Chapter 12: Shadows and the Ladder
"Thank you for the meal, Senpai. I'll be going now."
Itachi did not take any of the money from Shinmi's scroll. He stated that he had not contributed to that part of the mission, and it wasn't part of their original payment agreement. He only accepted the 20,000 ryō he was owed. In return, Shūji paid the bill for Yakiniku Q.
As the dusk deepened, Shūji rubbed his sore shoulders, preparing to head back and continue his training. Just as he turned the corner, a figure in an animal mask appeared soundlessly.
"Hokage-sama summons you." The Anbu's voice was flat and emotionless.
Shūji helplessly scratched his head and glanced up at the sunset. This felt... exactly like getting called back to the office for overtime in his previous life. He followed the Anbu, and his figure vanished into the growing darkness.
Inside the Hokage's office, the last rays of the setting sun dyed the room a warm gold. Sarutobi Hiruzen stood with his back to the door, the hem of his Hokage robes stirring in the light breeze. Hearing footsteps, he turned slowly, the blue smoke from his pipe swirling in the beams of light.
"You completed this mission well. Thank you for your hard work." The Sandaime's voice was gentle, but his eyes, which had seen everything, were as sharp as ever. He took the pipe from his mouth and exhaled a stream of smoke.
"You praise me too much, Hokage-sama."
"No, it's the truth." The Sandaime walked over to his desk and tapped his pipe on the edge, knocking out a few embers. "You didn't quite show this level of talent when you were on border patrol..." His tone shifted slightly. "Shūji, what did you think of the boy, Itachi?"
"His talent is extraordinary, far beyond his peers."
"That child... has no partners now. Neither do you," the Sandaime's voice grew a bit lower. "Since you two worked well together, perhaps you should continue as a pair."
"As for the missing squad member, I will arrange a suitable candidate."
Shūji frowned slightly. "With my level of experience, I'm afraid I'm not yet qualified to be a squad leader."
By Konoha's standards, this arrangement meant one of two things: either he would be made a Jōnin leader and assigned two more Genin, or he would be put on a Chūnin (or even Jōnin) cell where all missions would start at B-Rank.
"It was Itachi's own request," the Sandaime said, his gaze drifting past Shūji to the setting sun. "He does not want to be paired with Genin again..." He didn't finish the sentence, but Shūji understood. The boy who had watched his teammates die didn't want to go through that again.
"If you are unwilling, I completely understand," the Sandaime said, blowing a smoke ring and tapping the desk. "Placing a Genin on high-level missions is, admittedly, not ideal. It would be irresponsible to both of you."
The office fell into a brief silence, broken only by the soft sizzle of the pipe. The Sandaime suddenly stood, his wide Hokage robes sweeping in an arc.
"However." The long-reigning Hokage did not press the issue. He turned back, his eyes holding a sincere, probing look. "I hope you will consider it carefully."
"If you refuse... the Uchiha clan has people willing to take Itachi on missions." He paused, a complex light flashing in his eyes. "But, if possible, I hope Uchiha children don't have their view limited to just their clan."
Shūji asked cautiously, "What is his father's—the Uchiha clan's—stance on this?"
"Fugaku will not object," Sarutobi Hiruzen said flatly.
"In that case, I have no objections."
The wrinkles at the Sandaime's eyes softened in a pleased smile. "As expected of you... Shūji... Is Tōka-sama in good health?"
"Very good." Shūji's answer was short.
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded and pulled a slightly worn file from a drawer. Shūji glanced at it—it was his own service record. The Sandaime, right in front of him, began writing in it.
"For the time being, you don't need to accept any new missions."
"You can also begin preparations for your promotion to Jōnin."
"Jōnin?" This time, Shūji was genuinely surprised.
A Jōnin's status in Konoha was immense. They were the true core strength of the village, second only to the Hokage. Theoretically, every Jōnin had the qualifications to be a candidate for Hokage. Because of this, the position was never given lightly, and their numbers were strictly controlled.
Throughout Konoha's history, you could count the number of shinobi promoted to Jōnin in their teens on one hand—Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, and (in the future) Neji Hyuga... Besides their own exceptional talent and strength, their promotions were often tied to special circumstances or enormous sacrifices: Kakashi's father, the White Fang, had died under mysterious circumstances; Might Dai died in battle to save his son, crippling the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist; Hizashi Hyuga volunteered to die in his brother's place to prevent a war.
The village's promotions were, in part, a form of compensation and appeasement.
"Special Jōnin," Sarutobi Hiruzen added, breaking Shūji's train of thought.
That... was a relief for Shūji. Tokubetsu Jōnin. This was a special rank. They weren't promoted for all-around excellence, but for having reached Jōnin-level skill in a specific field—like powerful sensory abilities, top-tier medical ninjutsu, or deep knowledge of fūinjutsu. Their authority and status were below a full Jōnin but higher than a regular Chūnin, and they were usually assigned to specific mission types or as expert advisors.
Such an arrangement neatly avoided the controversy over experience that a direct promotion to full Jōnin might cause.
"Understood." Shūji accepted calmly. The status of a Special Jōnin suited him much better. It meant higher mission clearance, better pay, and fewer daily management duties. It was exactly what he wanted.
The Sandaime placed the file back in the drawer with a soft thud. "Someone will notify you of the promotion process. You will need letters of recommendation from two active Chūnin or Jōnin, and you must pass an assessment exam. The exam will be tailored to your area of expertise." He looked at Shūji meaningfully. "With your abilities, it shouldn't be a problem. As for the letters..."
Shūji understood. His parents had died in the war. His own Jōnin instructor had been killed during the Nine-Tails attack. His border patrol teammates had been sacrificed on the Kumo battlefield. The most suitable candidates were all gone. If Shūji couldn't find anyone, Hiruzen would, of course, find "suitable" people to provide the letters.
"I will handle it myself," Shūji said.
Tōka-bā-chan should be able to contact some of the other Senju members living under new names. Although they had assimilated into Konoha, as the former backbone of the village, there were still plenty of them with Chūnin or Jōnin rank. He'd seen them at festivals. Just asking for a letter of recommendation wouldn't be a problem.
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded slightly. "Go, then. Prepare well. As for your squad with Itachi, I will have the Anbu notify you when the roster is full."
"Yes." Shūji bowed and left.
As he walked out of the Hokage Tower, the lamps of Konoha were just beginning to light up the streets. The evening wind was cool, blowing away the last traces of stale smoke from the office.
Promotion to Special Jōnin... Shūji didn't much care about the title itself, but he was more than satisfied with the practical benefits it brought: more freedom, access to more important missions, and a much larger paycheck.