Chapter 27: Promotion to Chūnin
The rainy season in the Land of Grass arrived without warning.
Relentless rain soaked the forests and mountains, turning the ground into a sea of mud. The air was thick with the scent of wet earth, mixed with the faint, lingering smell of blood.
The battlefield between Konoha and Iwagakure fell into a strange stalemate.
Both sides built defensive positions deep within the forest, while surprise raids and counterattacks became part of everyday life. Neither side could completely crush the other.
Izumo crouched behind a temporary shelter. Rainwater streamed along the edge of his helmet, gathered at his chin, and dripped steadily onto the ground below.
He gripped his kunai tightly, his gaze sharp as an eagle's, piercing through the curtain of rain to lock onto the Iwagakure watchtower ahead.
The neural reaction speed granted by his expert-level Body Flicker Technique allowed him to catch even the smallest movements of the Iwagakure ninja on the tower—the way they shifted their stance, wiped their forehead protectors, even the rhythm of their breathing.
"Izumo, it's time to move," Kotetsu's voice came low and controlled. Then he added through tactical hand signals, "There are three Iwa ninja patrolling the western cliff. They'll rotate in five minutes. That's our only opening."
Izumo nodded.
A pale blue panel opened before his eyes:
[Basic Taijutsu: Expert (712/1000)]
[Body Flicker Technique: Expert (737/1000)]
[Substitution Technique: Expert (698/1000)]
[Water Release: Starch Syrup Capturing Field: Expert (342/1000)]
[Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall: Expert (318/1000)]
A full month of nonstop combat in this war had rapidly stacked up his battlefield experience, and the proficiency of his techniques had surged forward.
Especially his Body Flicker Technique and Basic Taijutsu. In battle after battle on the edge of life and death, they were steadily closing in on the upper limits of the expert level.
"Kurenai, use genjutsu to disrupt the watchtower's vision. Kotetsu, follow behind me and clean up any Iwagakure ninja who get separated," Izumo assigned quickly, as chakra quietly gathered in both of his legs.
Yūhi Kurenai nodded. Her hands flew through seals.
The movements of the Iwagakure ninja in the tower froze instantly, their gazes turning blank and unfocused.
The moment the genjutsu took effect, Izumo activated the Body Flicker Technique.
Pale blue chakra left afterimages in the rain, his speed nearly doubling from before.
Raindrops were blasted aside by the wave of chakra, creating a brief, empty corridor in the downpour.
He shot forward like a ghost across the muddy ground and, in the blink of an eye, arrived beneath the western cliff.
The three Iwagakure ninja on patrol had only just sensed something was wrong—
When Izumo's figure appeared behind the leftmost one.
The kunai in his right hand stabbed forward in a reverse grip, slipping past the enemy's armor and piercing straight into a vital point in his back. The motion was clean and decisive, without a single wasted movement.
"Enemy attack!" the ninja in the middle roared, yanking out his blade.
Izumo shifted his foot. His body spun like a top.
His left elbow smashed into the enemy's temple, while his right leg swept sideways, knocking down the ninja on the right.
Kotetsu rushed in from behind.
Wind Release chakra flowed into his kunai, and with a single slash, he cut down the fallen ninja.
The entire process took less than ten seconds.
All three Iwagakure ninja were killed instantly. They didn't even get a full warning out.
"Next, according to plan—we infiltrate and destroy their communication tower," Izumo said quietly.
Using the cliff as cover, he began to climb.
The rain made the rock surface slick, but the chakra in the soles of his feet was controlled with extreme precision, like a gecko clinging tightly as he moved steadily upward.
When he reached the base of the communication tower, he pulled three explosive tags from his ninja pouch and slapped them onto the main support beams.
"Fall back!" Izumo whispered.
The three of them retreated immediately.
A violent explosion thundered behind them. The communication tower collapsed with a deafening roar, mud and water spraying in every direction.
Raids like this had become daily occurrences in this prolonged battle.
Thanks to his incredible speed and precise tactics, Izumo repeatedly made major contributions.
The number of Iwagakure ninja he had killed had already passed into the double digits, including three Chūnin.
In one unexpected clash, he had even held off an Iwagakure jōnin alone for a full ten minutes, buying precious time for his teammates to retreat.
A week later, at Konoha's temporary command post, Namikaze Minato personally presided over Izumo's promotion ceremony.
"Kamizuki Izumo," Minato said, his voice gentle yet firm, "based on your performance on the battlefield, you already possess the strength and awareness of a Chūnin. From this moment on, you are officially promoted to Chūnin of Konoha, and appointed as the temporary captain of Team Eight."
"I hope you continue to uphold your original intent—protect your comrades, and protect Konoha."
Izumo answered with deep respect.
"Thank you, Minato-sama. I won't disappoint this trust."
Akimichi Doto clapped him on the shoulder, pride written all over his face.
"Do your best. You're already better than I ever was back then. I'll be following Minato on a mission next. Team Eight is in your hands now."
Kotetsu and Kurenai stepped forward, their faces filled with excitement.
"Izumo, congratulations on becoming a Chūnin!" Kotetsu slapped him hard on the back. "From now on, you're our captain!"
A faint blush rose on Kurenai's cheeks. She looked at Izumo with gentle eyes and spoke softly.
"Captain… please take care of us from now on."
Minato watched the three of them with a warm smile.
"Also, Team Eight, I'm giving you three days off. Return to the village to rest, restock your ninja tools and supplies. Three days from now, report back to the Land of Grass battlefield."
"Izumo-kun, you should also go to the Logistics Department to register your promotion and collect your Chūnin uniform."
Izumo nodded.
But in his heart, he was already calculating.
Three days back in the village meant three full days he could squeeze every last drop of training from.
The breakthroughs in his Body Flicker Technique, Taijutsu, and Substitution Technique were getting closer and closer.
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