Chapter 34 Akatsuki
40 years after the founding of Konoha, in April.
Mount Myoboku.
Towering trees, enormous stone statues, and mushrooms beyond imagination were the distinctive features of this place's landscape.
Frogs' croaks and the chirping of insects were ceaseless, filling the air with a strong sense of vitality.
"Minato, I'm going to explain to you some aspects of Sage Jutsu now."
Fukasaku, one of the two great sages of Mount Myoboku, spoke earnestly to the golden-haired youth sitting before him.
Minato, the golden-haired youth, was a disciple of Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin. He had also formed a pact with Mount Myoboku, granting him the option to practice Sage Jutsu, an art even more potent than regular ninjutsu.
Minato had long yearned for Sage Jutsu, so upon hearing Fukasaku's words, he took on an extremely serious expression.
"Understood."
"The concept of Sage Jutsu involves merging the chakra you cultivate within yourself with the natural energy you absorb from the environment, creating a unique chakra system specific to Sage Jutsu. Once successfully practiced, Sage Jutsu can amplify genjutsu, ninjutsu, and taijutsu several or even dozens of times. You're familiar with the concept of natural energy, aren't you?"
"Yes, Jiraiya-sensei has explained the concept of natural energy to me."
Minato replied.
"Good. To practice Sage Jutsu, you must learn to perceive natural energy. However, don't underestimate this task. Some people take over a decade or even several decades to reach the first stage of perceiving natural energy. For humans like you, sensing natural energy is quite challenging."
Fukasaku knew that Minato had a high level of talent, but he also understood that over ninety-five percent of humans who came to Mount Myoboku to practice Sage Jutsu ultimately failed.
"In other words, Fukasaku, while there's a method to Sage Jutsu, it's still challenging to master, correct?"
"Exactly. That's why when humans practice Sage Jutsu on Mount Myoboku, we utilize certain assisting methods. This is snail oil. Apply it to your body, and it will enhance your ability to sense natural energy."
Fukasaku pointed to a nearby pool of oil.
"I understand."
Minato was eager to enter the training phase of Sage Jutsu.
"By the way, Fukasaku, where is Jiraiya-sensei? I haven't seen him since I arrived here."
Before diving into the study of Sage Jutsu, Minato recalled something and inquired.
"You mean little Jiraiya? He went to see the Great Elder."
Fukasaku answered the question.
In comparison to Minato, Jiraiya had been practicing Sage Jutsu for many years. However, due to his lack of discipline during training and limited innate talent, he still remained at the initial stage of perceiving natural energy.
Even at this stage, Jiraiya's ability to sense natural energy wasn't consistently successful.
Honestly, Fukasaku was starting to consider giving up on his rather foolish student, Jiraiya.
Fortunately, he had taken on a disciple with even greater potential. He believed that with Minato's talent, the success rate of mastering Sage Jutsu would be much higher than his own.
Moreover, Minato was a focused individual who wouldn't lose track of important training.
"Great Toad Sage, huh?"
Minato gazed towards the impressive structure in the distance.
His teacher, Jiraiya, was there, engaging in conversation with the ruler of Mount Myoboku, the Great Toad Sage.
"A few years ago, the Great Elder made a prophecy about the future of the ninja world. Little Jiraiya seemed confident, but he's grown quite impatient, truth be told."
After all, it was a massive event that would involve the entire ninja world. For Minato, Konoha was more important than his own life – it was a village that needed protection.
He would never allow such a thing to occur.
Fukasaku had lived for nearly a thousand years, and he'd long since adopted a broad perspective on the world.
Minato wisely refrained from asking about the prophecy. It was still too early for him to know about such things.
And even if he were to ask, Fukasaku might not necessarily offer an answer.
Minato's current purpose in coming to Mount Myoboku was simply to enter the first stage of Sage Jutsu and prepare for perfecting the art in the future.
...
Land of Rain.
Rain poured down, obscuring the noise of the world.
A group of people traversed through the rain curtain, only hearing the incessant rainfall and feeling its numbing coldness.
They passed by a long-abandoned village, where they encountered numerous corpses.
Men, women, old, and even starving children – some had starved to death while others were frozen in place.
A pack of emaciated stray dogs converged, feasting upon the corpses. After a few mournful howls, they, too, fell to the ground.
Why was this village destroyed, and who was responsible?
