"Rei, you've done something remarkable again this time."
Inside the Mizukage's office, the Third Mizukage looked at Rei Kaguya, who had just come to report the completion of his mission.
The corners of his mouth carried an upward curve he could not hide no matter what. His excitement was difficult to conceal.
"It was only luck," Rei said modestly without changing his expression. "If Minato Namikaze had been the leader of that Konoha Anbu squad from the beginning, I might not have been able to complete the mission."
"In the world of shinobi, there is no need to consider the word 'if.'"
The Third Mizukage waved his hand and looked at the genius shinobi from the Kaguya clan before him with great appreciation.
Then he spoke leisurely.
"A mission that has already succeeded does not need one to consider the possibility of failure if a certain element during the mission process had changed. And a mission that has already failed cannot have its losses recovered no matter how many times one recalls it while thinking 'if.'"
"You successfully killed those four who chose to defect, and you even seriously injured Konoha's Yellow Flash during your clash with him. A battle record like that is already enough to make everyone in the village properly recognize your ability."
"Yes."
"All right. Go down and find the Ninja Tool Division to receive your jonin uniform."
"Yes… Huh?"
Rei responded instinctively.
Then, as he turned to push open the door, he suddenly realized that something was not right. He sharply turned back and looked at the Third Mizukage in disbelief, his breathing slightly quickening.
"Jonin… uniform?"
"That's right. From today onward, you are a jonin of Kirigakure, Rei Kaguya."
Facing the Third Mizukage's calm tone, as if he were merely saying the weather was nice today, Rei, who had never expected to be promoted so quickly, fell silent for quite some time.
Only then did he ask in a low voice, "Will the other jonin not have objections?"
"Can those who object guarantee that they could complete the mission you just completed?"
The Third Mizukage supported his chin with his hand and spoke in a deep voice.
"Under the pursuit of a full Anbu squad, you successfully killed all mission targets, protected the village's secrets, and used the terrain advantage to set up a trap, almost wiping out the pursuing Konoha Anbu…"
"They cannot do it, so they have no qualifications to question your promotion. Not to mention, you also successfully injured that Yellow Flash during your clash with him, winning our army considerable favorable conditions for the early offensive…"
"Accept what you deserve with peace of mind, Rei. After this, you will still need to go to the Land of Fire front line to participate in combat. Without the identity of a jonin, those people who have already killed until their eyes turned red will not obediently listen to your command."
"I understand."
…
After returning his Anbu mask and uniform to the Ninja Tool Division, changing into a Kirigakure jonin uniform, and updating his shinobi information, Rei walked out of the Mizukage's office building somewhat dazed.
He walked through Kirigakure, where the atmosphere was clearly much more restless than before he left.
Along the way, civilians and shinobi cast surprised and puzzled looks at Rei's excessively young face and the jonin uniform on his body.
But Rei did not take those gazes to heart.
He only went to his favorite dango shop, sat down, and ordered two servings of three-color dango with extra sugar.
The soft, fragrant dango and large amount of sugar brought a very clear sense of happiness, allowing Rei's slightly uneasy emotions to slowly calm down.
He sat inside the shop, watching the people coming and going on the street, and began thinking again about the various effects of becoming a jonin at this time.
The benefits of becoming a jonin were obvious.
Whether it was the rise in his voice within Kirigakure, the increased level of classified information he could access, or the growth in resources he could mobilize, all of them held considerable significance for his future path toward rising to the top.
Although after becoming a jonin, the difficulty of missions assigned to him by the village would also increase accordingly, with his current strength, even S-rank missions were only that much.
He could completely follow the path Minato Namikaze had once taken when he solo-carried the Iwagakure front, completing various high-difficulty missions until his reputation directly shook the shinobi world.
Then, as the price, what had he lost by handing over his Anbu identity?
Probably only the opportunity to frequently meet the Third Mizukage.
After all, judging from the Third Mizukage's tone, he was probably going to throw Rei onto the Land of Fire front line to serve as a pillar holding up the battlefield.
If that happened, Rei would be unable to return to the village for a long time.
