Actually, the closest to that level was Ryo-kun, thanks to Uzumaki's blood, but he was still a tokubetsu jonin and had not yet made any moves towards promotion, preferring to do business and not show his own strength to the public.
Until recently, the head of Nara had fully supported such a stance, preferring to have a trump card or two up his sleeve to pull at the right moment, as was the case at the meeting after the second stage of the Chunin Exam, but now the clan needed a strong fighter who was among the very elite of Konoha's forces.
Let everyone know that a first-degree iryonin will inevitably grow in strength to the aforementioned bar, sooner or later, just look at Hishi Hyuga and Tsunade Senju. But no one expects Ryo-kun to already be able to stand almost on the same level as the Hokage's apprentices, even if he doesn't yet have the proper experience of his older counterparts.
Except, that hasn't stopped him from fighting back against an ancient nukenin who fought back in the days of Hashirama and walked away alive.
Given Sarutobi's almost guaranteed interference in choosing an opponent for the exam, Shenesu quite reasonably doubted that anyone would be able to force his nephew to unleash his full capabilities for a sure victory.
On the contrary, defeating a strong jonin would further increase the young shinobi's reputation, turning all of his opponent's efforts to his advantage. Of course, there was a small chance that Hiruzen would lose his sanity and expel one of his two students, but even so, he would only be digging himself deeper into the hole he was in, and it would be possible to retake the exam under the new Hokage. And what if Ryo wins...
Shenesu thought for a moment, letting himself dream for a few moments as he took a deep drag of tobacco, but then he pushed the unwelcome thoughts away and focused on the present.
The plan was a good one, but he should talk to his nephew and discuss the nuances of the plan - Ryo was still young, but he had a good head for it, and Shenesu was past the age when he thought that all clansmen should obey the head of the clan without question, so it was better to probe the ground than to find out at the last moment that the main cog in the plan had a different opinion of his role in it.
It's not a good idea to ruin relations with his nephew because of a simple lack of communication, because Ryo's personality and influence are tied to him, and if Ryo shakes his head, the house of cards being built by the head of Nara will fall apart. The experienced shinobi could see that clearly from the reports of the spy network.
Until then, Hatake must be put on the throne, otherwise, after the end of the next World Shinobi War, the Nara clan will have to say goodbye to more of its members, and Shenesu was tired of burying his family and loved ones, whose well-being he was obliged to take care of.
- Shenesu, stop sitting your ass in the study for nothing," his wife's head appeared in the doorway, "go get Shikaku and his hussy, dinner will be ready in a few minutes.
And the door slammed shut.
- Okay, my love," the shinobi sighed and shook out his pipe into the ashtray and put it away in the drawer, muttering to himself under his breath, "troubled woman.
The door swung open and Setsura reappeared on the threshold, clutching the senbon threateningly between the fingers of her right hand and smiling lusciously.
- Did you say something, dear?
- All I said was 'I'll be done,'" Shenesu replied without blinking an eye and hurried away through the open window, "I'll go get Shikaku-kun.
What plans are there if the better half is in a bad mood.
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