The truth of the matter had long faded away.
Because of this cruelty, scenes like these unfolded within the borders of the Land of Rain every single moment.
Perhaps they were shinobi passing through from major nations, perhaps wandering shinobi from elsewhere, or maybe they were just bandits.
In any case, the possibilities were numerous.
If they were truly to investigate the truth, they would likely only receive a handful of answers.
"However one looks at it, scenes like these resemble hell on Earth..."
One of them remarked.
As they journeyed through various locations, their impression of this country was one of economic depression, internal turmoil, rampant banditry, and the displacement of its people.
Despair. Tears.
Pain. Grief.
Like an unstoppable virus, it ravaged within the country, mercilessly harvesting lives one after another.
"Unfortunately, for a small country like this, even if there's been no war for six or seven years, it's impossible to recover... Or rather, after the war, this chaos hasn't diminished in the slightest."
"A 'little girl' oppressed by the great nations, barely surviving on the ground with no covering..."
One of them wore a bitter smile of lament.
Many years ago, he had been a part of this country too.
Honestly, even as someone who was once a member of this country, he despised it greatly and detested its system.
Every day, people fought, killed, plundered, and died here.
"Speaking of which, what's our objective in coming here?"
"Akatsuki."
"Ah, that new organization that's been gaining fame in the Land of Rain lately. They're said to aim for the liberation of this country and genuine peace."
One person showed approval.
"They're like untamed bulls at the moment. While they're young dreamers with beautiful ideals, they underestimate the brutality of this ninja world. Nevertheless, their determination is praiseworthy, and their dream is commendable. It's the leader's directive that we absorb Akatsuki into our organization."
The leading ninja didn't wear a headband, but his sharp eyes pierced through the layers of rain to spot the person they were seeking not far ahead.
Crossing through the dilapidated village that resembled a human purgatory, the group proceeded towards a path surrounded by the mountains. They walked towards the bald mountain peak.
They were draped in straw cloaks to shield themselves from the rain, and they wore pale yellow conical hats, with only their pairs of eyes exposed.
"Found them."
"Let's complete the mission quickly. The organization urgently needs fresh blood. After Akatsuki, there are other individuals we need to recruit."
Halfway up the mountain, a group of seven or eight individuals gathered, taking rest inside a cave.
They were members of an organization called 'Akatsuki'.
Founded within the borders of the Land of Rain two years prior, the organization's members were all ninja from the Land of Rain, but they weren't officially affiliated with the Rain Village.
Most members of this organization were young people, teenagers and those in their twenties.
Within the organization, they freely discussed their aspirations for a brighter future. They aimed to change this weeping country, bringing it genuine peace.
However, putting an end to the internal turmoil caused by war was far from easy.
Even someone like Konoha's Hanzo couldn't achieve it.
Because the opening battle of the Second Great Ninja War had been set within the Land of Rain's borders, the country's economy had yet to recover, and it was worse off than a few years before.
Furthermore, they had to consider their own livelihoods, addressing the basic needs of sustenance.
To lead by example in their quest to change the nation, they couldn't resort to burning, killing, or plundering.
Thus, they had to seek the help of the country's citizens who needed it. However, due to the poor economy, the rewards offered by these citizens were minimal, sometimes just a few pieces of bread.
Yet, the members of Akatsuki didn't reject them for this reason.
They always worked for the smallest compensation, performing the most demanding tasks.
The nation had experienced too much darkness already; even a slight touch of warmth and light was significant.
"Yahiko, we've run out of supplies. When will we have another mission?"
A member of Akatsuki, a teenager named Toneri, complained to their leader.
"You people need to understand that being a ninja means enduring pain and persevering through hunger. What's a mere hunger? Look at me, I don't feel hungry at all."
After saying this, Yahiko's stomach let out a loud growl, louder than the others' stomachs.
Yahiko's face turned red instantly.
The others burst into laughter, dispelling some of the slightly grim atmosphere.
It wasn't as if they couldn't endure. After all, when Akatsuki was first founded, the situation had been much tougher.
At least now, they possessed skills, had built a reputation, and were able to assist their country more.
There would come a day when the storm would clear.
Every one of them firmly believed in that day's arrival.
This country would be bathed in light.
This conviction taught them to be strong and patient. By that time, Akatsuki would resonate throughout the world, truly changing this impoverished country.
