"Danzō, you—!!" Koharu Utatane glared furiously at Shimura Danzō.
Homura Mitokado was equally irritated. He couldn't understand why the man who usually stood with them was now so firmly backing Hyuga Arin.
Didn't he see the contempt Arin showed toward them?
How could someone like that serve properly as a jōnin?
After all, their authority was only half a tier above that of jōnin. In Konoha, jōnin were already considered upper management.
Aside from the Hokage, they could refuse orders from almost anyone.
"Danzō…" Hiruzen rubbed his temples.
What Danzō had done was excessive—stamping the seal in his place.
But it was Danzō.
His dearest comrade.
In Konoha, anyone could be gone—except Danzō.
Besides, Hiruzen had wanted Arin to pass anyway.
He just didn't understand why Homura and Koharu were being so difficult.
Other jōnin promotions had never been scrutinized like this.
"Hyuga Arin's character is not… problematic," Hiruzen said carefully.
Well—
Maybe a little bloodthirsty.
But which ninja didn't have quirks?
It shouldn't be a big issue.
"You call this 'not problematic'?!" Homura pointed at Arin and shouted.
Arin glared back at the two elders, black-blue flames flickering around him.
A blatant threat.
At least pretend to restrain yourself!!
Hiruzen lowered his Hokage hat slightly, pretending not to see.
Arin was indeed too unruly.
But Hiruzen had little choice.
Fine.
I choose you—my dearest comrade.
Shimura Danzō!!
"Hyuga Arin has already passed. The decision is final," Danzō said coldly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
He had chosen Arin as his right hand.
How could he introduce him otherwise?
"This is my right-hand man, Chūnin Hyuga Arin."
Does that sound respectable?
Homura and Koharu dared to argue with Hiruzen.
But not with Danzō.
Hiruzen might tolerate them.
Danzō absolutely would not.
They shot Arin angry looks.
Just wait, boy. Don't fall into our hands.
Arin glared back.
Wait for an opportunity—I'll deal with you two old relics.
You do nothing but cause trouble.
You think you'll live long?
Let's see how long you make it once I'm around.
The two nearly fainted from anger.
Still—
With Danzō shielding him so openly, even Arin felt touched.
Whether against the Hyuga or here—
Danzō had stood firmly behind him.
When the time came—
He would act quickly.
No pain for Danzō-sama.
A considerate subordinate like him was rare.
Amid the tense atmosphere—
Hyuga Arin officially became a jōnin.
At thirteen years old—
The youngest jōnin in Konoha's history.
Under Danzō's cold stare, Homura and Koharu retreated in frustration.
They were, after all, political figures without real military command.
Unlike Hiruzen and Danzō.
They had no desire to clash openly with Danzō.
Absolutely not because they were afraid.
Arin thumped his chest and pointed at Danzō.
You will forever be my Danzō-sama.
Alive or dead.
What the hell are you doing?!
Danzō's forehead twitched.
This boy needed discipline.
Danzō left with a dark expression.
Only Hiruzen and Arin remained.
Hiruzen stood.
"Come. I'll show you Konoha's stored ninjutsu scrolls."
…
All of Konoha's ninjutsu scrolls were stored beneath the Hokage residence.
And who better to guard them than Hiruzen himself?
The Hokage's home did not truly belong to him.
It belonged to Konoha.
Each Hokage lived there during their tenure.
Beneath it lay a vast underground chamber.
Hiruzen and Arin climbed down a ladder.
Hiruzen spread his arms proudly.
"This is all of Konoha's stored ninjutsu."
Arin looked across the enormous space.
Row upon row of shelves stretched into the distance, filled to capacity.
The sheer number was staggering.
"No wonder Orochimaru lamented that a lifetime isn't enough," Arin muttered.
Even spending a lifetime—
One might not master half.
"This is Konoha's foundation," Hiruzen said proudly.
With so many techniques, every ninja could find their own path.
People often said Konoha produced many geniuses.
But that wasn't quite true.
Konoha produced many techniques.
With such a vast arsenal, molding a genius was simple.
"Genjutsu is over there," Hiruzen said, pointing.
"These techniques date back to the Warring States era. When the clans founded Konoha, they contributed all but their secret clan techniques."
"Got it," Arin replied casually.
Unlike Orochimaru, he had no intention of learning everything.
He only needed what he planned to use.
In the end—
All techniques converged toward Six Paths power.
His Fire Release already brushed against that realm.
Once he synthesized all seven nature transformations—
Ninjutsu would hold no secrets before him.
Why learn thousands individually?
Orochimaru's approach was inefficient.
The genjutsu section was larger than expected.
From D-rank to A-rank—
A full range.
S-rank techniques were rare.
He scanned the shelves thoughtfully.
Soon—
He selected the ones that suited him.
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