“Hiruzen, putting a sixteen-year-old jōnin in and of the eastern front—this decision is far too reckless!”

  “The forbidden teique before this, and now this appoi—you’ve been ag too impulsively. You didn’t even sult with us.”

  The two advisors were at it again.

  Hiruzen Sarutobi felt like his head litting. He had never imagihat after trying to push for ge, his greatest opposition wouldn’t e from Danzo, but from his two long-time rades.

  He hesitated to speak but eventually sighed. “If we don’t send him, do either of you want to go to the front lines ahe battle?”

  “This…”

  Homura Mitokado hesitated.

  Koharu Utatane paused as well before finally saying, “It’s not that we ’t…”

  “The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist aren’t easy oppos.”

  “Uh…” That statement hit hard.

  She might as well have just admitted she didn’t believe in their own abilities.

  Koharu’s mouth twitched slightly, but she didn’t argue against Hiruzen’s words.

  The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were indeed no pushovers. Even ba their younger days, they wouldn’t have dared to cim they could take on all seve alone now. And while a ander didn’t necessarily o engage in bat, there would iably be times when stepping in was unavoidable.

  “I had Kyoichi start studying the Hiding in Mist Teique months ago, and his progress has been signifit. He ow use the mist to cast genjutsu, making it impossible for the eo pinpoint his location.”

  “Moreover, he’s a master of swordsmanship—the Seven Ninja Swordsmen won’t have an easy time dealing with him.”

  Only now did Hiruzen expin his reasoning.

  Homura and Koharu had nothing to ter with. Hiruzen’s “If you think it’s a bad idea, then go do it yourself” argument was devastating.

  After so many years away from the battlefield, her of them had the fideo take on such a role.

  It wasn’t that they feared death—rather, the weight of thousands of shinobi lives was too heavy a burden for them to bear.

  “Hiruzen, we uand that you want ge, that you want Konoha to grow stronger—but you’re being too aggressive. You’ll regret this.”

  Homura Mitokado’s words felt weak.

  And more than that… strangely familiar.

  Hiruzen didn’t dwell on it. He just felt exhausted.

  These two old friends of his didn’t uand him or Kyoichi at all. Their oppositio more like resisting for the sake of resisting.

  They were relics of the past.

  Losing patience, Hiruzen waved them off and sat in silence for a long time.

  There was ohing he hadn’t told them—both Kyoichi and Tsunade had tracts with Katsuyu, meaning they could unicate through the slug. Iy, appointing Kyoichi as ander was ily putting Tsunade in charge as well.

  But that wasn’t something he could openly expin.

  Besides…

  The war hadn’t even begu Jiraiya had already sent intelligence reports that both Iwagakure and Kumogakure were restless in the north. However, despite the tension, there was no direct flict betweewo vilges.

  That didn’t make sense.

  Hiruzen had reason to believe…

  Some kind of agreement had likely been reached between them.

  And with Kirigakure stirring trouble in the east, Konoha’s situation recarious.

  At a time like this, he o boldly promote capable young shinobi—just as the Sed Hokage had done ba the day. At least for now, this old body of his could still move.

  And if things truly went south, he could step in himself.

  After all, he had successors now.

  With a pn firmly set in his mind, Hiruzen’s resolve hardened.

  No ges!

  The younger geion needed experience, but there wasn’t much time for them to grow. He could only hope that Kyoichi would hold up under pressure and mature quickly.

  While Hiruzen carried the weight of these decisions, Kyoichi, oher hand, wasn’t overthinking things.

  Leading an army was difficult, sure.

  But…

  He had his own advantages—he uood Kirigakure’s situation very well.

  Kirigakure wouldn’t go all-in.

  The best they could sehe Seven Ninja Swordsmen.

  Strong, but not uable.

  ---

  Gekko Hayate Was Discharged

  At the same time, Kyoichi’s new chakra bde had arrived.

  It was a short-length ninjato.

  Its biggest advantage was its patibility with Iaido (quick-draw teiques) and various elemental sword teiques. While it didn’t amplify chakra as powerfully as Kakashi or Asuma’s ons, its versatility more than made up for it.

  Kyoichi was satisfied.

  He had inally po head to the front lines soon, but another matter forced him to stay put for now.

  The forbidden jutsu were being lifted!

  With war looming, Hiruzen had no time for hesitation. He made an immediate decision to implement the forbidden jutsu policy that Tsunade and Kyoichi had proposed.

  And so…

  All of Konoha’s jōnin were secretly summoo a designated facility.

  “Lord Hokage.”

  Hundreds of shinobi gathered.

  The lowest-ranked among them ecial jōnin, and many came from established s. This was, without a doubt, Konoha’s elite force.

  “Today, I’ve gathered you here for one purpose—to introduce two teiques.”

  Hiruzen got straight to the point.

  With that, he raised two scrolls and unfurled them for all to see.

  Moments ter…

  “Lord Hokage, this… isn’t this a bit…”

  Inoichi Yamanaka was visibly shocked.

  The first scroll taihe methods to open the First and Sed Gates of the Eight Gates Release. The sed described a teique to enhance cellur activity through specialized breathing, increasing strength and speed.

  These were forbidden jutsu!

  Hiruzen was about to make forbidden jutsu accessible to the public—without any prior discussion!

  “Let’s hear what Lord Hokage has to say first.”

  Shikaku Nara spoke up.

  He already khe reasoning behind this pn and had no objes.

  It was an excellent strategy—there was no reason to oppose it.

  “I’m sure you’re all aware of the dire situation. Three major vilges are preparing to make their move. War could break out at any moment.”

  “These teiques are cssified as forbidden jutsu, but oal isn’t reckless misuse. Rather, we want to give you all a better ce of survival in battle.”

  “Konoha ot afford too many losses. Of course, this is entirely voluntary—if you don’t wish to learhat’s uandable. However, those who do will be required to undergo periodic medical examinations and treatment, free of charge.”

  Hiruzen’s voice was heavy with responsibility.

  Every jōnin took years to train, and losing even one was a severe blow to Konoha. This was another reason he had made the decision so quickly.

  The room fell into silence.

  Everything Hiruzen said was true.

  In Konoha’s wars, it wasn’t the genin or in who were sent as on fodder—jōnin bore the brunt of the battlefield pressure. As a result, jōnin casualties were always signifit.

  If learning these two teiques could improve their survival rate…

  Then pared to that, the side effects were practically negligible.

  Staying alive was the top priority!

  “Lord Hokage, I’m willing to learn!”

  “I’ll learn as well.”

  “Me too…”

  Kyoioticed that the first oo step forward were the jōnin from civilian backgrounds. The first was Tekuno, a shinobi who had climbed the ranks from genin, specializing in projectile ons and traps.

  Tekuno was well aware of the situation.

  Those from backgrounds had various secret teiques and support systems. Even without these two jutsu, they had higher survival rates otlefield. But for shinobi like him, it was different.

  These two forbidden jutsu…

  Could be a on-a-lifetime opportunity.

  By the end…

  Almost every jōni had volunteered.

  You ever have too many skills.

  Learn them first—whether to use them or not could be decided ter.

  “Good. From here, Kyoichi will instruct you all in the Breathing Activation Teique.”

  Hiruzen stepped aside.

  Kyoichi stepped forward.

  He uood—this art of Hiruzen’s pn to prepare him for future leadership.

  By personally training them, these jōnin would feel ied to him wheook and ter.

  Gcell