章節 93: Chapter:90

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At precisely 1 p.m., Shinichi brought Hirito, Minato, and Nonō to the Hokage's office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, in his prime, greeted them warmly. After congratulating the three on their impressive performance, he handed each of them an official Chūnin certificate and a set of the iconic Chūnin vests.

Hiruzen took a moment to observe their reactions, enjoying the expressions of Konoha's young shinobi as they celebrated their progress.

Nonō held her Chūnin vest with delight, her eyes practically disappearing as she smiled.

Minato's reaction was equally cheerful; his beaming smile could rival the sun itself.

Then, Hiruzen's gaze shifted to Hirito, who seemed less than pleased as he scrutinized his vest, frowning slightly.

"Ahem, Hirito, is something the matter?" Hiruzen asked, his tone amused.

"Lord Hokage, may I speak honestly?" Hirito glanced down at the vest with a hint of disdain.

"Of course," Hiruzen replied, chuckling. "With me, speak freely."

"It's… too ugly," Hirito said, unable to hide his distaste. "The design and color just aren't my style. Who designed these vests? It seems like they didn't put much thought into aesthetics."

"Ahem…" Hiruzen coughed, trying to conceal his laughter as he half-covered his face with his pipe. While he hadn't designed the vest himself, he was the one who'd chosen the final style from five options. Hirito's complaint indirectly implied his own taste might be lacking.

Hiruzen cast a quick glance at Hirito's attire. His outfit had a unique, old-world elegance with a modern touch—a bit different from the traditional Hyuga style but undeniably sophisticated.

Smack!

Shinichi, sensing Hiruzen's mild embarrassment, lightly slapped Hirito on the back. "What do you know, Hirito?" he scolded, feigning sternness. "This vest is a symbol of your rank. Only Chūnin and above can wear it. It's lightweight, distinctive, and offers good defense…"

Shinichi went on, listing the vest's many virtues while Hirito stood by, listening with a look of "understanding."

Hiruzen chuckled, breaking the exchange. "Enough, enough. You've all worked hard. Keep that spirit and continue to protect Konoha, your teammates, and the village."

"Yes, Lord Hokage!" they replied in unison, their voices echoing in the office.

"Hyuga Hirito, you'll join the reconnaissance squad."

Hirito nodded, unsurprised. This was where most Hyuga were assigned, thanks to their Byakugan. While a few Hyuga were assigned to other roles, their exceptional visual prowess made them ideal for reconnaissance. With his Byakugan and Bluebird summon, Hirito could perform wide-area reconnaissance from above.

"Namikaze Minato," Hiruzen continued, "you're assigned to the ninja operations unit."

Minato's placement was more straightforward; the ninja operations unit was where most young Chūnin handled a mix of support and offensive tasks. Hiruzen had considered placing Minato in the Anbu, but seeing Minato's bright, cheerful smile made him change his mind. He couldn't bear the thought of that warm smile fading too soon.

"As long as there are leaves flying, fire will burn…"

"The fire's shadow will illuminate the village and protect the new leaves…"

Minato had no objections. The only downside was… he might be separated from Hirito and Nonō.

Hirito, too, was taken aback. He'd assumed Minato would receive special training, given his talent.

But then Hirito realized he'd been making assumptions. Only he knew what the name "Namikaze Minato" would one day represent. Though Minato's potential was evident, without mastery over the Flying Thunder God Technique, he was still a hidden gem.

"Now, Nonō…"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice grew slightly more solemn as he addressed her.

"After evaluating your exceptional analytical skills in intelligence processing, planning, and strategy, we are assigning you to the analysis division."

"This position, though behind the scenes, holds significant importance to Konoha. Each successful mission outcome owes much to the efforts of the analysis team."

"So, Nonō, do you have the resolve to take on this responsibility?"

Nonō stood straighter, her seemingly delicate frame exuding strength. She met Hiruzen's gaze unwaveringly.

