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Chapter 56
"I don't really want anything. I just hope you'll approve my application for early graduation when the time comes."
Regarding the reward Hiruzen mentioned, Ling Yu had already guessed it would be something like money or ninjutsu scrolls.
He wasn't lacking in either, so he could only ask for something relatively unimportant.
This was also Ling Yu's way of using the fact that he had killed a Cloud jōnin to subtly remind them: I've already reached jōnin level. You should approve my early graduation, right?
Early graduation applications generally required the Hokage's personal approval—especially since students who applied were almost always geniuses.
Every hidden village placed great importance on geniuses. If properly nurtured, such talents had every chance of becoming one of Konoha's top-tier forces in the future.
"Uh… of course. With your current strength, early graduation shouldn't be a problem."
Hiruzen was momentarily stunned that Ling Yu would ask for such a "reward," but he quickly recovered and smiled as he replied.
"Is there anything else you'd like? Ninjutsu, pocket money—anything is fine."
"Then… with my current strength, can I become a team leader? I don't want to graduate and then have to call some jōnin weaker than me my sensei. I want to be the one leading others."
After thinking carefully for a moment, Ling Yu raised his head and looked at Hiruzen with anticipation.
Since he had already demonstrated jōnin-level strength, becoming a team leader shouldn't be an issue, right?
"This…" Hiruzen was momentarily speechless.
What Ling Yu said wasn't wrong. With the ability to easily kill a jōnin, there really was no need to waste a jōnin sensei just to guide him after graduation.
Moreover, with war looming over Konoha, they were currently short on capable ninja. Having one more jōnin would actually be beneficial.
Although this particular jōnin seemed to lack experience, if he could be paired with a veteran sensei he didn't resist, it wouldn't take long for Konoha to gain another pillar of strength.
Everything was for the sake of Konoha!
"Very well. But you must first graduate from the ninja academy early. And I need to personally witness your strength to confirm you truly meet the standard before I can appoint you as a jōnin."
After some consideration, Hiruzen nodded and approved Ling Yu's request to become a jōnin.
"Deal! Then that's settled. I'm heading out now—see you!"
After receiving Hiruzen's confirmation, Ling Yu politely said goodbye and left without looking back.
Once Ling Yu was gone, the meeting in the Hokage's office was officially adjourned. Most people left, leaving only Danzo and Hiruzen behind.
"What is it, Danzo? The meeting's over—why are you still here?"
Hiruzen, who had begun sorting through documents, looked up at him and asked.
Danzo had been standing silently for quite a while. Given their long years as comrades, Hiruzen knew Danzo must have something to ask of him.
"Sarutobi… after the boy graduates, can we have Senju Ling Yu come work under me? Root is currently short on young genius talent."
Danzo didn't beat around the bush—he stated his purpose directly.
Although his relationship with Ling Yu wasn't good, there was no denying the boy's strength. If Ling Yu joined Root, Danzo could study him closely.
In truth, the moment Ling Yu revealed jōnin-level power, Danzo had begun to suspect whether the boy had awakened Hashirama's Wood Release. Otherwise, how could his strength have grown so rapidly?
If he truly had Wood Release, recruiting him into Root would give Danzo a powerful weapon.
And if the opportunity arose, he might even mass-produce ninja capable of learning Wood Release.
"You know as well as I do—Ling Yu is the last seedling of the Senju clan. If he doesn't want to, forcing him won't work."
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes and stared at Danzo for a long moment before speaking helplessly:
"Besides, with how much Tsunade cares about him, she would never allow Ling Yu to join Root. If you try to force the issue, the entire village will be in chaos."
He understood Danzo's intentions, but Ling Yu's identity was far too sensitive. He didn't dare push too hard.
"Fine. I'll think of another way."
After listening to Hiruzen, Danzo fell into deep thought for a long time before finally lowering his head and leaving—still clearly scheming how to recruit Ling Yu.
"Sigh… Danzo, I hope you don't do anything foolish."
Staring at Danzo's departing back, Hiruzen let out a helpless sigh before silently returning to his paperwork.
…
The following days in Konoha entered a state of war preparation. Some of the village's ninja, led by veteran jōnin, began deploying toward the Land of Rain, where conflict had already broken out.
Meanwhile, the younger generation of jōnin—including Tsunade's peers—remained in Konoha awaiting orders.
Ling Yu, Kushina, and Mikoto had graduated together with the upperclassmen just one week earlier.
Because of his earlier conversation with Hiruzen, Ling Yu demonstrated jōnin-level strength directly to the Third Hokage and was exceptionally promoted to become Konoha's youngest jōnin ever.
The Third Hokage's decision caused Ling Yu's fame to skyrocket. More and more people began paying attention to this youngest jōnin in Konoha, hoping he could grow into the next Hashirama Senju.
Now, Ling Yu had become the team leader for both Kushina and Mikoto.
To help him gain experience, Tsunade—the veteran jōnin—was personally nominated by Hiruzen to serve as his guiding assistant.
This was also because Ling Yu strongly resisted being taught by any jōnin weaker than him—leaving Hiruzen with no choice but to make this unprecedented exception and assign Tsunade to mentor him.
Host: Ling Yu Age: 9 Physique: Sage Body (Awakening: 90%) Skills: Rinnegan [Enhanced], Rokushiki, Copy & Analyze, Super Strength, Mystical Palm Technique, Space Power, Rasengan, Various Ninjutsu Series Weapons: Kyōka Suigetsu Strength Level: Kage-level Exchange Points: 3200 Inventory: Curse Talisman of Misfortune ×1, Exquisite Chest ×5, Ordinary Chest ×2
Ling Yu's exchange points had now reached 3200, and he had accumulated five Exquisite Chests—rewards from completing the Kushina rescue mission and wiping out the entire Cloud ninja squad.
…
The sun hung high in a clear blue sky.
At this moment, Ling Yu and the two girls sat together on a long wooden bench in the Senju clan's training ground, chatting while waiting for their team leader's arrival.
The training field was extremely spacious—perfect for group practice and minimizing unnecessary surveillance.
"Alright! Everyone, gather up!"
It didn't take long for Tsunade to appear from the side and call out to the three.
"Mm, very good. I am your team leader Ling Yu's guiding assistant—Senju Tsunade. From now on, I will assist your sensei Ling Yu in leading you to become excellent ninja."
Pointing at Ling Yu in the middle of the three, Tsunade smiled and motioned for him to step forward.
"Hello, everyone. I'm sure you're already very familiar with me, so I won't introduce myself again. I am your team leader—Senju Ling Yu!"
After stepping forward, Ling Yu looked at the shocked Kushina and the smiling Mikoto, then spoke with a grin.
"Ahhh! Why—why are you the one who's our sensei?!"
Kushina, sitting on the stone steps, pointed at Ling Yu as he walked past her and stood in front, shouting in disbelief.
When Tsunade had first walked in, Kushina had been thrilled, thinking Tsunade would be their sensei.
But then Tsunade announced that Ling Yu was their team leader—and she was only the assistant.
She couldn't understand. The three of them had graduated together—so why was Ling Yu a jōnin while she and Mikoto were still genin? Their strength was clearly jōnin-level too!
"Hehe, this is actually pretty good. Wasn't it always Ling Yu leading our training sessions before anyway?"
Mikoto had no objections. In fact, she seemed quite pleased, smiling softly as she spoke.
"Yeah… you're right. Time to get started."
"Mm."
With that, Ling Yu smiled at the two girls, ready to begin their new journey as an official team.
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