Behind the desk sat Minato Namikaze, reviewing several scrolls before setting them aside as Shinji entered.
Shinji stopped in front of the desk, wearing his new jonin flak jacket.
Minato studied him for a moment before speaking. "Congratulations again on your promotion."
Shinji nodded. "Thank you, Lord Hokage."
Minato leaned back slightly. "However… your promotion brings up a matter that needs to be addressed."
Shinji waited. "You previously served in ANBU as a special Jonin."
Minato's tone was calm but direct. "Now that you are a full jonin, that assignment must be reevaluated."
He raised two fingers. "You have two options." "First, you may return to ANBU." "Your missions would remain classified, operating in the shadows as before."
Then he lowered one finger. "Or you may serve openly as a jonin of Konoha."
Minato gestured toward the window overlooking the village. "You would lead squads. Command missions. Represent the village publicly."
Shinji crossed his arms slightly.
Minato pulled out a small scroll and slid it across the desk. "The intelligence division confirmed something last week."
Shinji opened it.
Inside was a report from Konoha's intelligence network.
One line stood out immediately.
Sunagakure Bingo Book
A Rank Target
Alias: Red Eye Reaper
Shinji closed the scroll quietly.
Minato continued.
"Your actions during the war and several border operations have already drawn attention."
"You are already known outside the village."
"Usually shinobi that get a bounty in war time are taken off soon after. Especially when the villages go into an alliance"
"But Sunagakure has kept you in"
Shinji exhaled slowly. "So the mask doesn't really hide anything anymore."
Minato nodded. "Not from everyone."
He leaned forward slightly. "That's why this choice matters."
"If you return to ANBU, you will still operate mostly unseen by our own village."
"But if you serve openly…"
He paused.
"The name 'Red Eye Reaper' will spread much faster."
The room fell quiet.
Shinji thought for a moment.
Then he spoke. "…May I have a day to decide?"
Minato nodded immediately. "Of course."
Shinji bowed slightly. "Thank you, Lord Hokage."
As he turned to leave, Minato spoke once more.
"Whatever you decide"
Shinji paused.
"You've already proven your loyalty to this village."
Shinji nodded once before leaving.
Instead of heading home, Shinji walked toward the edge of the village. Toward the same training ground where he had spent the past three months training.
Leaning against a wooden post was Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The old shinobi glanced over as Shinji approached.
"Trouble deciding?"
Shinji sighed slightly. "You knew."
Hiruzen chuckled.
"I have my ways."
Shinji sat down on the wooden steps nearby. "They want me to choose."
Hiruzen nodded. "ANBU or jonin."
Shinji leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Yeah."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Finally Shinji broke the silence. "I don't know if it's selfish" He stared at the dirt beneath his feet. "But if I stay in ANBU…" "No one in the village will know what I've done."
Hiruzen listened quietly.
Shinji continued. "All the missions." "They just become reports locked away somewhere."
"But outside the village…"
He exhaled. "They already know."
Shinji smirked faintly. "Suna has me in their bingo book."
Hiruzen chuckled softly. "I'm aware."
Shinji glanced at him. "You knew about the nickname too?"
Hiruzen nodded. "Red Eye Reaper."
Shinji shook his head slightly.
"Sounds dramatic."
Hiruzen laughed. "Bingo books usually are."
Shinji looked out across the training ground.
"They already see me as a threat." "So I was thinking…" "If that's the case" "Then maybe I should lean into it."
Hiruzen said nothing.
Shinji continued. "I want to be Konoha's deterrent." "I want other villages to remember that name and think twice before they start something."
Hiruzen was quiet for a long moment. Finally he stepped forward and stood beside Shinji. "You're not wrong." "A powerful shinobi whose name spreads across the shinobi world can become a deterrent."
He glanced toward the village.
"Other villages still remember names."
"The White Fang."
"The Yellow Flash."
Shinji understood immediately.
Hiruzen continued.
"But fame has consequences." "When your name spreads" "Enemies begin preparing for you." "They study you." "They plan ways to defeat you."
Shinji didn't look worried. If anything, he seemed calm.
Hiruzen smiled slightly. "Yes I expected that reaction." He placed a hand on Shinji's shoulder.
"But listen carefully." "You're already in their bingo books." "There's no hiding from that anymore."
The old shinobi gestured toward the village below.
"But the next generation of Konoha shinobi" "They need someone they can see." "Someone they can follow."
"You're already strong." "But if you hide behind an ANBU mask…" "The village loses something."
Shinji frowned slightly. "What?"
Hiruzen smiled faintly. "A symbol."
He looked toward the Hokage Monument. "Strength that stands in the open." "Strength that inspires others."
"So you think I should stay a jonin."
Hiruzen nodded. "I think you should let the world learn your name."
He began walking away slowly.
"And if the Red Eye Reaper becomes a deterrent to Konoha's enemies"
He glanced back with a slight grin. "Then I suppose that works out for everyone."
Shinji smirked. "Yeah."
Tomorrow he would return to the Hokage Tower. And give the Hokage his answer.