"Yo... isn't this the Black Flash?"
Just as Gojo Yoru arrived at the Hokage's office, he almost thought he had walked into the wrong set.
Looking at the teasing Sarutobi Hiruzen, the corner of Gojo Yoru's mouth twitched slightly, and he feigned a "bitter smile": "Don't make fun of me, Hokage-sama. On the first day at the border, I exposed crucial intelligence and indirectly caused our side to enter a three-front war. If I had a choice, I wouldn't want this title or this way of becoming famous at all."
"This has nothing to do with you."
Sarutobi Hiruzen really thought Gojo Yoru felt guilty and immediately comforted him: "The Land of Earth's target has been our Land of Fire from the beginning. Even if you and Tsunade hadn't been exposed, they would have created other opportunities to tear open the border defense line and declare war on us."
"As long as two countries declare war on us, the other one will definitely not let this opportunity pass. A three-front war was just a matter of time."
"On the contrary, although you and Tsunade were exposed, you greatly reduced the time for our Land of Fire to develop the antidote formula and injured the Salamander, so we don't have to worry about Hanzo the Salamander's attack on the Land of Rain front for now. This greatly boosted our morale, which is a great merit."
To encourage Gojo Yoru, Sarutobi Hiruzen took out a secret weapon he had long decided on and announced solemnly: "Genin Gojo Yoru, in view of your over-fulfillment of the high-level infiltration mission and assisting companions in repelling strong enemies, obtaining hope for our army to crack the Salamander's poison, becoming a model for the new generation of ninjas, and displaying excellent ninja qualities, I now officially promote you specially in the name of the Third Hokage."
"From this day forth, you are a Tokubetsu Jonin of Konoha, ninja registration number: 007185."
The crying baby gets the milk.
Gojo Yoru didn't expect that just by pretending a little, he would jump two levels, promoted from Genin to Tokubetsu Jonin.
Looking at Sarutobi Hiruzen's posture, if his overall qualities hadn't yet met the conditions to become an all-rounder Jonin, he would probably want to promote him to a Jonin belonging to Konoha's higher-ups.
This was one of the few benefits of war; it was easy to gain merits and become a hero, allowing for special promotions without taking any exams.
More importantly, this promotion method wouldn't be blocked or envied by anyone.
The battlefield is one of the fairest stages; if you have the ability, you can get what you want.
In the original work, Namikaze Minato relied on his performance in the Third Great Ninja War to defeat Orochimaru and Shimura Danzo, who had participated in both the Second and Third Wars, to become the Fourth Hokage of Konoha.
There were only a few ninjas with titles in the Ninja World, and each was a powerhouse recorded in the bingo books of various countries.
Even so, few people's fame could be louder than the current Gojo Yoru.
With merits, fame, and strength... if he remained just a Genin, it would instead arouse doubts and dissatisfaction among the civilian ninja group.
If a big shot with the special talent to learn a Super S-rank Ninjutsu and recognized by the Demigod of the Ninja World couldn't be specially promoted, then wouldn't there be no promotion path for them, the civilian ninjas?
Thinking this through, Gojo Yoru stood slightly at attention and said equally solemnly: "Yes, thank you, Hokage-sama."
Seeing Gojo Yoru "recover," Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but reveal a gratified smile, his eyes full of appreciation and satisfaction for this grand-disciple.
Gojo Yoru didn't know that the intelligence about him learning the Flying Thunder God Technique at only eleven years old was spread with Sarutobi Hiruzen's help in the dark.
If Gojo Yoru hadn't been exposed or become famous, Sarutobi Hiruzen would have let him hide forever.
Since he was already famous, then make the fame the loudest, becoming the benchmark for the new generation of Konoha and a model ninja.
This was the reason Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't let Gojo Yoru join the Anbu.
If he simply wanted to hide Gojo Yoru, no place was more suitable than the Anbu.
Lighting the tobacco in his pipe, Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled: "Your file has been upgraded in advance. After you go out later, you can take your forehead protector to receive the Jonin flak jacket. Now tell me, do you have any urgent matters for coming back this time?"
Gojo Yoru's next words made Sarutobi Hiruzen choke on the smoke.
"Tsunade-sama's brother sacrificed himself."
"Cough, cough..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen coughed repeatedly, his face flushed red, looking at Gojo Yoru in disbelief: "You... you mean Nawaki?"
"Mhm."
Seeing Gojo Yoru nod, Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze was filled with incredulity: "How is this possible? Isn't Nawaki a member of the support unit? Even if he stayed there, he was just rotating shifts with the on-duty support unit, either responsible for logistical transport or providing medical help. Intelligence gathering is handled by reconnaissance teams and Anbu; he only needed to transmit intelligence. How could something happen to him? Was he assassinated by infiltrating enemy ninjas?!"
Even Sarutobi Hiruzen found it incredible, showing how absurd it was.
Gojo Yoru recounted what happened, and Sarutobi Hiruzen was instantly rendered speechless.
Constantly puffing smoke, Sarutobi Hiruzen's tightly furrowed brows could crush a fly, looking worried, his mood completely opposite to just now.
He had thought Nawaki died in an assassination by enemy ninjas; after all, ninjas capable of infiltrating were at least at the Tokubetsu Jonin level.
He never expected that Nawaki was actually blown up by explosive tags.
And recklessly venturing into a dangerous area, neither following the team nor staying behind his superiors, not even using a Shadow Clone to scout ahead...
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't know how to evaluate this.
If he had only been injured by the explosion, Sarutobi Hiruzen would be furious and scolding loudly right now.
Now that the deceased was the priority, Sarutobi Hiruzen could only remain silent.
Gojo Yoru took the initiative to speak: "Hokage-sama, do you want to go comfort Tsunade-sama?"
"If he died in the line of duty, I should rightfully do so." Sarutobi Hiruzen said faintly, "But now is wartime. With my status, I cannot engage in such special treatment. All ninjas who sacrifice in the war will be given a grand burial and commendation equally afterward, their names carved on the Memorial Stone."
"Regarding Nawaki's death, I deeply regret it, but he was also a member of Konoha and needs to abide by such rules."
"As for Tsunade, she is already an independent Jonin; she will walk out of it herself."
Sarutobi Hiruzen, whose mood had hit rock bottom, no longer had the interest to chat with Gojo Yoru about family matters. He forced a smile and said, "Go down and receive your flak jacket. Your status is no longer the same as before. Spend more time learning from Orochimaru and improve your overall qualities to prepare for the next promotion. I will record the merits you establish on the battlefield. If you want to exchange for Ninjutsu in the future, you can come to me at any time."
"Yes."
Gojo Yoru nodded, then turned and walked out of the Hokage's office.
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