Just like Shunsui expected, he was called to the Hokage office the day after his promotion.
It seemed like the higher ups could not wait for him to start playing his games on the battlefield.
Ad Shunsui walked toward the tall building, he thought,'They could have at least given me a small break or vacation after the promotion. That's why I love childhood so much, at least you get guaranteed holidays including the summer break as well as winter break. A pity that my childhood has already ended before I am even 14.'
As he entered the Hokage office, he saw four people already in the office besides the Anbu hiding- his sensei Choza, Shikaku, another man a little older than his sensei and Shikaku, and Hiruzen.
Shunsui bowed in greeting. "Hokage sama." He had a little more respect for Hiruzen for what he had done with the matron when she was young. The story she told him had changed how he saw the old leader.
"How is being a chunin holding up, young Shunsui?" Hiruzen asked with a smile. The Hokage looked relaxed and friendly as he sat behind his desk.
"Well, it has just been partying these days." Shunsui answered honestly with a small grin. He had been enjoying some free time after the exams. Time that amounted to 22 hours and fifty two minutes only.
"Just partying or drinking as well?" Choza asked with a smile. "Drinking? As in alcohol?" Hiruzen asked with raised eyebrows.
He seemed surprised but also amused hearing that. "Yes Hokage san, it seems that our young Shunsui is quite the drinker and well... does not care about the rules of legal age to drink." Choza said in a light hearted way.
"Well, he is a chunin at such an age. He sure can drink now. I remember Tsunade herself drinking and even getting Orochimaru and Jiraiya to drink with her everytime they completed an A rank mission or above." Hiruzen said with a chuckle.
'He would need it for what comes afterwards.' Hiruzen thought which he did not voice out. The Hokage knew the war was getting worse and young shinobi would face hard times soon.
"Oh yes Hokage sama, the problem is not that he was drinking, the problem came after he was drunk." Choza said with a smile.
Shunsui's face was getting redder as Choza continued. "Sensei... you don't need to tell this." Shunsui said trying to stop the story.
"Of course I have to." Choza said with a chuckle. "Our young drunk Shunsui decided that he could not accept the great Kushina sama being taken by a simpleton like Minato so he decided that he wanted to challenge him to a spar. Victor gets Kushina's hand in marriage." Choza said while laughing.
Shikaku and the other old man chuckled at that with incredulous eyes.
"Oh Kushina?" Hiruzen smiled. "Oh to be young again."
The old Hokage spoke with nostalgia in his voice. He remembered his own younger days when love and rivalries felt so important. Back then he would have done silly things too for someone he cared about.
The memories made him laugh softly. It was funny to think about a drunk chunin challenging a strong shinobi like Minato over a girl.
Hiruzen imagined the scene and felt happy that the young people still had such spirit even in difficult times. "So what happened next." He asked with interest.
"Ah thankfully he passed out midway while he was on the way to where Minato and Kushina live. Mukai who had decided to accompy me to drink and was trying to hold him back from fighting the Yellow Flash, brought him back to his room in the orphanage." Choza finished the story.
"It would be a good fight to have watched." Hiruzen said with a playful tone. Shunsui thought 'Old man, you can just tell me that you would love to see my ass whooped by Minato and I just started liking you.' He kept the thought to himself but smiled awkwardly.
Hiruzen chuckled. "Alright, Shunsui we have called you because we have decided it is time for you to join the battlefield. You already have shown skills that you would need to be able to survive out there."
'Here it comes, the inevitable.' Shunsui thought as he prepared himself for the news. "And Shikaku and I have decided it would be better to have you in an assault platoon suited to your ability." Hiruzen said.
Shunsui looked at him in surprise. He had not expected a special team so soon. "This platoon would be asked to perform missions to eliminate targets or sabotage enemy villages with the help of your Shikai abilities. I will let Shikaku take over from here to explain things." Hiruzen said as all eyes turned to Shikaku.
"We have decided to create a platoon of thirty to thirty five members. All chunin and above. First, let me tell you about the leader and the composition of this squad."
Shikaku said as he pointed to the other man. "This is Shinku Yuhi, the best genjutsu specialist of our village who would be the leader of this platoon." Shinku nodded at them politely.
'Ah, Kurenai's father. If I am not wrong he died in the nine tails attack.' Shunsui thought as he remembered some future knowledge.
"This squad would contain fifteen Nara shinobi, all masters of Nara shadow techniques, three Yamanakas and at least seven genjutsu specialists. And the remaining would be supports like iryo nin, fuinjutsu specialists and sensors." Shikaku said.
"You, Shunsui, would be the key to the group." Shikaku said pointing at Shunsui. Shunsui could not help but sigh.
-------Author Notes--------
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