Hokage Building, Conference Room.
A large number of Konoha Jonin were seated around a huge conference table.
"Starting today, Habu Mokgetsu will assume the position of Hokage Assistant."
As soon as the meeting began, Sarutobi Hiruzen dropped a bombshell.
The Jonin exchanged glances, all with expressions of surprise.
No one doubted Mokgetsu's qualifications for the role, but for Mokgetsu to take on such a significant position at the age of twenty-two was unprecedented in Konoha.
Given the recent murmurs about the Fourth Hokage within Konoha, it was hard not to think further.
Clap! Clap!
Namikaze Minato was the first to applaud, a genuine smile on his face.
Although, in a sense, they were competitors, they had an excellent relationship.
So even though this appointment meant Mokgetsu would have a massive advantage in the future Hokage election, Namikaze Minato was genuinely happy for him.
Clap!
Tsunade clapped with enthusiasm, thinking it perfectly reasonable for Mokgetsu to host a grand feast in celebration of such wonderful news.
If not for the ongoing meeting, Tsunade would have considered making a Shadow Clone to go buy groceries.
Orochimaru applauded emotionlessly, looking at Mokgetsu with a complex gaze.
He once saw Mokgetsu as a valuable subordinate worth nurturing for his own path to becoming Hokage.
But before long, Mokgetsu's strength and reputation soared, now surpassing even him, with greater public support for Hokage.
Yet they had never clashed, so Orochimaru didn't dislike Mokgetsu, just felt a slight void of betrayal.
"Well done, Mokgetsu! Well done!" Jiraiya clapped cheerfully.
With such a capable ninja as Hokage Assistant, Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn't dwell on him, leaving Jiraiya free to seek his prophesied child and travel the world writing novels.
Nara Shikaku looked at Mokgetsu as if seeing an Immortal.
"Four years ago, who could have foreseen things developing this way," Nara Shikaku thought as he applauded.
Four years ago, casually asking any Konoha ninja or resident who they thought would most likely become the Fourth Hokage, and the answer would overwhelmingly be the Sannin.
This wasn't due to the mentor-student relationship with Sarutobi Hiruzen, but because the Sannin were the most outstanding ninjas in Konoha at the time.
Mokgetsu's rise to surpass them was something many Konoha Jonin didn't anticipate.
This wasn't about Jiraiya or Tsunade's resolve; now even if they wanted to contend with Mokgetsu, it would be tough.
"So it really is Hokage Assistant, Sage Mokgetsu had foresight!"
Obito clapped fervently, competing to have the loudest applause, showing reverence to the all-knowing Sage Mokgetsu.
His strong contender was Asuma, sitting not far from him.
Asuma originally didn't want to attend the meeting, as he'd been in a bad mood recently.
He was a genius Jonin, yet when mentoring a student still in Ninja Academy, he almost lost using Fire Release, only narrowly winning with the Breath of Wind Chakra Mode he recently learned on the battlefield, but to be cornered by a Ninja Academy student was embarrassing.
Discovering the student had just started the first year almost drove Asuma to depression.
He felt as if he was naturally countered by first-year students.
When he became a Genin, he confidently sparred with first-year Shisui but was easily defeated.
As a Jonin, fighting a first-year student, he almost slipped due to overconfidence, which was ridiculous.
But hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen mention important news about Mokgetsu, Asuma gathered himself to attend.
It was about his most esteemed Teacher Mokgetsu, and he, Sarutobi Asuma, had to show his support.
Clap, clap, clap!!
Thunderous applause erupted, a multitude of Jonin clapping earnestly to show their approval of the decision.
Among them were those whose children were taught by Mokgetsu, those with close relatives trained by him, and some who had been taught by him personally.
Despite Mokgetsu's relatively short teaching career, he frequently conducted special training, instructing quite a few.
Those familiar with Mokgetsu's teaching capability naturally held a favorable view.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Mitokado Homura, among other high officials, were also applauding.
There was nothing else for Sarutobi Hiruzen but optimism about Mokgetsu.
Mitokado Homura, having suffered a defeat at Hidden Mist, was indebted to Mokgetsu for turning the tide, a debt he wouldn't forget, so of course, he would show support.
As for Utatane Koharu, with everyone clapping, not clapping would be unsociable.
"I will certainly fulfill my duties seriously," Mokgetsu stood up and gave a small bow, speaking.
Another round of applause followed, all Jonin showing due respect without reluctance.
Sarutobi Hiruzen continued, "Namikaze Minato will assume the position of Jonin Squad Leader."
Clap!
Mokgetsu was the first to applaud, offering applause to Namikaze Minato.
Though a leader, this squad, encompassing all Konoha Jonin, was a high-ranking position within Konoha's hierarchy.
