A moment later, Koharu was the first to speak. Her brows knit slightly, and her tone carried hesitation: "But this child is only a chūnin, and only ten years old. Letting a ten-year-old chūnin teach a group of chūnin, special jōnin, and jōnin… is that really appropriate? The village has never had such a precedent. And what would those jōnin think? They're experienced seniors, yet now they're supposed to sit here and listen to a ten-year-old junior give them a lecture?"
"Then promote the brat to jōnin!"
Danzō spoke without the slightest hesitation.
The moment those words fell, Koharu froze. Homura raised his brows, and even the pipe in Hiruzen's hand paused mid-motion.
Ignoring their reactions, Danzō continued: "You all know this brat's strength. He already meets the standard of a jōnin! With his current ability, even among jōnin, who would dare say he's unqualified? Of all those so-called jōnin in the village, how many can confidently say they could defeat him?"
"And his strategic insight! Those three reports he wrote are right here. Among the village's jōnin, how many can match him? How many can write something like that? How many, at ten years old, can see through the state of the shinobi world more clearly than people like us who've lived for decades?"
"The answer is none! Not a single one!"
At that, Danzō's gaze swept across the three of them.
"What he lacks is only seniority—only accumulated mission experience. But what are those? Trivial things! In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures must be taken! Rules are made by people!"
Koharu fell silent. She had to admit—Danzō's reasoning made sense.
Shinichi's strength had long surpassed the scope of a chūnin, even exceeding many jōnin.
The shock of that arena battle from over a month ago was still circulating throughout the village.
After a brief silence, she finally spoke: "Danzō, I understand your point. This child Shinichi already has the strength, and his insight is far beyond ordinary people. But a ten-year-old jōnin…"
At this, she shook her head: "Since the founding of Konoha, there has never been such a precedent. To bear that title at ten—isn't it too early? Wouldn't it put too much pressure on him? And what about the jōnin in the village—especially those who spent ten or twenty years climbing up to that rank? Won't they feel…"
"Feel what?"
Danzō cut her off, his voice still cold and unyielding.
"Cause controversy? Make some people dissatisfied? Make those mediocre fools uncomfortable?"
"Koharu! That's nothing but the shallow thinking of shallow people!"
"Those who took ten or twenty years to climb up—it's because their talent isn't enough, their effort isn't enough, their brains aren't enough! Now a ten-year-old stands before them and shows them what true genius is, what real vision looks like!"
At this, Danzō let out a cold snort and continued: "They should feel ashamed. They should reflect on what they've been doing all these years! Think about whether they've truly worked hard!"
"Instead of whining about why he can become a jōnin at ten!"
'Is this really Danzō? Did you take the wrong medicine or something?'
That thought surfaced in Koharu's mind. She looked at Danzō's usual gloomy face, listened to his decisive tone, and for a moment didn't know what to say.
Yesterday, you weren't like this. How did you change so completely overnight?
Homura was also stunned. His gaze moved back and forth across Danzō's face, as if trying to confirm whether the man before him had been possessed by something.
They had worked with Danzō for most of their lives—and argued with him just as long. They knew his personality all too well.
Gloomy, suspicious, stubborn—never one to easily acknowledge anyone, let alone speak up for someone proactively.
But today?
First proposing to distribute the reports downward, then suggesting Shinichi teach chūnin and jōnin, and now pushing for a special promotion to jōnin—
Three consecutive moves, each more ruthless and outrageous than the last.
Was this really the same Shimura Danzō?
Koharu and Homura exchanged glances, both at a loss for words. The whole situation felt absurd.
This was the same man who had dismissed Shinichi's report as worthless just yesterday, clearly harboring strong prejudice against the boy—so how had he suddenly become his biggest supporter today?
After a moment, Koharu still shook her head: "I still stand by my position. The promotion can't be rushed. There needs to be a proper justification—a reason that can stand scrutiny. Public opinion within the village, and the feelings of the other ninja… those still need to be taken into account."
Danzō said nothing more. He simply turned his gaze directly toward Hiruzen.
"Hiruzen, what's your opinion?"
The Third Hokage took a drag from his pipe. After a brief silence, he said: "Promote him to Special Jōnin first. Use the evaluation standards for Special Jōnin within the advisory corps."
Koharu was momentarily stunned, then nodded.
Special Jōnin.
That positioning was indeed far more stable than promoting him directly to Jōnin.
What was known as a Special Jōnin referred to a ninja who had reached jōnin-level ability in a specific field, but whose overall capability, seniority, and accumulated mission experience were still insufficient to qualify as a full Jōnin.