Its people would no longer be numb and apathetic, no longer in pain, no longer shedding tears.
A mere hunger...
Soon, the echoing rumble of growling stomachs filled the cave.
"Yahiko's right. Ninjas must endure everything, so what's a mere hunger!"
"Oh!"
The others chimed in, their camaraderie evident.
A cute girl with blue hair, while folding paper, watched her smiling comrades and joined in as well.
Sitting silently in a secluded corner, a red-haired youth who went unnoticed also revealed a sincere smile.
Changing this country and bringing genuine peace wasn't just their dream, it was the mission they were born to carry.
Even if this country was impoverished and suffering, it was still their homeland.
They would never abandon it.
No matter how painful the days were, there would be a day when they would emerge from it.
As they chatted and laughed, footsteps echoed into the cave.
The Akatsuki ninjas turned serious, their gazes directed towards the cave entrance.
Someone had managed to approach this place without making a sound and had only just been detected now... No, those footsteps were likely intentionally revealed.
The newcomer possessed formidable strength.
There were five individuals at the cave entrance.
Wrapped in rain-dampened straw cloaks and wearing wet conical hats, only their eyes were exposed. They stood in silence, observing the Akatsuki ninjas.
"Who are you people?"
Yahiko, the leader, stepped forward with a cheerful smile. He didn't seem to view these five individuals with any hostility despite their mysterious aura.
"Are you the leader of Akatsuki?"
The leader among the five ninjas spoke softly.
He removed his hat, revealing a unfamiliar male face, about thirty years old, with white hair that seemed withered.
"Yes, I'm Yahiko, the leader of Akatsuki."
Yahiko observed the white-haired ninja, who emitted no discernible aura. His power was exceptionally well hidden.
Very strong.
"Nice to meet you."
The white-haired ninja offered a slight smile, extending his hand in a friendly gesture.
Yahiko hesitated briefly but then smiled and shook hands with him.
"Although it might be a bit presumptuous, may I ask who you are..."
"Just call me Chūn."
Chūn, what an odd name. Yahiko wasn't sure whether to be amused or puzzled.
"Chūn-san, do you have some business with us?"
"Yes, we want to acquire the power of your Akatsuki."
Chūn straightforwardly revealed his purpose, his gaze serious and without any concealment.
Yahiko and the other Akatsuki ninjas were left speechless.
"Acquire... you mean..."
An Akatsuki ninja furrowed their brow and asked.
"We five belong to an organization. Our leader became very interested in what you Akatsuki have been doing in the Land of Rain. Therefore, we've come to invite Akatsuki to join our organization."
After a brief silence, Yahiko shook his head, declining politely, "I'm sorry, but Akatsuki has no intention of joining another organization."
The other Akatsuki ninjas nodded, agreeing with Yahiko's stance.
It was abnormal for them to be asked to join an unfamiliar organization right off the bat.
"Don't you want to hear our terms?"
Chūn didn't think that mere persuasive words would convince Akatsuki to submit.
"Terms?"
"Yes. Our leader knows that Akatsuki aims to change this impoverished country. He's willing to provide you with weapons, food, and even help quell the chaos in this country."
"What do we need to give in return?"
"Our organization isn't based in the Land of Rain, so after joining, you'll need to temporarily leave this country. When the time is right, you can return and transform this nation. At that point, you can mobilize our organization's armed forces, food, and even more resources. I can assure you of that."
Chūn adopted a businesslike demeanor, void of personal emotions. He was merely conveying the original meaning of their organization leader's directive.
"Although it's enticing, please understand that we refuse. We won't abandon this country when it needs us most."
Yahiko spoke resolutely.
"It's not about asking you to abandon the Land of Rain. It's about you learning advanced techniques and crucial ideologies from our organization, then bringing them back to change this impoverished nation."
"That's not much different from abandonment. This is the time when our country needs us the most, and we won't leave."
Having said that, Yahiko and Chūn locked eyes in silence.
After a minute of this silence, Chūn sighed and smiled wryly, "Very well, everyone has their own aspirations. We won't force you. Consider these items a gift as a token of our meeting."
As he spoke, he took out a scroll and placed it on the ground.
"What is this?"
"Inside are some food supplies and winter necessities. I know you might not want to accept charity from others, but remember, this isn't charity. It's not the organization's communal funds either. It's my personal assistance to you."
