And just like that, Shangguan Mo graduated.
The next day, a graduation certificate and a Yugakure forehead protector were delivered to him. Nothing else.
"No combat uniform like I imagined, no anxiety about waiting to be assigned to a Jonin leader... It all happened so suddenly, yet so... ordinarily..." he thought, in a daze. "Well, Konoha is a major village, of course they have practical tactical gear. How could a small village like ours have something like that? I'm lucky to even get a forehead protector."
"So, I'm finally getting a proper squad leader and teammates! The thought of having to go out on missions every day from now on is kind of a bummer..."
That afternoon, he reported to a forest within the village as instructed. When he arrived, he found a figure who had likely been waiting for some time. It was Watanabe Mousse.
"Surprised?" he asked, a faint smile on his stern face.
Shangguan Mo shook his head. "Not surprised. The moment I received the graduation notice, I guessed that you would be my Jonin leader, Captain Watanabe."
He was taken aback for a moment. "You're as smart as ever, kid..."
"Where are my two teammates?" Shangguan Mo asked, looking around.
"They went to pick up a mission. They should be here soon," he replied. He looked up at the falling snow, his expression a little bleak. "I'll only be leading you for a while. The village is too short-handed. Once you're familiar with the mission process, I'll be handing this squad over to you."
Shangguan Mo was stunned. "But! I'm just a newly graduated Genin..."
"I've never seen a Genin who could kill a Jonin! Not to mention Jizo, who was rendered powerless by your summons. And that Jashinist Jonin before we reached Winterfell City, wasn't he worn down to death by you and your Windhawk?"
"That was also because you injured him first, Captain! And besides, what's so special about me? You haven't seen the Child of Prophecy and the Last Uchiha! They're the strongest Genin in the world!" Shangguan Mo grumbled internally.
Watanabe knew he had a lazy disposition, but after the long battle with the Cult of Jashin, the village was severely weakened. With the village leader's health failing and war on the horizon, as one of only three Jonin left, the pressure on him was immense. He had no choice but to force Shangguan Mo to grow up quickly.
They didn't have to wait long. Two figures came running through the snow. Seeing who they were, Shangguan Mo's eyebrows shot up in surprise. He had expected two Genin.
"From now on, the three of you are a squad. Do I need to reintroduce you all?" Watanabe asked. The two young men shook their heads.
But Shangguan Mo said seriously, "Let's do introductions. We can't skip the ceremony!" Ignoring the twitching faces of the other three, he began. "My name is Shangguan Mo, I'm fourteen. I'm good at raising summoning beasts. My hobby is enjoying life. As for my dream... I don't have one at the moment! My favorite foods are seaweed rice balls, three-colored dango, steamed sea bass, braised pork ribs, spicy pig's trotters..."
"Stop, stop, stop!" Watanabe interrupted, a headache coming on.
"Tanokaze, your turn!"
Tanokaze: "..." You already know my name, so why do I have to introduce myself?! He suddenly felt that his future days would be very interesting. "My name is Tanokaze, twenty-one. I'm good at Earth Style. My dream is to make Yugakure a great village!"
Simple-minded kid, Shangguan Mo thought. But he couldn't suppress a smile.
He then looked at the other serious-faced young man. That person's lip twitched, as if he found it extremely embarrassing to have to introduce himself at almost twenty years old. But thinking of his father's instructions, and the fact that this person in front of him, though he seemed a bit unreliable, was a hero of the village... His dark face flushed slightly as he said with difficulty, "My name is Watanabe Toneri, nineteen. I'm good at Lightning Style. My dream is to become a strong man renowned throughout the ninja world, like the White Fang of the Leaf!" At the end, his voice suddenly became loud and clear, and a fierce fire burned in his eyes.
Chunibyo!
"A Chunin in their twenties. Even if they have room to grow, at best they'll only ever reach the level of an ordinary Jonin..." Shangguan Mo quickly assessed them, but he didn't look down on them. If he didn't have his system, he would probably be at their level for his entire life.
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