Chapter 94: Promotion to Jōnin
Although Kajiki's weapon was remarkable, tools were ultimately inanimate. Its importance could never compare to something like Dan'go, a living ninja beast. Unlike weapons, ninja beasts could communicate. While Dan'go couldn't speak, Shironeko could communicate with him effortlessly. With Dan'go's intelligence, he could understand human speech and even express fairly complex ideas.
If Dan'go had truly grasped some mysterious aspect of natural energy, he might be able to pass it on to other ninja beasts or even human shinobi. Some of the village advisors were already fantasizing about the dream of Iwagakure cultivating its own Holy Land, just from Dan'go alone.
Everyone waited outside Ishiro's house for half the night. Just before dawn, Dan'go finally woke up. He stretched, sniffed the air, and gave a soft meow.
Hearing the sound, Shironeko immediately responded from outside, "Dan'go!"
Recognizing her voice, Dan'go bolted out of the house and leapt into Shironeko's arms.
She nuzzled her face against his, then asked, "Do you feel any discomfort? Did you notice any natural energy?"
Dan'go shook his head and meowed a few times in response.
After communicating with him, Shironeko told the others, "Dan'go didn't feel any natural energy. He says the sleep was just especially comfortable."
The upper brass looked slightly disappointed. Unconscious absorption meant it was uncontrolled and unteachable. It couldn't be replicated or used to instruct others.
Ōnoki asked, "Shironeko, ask him—how long has he been feeling that kind of restful sleep in this house?"
Dan'go wasn't unfamiliar with Ōnoki. As a ninja beast from Anbu, he had seen the Tsuchikage as much as—if not more than—Ishiro.
Dan'go meowed a bit more. Shironeko translated, "He says it's been quite a while, though he can't remember the exact number. But definitely more than thirty nights."
That meant Dan'go had absorbed quite a bit of natural energy by now.
After a moment of thought, Ōnoki said, "Let's go to the training grounds and test Dan'go's current strength."
A few years ago, Dan'go had barely qualified as a chūnin, and even then was heavily unbalanced in his capabilities. His overall performance was below average for his rank.
His talent was limited, and his potential was easy to see. Without a miracle, his peak would've been special jōnin. With harsh training and luck, he might've just touched jōnin level.
But that would have been his absolute limit. His natural talent was about on par with Shironeko.
So even after two or three years, Ishiro estimated Dan'go's strength had only improved to the level of an average chūnin.
The Anbu arranged a thorough evaluation—speed, strength, intelligence, genjutsu resistance, and more.
Ishiro wasn't familiar with the full evaluation system, but he learned from Anbu that Dan'go's data was... odd.
Not that he'd improved dramatically in one area, but that his formerly imbalanced stats were evening out.
In the past, Dan'go had clear weaknesses. But now, he was more well-rounded.
If this were Ishiro, the explanation would be simple—he had deliberately trained to patch up his weaknesses. Ishiro's training was highly focused, so his progress made sense.
But Shironeko explained that Dan'go had not shifted his training. In fact, they were still focusing on his agility—his strong point. They hadn't yet reached a level where they could adjust training styles to cover weaknesses.
Usually, once a shinobi became a special jōnin, they'd begin focusing on filling in gaps while preserving their strengths. For those with a ninja beast partner, the two would work together to cover each other's flaws.
But Dan'go and Shironeko hadn't reached that point. And yet... Dan'go's stats had balanced themselves out.
Everyone speculated—this might be the mysterious effect of natural energy. Perhaps it fundamentally changed the user's physical constitution, and in the early stages, the most noticeable improvements appeared in areas of weakness.
This was good news. While playing to one's strengths was the best way to advance as a shinobi, fixing one's flaws was often the most time-consuming part of growth.
Take Ishiro for example—he'd spent more time learning basic and B-rank kenjutsu than he had on all his ninjutsu training combined.
He had never skimped on kenjutsu training, but his ninjutsu time had been regularly interrupted.
Of course, Dan'go had only been absorbing natural energy for a short while. The changes were still minor. The village elders decided Dan'go should stay in the village for now, continue absorbing energy, and undergo regular assessments. Their theories needed more data before drawing conclusions.
Dan'go's discovery was promising, but the real urgency lay with the intelligence Ishiro had brought back from the Rain Country.
"Konoha's Root is active again in the Rain Country?" Ōnoki muttered, considering Ishiro's report.
"Yes. And this time, it's different. Root is targeting Ame-nin. I suspect Danzō and Hanzō are forming an alliance. Given the current political climate, the only thing that could push them to ally is the Akatsuki."
"I believe conflict between Akatsuki and Hanzō is imminent."
The mood turned grim.
One advisor said, "It's been seven years since the Second Shinobi War. Most nations have recovered somewhat, but not fully. If instability in the Rain Country triggers unrest... the Third Great Ninja War might break out early."
Another nodded. "Worse, if the war starts with the death of a Kage-level figure, it could be more intense than the Second War."
Ōnoki agreed. "We can't afford a high-level war like the First Great Ninja War again. That intensity would break us."
Everyone nodded solemnly.
If not for Ikura, the genius now serving as Iwagakure's frontline representative, the other great nations would've already written Iwa off as declining.
Konoha never lacked geniuses. Kumo had the new A-B combo, Suna had Pakura, Rasa, Karura, and Kirigakure had its fearsome Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
Only Iwa was being mocked behind its back for having no successor to Ōnoki.
Thankfully, Ikura had emerged. Though young, he was already at elite jōnin level. If Ōnoki could hold on for ten more years, Ikura would be ready to take the mantle.
For now, Iwagakure could handle drawn-out wars—but not a Kage vs. Kage-level conflict. If Ōnoki died in the next few years, Iwa would be in a crisis, much like Suna was in the original timeline after the Leaf Collapse Plan.
Suna had managed to survive only by groveling before Konoha and buying time for Gaara to rise to power.
But Iwa would never cling to Konoha's leg. If Ōnoki fell and Ikura couldn't reach Kage level in time, they'd be in deep trouble.
That's why Ikura was under special protection—but also frequent assassination attempts. Rumor had it two elite jōnin had already been sent after him.
When Ishiro first heard that, he was stunned. He finally understood why the village had delayed his jōnin promotion—they were protecting him.
But that protection was about to end.
Because today, Ishiro would officially be promoted to jōnin.
After discussing the Rain Country situation, Ōnoki turned to him with a serious expression. "Ishiro, the trade route assignment was your jōnin trial. And you passed it with flying colors."
"I now formally declare you a jōnin of Iwagakure."
Ishiro couldn't contain his emotions. He'd known he was long qualified. He'd expected this day. But hearing it aloud… he was overwhelmed. Not because of the rank—but because it was official recognition from the village.
Thinking back over eleven years of hard work, Ishiro felt a little emotional.
His talent was average. His physique was weak. His only advantage was spiritual power—which Iwagakure hadn't developed properly.
His childhood had been lonely and monotonous. With no family and few friends, his life had revolved around training. He adjusted his schedule constantly, experimented tirelessly. He'd fought tooth and nail for every step forward.
But now—he was finally recognized.
After taking several deep breaths, Ishiro dropped to one knee and said firmly, "Yes, sir."
The elders, who had watched him grow, all understood his emotions.
Once he stood again, Ōnoki added, "You completed this task with excellence. As a pioneering assignment, we're counting it as four S-rank missions and ten A-rank missions. You may now redeem one A-rank jutsu and three B-rank jutsu."
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