章 136: Chapter 135: Special Jōnin!
Chapter 135: Special Jōnin!
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Three months later.
"Now!"
"Secret Technique: Shadow Imitation Jutsu!"
"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Jutsu!"
A shinobi wearing the Takigakure headband dashed madly through the forest, his figure disheveled and desperate. As he raced past a massive tree, a thin shadow extended unnoticed from the tree's shade, creeping into the Takigakure shinobi's own shadow.
In an instant, his body froze in place, unable to move.
Moments later, a blazing fire dragon roared to life, sweeping across the trapped shinobi, engulfing him completely in searing flames.
When the flames subsided, the Takigakure shinobi was left barely recognizable, his scorched combat uniform emitting a foul, charred smell.
Although alive, he was on the verge of death, his body twitching uncontrollably.
Shing—
A flash of silver cut through the air as the shinobi's head was cleanly severed. His lifeless expression showed a strange relief as he closed his eyes for the last time.
Three figures appeared around the fallen body.
The one calmly sheathing a short blade was Tonari, now a Chūnin. Beside him were his teammates, Uchiha Yoshinari and Nara Yoshino.
Tonari crouched beside the corpse, rummaging through the remains of the shinobi's intact ninja pouch. He pulled out a scroll, quickly confirming its contents before tucking it into his own pouch.
Glancing at the charred corpse, Tonari frowned. "Yoshinari, could you control your flames a bit better next time? This mission was to recover intelligence and eliminate Takigakure's outpost in the Land of Fire. If your fire burned the scroll, this A-rank mission would've been a total failure. Do you realize how much we'd lose? That's tens of thousands of ryō on the line!"
Yoshinari shrugged, his tone nonchalant. "The ninja pouches are fire-resistant, so there was no real danger. Besides, I held back! If I hadn't, that guy wouldn't have lasted long enough for you to finish him off."
Their banter was interrupted by Nara Yoshino, who stepped in to mediate. "Alright, alright! We've completed plenty of A-rank missions lately. Let's just return and report it already."
It was true—thanks to Tonari's promotion to Chūnin, their team was now qualified to take on moderately difficult A-rank missions. Over the past three months, they had completed four A-rank missions with a 100% success rate, earning them a reputation as a reliable team.
They had also taken on numerous B-rank missions, earning a fair share of income.
Tonari, Yoshinari, and Yoshino had become accustomed to their rhythm as a team, though their dynamics still involved occasional bickering—usually over money.
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On Tonari's shoulder, a small, two-tailed blue cat purred lazily. As the Takigakure shinobi's lifeless body lay on the ground, an ethereal shadow rose from the corpse, visible only to the cat.
With a deep yawn, the small creature inhaled the lingering soul.
Neither Yoshinari nor Yoshino noticed the exchange, but Tonari was fully aware. He had long since discovered that his summon could absorb the spirits of the deceased.
To Tonari, souls were an incredible phenomenon, akin to chakra—an untapped source of research potential.
For inspiration, Tonari often looked to shinobi like the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, who created the Edo Tensei technique, and the Uzumaki clan, whose Shiki Fūjin trapped souls eternally within a "Shinigami."
If he could unravel the mysteries of the soul, it could prove invaluable not just for enhancing his own strength, but also for countering certain jutsu.
---
As night fell, the trio returned to Konoha, their mission complete.
After splitting up, Tonari headed to the Hokage's office to report their success.
Upon arrival, he noticed an unusual gathering: nearly all of Konoha's upper echelons were present. The tense atmosphere was palpable.
Tonari hesitated but proceeded inside when the Third Hokage beckoned him forward.
"Mission complete?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked calmly, puffing on his pipe.
Tonari nodded, presenting the recovered scroll.
"Good work," Hiruzen praised, handing over the team's mission payment.
After pocketing the reward, Tonari cautiously asked, "Should I leave and come back later?"
"No need," Hiruzen replied, gesturing for him to stay.
He continued, "Tonari, you've been training under Tsunade for nearly two years now, correct? How do you evaluate your skills in medical ninjutsu? Have you mastered the Mystical Palm Technique?"
Tonari blinked in surprise, glancing at Tsunade before replying, "I can use the Mystical Palm Technique, but it's not stable. As for medical ninjutsu, I've barely scratched the surface of what Tsunade can do."
Before Tonari could downplay his abilities further, Tsunade stepped forward. "That's not true. Tonari's medical ninjutsu is exceptional. In two years, he's already learned about 70-80% of what I can teach. He even understands medicinal herbs in ways that surprise me."
Tonari tugged at Tsunade's sleeve, trying to silence her praise, but she ignored him.
At that moment, Danzo Shimura, who had been observing quietly, stood up and addressed the room.
"Tonari, if your medical ninjutsu is truly as outstanding as Tsunade claims, then Konoha has great need of your talents. This isn't the time to hide your capabilities."
The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Tonari. Even Tsunade's hand on his shoulder felt like a weight, pinning him in place.
Realizing the significance of the moment, Tonari stopped resisting and let the conversation unfold.
---
Finally, Hiruzen sighed, relenting under the combined pressure.
"Effective immediately," he announced, "Tsunade will step down as the head of the Medical Corps and take on a deputy role. I will oversee the department myself until a suitable replacement is found."
The decision was a compromise, preserving Tsunade's position while opening the door for Tonari's advancement.
Hiruzen continued, "Tonari, for your contributions and potential, you are hereby promoted to Special Jōnin, specializing in medical ninjutsu. You will also assume the role of Team Three Captain within the Medical Corps."
The announcement left Tonari stunned.
Had he just been promoted out of nowhere?
As the meeting concluded and the attendees dispersed, two clan leaders lingered to speak with him.
The Uchiha clan head greeted him warmly. "Tonari, Yoshinari has spoken highly of you. You've proven yourself a great friend to our clan. If you ever have time, you're welcome to visit the Uchiha compound."
After the Uchiha leader departed, the Hyūga clan head approached. Though more reserved, he offered a polite invitation for Tonari to visit the Hyūga estate.
It was clear both clans were extending olive branches, hoping to align themselves with Tonari's growing influence.
Watching the two leaders leave, Tsunade appeared at his side, teasing him. "Looks like you're quite popular now."
But Tonari wasn't amused. He frowned, his tone serious. "Tsunade-nee, what's really going on?"
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