"Seisui, can you stop acting so childish?"
"You'll regret this!"
"Don't forget—I'm your team leader!"
Seisui wore an expression of utter confidence. "From now on, if the team leader wants to pat your head, you can't refuse!"
"Damn you, Seisui!"
"Let's go see the Hokage first," Haru couldn't help but interject as the two of them started bickering again, pointing toward the Hokage's office.
"Alright," Seisui nodded, taking the lead toward the office.
Inside, Sarutobi Hiruzen was addressing a group of people, his expression grave.
"The Sunagakure suddenly launched a full-scale attack, claiming we assassinated one of their prodigies—and they even hung the body at their gates."
"Impossible! Konoha doesn't have such extreme ninja!" Danzo interjected.
"This is just the evil Sunagakure wanting war, using any excuse they can find!"
Hiruzen nodded, seemingly agreeing. Konoha was a peaceful village; there were no extremists here.
"Are we heading to the Sunagakure battlefield?" Jiraiya leaned against the wall, asking Hiruzen.
"Of course we are, you idiot," Orochimaru remarked, smirking as he licked his nose with his tongue.
"Orochimaru will serve as overall commander, Jiraiya will assist, and Tsunade will handle Chiyo's poisons and the medical camp."
"Damn you, Orochimaru!" Jiraiya protested silently, though he held back—arguing with the commander could bring bad consequences.
"And our ninja?" An elder asked, pointing to Hatake Sakumo and other strong clan members.
"You'll guard against the Kirigakure—they're stirring," Hiruzen explained.
"As for Shikamaru, you'll lead a team to assassinate Chiyo."
"Yes!"
"Danzo, take ROOT operatives to monitor the Iwa and Kumo villages. If they negotiate or cease hostilities, report back immediately."
"Understood," Danzo nodded, not daring to challenge Hiruzen at this moment.
At that moment, the Hokage's office door was knocked on. Hiruzen smiled.
"Here come Seisui and the others."
"Come in."
As expected, Seisui entered with Haru and Minato.
Seeing the number of people in the office, Seisui glanced at Jiraiya in surprise, but Jiraiya simply shook his head, signaling him to wait.
"Third Hokage, do you have a mission for us?"
Hiruzen nodded. "Yes, I have a task for you."
He turned to Orochimaru to explain. Hiruzen had deliberated long over the mission's command structure and privately consulted Orochimaru on strategy.
Orochimaru stepped forward, licking his nose and smiling. "Seisui-kun, this time we need you to intercept Sunagakure's advance. They've sent several hundred ninja ahead of their main force—some jonin, mostly chunin, and a few genin."
"They're the vanguard, scouting the path ahead. Intelligence is limited, but your mission is to stop them."
"You must delay them for at least three days so the war doesn't reach the Land of Fire."
Hiruzen added, "I originally planned for you to join Jiraiya on the front lines, but with your abilities, you're more than capable of this mission."
He looked pensive. Orochimaru had strongly recommended Seisui, and Hiruzen couldn't refuse such reasoning.
"This is a powerful ninja; he cannot be left unassigned," Hiruzen thought, his expression growing serious.
"Use that power if necessary! And come back alive!"
"This mission will also serve as your chunin-to-jonin exam. Succeed, and you'll officially be jonin," Hiruzen concluded.
The three exchanged glances. "Yes!"
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes slightly, a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugging at his lips.
The new wind was about to blow through this world. Let's see what this new wind can do, Seisui-kun, he thought.
Originally, Shikamaru had been assigned, but Seisui's insistence earned him the mission. The battlefield was a brutal place.
"You three aren't enough," Orochimaru commented.
"I've assigned one hundred ninja to join you. They're outside the village, under your command."
Seisui considered refusing, but thought better of it. This war was the perfect opportunity to build his reputation, and leading these soldiers was the best way to do so.
Exiting the Hokage's office, Seisui turned to Minato and Haru. "This mission is dangerous, but I believe we can handle it."
"Understood!" Minato nodded firmly. Though calm on the surface, his hand holding a kunai trembled slightly—a reflection of the fear that war naturally inspired.
"Let's go see what kind of strength the hundred men under my command possess."
"Right."
At the village outskirts, Seisui spotted a group wearing Konoha forehead protectors.
A small smile curved his lips, though he was slightly taken aback. He had expected at least half to be chunin, but most wore chunin vests with only a few exceptions.
Though Konoha didn't require chunin vests, chunin usually preferred them—they offered better protection and fit ninja habits.
Seisui sighed and walked toward them. At first, the soldiers ignored him, assuming he was just another ninja awaiting orders.
But as he approached, his aura erupted. The pressure made everyone feel as if a heavy weight pressed down on them, leaving them momentarily breathless.
Satisfied, Seisui reined in his aura. This display asserted his strength, discouraging any fools from causing trouble.
"I am your team leader, Yuki Seisui," he announced.
"These are your vice-captains—follow them if I'm absent," he said, gesturing to Minato and Haru.
"Yes!" The group responded loudly, no one daring to oppose him.
Seisui nodded and continued, "chunin, step forward."
"Genin, stay put."
Four chunin stepped out—exactly the four he had noticed in vests earlier, each accompanied by three genin forming their squads.
Seisui sighed inwardly. What could such a small team really do for him? They might cheer, but that was about it.
"Do you know your mission?" he asked.
"Yes!" one chunin answered, visibly excited.
The intensity of Seisui's aura had made him uncomfortable, yet he felt relieved. As the vanguard, he had even prepared a death note for himself—but now, under such leadership, survival seemed possible.
Even with just the display of presence, Seisui's strength reassured them. Though young, his skill was evident—a phenomenon not unusual among ninja.
Among the crowd, Asami Kumo also wore a Konoha forehead protector. Though he wasn't allowed access to secrets, Hiruzen had permitted him to join and start as a genin.
Seeing Seisui, Asami's face lit up with excitement. Finally, I can follow in the footsteps of a great master!
"Brother, calm down—it's war, not a festival," a nearby genin warned.
"Oh, right," Asami replied, suppressing his excitement, eyes filled with admiration for Seisui.
Another genin approached curiously. "Do you know the team leader? You seem… excited."
"Of course I know him!" Asami nodded eagerly. He had joined Konoha after Hiruzen's approval, doing C-rank missions to make a living, and had been tracking Seisui's name everywhere.
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100 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter
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