"Yes, Lord Hokage," she replied firmly. "I will do my best."

Hiruzen smiled, pleased with her quiet determination. He could see that she carried the Will of Fire within her.

"Good. You may go now."

The three of them bowed respectfully and turned to leave. As they reached the door, Hiruzen called out, "Shinichi, please stay behind for a moment."

Once outside, the three young Chūnin found a shady spot to gather.

"I can't believe we're all Chūnin now!" Minato exclaimed, grinning as he inspected his vest.

"Look at this smooth, shiny bag it came in!" he added, admiring the packaging.

Hirito rolled his eyes. "It's just a standard plastic bag, Minato. Every store has these."

Nonō laughed, though a hint of sadness shadowed her expression. "But… this means we won't be able to do missions together anymore."

The realization hit them. They'd each been assigned to different roles.

Hirito nodded, feeling a twinge of nostalgia. Over the past three months, they'd shared every mission and even bounty hunting. They'd laughed, faced danger, and come to rely on each other.

Even though they were only nine, they had become true comrades-in-arms.

Hirito's mind drifted back to his past life and the friends he'd trained with in the martial arts school for ten years. There was a bond that developed in shared hardship—getting up before dawn, training until exhaustion, practicing in the winter cold and summer heat. It was a bond that regular friendships couldn't replicate.

"Why do you think Hokage-sama asked Shinichi-sensei to stay behind?" Nonō asked.

"Did you forget?" Hirito replied. "Shinichi-sensei told us from the start that he'd only be able to guide us for about three months."

Minato's face fell slightly. "So… Shinichi-sensei is being sent to the front lines, then?"

Inside the Hokage's office, Shinichi stood respectfully before Sarutobi Hiruzen, awaiting his orders.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression was thoughtful as he gazed at his loyal shinobi. "Shinichi," he began, "you've done well. Hirito, Minato, and Nonō have made remarkable progress under your guidance. I trust you know what I'm going to ask."

Shinichi nodded solemnly. "Yes, Lord Hokage. I'll head to the front lines as you've commanded."

The Third Hokage looked at him with a mix of pride and sadness. "The tensions with Iwagakure and Sunagakure are escalating. The border regions need experienced shinobi like you."

Shinichi's face held no trace of hesitation, only resolve. "I understand, Lord Hokage. I am ready."

After a pause, Hiruzen continued, "While you're there, keep an eye on the enemy movements, especially near the mountain passes. And Shinichi… come back alive."

A faint smile broke through Shinichi's serious expression. "I'll do my best, Hokage-sama."

Hiruzen reached out, placing a hand on Shinichi's shoulder. "Thank you, Shinichi. Your service to Konoha is invaluable."

Outside, the three new Chūnin waited, and eventually, Shinichi joined them.

He looked at each of them in turn, his expression a blend of pride and affection. "Well, this is where we part ways, for now," he said, his voice firm yet warm.

Minato's smile faded. "Shinichi-sensei… You're going to the front lines, aren't you?"

Shinichi nodded, not sugarcoating the truth. "Yes, it's time for me to fulfill my duty there. You three are more than ready to take on your own responsibilities."

Nonō's eyes glistened with unshed tears. "Thank you, Shinichi-sensei, for everything."

Shinichi gave her a reassuring smile. "No need for thanks, Nonō. Just promise me that you'll all continue to grow and protect the village."

He turned to Hirito, giving him a small nod of approval. "Hirito, keep pushing forward. I expect great things from you."

Finally, he looked at Minato. "Minato, don't lose that smile. Keep it as long as you can."

With a final salute, he bid them farewell, turning and walking away with a confident stride.

The three stood in silence, watching Shinichi's figure fade into the distance. They felt the weight of their new responsibilities and the bittersweet reality of parting ways.

From that day on, they would carry Shinichi's lessons with them, each determined to honor the teachings of their beloved sensei.

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