The repercussions of the great battle between Sunagakure and Kirigakure were still ongoing.
The Third Shinobi World War, which had been raging fiercely, seemed to have hit the pause button.
Although the situation remained tense and ominous, no large-scale battles had broken out in the shinobi world again.
It certainly did not count as peace.
It was merely the calm before the storm.
Today was the day of Konoha's new Chunin Exams.
Due to the impact of the war, it was different from previous Chunin Exams.
It did not test various qualities, but rather combat power!
It was not conducted in squads either. Instead, it was based on individual ability.
Kurenai, Rin, Obito, and others also participated.
The final result was not unexpected.
Several people close to Seiryū successfully became Chunin.
Among those not from the same year, many younger ones had also graduated!
One person worth Seiryū's attention was Uchiha Shisui!
Speaking of Uchiha Shisui.
Seiryū was naturally no stranger to him.
In the original story, he was the renowned "Body Flicker" Shisui, the possessor of the Mangekyō Sharingan.
The Dōjutsu, Kotoamatsukami, the strongest Genjutsu, had played a huge role in the original story.
Of course.
Naturally, the current Shisui could not have awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan yet.
But he had already awakened the Sharingan.
He was hailed as the greatest genius of the Uchiha clan today.
During his Ninja Academy days, he was even considered a genius shinobi who could compete with the greatest genius, Seiryū!
However, as Seiryū demonstrated his immense strength step by step, no one placed Shisui on the same level as Seiryū anymore.
But they still felt that Shisui was the only genius second to Seiryū.
Shisui's performance was also quite good.
In the Chunin Exams, he even defeated Obito, who was a few years older.
"I suppose this is a blessing in disguise?"
Looking at Obito, who had become a Chunin but was dejected.
Seiryū patted his shoulder and comforted him. "This battle forced you to awaken the three-tomoe Sharingan. You should really thank him!"
Having lost to the younger Shisui, Obito, under the emotional stimulus, had awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan.
This was also related to Obito's increase in strength.
In the Chunin Exams just now, the strength Obito displayed was not weak.
One could tell he had not slacked off on his training recently.
But Obito still lost.
Just one move behind.
This alone was enough to show just how strong Shisui's talent was!
Obito did not feel comforted at all. Instead, he felt that Seiryū was mocking him.
Annoyed, he slapped Seiryū's hand away and pouted. "Is that how you comfort people?"
Seiryū said happily, "It's not shameful to lose to a genius, right? A seven-year-old Chunin, he broke the record. Even I wasn't that strong when I was his age!"
Obito still did not feel comforted. Instead, he felt even more aggrieved.
Shisui was younger than him and only had a single-tomoe Sharingan.
Then how did he lose?
Geniuses were truly too much!
He had been training very hard and felt he was not weak.
Yet he still lost.
Losing by a single move was still a loss!
He did not even have the face to see Rin.
Kakashi, who was standing to the side, interjected, looking at Seiryū with a weary tone. "You're an eleven-year-old Jonin, so please don't say things like that."
Seiryū had already become a Jonin.
An eleven-year-old Jonin.
In the past, this would have been unthinkable.
Moreover, it was not just that Seiryū was at a Jonin level. He could even go toe-to-toe with the Third Raikage.
He also had his own title, Konoha's Reaper!
This was an existence that chilled the hearts of countless shinobi from enemy villages.
He had already left his peers far behind.
"Keep it low profile."
Seiryū waved his hand.
Then he continued to look at Obito and asked, "You've been getting stronger quite quickly recently. Do you have your own unique training method?"
Because of his appearance.
The students of the same year were all very competitive, but Obito's increase in strength was even greater.
Even Asuma had been defeated by him.
Asuma had a special tutor, but what did Obito have?
An old lady?
If there really was an old lady guiding him, then he needed to pay more attention.
Seiryū had seen that old lady before and had not found anything unusual. She was indeed an ordinary old lady.
But that might not be the case afterward.
Obito was his good friend.
He could not let Madara trick him onto a bad path.
"Uh, I've just been training quite diligently. Having awakened the Sharingan, my potential has been unleashed, so naturally, my growth speed is faster!"
Obito laughed it off.
The kind old lady just wanted to be an ordinary person and did not want to be disturbed by others.
So Obito did not intend to reveal that he was training with the old lady.
Hearing this, Kakashi was somewhat silent.
Defeated by a clansman who was a few years younger and only had a single-tomoe Sharingan.
