"Danzō, you—!!" Koharu snapped, glaring furiously.
Homura's face darkened as well.
They couldn't understand—
Why someone who usually stood with them was now backing Akira so firmly.
Didn't he see Akira's blatant disrespect toward them?
Someone like this—
How could he be a proper jōnin?
After all—
Jōnin were already among Konoha's upper ranks.
Just below them.
Aside from the Hokage—
They could refuse anyone's orders.
"Danzō…" Hiruzen sighed.
This was excessive.
Stamping the approval in his place.
But—
It was Danzō.
His trusted partner.
Konoha could lose anyone—
But not him.
Besides—
He had intended for Akira to pass anyway.
What he didn't understand—
Was why Homura and Koharu were so fixated on blocking him.
They weren't usually this strict with promotions.
"Akira's character… isn't a problem," Hiruzen said, somewhat hesitantly.
He was a good ninja.
Just—
A bit bloodthirsty.
But then again—
What ninja wasn't?
Probably fine.
"THIS is 'not a problem'?!" Homura roared, pointing at Akira.
Akira stood there—
Staring back coldly.
Black-blue flames flickered faintly around him.
A clear threat.
…At least pretend a little!!
Hiruzen lowered his hat, covering his face.
He'd just—
Pretend he didn't see anything.
Akira was indeed unruly.
But there was nothing he could do.
So—
He chose his solution.
Danzō.
"It's done," Danzō said coldly.
"Akira is now a jōnin."
His tone left no room for argument.
Akira—
Was already chosen as his right-hand man.
If he brought him along as a chūnin—
What would that look like?
"My right-hand man, Chūnin Hyūga Akira."
Ridiculous.
Homura and Koharu didn't dare argue further.
They could oppose Hiruzen—
But not Danzō.
Hiruzen wouldn't act against them.
Danzō would.
They glared at Akira.
Just wait.
Akira glared right back.
I'll kill you both when I get the chance.
The tension nearly exploded.
Both elders looked ready to faint from anger.
And yet—
Akira felt a bit moved.
Danzō had backed him—
Without hesitation.
Whether against the Hyūga—
Or here.
Absolute support.
When the time came—
He'd make sure Danzō's death was quick.
Painless.
Such a thoughtful subordinate was hard to find.
In the end—
Amid heavy tension—
Akira officially became a jōnin.
At thirteen.
The youngest jōnin in Konoha's history.
Homura and Koharu left in frustration.
After all—
They only held administrative roles.
They weren't like Hiruzen or Danzō—
Who held real power.
Of course—
It definitely wasn't because they were afraid.
Akira thumped his chest and pointed at Danzō.
You'll always be my Danzō-sama.
Alive or dead.
…What the hell are you doing?
Danzō's face darkened.
This kid needed discipline.
He turned and left.
Only Hiruzen and Akira remained.
Hiruzen stood.
"Come with me."
"I'll show you Konoha's ninjutsu archive."
All of Konoha's jutsu scrolls—
Were stored beneath Hiruzen's residence.
After all—
Who could guard them better than him?
The Hokage's residence wasn't personal property—
It belonged to the village.
Each Hokage lived there.
And moved out after stepping down.
Beneath it—
A vast underground space.
They climbed down a ladder.
Hiruzen spread his arms.
"This is Konoha's entire ninjutsu collection."
Akira looked around.
Shelves upon shelves—
Endless rows.
Packed full.
You couldn't even see the end.
"…That's insane."
No wonder Orochimaru had once lamented—
A lifetime wasn't enough.
Even half of this—
Would take forever.
"This is Konoha's foundation," Hiruzen said proudly.
"With this many techniques—"
"Every ninja can find their own path."
People said Konoha produced many geniuses.
That wasn't quite true.
Konoha produced—
ninjutsu.
With enough techniques—
You could turn anyone into a genius.
"Genjutsu is over there," Hiruzen pointed.
"These date back to the Warring States era."
"When clans formed Konoha—"
"They contributed everything except their secret techniques."
Akira nodded absentmindedly.
He wasn't interested in history.
Unlike Orochimaru—
He didn't want to learn everything.
He only needed what was useful.
In the end—
All techniques led to the same place.
Six Paths power.
Take Fire Release—
Once he understood it fully—
Any fire-based ability could be replicated.
If he combined all seven nature transformations—
There would be no secrets left.
Why learn everything one by one?
Orochimaru really overworked himself.
The genjutsu section—
Was larger than expected.
From D-rank—
To A-rank.
Everything.
S-rank techniques—
Were top-tier.
Even for Akira.
He scanned the shelves.
Thinking.
Planning.
Then—
He began selecting the techniques he needed.
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