He would also be unable to access those confidential pieces of intelligence that only direct Anbu under the Third Mizukage could see.
"Well, the impact is just that much. As long as it doesn't affect me receiving missions from the system and getting stronger, it's fine."
In any case, since he had failed to draw the Flying Thunder God Technique from Minato, it was impossible for him to help Kirigakure win this war.
Since the result could not be changed, he only needed to make sure he put on a brilliant performance of "Kirigakure lost, but I, Rei Kaguya, did not."
Thinking this, Rei sent the last dango into his mouth and properly experienced the cloying sweetness that made his head feel dizzy.
Then he left the money for the dango and unhurriedly headed toward the Kaguya clan grounds.
…
"Awake, Obito?"
Inside the dark, gloomy underground cave, the aged and weakened Madara Uchiha looked at Obito Uchiha, who slowly regained consciousness, and greeted him in a playful tone.
"How is the world seen through Mangekyo eyes?"
"Nothing but falsehood."
Obito Uchiha, lying on the bed, tried to raise his arms.
But he felt that they had become even heavier than the last time he woke up in Madara Uchiha's place. This time, even his vision had become somewhat blurry.
"What… happened to me?"
"You overused your ocular power in one go, that's all. You had just obtained the Mangekyo Sharingan and immediately used it so intensely. You even recklessly forced open Susanoo. The fact that you managed to hold on until you transferred your two companions elsewhere before fainting already exceeded my expectations."
"What use was it?"
Obito's tone was extremely cold.
"I didn't even kill all those Kirigakure Anbu who killed Rin. Mangekyo Sharingan? If this is all it amounts to, then it's nothing special."
"What nonsense is a brat with only one eye and incomplete ocular power spouting? You haven't even learned the entrance to the Mangekyo Sharingan's true power…"
Madara Uchiha paused.
Then he chuckled and said, "But speaking of those Kirigakure shinobi you failed to kill, I do have some rather interesting news here…"
"What news?"
"According to A Fei, among the Kirigakure Anbu who weren't killed by you, several chose to flee when facing you… Then those people who chose to run became missing-nin and were pursued by Kirigakure all the way to the Land of Whirlpools."
"So what?"
Obito Uchiha's tone was very impatient.
"If that's all, then what's interesting about this news?"
"Don't be so impatient, brat…"
Madara Uchiha supported the left side of his face with great interest. On his wrinkled face appeared a smile from which one could faintly glimpse the domineering aura he had possessed in his youth.
"Because those fellows were scared witless by you, they left many openings while fleeing. And so, Konoha's people also set their eyes on them."
"And then?"
"Then, the Anbu squad Konoha sent happened to run into the Kaguya clan pursuer Kirigakure sent in the Land of Whirlpools."
Madara Uchiha's smile grew even more playful.
"That Kaguya clan brat who forced you back."
Obito Uchiha's body suddenly tensed.
"I have to say, that brat's ability to fight you, who possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan and Wood Release: Cutting Technique, proves that he is indeed quite strong… Konoha's Anbu squad had no ability to resist before him. They were only one step away from being wiped out."
"And then?"
Facing Madara Uchiha's pause once again, Obito Uchiha's tone gained even more irritation.
Seeing that this fellow, who should barely have been able to move a finger, had almost sat up by his own strength, Madara Uchiha finally put away his playfulness and spoke with malicious intent.
"Just when they were in despair, someone arrived and saved them… I heard he was a kid known as the Yellow Flash, very skilled in the Flying Thunder God Technique."
"Enough!"
Facing Obito Uchiha's sudden roar, Madara Uchiha shrugged and closed his eyes like an ordinary old man lacking energy.
But he could hear very clearly the furious, teeth-gritting roar that came from where Obito Uchiha lay.
"Why… why did you make it in time this time!?"
"Why were you always late when Rin needed you!?"
"Why, why, why!?"
That's right, brat…
Release the darkness in your heart to your heart's content.
Only then will your Mangekyo ocular power grow faster.
Only then will you be qualified to inherit the identity of "Madara Uchiha" after my death.
With his eyes closed, Madara Uchiha thought this.