Teag the jōnin didn’t take much time—after all, they were all sharp-minded.
They gathered in the m and dispersed by noon.
During lunch, Kyoichi ate with Tsu some point, she brought up the true iion behind the Third Hokage’s as—
Promotioablishing authority.
Every step aving the way for Kyoichi’s uping deployment to the Eastern Front.
And the shinobi being from today’s training? They were likely the very ones who would be headi with him.
Kyoichi wholeheartedly agreed.
As a seasoned asunade kly what was going on behind the ses.
A few days ter…
Sure enough, Kyoichi received the deployment list.
The jōnin on the list were those heading to the Eastern Front ahead of him. Most of them were the ones who had beed from his teags the other day.
And on this very day, Kyoichi also had to set out for his patrol mission in the eastern region of the Land of Fire.
However…
It wasn’t because Kirigakure was stirring up trouble.
Quite the opposite.
It was Kumogakure that had begun making moves first!
Along the border of the Land of Lightning, Kumo-nin activity was growing more frequent, and there were eves of their presehin the Land of Fire—alongside Iwa-nin.
At the same time…
There was intel from Iwagakure’s Anbu. A signifit number of Iwa-nin were also active along the borders, showing signs of preparing for cross-border flicts.
This was a bad sign.
It ossible that all three vilges had reached some kind of mutual uanding!
---
That Evening
After discussing the uping mission with Asuma and the others, Kyoichi returned home at dusk. He was pting whether to go out for dinner when, the moment he opehe door, a rich aroma of home-cooked food greeted him.
He froze.
Turning his head, he saw Tsunade and Shizuhered around the table, which was filled with an array of dishes.
“Wele home! e eat,” Tsunade said with a warm smile.
“Uh… Tsunade-nee, did you… cook this?” Kyoichi asked, skeptical.
The food wasn’t fancy, but it looked delicious—definitely not some ary disaster.
Could Tsunade really cook this well?
No way!
He distinctly remembered how Nawaki had nearly “asded” after eating her cooking.
“What, you don’t believe me?”
“One look and I tell Shizune made it. It smells amazing! But still, thanks for waiting for me, Tsunade-nee.”
“You talk too much!”
Tsunade’s face stiffened, her expression turning sour.
Shizune burst out ughing.
She had already told Tsunade she wouldn’t be able to fool Kyoichi, but Tsunade just wouldn’t listen.
The three of them picked up their chopsticks.
“Itadakimasu!”
Uhe warm glow of the mp, the house felt unusually cozy.
---
The Day
“I’m heading out. o see me off.”
“Hah, it’s just a battlefield. Who’d bother sending you off? Get lost already…”
Tsunade scoffed.
But…
The moment Kyoichi stepped out the door, she leaned against the doorway, watg his departing figure with a mixture of worry and mencholy.
“This time, I’m not gambling.”
“You better e back!”
She muttered under her breath—so softly that no one else could hear.
Shizune said nothing.
But she khat at this moment, Tsunade-sama was just as worried about Kyoichi as she had been for those two in the past.
“Tsunade-sama…?”
“Shizune, from today onward, I’m doubling your training. If you dare sck off… hmph!”
“Eh?”
Shizune was stunned.
Then, she saw Tsunade walk baside and pull out a notebook. o it was a t stack of books.
All medical books.
Some were Tsunade’s personal notes, while another pile ushed toward Shizune.
“Read them. If you don’t uand something, ask.”
With that, Tsunade buried herself in research—she had to master seal-less healing as soon as possible!
---
At the Vilge Gate
Kyoichi had already regrouped with Shisui and the others.
“Sensei, what’s our mission this time?” Asuma asked curiously.
Standing nearby, Kurenai and Shisui weren’t focused on the mission itself—each had their own thoughts.
Kurenai was pting mediinjutsu.
As for Shisui…
His mind reoccupied with how to persuade his members.
