MTLNOVEL Chapter 25
My allies and I headed toward Konoha's main shopping district.
On the way out of Raizo's base of operations, we saw all the ANBU we had to knock out or arrest. There were many, but we had no problems, and before leaving, we explored another room filled with fūinjutsu seals to prevent espionage by sensor ninjas like me.
That was the archive room, and also Danzou's private room, where we found official records that could only have been written in a future that would never happen.
There, they detailed perfectly what should be done after the Uchiha clan massacre and how to proceed with damage control after that "incident."
It was disgusting to know what Danzou and other Konoha elders were capable of.
We left there with more evidence to prove Danzou's plot and went straight to the Hokage's room.
Renji and Shisui were taken to the infirmary due to their more severe injuries, while Kakashi and Itachi followed me to talk to Hiruzen.
"I see you had to resort to brute force," Hiruzen said, looking at our injuries and noticing how exhausted we were.
"We did it. We have enough evidence to keep Danzou in prison for the rest of his life," I said, showing him the wooden cocoon I was carrying, which hid Danzou inside.
Hiruzen looked at it and stared at Kakashi.
"They were right..." Kakashi said, as if he wanted to express his opinion but knew it wasn't the right time.
I watched curiously, and the Hokage seemed to understand perfectly.
"I understand," Hiruzen said, and soon two ANBU appeared in the room.
"Take him to the interrogation room. Ibiki will know how to continue the conversation.
As for you, I'd like to talk a little more," Hiruzen continued.
Then the two ANBU and Kakashi left the room with Danzou.
I remained there in silence; Itachi did the same. We knew that Hiruzen would talk to us in private—after all, this was a matter of extreme secrecy, I imagined.
I was tense, wondering where the conversation would lead. Then Hiruzen cleared his throat.
"You are at the center of a situation that is extremely complicated to resolve. Itachi has certainly dealt with missions like this before, but you, Riku, are different."
I stared at Hiruzen, who didn't give me a chance to speak.
"You graduated from the Ninja Academy a few days ago, and on your first official mission, you had to deal with bandits during an escort. You showed that you are capable of using Mokuton, a jutsu that only two people have been able to use before.
And you got involved in a problem that had nothing to do with you... and you managed to solve it."
"To be honest, I don't know who you're more like..." Hiruzen sighed as he finished speaking.
I was stunned, afraid of what would come next.
Of course, being modest, I was an excellent ninja, especially since I had only been in this new body for a short time, but I didn't know if the path I had taken was the best one.
"But...?" I asked, because there's always a "but."
Hiruzen smiled at my question.
"But you acted recklessly and against the rules of Konoha. You didn't inform your sensei of the problems, let alone me, in advance. You skipped steps, destroyed a village building, and I should punish you for that..." Hiruzen said, looking at the crystal ball in his room.
"So he saw everything," I said, exhaling.
"...Which I will not do. In fact, Riku, I have a proposal for you and Itachi," he continued.
Itachi and I looked at each other, confused as to what he could possibly propose to us.
And this time, Itachi took the lead.
"What would that proposal be, Mr. Hokage?" he asked.
"We've had some extremely promising ninjas in the village: the Sannin, the Fourth Hokage, Kakashi, and a few others. You two have shown yourselves to be on a similar level. Your ability to learn and your ease in dealing with extremely dangerous situations is a great achievement. That's why I would like to promote you both to jounin."
"What?!"
"What?" Itachi and I said in unison.
"Do you accept or not?" Hiruzen said bluntly.
[Do you wish to accept the promotion to jounin? YES/NO]
"But I'm not even a chunin yet," I said, still in shock.
"I accept." Itachi was the first to respond.
Hiruzen and he stared at me, waiting for my answer.
'Honestly... At least my life will always be interesting.'
"I accept..."
[YES.]
[New areas unlocked.]
[You have unlocked a new mission.]
[Mission Activated: Path of the Jounin]
Type: Ascension Mission (Special Rank)
Description: Complete the formal stages of ascension within the Leaf Village, passing the Chunin Exam and the special Jounin Test. Demonstrate technical mastery, leadership, strategy, and ideology.
Phases:
Chunin Exam
Official Recognition of Merit
Secret Jounin Mission
Rewards:
Access to the Jounin Class
+3 Attribute Points
2 Technique Points
Official recognition from the Konoha elite
Status: IN PROGRESS
'That means it won't be so easy,' I thought.
"Your path will be a little more complicated, Riku. As you mentioned, you've just been promoted to genin and can't skip ranks so easily... so I'm going to formally nominate you to take the next chunin exam, which will take place in three months. If you pass, I'll promote you to jounin, just as I'm doing with Itachi now," Hiruzen said.
"So I have three months to be 100% prepared for this. All right, I can do it," I said, confident that I would pass the chunin exam.
Itachi smiled when he saw how confident I was, and Hiruzen nodded.
The Hokage then dismissed us so he could continue with the next steps of Danzou's imprisonment, and asked us to go to his office tomorrow. He also asked Itachi to schedule a meeting with Fugaku Uchiha.
I knew that the political intrigues surrounding Danzou's arrest were far from over. Not only he, but other Konoha elders had plotted the total annihilation of the Uchiha clan, and that would not be easy to resolve.
However, these were political matters over which I had no influence, so Itachi and I left.
As we walked, Itachi told me a few things.
"Riku, I have to thank you for what you've done so far. If it weren't for your help, I would probably have had to take a different path..." he said, without looking me in the eye.
I knew what he was talking about.
"Don't worry, Itachi, I couldn't let a conflict of this magnitude reach Konoha. You know how it is, right?
Will of Fire and stuff like that." I said, trying to keep the mood light.
"Yeah, I know, hahah," Itachi replied, a little awkwardly.
I was surprised; it was the first time I had seen him truly relieved.
He didn't have that weight of carrying the world on his shoulders like I usually saw in the anime, or the last few times we talked.
I decided to accompany him to the Uchiha district, and we talked a lot on the way.
Itachi was forced to grow up and mature much earlier than most people. His talent made him stand out, so he was always ahead of his peers.
And that was even more noticeable as we talked, as it felt like I was talking to someone the age I was when I died in the other world.
When we arrived at the entrance to the Uchiha district, we were greeted by Fugaku, who stood with his arms crossed and a serious expression on his face.
"You're late," Fugaku said harshly, then fixed his gaze on me.
"I was on an important mission," Itachi replied, but he seemed to be ignored for a moment.
"And who are you?" Itachi's father asked me.
"I am Riku, Senju Riku, sir," I replied robotically, trying not to be intimidated by the terrifying presence of the Uchiha in front of me.
"Senju... I think I've heard of you," Fugaku said, but was soon interrupted by Itachi.
"Father, the Hokage wishes to schedule a meeting with you tomorrow. He needs to discuss some very serious matters," he said, with a very sharp look.
Fugaku then turned his attention back to Itachi and nodded, as if understanding what the matter was about.
In the background, I could see a child running towards us.
"Brother!" the boy called out, running toward Itachi.
It was Sasuke Uchiha.
....
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