The strategic analysis Shinichi had demonstrated across those three reports—and the value contained within them—had already far surpassed the vast majority of the advisory corps, and could even be said to surpass all of them.
On that merit alone, it was enough for him to qualify as a Special Jōnin, and it wouldn't invite any controversy.
Homura adjusted his glasses and nodded. "I think it works. Hiruzen's consideration is very thorough. It both acknowledges the child's ability and provides enough buffer. The position of Special Jōnin fits perfectly. We can use this report as justification—say that the child has provided important strategic analysis for the village and rendered great merit. A special promotion under those grounds is more than justified. No one would be able to argue against it."
Koharu also nodded in agreement: "Then it's settled. A ten-year-old Special Jōnin is still very young, but at least it's far easier to accept than promoting him directly to Jōnin."
Danzō remained silent and did not object, which counted as approval of the arrangement.
"As for the documents." Hiruzen took another drag from his pipe and spoke slowly. "The first and second reports will not be distributed for now. We'll wait for a suitable opportunity later. The third one can be circulated—but not in full."
He paused briefly, as if choosing his words.
"Although this report doesn't involve specific military deployments, its projections regarding the various forces and its assessment of the scale of the war are still somewhat sensitive. Limit its circulation to Special Jōnin and Jōnin, along with some outstanding and senior chūnin team leaders. Let them read it, prepare themselves mentally, and understand what they'll be facing next."
Koharu nodded.
Hiruzen's gaze fell on her.
"As for the lecture, have Shinichi deliver it. Since he wrote the report, no one understands its logic better than he does. Let him explain these analyses point by point in front of them. Koharu, you'll be in charge of the arrangements."
Koharu was briefly taken aback, but quickly nodded.
"Alright. Once the document is distributed, give them a few days to go over it. Then we'll arrange everything together. The venue will be the main conference hall in the building—it can seat three thousand people, more than enough."
Hiruzen took a drag from his pipe and slowly exhaled.
"That works. Let's proceed with that arrangement."
He paused, then added: "Additionally, after this lecture, I will personally give a speech announcing that Konoha is entering a state of war."
Koharu froze for a moment, her brows knitting slightly.
"Announce a state of war directly? Hiruzen, isn't that… too fast? Sunagakure hasn't even made a move yet, and we're already declaring—"
"Since we've chosen to trust this child's analysis, then we trust it to the end."
Hiruzen cut her off and explained, "After the lecture, there will only be ten to twenty days left before the war breaks out. Whether we announce it ten days earlier or ten days later—what difference does it make?"
He looked out the window, his gaze settling on Konoha's quiet streets.
"Letting the villagers know ten days earlier—letting them understand what they're about to face—will at least give them time to prepare mentally."
Koharu fell silent for a moment, then finally nodded.
"You're right. Preparing early is better than scrambling at the last moment."
Hiruzen continued, "You should also make your preparations. Think about what you'll say when the time comes."
Koharu nodded, and Homura adjusted his glasses without speaking further.
Whenever major events occurred in Konoha, the higher-ups would stand on the open platform of the Hokage Tower and deliver important speeches to the entire village. Although it was always led by the Hokage, the two advisors would also add remarks at appropriate moments, explaining matters within their respective domains to both shinobi and civilians.
For decades, it had always been this way.
However, at that moment—
"This time, I will speak as well."
A voice suddenly rang out, breaking the brief silence.
All three of them turned toward the source of the voice.
Shimura Danzō.
He sat there, his face still as gloomy as ever, yet what he said caused the other three to freeze once again.
Danzō… was going to give a speech as well?
It had to be known that although Danzō was also one of the high-ranking officials, he had never spoken in any public setting over the past several decades—he rarely even appeared in public at all.
Because of this, the villagers of Konoha would sometimes subconsciously think that the village only had two advisor elders.
The meeting room fell silent for a few seconds. Then, after a moment, Hiruzen slowly nodded.
"Alright. Then Danzō, take these next few days to prepare."
And just like that, it was decided. For the first time in Konoha's history, Shimura Danzō would speak in public.
Outside the window, the sunlight remained as it was.
And so, the largest—and most unprecedented—lecture in Konoha's history was set.
The lecturer—
Higashino Shinichi, ten years old, Konoha's most dazzling rising star, and the youngest Special Jōnin since the village's founding.
The audience—
Three thousand people: chūnin team leaders, Special Jōnin, Jōnin, clan heads from the major families, and top-tier combat forces of Konoha such as the Sannin.
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