Yahiko looked at Chūn in astonishment.
Chūn glanced at the pouring rain outside and sighed softly, "I too was once a member of this country, but I'm also a member of the organization. I can't let emotions cloud my judgment. So, this isn't charity from me to you. It's just a minuscule repayment to my former homeland."
Yahiko and the others were slightly moved by this.
Stepping forward, Yahiko said, "If that's the case, then join us at Akatsuki. Let's change this country together."
After Yahiko finished speaking, Chūn and the other four looked at him, their gazes showing refusal.
Chūn pondered for a moment and said, "While your dreams are admirable, I don't think you possess the power to change this country. You haven't realized the essence of the core issue... Let's leave it at that. We should be on our way, we have other tasks to complete."
Chūn turned to leave.
"Wait!"
Yahiko called out to him.
"What else?"
"Who is your leader?"
Yahiko asked earnestly.
Chūn hesitated briefly, then smiled and replied, "I can't reveal their true name. If you ever have a chance to meet our leader, just call them 'Doctor'."
With that, he and his four companions left, leaving behind a baffled group of Akatsuki members.
Doctor?
Who could that be?
No one in the ninja world had ever heard of such a figure.
"A codename?"
Yahiko rubbed his chin, deep in thought.
Clearly, this wasn't an individual's name but an internal code used among their group.
Subsequently, Yahiko picked up the scroll Chūn had left behind, and the rest of the group looked on with curiosity.
Yahiko then spread out the scroll and, after confirming its authenticity, released the seals on it.
Inside, they found several heavy wooden boxes, around a dozen of them.
Upon opening one, they were amazed by the abundance of food inside, causing their mouths to water.
Not only food, but there were also many medicines and high-quality ninja tools.
For their Akatsuki group, this was undoubtedly a great help.
"Yahiko, how should we distribute these?"
"Take a portion for ourselves, and distribute the rest to those who can't afford food."
Yahiko also felt tempted by the supplies, but compared to them, many more people needed these resources to survive this year.
No one objected. They had grown accustomed to these hardships. If it were for personal comfort, they would have left this country long ago and sought stable jobs in other nations, securing their livelihood without worries.
…
After parting ways with Akatsuki, the five individuals descended the mountain along the circular path.
During the journey, no one spoke a word. Although they had already anticipated that the members of Akatsuki would likely not join their organization, there was still a sense of regret.
They too desired to change the country. However, mere enthusiasm wouldn't accomplish much.
Furthermore, just achieving peace within the country was far from sufficient.
Peace was merely the foundation of development.
The power of Akatsuki was too fragile.
Hopefully, reality's hammer would strike them hard enough to make them understand this truth.
They had done what they could at this point.
"They'll probably distribute most of the supplies to the people of Amegakure," one of them broke the silence.
"Ah, a temporary handout won't change anything. Even if they make it through this year, what about the next? They haven't realized that changing this country requires something different. Rather than patching up the present state of Amegakure, they need to immerse themselves in learning, to awaken the apathetic hearts of the people here. It's not about transient acts of charity and pity," Chūn sighed and passed judgment mercilessly.
"A country that survives on others' pity and charity cannot become prosperous; it will only weaken over time, and its people will grow weaker. Their aspirations and limits have already reached their current extent."
As they walked, they conversed.
Suddenly, one of them stopped abruptly, extended their fist, and shattered a nearby rock wall. Accompanied by a scream, a bizarre humanoid creature, covered in what seemed like white paint, was brutally pulled from the wall, its throat gripped tightly.
"You, how could you detect me—"
The white creature stared at the ninja who had pulled it from the wall with an astonished expression. Before it could finish, a snap sounded, its throat was crushed, and it died, gasping for air.
"What is this?"
"Who knows? It had been monitoring us... no, Akatsuki. Could it be an enemy of Akatsuki?"
The male ninja who had dragged the white creature from the wall wasn't entirely certain of the identity of this strange humanoid.
"Seems like it's not a normal human. A modified human, perhaps? It bears some resemblance to the modified creatures under the Doctor's influence. But the vitality in its body is far greater than that of an ordinary person. Even after death, it remains within its body..."
Chūn squatted down, his gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny.
"Let's take it back for the Doctor to examine. He's always interested in these kinds of modified humanoid creatures."
