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The system notification flashed across Sarutobi Ryo's retina, making his eyes gleam with intrigue.
While he had encountered similar side quest prompts from Hinata Ruri and Ringo Ameyuri before, their exact mechanics remained a mystery. However, now, with a perfect test subject before him, he could take the opportunity to experiment.
The system required him to instill the "Will of Fire" into Yamanaka Kei.
But how exactly was he supposed to do that?
"Master Ryo, this way please..."
A ninja approached from the entrance of the Hokage Building, motioning for Sarutobi Ryo and his group to follow. As they made their way inside, they passed by Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina, who were just exiting. Judging by their expressions, they had clearly passed the high-level jonin assessment.
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Hokage's Office
"Master Sarutobi Ryo, thank you for your assistance earlier."
Baiyun Yeshan, now nearly fully recovered, was in high spirits, a testament to Konoha's exceptional medical ninjutsu. Having been rescued and treated by the village's Anbu, his injuries had healed well over the past week.
After exchanging pleasantries, Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled. "Ryo, you all performed exceptionally well."
Sarutobi Ryo merely nodded. His father's approval was evident.
Kato Dan's remains had been officially relocated and buried in the Konoha Cemetery. However, the placement of his tombstone next to his sister's carried an ironic undertone. Kato's sister had perished as a mere child, thrown onto the battlefield during the Second Ninja War. Their adjacent graves seemed to portray a touching image of familial care, yet the underlying truth was darkly comedic—another testament to the contradictions embedded in Konoha's political system.
Sarutobi Hiruzen continued, "Koharu informed me of your performance on this mission…"
Dispatching a team, including the Hokage's son, and officially reclaiming the Land of Whirlpools—this sequence of events effectively silenced conspiracy theories. In the wake of war, stability was paramount, and the village leadership was striving to maintain it.
Prior to this mission, the candidates had already been assessed for jonin qualifications. Baiyun Yeshan, despite his defeat at the hands of Ringo Ameyuri, was among them. After all, strength disparities among jonin could be vast.
For instance, in the official records, Kurenai Yuhi was considered the lowest-ranked jonin, barely meeting the threshold. Conversely, the highest-tier jonin, such as Hatake Kakashi, operated on an entirely different level. No one would reasonably believe Kurenai could defeat Kakashi; in fact, Kakashi could likely take on three of her at once and still emerge victorious.
Furthermore, tools like the Sharingan or Ringo Ameyuri's Lightning Blade greatly amplified a ninja's power. Given her divine weapon, Ameyuri's victory over Baiyun Yeshan was not surprising.
"I propose promoting Sarutobi Ryo and the others to jonin. Any objections?" Hiruzen asked his fellow advisors.
After a brief discussion, Sarutobi Ryo and his teammates officially received their jonin titles.
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The Weight of Jonin
Becoming a jonin was more than just an honor—it was a milestone.
While most ninjas would eventually reach chunin rank, the leap to jonin was far rarer. The statistics were telling: for every 20 to 30 chunin, only one would make it to special jonin. Among a hundred chunin, only one would ascend to full jonin status.
Jonin not only commanded greater respect but also gained access to superior resources. For true prodigies, this rank marked the real beginning of their path to power. In emergencies, a jonin could issue orders to lower-ranked ninjas and even mobilize Anbu squads under certain circumstances.
Moreover, key village positions, such as those in the Intelligence Division (where Yamanaka Inoichi worked) or the Logistics Department (overseen by the Akimichi clan), required a jonin rank at minimum. However, this prestige came at a price—jonin frequently faced perilous A-rank and S-rank missions, making their profession one of the closest to death.
"This promotion is all thanks to Young Master Ryo," Baiyun Yeshan said, relieved yet unaware that the village leadership had already mapped out their advancement long before this mission.
Once Baiyun Yeshan and Hinata Ruri left, the atmosphere in the Hokage's office subtly shifted.
A shadow in the room deepened.
Shimura Danzo, Konoha's most elusive powerbroker, spoke from the darkness. "Tomorrow... Sarutobi Ryo and Yamanaka Kei will report to Anbu."
His sharp gaze lingered on Sarutobi Ryo before settling on Yamanaka Kei. "However, Hiruzen... even if he is your son, he must first complete an Anbu assessment mission under my jurisdiction. Only then will he be deemed qualified."
Danzo had his doubts about Sarutobi Ryo. To him, Ryo was too pure, lacking the necessary darkness for Anbu operations. In contrast, Yamanaka Kei seemed a much more fitting recruit.
With that, Danzo vanished into the shadows.
Sarutobi Ryo watched him leave, contemplative. As one of Konoha's highest-ranking officials, Danzo still wielded significant authority over Anbu—a power his father would not strip away until much later in history.
Thus, many of Konoha's Anbu operatives remained under Danzo's command.
The descent into the shadows had begun.
But Sarutobi Ryo was not concerned.
After all... he was not as simple as they believed.
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A Familiar Invitation
As Sarutobi Ryo stepped out of the Hokage Building, a familiar figure waited beneath a shaded tree.
He approached, and Hatake Sakumo scratched his head. "Master Ryo, congratulations."
Sakumo had never doubted Ryo's potential. Given his talent, failing to reach jonin would have been more shocking.
"I'm grilling saury tonight. Care to join me?" Sakumo invited, his tone casual yet carrying an underlying warmth—a mentor extending an offer to his student.
Ryo smiled. "Gladly."
Passing through the bustling streets of Konoha, they arrived at a traditional bungalow on the outskirts of the village—Hatake Sakumo's home.
Inside, the three conversed, losing track of time as the afternoon waned.
Sakumo regaled them with tales of Kakashi's academy days, his early missions, and the struggles he faced in training.
"Time to cook. You two, relax," Sakumo said, donning an apron before stepping into the kitchen.
Sitting in the living room, Yamanaka Kei poured tea and whispered, "Master, Sakumo-san is a good man."
There was an unspoken meaning behind her words.
"Good men like him will eventually be exploited by the higher-ups," she continued, her tone tinged with cynicism. "A free-spirited warrior, now bound by Konoha's politics... his future is grim."
Kei sighed. "If it were me, I wouldn't have children—not until Konoha truly changes. Otherwise, they'd just be tools for the village."
Ryo regarded her with an unreadable expression.
Perhaps this was why certain events unfolded the way they did in history. Perhaps fear of creating vulnerabilities held people back.
Before he could respond, an arrogant yet unmistakably young voice rang from outside.
"I'm home."
A masked boy, silver-haired and dead-eyed, strode through the doorway.
Hatake Kakashi had arrived.
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