And he had the nerve to say his potential had been unleashed?
He did not even know how to roast him!
Seiryū was also silent.
He sensed that there was a problem!
Had the old lady really been replaced by a White Zetsu at some point?
Was Obito's increase in strength related to that person?
"Is that so?"
Seiryū nodded.
Then he changed the subject. "Speaking of which, why didn't I see Ryota at this Chunin Exam?"
His grandfather and brother had both died at his own hands.
Ryota must definitely hate him.
The Uchiha clan were just psychos!
Seiryū deeply understood this.
But it seemed he had not seen Ryota for a long time in his memory.
Could there be some problem there too?
Mentioning this clansman and classmate, Ryota, Obito pondered for a moment before saying in a deep voice, "Ryota has gone missing. In the clan, they only found a letter in his house saying he went out of the village to train."
Seiryū: "?"
Something was wrong!
Seiryū narrowed his eyes. "When did this happen?"
Obito thought for a moment before saying, "About ten days ago. Many people in the clan were discussing this matter."
While saying this, he glanced at Seiryū.
Ryota's grandfather and brother had both died at Seiryū's hands.
Perhaps Ryota's departure had something to do with Seiryū?
"Ten days ago? Madara."
Almost instantly, Seiryū's sharp mind had already made some judgments.
There was a high possibility that it was related to Madara.
The timing was too coincidental!
Seiryū was clear about this.
Only two pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan between relatives could give birth to the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
The Mangekyō Sharingan in Madara's eye sockets were Setsuna's.
If Ryota were also allowed to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
With Madara's methods, combining the grandfather and grandson's two pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan to put together a pair of Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan should not be a problem.
The Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan was the prerequisite for awakening the Rinnegan!
The Rinnegan was an important link in controlling the Gedō Statue!
Madara had actively severed his connection with the Rinnegan in Nagato's eye sockets.
It was almost the same as completely cutting off the connection with the Rinnegan.
To establish a connection with the Rinnegan again, he would likely need to get his hands on Nagato's Rinnegan and transplant them back into his own eye sockets!
But Nagato was currently in Konoha!
It was not that easy for Madara to retrieve his Rinnegan.
So.
Madara intended to let another pair of Rinnegan be born?
Seiryū narrowed his eyes. "Indeed, one cannot underestimate him."
To be honest.
If he had not asked about Ryota at this time and learned that Ryota was missing.
Seiryū really would not have thought of this.
It was true that his mind worked fast, but there were surely some things he would not think of.
But Madara's actions were too fast. He had just been dealt a blow by him, yet he had already made other preparations.
Obito, could he also be another preparation?
"Forget it, let's not talk about this."
Seiryū noted this matter and then said, "I'm going over to find Kurenai and Rin, so I'll be going first."
It was also because he saw Obito had awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan that Seiryū had come here to talk to him.
By the way, um, to check on Obito's situation!
As a result, he indeed discovered something fishy!
Hearing that Seiryū wanted to find Rin, Obito, who had intended to see Rin anyway, immediately said, "I'll go too. I still have to congratulate Rin!"
Although he sensed that the person Rin liked was Seiryū.
He still would not give up!
"Suit yourself."
Glancing at Obito, Seiryū did not care.
Liking someone was a person's freedom, and Seiryū did not want to interfere.
Assuming Rin liked someone else, even if Seiryū liked Rin, he would not do something like forcing a marriage.
Relationships were about mutual affection!
As he walked, Seiryū suggested, "Speaking of which, it's been a long time since we all got together. Today is just the right opportunity. Let's call them all."
Obito did not refuse either. "That works too. Come to think of it, I've been training recently and rarely see them. Moreover, if the war hasn't stopped, as Chunin, we'll probably have to step onto the battlefield."
"The battlefield is more dangerous than you imagine. I myself was nearly killed a few times."
Kakashi glanced sideways at Obito and continued, "But I don't know if we will execute missions in squad formations later?"
Previously, he had executed missions with his father.
But now, Obito and Rin, his two squad teammates, had also become Chunin.
They needed to go to the battlefield.
He did not know if their Team 7 would still act as a squad?
"It should. The squad system is a relatively perfect system. Unless it's a large-scale battle, fighting in squads is the most appropriate. This is the shinobi's bread and butter."
Seiryū shrugged and said.
At least looking at the original story, when shinobi execute missions, they mostly do it in squad formations.
Kakashi looked over. "Even you?"