Chūn's suggestion received nods from the other four.
Just then, the land ahead started to bulge upward strangely. It was a protuberance that resembled a human head, with a pair of pitch-black eyes like black holes.
Faint golden light emitted from the eyes like black holes, without being glaring.
Sticky lips and a head made entirely of mud created a deep, resonant sound from its mouth.
Seeing this even stranger mud creature, the five individuals didn't show fear but knelt down on one knee, bowing to the creature.
The exposed head was just a part of a complete creature.
Chūn smiled and addressed the mud creature, "Long time no see, General Tsuchi. Does Doctor have any new instructions?"
…
Konoha.
Uchiha Clan territory.
In an underground laboratory bathed in bright yellow light, a young man wearing a white hooded lab coat stood diligently in front of an experimental table, engrossed in his work.
This young man was none other than Shiroshi.
The Second Great Ninja War had come to an end with the conclusion of the war between Konoha and Suna. Following that, the various nations entered a period of peaceful recovery, with everyone living in relative calm.
The borders of the Land of Fire had regained their stability, no longer subjected to attacks by foreign shinobi.
However, this was a matter of more than three years ago.
Over these past three years, life had been relatively quiet. Since there was no need to fight on the battlefield, he had more time to spend in the village after completing missions.
This also meant that he had significantly more time for research. Without the constant back-and-forth of the ninja world's battles, the perpetual clashes with various enemies, his time for studying had increased considerably.
Compared to his research three years ago, there was no doubt that his progress had advanced significantly.
The efficient utilization of natural energy meant that he could develop targeted powerful weapons. The awe he used to have towards Konoha's formidable strength had diminished over these three years; he now faced it with a more composed attitude.
Perhaps this was what people called growth.
After all, as he continued to improve, the village of Konoha remained relatively unchanged from before. It merely saw an increase in the number of active shinobi and a yearly rise in the military budget.
As the ninja force expanded, the surrounding nations likely began to view Konoha with increasing apprehension.
How long would this period of peace last? Would a new war emerge in a year, or two years?
One thing he could be sure of was that Shiroshi wouldn't have to wait too long for Suna to launch its next attack on the Land of Fire.
By that time, he could truly escape from this exceedingly mundane village.
Although he was unwilling to part with certain people and events, farewells were a necessary phase of life.
"The Human Phase is finally complete. Next, I can attempt to release the caged bird..."
After replacing chakra with natural energy as a life force in the human body, Shiroshi had worked tirelessly for over three years, and his technology had now reached a mature stage. Although he couldn't claim absolute certainty, he had at least developed the ability to abort the process in case of unexpected events, thus avoiding harm to the subject.
For the success of this experiment, a total of eleven human bodies had been consumed.
Shiroshi was amazed at the smooth progress of the experiment; none of the eleven subjects had died. While one had experienced an accident, Shiroshi's superb medical skills had managed to save them.
It was as if natural energy was destined to replace chakra, becoming the life force within a human body.
Although the differences between these two forces couldn't yet be fully understood, as long as he could release the caged bird, he could explore this secret at a later time.
Shiroshi walked over to a nearby bookshelf, his eyes scanning the titles. He reached out and began flipping through the books.
"I remember it's here..."
As he spoke, the floor nearby began to shift.
A head of a black, hole-like eye emerged from the ground, emitting a faint golden light from its eye. It stared at Shiroshi.
"Have you returned? You've worked hard."
Shiroshi stopped his search for books, turning to look at the mud creature.
This was a 'puppet' he had created based on the Yin-Yang chakra and natural energy, with some soul manipulation thrown in. Its inspiration came from the Tailed Beasts.
Shiroshi named it 'General Tsuchi' (Earth General).
Since it was only half a year old, it could currently freely move through the earth and meld with it, possessing basic abilities.
Currently, the only assistance it could offer Shiroshi was communication with his subordinates and object delivery. As for combat... it was a matter of the future.
The mud creature continued to gaze at Shiroshi, seemingly awaiting his next command.
Shiroshi offered a slightly bitter smile. Although he had successfully created it, its intellectual capacity left much to be desired. It could be described as slow-witted and clumsy.
Complicated commands and interpersonal relations were things it couldn't comprehend in its present state.
If he didn't give it precise commands, even Shiroshi, its creator, couldn't communicate with it normally.
