I heard Hiruzen plans to teach him a jutsu personally. So I can't make a move until after he's learned it. Senju Renjiro might also be a complication.
Danzo looked at his subordinate and ordered, "After he completes a few chunin missions, invite him to join ANBU first."
Danzo analyzed the situation. Hiruzen will wait several months until the newly promoted chunin experience how tedious regular missions are, then he'll invite talented individuals to join ANBU. Therefore, even after just a few missions, I should be the first to approach him.
The Root member asked, "What if he refuses, Danzo-sama?"
Danzo thought for a moment. "You may attempt to persuade him. Tell him that if he joins us, he can learn more lethal Wind Release techniques. If he firmly refuses, then return and leave him be."
The Root member nodded and departed. Danzo concluded, He's already matured, and it will be difficult to make him loyal to me. There's no point spending excessive effort on him.
Three days after the exams, Team Renjiro was summoned to the Hokage's office. They met outside the Hokage Tower.
Mieko and Hodaka had fully recovered. Renjiro brought them upstairs to the office. All four respectfully greeted the Hokage.
Hiruzen smiled warmly. "Kaito, Mieko, Hodaka—all three of you performed excellently in the Chunin Exams, and all three of you have been promoted to chunin."
The three genin all smiled and thanked him. They'd expected this result, so they weren't overly surprised.
Hatake Takao, a chunin working in the Hokage's office, stepped forward and handed them documents. "These are the evaluations from the judges and proctors. Kaito, the judges were most impressed by you, and your promotion was unanimously approved. However, they recommend that you learn a powerful single-target jutsu that can be cast quickly and penetrate enemy defenses."
Kaito nodded. Although the Enhanced Great Breakthrough combined with his Wind Dragon and Wind Wolf techniques was an effective combination, it lacked piercing power.
If he used his sword, he could compensate for this weakness, but even that wasn't quite enough.
Hatake Takao looked at Mieko. "The judges were also impressed by your strength. However, several withheld their full approval due to your impulsiveness and lack of emotional control. As a chunin, you'll be leading squads. Your squad members' lives will depend on your decisions, so work on strengthening your tactical thinking and properly managing your emotions."
Mieko frowned but said nothing, simply nodding. Renjiro's brutal training regimen had worn down much of her earlier arrogance.
Finally, Hatake Takao looked at Hodaka. "Your first battle left a strong impression on the judges. However, they believe your ninjutsu skills still need improvement. They recommend that you make full use of your squad's ninjutsu capabilities during missions to force opponents into close combat—otherwise, no one will willingly engage the Hyuga clan at close range."
Hodaka sighed and nodded. Throughout the entire Chunin Exams, he'd never gotten a proper chance to use Gentle Fist! All his opponents had either run away or thrown explosive tags at him.
Hatake Takao addressed all three newly promoted chunin. "As a reward for passing the Chunin Exams and earning promotion, you now have access to the B-section of the jutsu library."
Kaito thought eagerly, I wonder what techniques are in the B-section!
Hatake Takao then handed each of them their chunin flak jackets.
Hiruzen continued, "Now that you've been promoted to chunin, you'll be responsible for leading genin squads on missions. Team Renjiro will be disbanded, and you'll lead genin teams on C-rank missions. Occasionally you'll be assigned to team up with other chunin for B-rank missions."
"In special circumstances, you may also be assigned to A-rank missions led by jonin, so be prepared for all types of missions."
The three chunin nodded enthusiastically. They were excited about the prospect of undertaking A-rank missions.
Hiruzen asked, "When do you normally begin training?"
Hodaka replied, "Hokage-sama, five in the morning."
It was exactly as Hiruzen expected. "I'll meet you at your usual training grounds tomorrow morning at seven. Make sure to warm up before I arrive. You're dismissed."
Hodaka and Mieko were about to bow and leave when Kaito spoke up. "Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen looked at him. "Is there something else, Kaito?"
Kaito said carefully, "I'd like to know if you can arrange those chakra-conductive swords for me now."
Hiruzen thought, I remember saying I'd arrange for someone to make them, not that I'd arrange them personally.
He nodded. "Don't worry. In a few days I'll arrange for a master swordsmith to meet with you. He'll take your measurements for the appropriate blade specifications, and you don't need to worry about the cost—I'll cover it."
Kaito thought skeptically, If I hadn't asked, would he really have just forgotten about the swords?
Hiruzen, meanwhile, was thinking, The village earned 120 million ryo thanks to him. I can spare a few million.
Since there was nothing else to discuss, they left the building. Renjiro said, "There's still something I need to say. Let's meet at the training grounds."
With that, he vanished using Body Flicker. The newly promoted chunin followed suit.
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