Seiryū said, "Perhaps. Of course, I'm quite special, so it's not certain. But for you guys, I think you should act in squad formations."
"Having a Jonin lead the team can also reduce some dangers, allowing shinobi who have just stepped onto the battlefield to gain more growth and experience."
The experienced led the new.
This was Konoha's old tradition.
Otherwise, letting shinobi who had not experienced war step onto the battlefield was not letting them achieve merit, but sending them to their deaths.
It was impossible for it to be arranged like that.
The squad system was prepared precisely for these newcomers!
At the same time, the squad had already gone through the adjustment period, and their coordination was more tacit. This was a relatively perfect system!
"So old-fashioned, even though you're the same age as us."
Obito could not help but mutter.
Seiryū glanced at Obito and raised an eyebrow. "I am a Jonin now. Who knows, I might become your squad leader on the battlefield in the future."
"Be careful, or I might give you a hard time and make you go execute dangerous missions all by yourself!"
Jonin were Konoha's top combat power.
Their status was not low.
Plus, Seiryū was already special and had already carved out his own name.
Not to mention, if they encountered some emergency situation, Seiryū was qualified to become a temporary squad leader!
These peers, um, had to listen to his orders!
This feeling seemed quite thrilling!?
Obito: "..."
Thinking that Seiryū, his peer, might become his squad leader and that he would need to obey his orders.
Obito felt terrible.
Although he and Seiryū were good friends, because Rin liked Seiryū, he was actually very unhappy with Seiryū.
Why!?
If the above happened and he had to obey the orders of his peer Seiryū, Obito felt he would be suffocated to death!
Kakashi recalled that scene, and his heart felt very awkward.
A friend becoming one's superior was too much of a blow.
It was that kind of suffocating feeling where a friend really became a big boss, while they were just small employees!
This kind of thing had better not happen!
"Should I go discuss this with my senpai? Occasionally let me lead a squad or something. Don't worry, I will protect you guys when the time comes. With me here, let alone the Third Raikage, even if Madara came, he couldn't hurt you!"
Seiryū felt a bit tempted.
Becoming a squad leader was not bad, and it would be even better if the squad members were his friends!
He could throw his weight around and mess with them as he pleased!
Just like Tsunade used to do, he could find reasons and excuses to mess with his squad members.
Thinking about it, it seemed quite fun!?
Obito, Kakashi: "..."
If it were anyone else, they definitely would not do such a thankless job.
But Seiryū was definitely capable of doing it.
This guy was just that kind of person. Sometimes, he really was too unreliable.
Kakashi said with a forced smile, "Heh heh, I will tell Minato-sensei, but I think with Minato-sensei's personality, it's impossible for him to agree to such a thing!"
Obito chimed in, "Hokage-sama wouldn't agree to this either. It doesn't follow the rules!"
Do you really think whatever you, Seiryū, say goes?
This did not follow the rules!
"You guys are still too young and don't understand my status in Konoha right now at all!"
Seiryū chuckled, his tone playful. "You guys should have heard some rumors, right? That bad woman Tsunade is the future Fourth Hokage."
"I am one of the people closest to Tsunade, the designated future Hokage Assistant, the kind who is below one person and above ten thousand."
"From now on, you must call me 'Lord' when you see me!"
Seiryū said happily, "Do you understand the weight of a future Hokage Assistant? Now, even Anbu shinobi have to change how they address me and call me 'Lord'!"
"If I mention it, how could Hiruzen refuse something that is beneficial to Konoha?"
"Minato-sensei knows my strength even better and will definitely be at ease handing you over to me to lead!"
Looking at the two, Seiryū revealed an ill-intentioned smile. "Come on, come on, call me 'Lord Seiryū' right now and let me hear it. In the future, I, as the future Hokage Assistant, might not give you a hard time!"
Listening to Seiryū's glib talk, the corners of their mouths twitched wildly.
What the hell, he was already the designated Hokage Assistant?
Did it have to be so childish?
But if it was Seiryū, it was indeed possible.
And with Seiryū's current strength, the higher-ups would indeed feel at ease with him becoming a squad leader.
There was no help for it. Seiryū was too strong now!
His reputation was enough to deter shinobi from other enemy villages!
It even made the Third Tsuchikage and Third Raikage issue orders like, "If you encounter 'Konoha's Shinigami' Seiryū on the battlefield, no matter what mission you are executing, you may consider it abandoned."
This peer, this friend, was simply too monstrous!
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)