So, it's only because of this that he gave it the assessment of 'potential in the future.'
"What did they have you bring back? Hand over the item to me."
Shiroshi commanded it.
The mud creature ended its hollow gaze at Shiroshi.
The floor began to shift, spitting out a letter and a white humanoid creature.
"What's this?"
Shiroshi picked up the letter but kept his gaze on the white humanoid creature, his brow furrowing.
The mud creature didn't say anything; it merely emitted a muffled sound and sank back into the ground.
Shiroshi didn't expect much of a proper response from this low-intelligence puppet. It was qualified for its purpose as a communication tool.
Currently, it was just a tool for communication.
Shiroshi opened the letter and started to understand the sequence of events.
It only briefly mentioned two things.
Akatsuki rejected the recruitment.
The unidentified white humanoid creature lying on the ground had been monitoring Akatsuki. For some reason, it had targeted his subordinates, then been subdued, and finally brought here.
"They rejected, huh? Originally, I wanted to expand our organization's manpower a bit. Well, it's the same if we look for others."
Akatsuki's rejection was reasonable, and Shiroshi didn't feel much regret.
There were plenty of people available for recruitment. After all, the practice of natural energy had a very low entry threshold. Even someone with prosthetic limbs, like a disabled person, could use it to enhance their combat prowess—only the strong and the weak made a difference.
However, with the foundation of being a ninja and the reinforcement of natural energy, their strength could surpass that of an ordinary person.
The bigger problem was the unidentified corpse in front of him.
"The texture, and life force... what is this?"
Shiroshi gazed strangely at the white humanoid corpse, not calling it 'human' but referring to it as 'thing.'
Its internal structure was so simplistic... Shiroshi thought it was a conscious shell.
The touch was icy cold, resembling a corpse but with subtle differences.
A living dead?
"A strange person who was monitoring Akatsuki... does Akatsuki have a rare value that attracts such attention?"
Shiroshi had researched some things about Akatsuki. The members of the organization were teenagers, living in harsh conditions, which had forged their strong will and the courage to fight.
In their clumsy way, they attempted to save their entire country.
Akatsuki was established about two years ago, in its infancy without a proper name. It had only three members at that time.
After over a year of development, it had grown into a group of eight or nine members, with its name becoming known in the past few months.
But still, it changed nothing.
Ultimately, it was an organization left in abject poverty, struggling to meet basic needs. Why would someone take an interest in it?
Internal strife within the Land of Rain?
Or were other nations unwilling to let an organization like Akatsuki arise within the Land of Rain?
Shiroshi pondered briefly but then abandoned the thought. He had far too many things to deal with, and it wasn't worth wasting time on this matter.
In any case, it wasn't his business. Others' affairs had nothing to do with him.
What the future held for Akatsuki would be decided by the unknown future.
In Shiroshi's predictions, Akatsuki's outcome would be quite tragic.
The Land of Rain... was not suitable for development.
At least, not currently.
It was a territory of conflict between major nations. Only if the Land of Fire, Wind, and Earth were willing to jointly establish stable order, could the Land of Rain become prosperous and peaceful alongside them.
However, the three major nations had no intention of building such stable order; they were too busy competing against each other.
The people of that country, oppressed for so long, had mostly lost the will to resist.
In this era, there were deaths every day, battles happening constantly.
The survival of humanity boiled down to the law of the jungle.
Nations constructed by humans were no different—those who were weak would be bullied, while the strong could have everything.
The Land of Rain was just one of the nations constructed by humans.
Aside from that, in this chaotic age, this country didn't hold much more meaning.
…
Early April.
A new batch of graduates emerged from the ninja academy, stepping out into the world as genuine Genin, ready to forge their paths as passionate ninja.
Inside the Ichiraku Ramen shop in Konoha, Team Sakumō was celebrating.
"Too slow, today is an important day."
A black-haired girl stood tall in front of the ramen shop, her voice icy.
She wore a sleek black off-the-shoulder bodysuit on top, with black gloves extending past her elbows. The gloves had incredibly durable iron plates on the back, designed to protect against projectiles like shuriken and kunai.
Her lower half was adorned with a skirt and knee-length black stockings that accentuated her well-shaped legs. Her ninja tools pouch was strapped to her thigh with a belt, creating an overall look that was perfectly tailored.