Kyoichi’s strategy had worked well. Over the past few days, Shisui had been w with Tekka to slowly influenabi. And the best part? Inabi himself had been figuring things out through reading.
Unfortunately…
Right at this crucial moment, they had to go on a mission.
Would Tekka be able to ha alone?
Shisui sighed, feeling a bit anxious. But he forced himself to focus on the present—only to hear something shog.
“We’re heading to the Eastern Front.”
“Is there a war?”
All three of them immediately tensed up.
A war?!
And they were the first to go?
A mix of fear aement surged through them.
“In a way. The timing depends on Kirigakure’s movements… or on me.”
“…You’re the ander?”
Shisui’s eyes widened in shock.
For the past few days, he had been reading books outside of ninjutsu for the sake of persuading his . Even though much of it was difficult to uand, he still grasped one crucial fact—
a power.
Could it be…
That sensei had a real shot at being Hokage?
Excitement bubbled up inside him.
If sensei became Hokage, then the Uchiha’s biggest s would be resolved. Kyoichi’s attitude toward their was far more favorable than most.
“Yeah, but don’t overthink it. I’m just in charge of the battlefield. Besides, I’ll be coordinating with Tsunade-sama—it’s not like I have full authority.”
Kyoichi smiled.
He said this mostly for Shisui’s sake.
After all, he had already received information from his shadow e regarding Shisui’s ret discussions with his . He kly what was on the boy’s mind.
Shisui was growing quickly, but his thoughts sometimes veered off track. He teo overanalyze things.
Shisui uood the hint and gave a slight nod.
Tsunade-sama…
She should be trustworthy too.
I should do some resear her when I get back. Regardless, this is definitely good news for the Uchiha.
“Sensei is amazing… You’re only seven years older than me, and you’re already the ander of the Eastern Front.”
Asuma spoke with genuine admiration and respect.
“Haven’t you noticed? Lately, everything has revolved around sensei. Clearly, something big is happening,” Kurenai added.
She spent a lot of time at the hospital, where Kyoichi’s name romily dispyed on the bulletin boards. It was impossible to ignore. Plus, her father had mentioned Kyoichi’s growing status retly.
So…
She had already sehat the higher-ups were preparing something for him.
And now, it was all happening.
“Being a in really makes a difference, huh? Your intel gathering and analysis skills have improved a lot. Keep it up,” Kyoichi said, ruffling Kurenai’s hair.
It was soft and silky…
The texture was excellent.
“Sensei, even you’re teasing me now.”
Kurenai didn’t think her in rank was anything special. “In terms of ability, I’m nowhere near Shisui. This promotion should’ve been his.”
She felt it was unfair to Shisui.
After all, during the sed exam, Shisui had tributed far more—he just hadn’t been in the spotlight.
At least, that’s how she saw it.
“Haha.”
Kyoichi chuckled but didn’t ent.
Shisui, however, expined, “You’re overthinking it. Your strength is more than enough. As for me… I requested not to be promoted. I didn’t want to bee a in just yet.”
“…Huh?”
Asuma was dumbfounded.
He had always thought his father was being biased against the Uchiha.
But…
Shisui asked to stay a genin? That was ued.
“Why?”
Kurenai was equally stunned.
“The reason is plicated. But I did request it. I even discussed it with sensei, and he agreed with my decision.”
Shisui didn’t eborate on the reason.
It wasn’t a matter of distrust.
This was an internal Uchiha affair—dragging Kurenai and Asuma into it wouldn’t be appropriate. He didn’t want them to get entangled in Uchiha’s issues.
As for his teacher…
Shisui did a quick mental t and realized—there wasn’t a single person in the Uchiha who could pose a real threat to Kyoichi.
Right now, the Uchiha…
They no longer had a true top-tier genius.
Shisui had once been proud of his own talent. But after stepping out into the wider world, he uood—there were far meniuses outside their .
Without their past glory, the Uchiha had little left to be proud of.
Gcell