Emblazoned on the back of her black bodysuit was the Uchiha fan emblem.
This girl was none other than Rui.
Compared to three years ago, she had grown significantly. She was now the solid second-in-command of Team Sakumō, a recognized prodigy among the ninjas of Konoha.
She stood with her arms folded across her chest, wearing a cold expression that showed her displeasure at Shiroshi's late arrival.
"It doesn't matter; isn't the timing just right?"
Another black-haired girl intervened with a smile, diverting attention away from Rui.
This girl was Ayane.
Over the past three years, she had actually undergone more change than Rui.
For instance, her physique.
And her chest.
She wore a custom-made kimono in a pale white color, the hem stopping above her knees to ensure agile leg movement.
She also wore knee-length white stockings that were similar in style to Rui's. She didn't carry a ninja tool pouch on her thigh, and if it weren't for the forehead protector she wore, she wouldn't look like a ninja at all.
However, her weapons could be concealed somewhere else.
"Has Sakumō-sensei arrived?"
Shiroshi didn't pay much attention to Rui's attitude; he inquired about Sakumō.
He was holding a gift bag with several gift boxes inside.
Because today was a special day.
"He's been here for a while, just waiting for you."
"Is that so? Well, I had some things to take care of earlier. It's good as long as I made it in time. Besides, I didn't forget the gifts."
With that, Shiroshi raised the gift bag he was holding and said with a smile.
Rui's expression improved slightly upon seeing this.
The three of them entered Ichiraku Ramen. Sakumō was seated there, with a similarly white-haired boy sitting to his right. This boy appeared to be about five or six years old, wearing a mask over his face and a forehead protector on his forehead—a clear sign that this young boy, despite his age, had graduated from the ninja academy and was now an official Genin of Konoha.
"Long time no see, Kakashi."
"Long time no see, Senior Shiroshi."
This boy was none other than Sakumō's son, Kakashi Hatake.
After Shiroshi greeted him, Kakashi immediately responded.
"Here, Kakashi, this is a gift to congratulate you on becoming a Genin."
Shiroshi placed a gift box in Kakashi's hand.
Kakashi accepted it solemnly and thanked Shiroshi.
After Shiroshi took his seat, he sighed deeply and said, "Speaking of which, this is quite impressive. Kakashi, you're only five years old, but you've already graduated from the ninja academy and become an official Genin. This has broken the record for becoming a Genin since the establishment of the Konoha Ninja Academy."
Kakashi responded casually, "It's not that big of a deal, really. The graduation exam wasn't difficult at all."
This was his naturally calm attitude. The graduation exam posed no difficulty for him whatsoever.
Although many people called him a genius and considered his achievements normal, they always overlooked the effort and sweat he put in every day behind his brilliance.
Those people would only evaluate others based on their shallow opinions, thinking their own perspective was correct. They couldn't see the efforts and sweat of others, so they used the term 'genius' to dismiss them.
Shiroshi knew that Kakashi wasn't being modest; he was simply stating his own viewpoint.
And indeed, entering the ninja academy at four years old, then graduating at five... he topped both theoretical and practical scores without cheating.
It was said that when Kakashi applied for graduation, even the Third Hokage was amazed.
Konoha had gained another prodigy ninja.
A breeding ground for geniuses.
Many ninja villages referred to Konoha as such.
Shiroshi believed that this title was entirely accurate.
"So, what about our gifts? Today's gathering isn't just to celebrate Kakashi's graduation; it's also specially prepared for Rui and Ayane becoming Jonin."
"I know, I've already prepared them."
Indeed, this gathering wasn't just about celebrating Kakashi's graduation and him officially becoming a Genin. It was also arranged to celebrate the promotions of Rui and Ayane to Jonin.
Shiroshi handed the gift boxes to Rui and Ayane.
Only then did Rui and Ayane become satisfied.
"Rui and Ayane have both become Jonin. It seems that the time for our team to part ways isn't far off."
At this moment, Sakumō sighed softly, his tone filled with regret.
He had indeed wanted to maintain the original composition of Team Sakumō, but Rui and Ayane's identities were too special.
The reason they had joined his team wasn't unrelated to the Uchiha and Hyuga clans. It was all part of their training.
Now that they had become Jonin, their time within Team Sakumō's training path was naturally coming to an end.
With their current strength, Sakumō no longer had the ability to guide them. Moreover, facing the two of them might even lead to his own defeat.
However, seeing that the village had gained two powerful reinforcements, Sakumō's frustration was swept away.
He rejoiced in Konoha's prosperity.
Therefore, for Sakumō, this gathering was also an immensely important farewell ceremony.
Over there, Kakashi also handed the gifts he and Sakumō had prepared to Rui and Ayane.
Just then, Shiroshi pulled out the last gift box from his gift bag and placed it in front of Sakumō, smiling as he said, "So, I prepared four gifts. Please accept them, Sakumō-sensei."
Sakumō blinked slightly and then smiled as he accepted the gift.
"It's nice to see you're still so considerate, just like before. You'll make a good man someday. I won't hold back, then."
Before Shiroshi could speak, Ayane already said with a smile, "Of course, I'm the most authoritative in this matter."
Rui's face remained cold, her eyes revealing a frightening killing intent.
Ayane elegantly remained seated without caring in the slightest, completely unaffected by Rui's killing intent.
"It looks like you've forgotten who's at the top."
"Frequent anger can lead to premature aging of the skin, you know."
Instantly, an air of tension arose between the two of them.
Kakashi looked at the two women, exuding such intense hostility, and patted Shiroshi's shoulder in an adult-like manner.
"The world of seniors is indeed quite colorful."
"Don't talk like an adult."
Shiroshi looked at him helplessly.
"Thank you for your hard work."
"Still not cute at all. You'll have no charisma if you continue like this."
Kakashi didn't really have an opinion about that; his charisma was indeed average.
Apart from being familiar with Team Sakumō's members, he didn't have many people to interact with.
Even within the ninja academy, there were only a few people he could talk to.
Most people kept their distance from him due to his 'genius' label.
"I don't need those things. My goal is to surpass my father."
Kakashi said seriously.
"Sword training is painful, especially Sakumō-sensei's sword techniques. I've undergone training before, but it was too difficult; I didn't persevere."
"So, you're still a Genin."
"..."
Unable to argue back.
"I'm a medical ninja; I don't need great strength. Being able to escape and use medical ninjutsu is enough. Rough fighting isn't something a medical ninja should be doing."
Shiroshi took pride in being a medical ninja.
Kakashi didn't say anything either. Ninjas were ranked based on their strength.
Purely evaluating based on medical ninjutsu, Shiroshi was certainly qualified to be a Chunin.
However... within Konoha, there was no separate special treatment for ranking medical ninjas.
But the role of medical ninjas wasn't judged based on being Genin, Chunin, or Jonin.
For most medical ninjas, being a Genin, Chunin, or Jonin didn't make much difference; what mattered was the level of medical ninjutsu they possessed.
Not everyone was like Tsunade among the Sannin, who maintained incredibly strong combat ability while also excelling in medical ninjutsu.
Next, the group concluded their conversation and happily enjoyed the delicious ramen.
Of course, Sakumō paid the bill in the end.
After paying, Sakumō let out a sigh of relief to some extent. Following this gathering, Team Sakumō was also on the verge of disbanding, finally escaping the clutches of the Queen of Big Eaters.
Over the past three years, he had developed a psychological shadow when it came to treating others.
But what followed was a deep sense of reluctance.
In these three years, Team Sakumō had maintained a 100% mission success rate. Whether it was high-difficulty A-rank missions or the most challenging S-rank missions, they completed them beautifully.
No matter who the opponent was, they would silently fade away in the face of equality.
The moniker of "Konoha White Fang" had naturally risen higher, making various other ninja villages wary. People continuously came to gather intelligence on him, hoping to devise tactics to counter him effectively.
But they also knew that even if they created tactics to kill Sakumō, it would be an extremely difficult task.
They were deeply troubled over how to eliminate Sakumō.
As a result, the two young women in his team also gained recognition, showcasing the formidable prowess of the prominent ninja clans. Konoha had gained two more prodigy ninjas, sparking jealousy and a strong desire among the other villages to destroy these prodigies.
As for the medical ninja in the team, Shiroshi, he remained unnoticed.
Medical ninjas didn't need to worry about such things.
If he were on Tsunade's level of medical ninjutsu, it would be a different story. Unfortunately, Shiroshi wasn't.
(Chapter End)