However, there's an awkward point: in the current Konoha, a Jonin Squad Leader can't attend high-level meetings.
This results in an awkward situation where the Jonin Squad Leader isn't involved in making truly important decisions.
Of course, it's still a good position, just not as good as being a Hokage Assistant.
Namikaze Minato is also very popular, so many Jonin clap sincerely for him.
[Disciple Uchiha Obito's strength increase raises his reputation and connections, increasing the probability of becoming Hokage moderately, gaining progress rewards—Chakra +2000, Choice of Drawing Scroll Fragment·S+ (Master Level), Fire Attribute Chakra Enlightenment Enhancement]
After Sarutobi Hiruzen announced the appointments of Mokgetsu and Namikaze Minato, Mokgetsu's system panel popped up with information.
Obito's life mission progress greatly increased, surpassing fifty percent and reaching a settlement point.
With the information appearing, many memories of Fire Attribute Chakra Nature Changes cultivation and Fire Release Ninjutsu cultivation flashed through Mokgetsu's mind, giving him more understanding of everything about Fire Attribute Chakra.
"A settlement reward for fifty percent is actually also an S+ Drawing Scroll." Mokgetsu expressed interest.
Previously, Shisui had blown a fragment, and now Obito had blown one too, and Might Guy was about to do it, so he could soon specify another type of S+ skill to draw.
Mokgetsu opened the panel to take a look at Obito's task progress after settlement.
[Name: Uchiha Obito]
[Life Mission: It's not being Hokage that makes you recognized by everyone, but being recognized by everyone that makes you Hokage]
[Main Goal: Become Hokage of Konoha Village]
[Task Progress: 54.6%]
Mokgetsu had to admit that the system was too realistic; with the promotion of both him and Namikaze Minato, the progress really surged.
Indeed, there's nothing wrong with it; being a Hokage Assistant along with a Jonin Squad Leader does provide significant support.
Next, Mokgetsu opened Might Guy's life mission panel.
[Name: Might Guy]
[Life Mission: Walk the path to becoming the strongest in Taijutsu]
[Main Goal: Become a top-tier Taijutsu expert in the Ninja World, whether by strength or fame, letting all ninjas know that one can become a strong without being proficient in Ninjutsu]
[Task Progress: 49.9%]
Might Guy was just a fraction of a percent away from achieving the fifty percent settlement reward.
Mokgetsu wasn't in a hurry, waiting for the news of victory in battle to continue fermenting, ensuring the rewards were secured.
"Next, the main work for Konoha is..."
After announcing some important appointments, Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke of matters regarding the Five Kage Summit and the Five Villages Alliance.
The entire meeting lasted for five hours before it concluded.
After the meeting, friends like Tsunade and Namikaze Minato, who had good relationships with Mokgetsu, all congratulated him, and Mokgetsu responded to each one.
Just as Mokgetsu was about to head home with Namikaze Minato and Tsunade, Sarutobi Hiruzen called Mokgetsu back.
"Why so many things?" Tsunade complained unhappily about the delayed feast.
She had even planned what dishes to buy, but ended up with this.
"Mokgetsu, we'll be going first." Namikaze Minato wasn't too concerned and smiled as he said goodbye to Mokgetsu.
He assumed they probably had some important matters to discuss at a high-level meeting.
While the Jonin meeting was nominally about deciding various major affairs of Konoha, the truly important matters of Konoha were decided by the high-level meeting.
Leaving the Jonin meeting's large conference room, Mokgetsu followed Sarutobi Hiruzen and Mitokado Homura and other high officials into the conference room specifically for high-level meetings.
"Some issues aren't suitable for discussion at the Jonin meeting, so they're discussed at the high-level meeting," Sarutobi Hiruzen explained to Mokgetsu at his first high-level meeting.
Mokgetsu nodded, indicating he understood.
"Let's take a look at the information first." Sarutobi Hiruzen continued.
He had already instructed Anbu to consolidate the latest intel collected on the Land of Rain.
Mokgetsu picked up the dossier in front of him and began to read through it.
After reading, Mokgetsu couldn't help but acknowledge that Konoha, as the top Great Ninja Village, was indeed competent.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had already discovered cooperation between Shimura Danzo and Hanzo, with the suspected goal of killing Ninja Master Sosuke.
The reason it was 'suspected' was mainly from Konoha's perspective on the incident, as there were many doubts on the Rain Village's side.
Even though Hanzo had died, Rain Village indeed hadn't suffered any losses, making it seem unlike a plot by Hanzo to kill Sosuke, but rather a coup planned by Sosuke in Rain Village, resulting in Hanzo's death.
Besides the intelligence about Shimura Danzo's death, the dossier also contained information about the ninja forces of Rain Village and the Ninja Sect.
Though it wasn't specific to single units, this intelligence was considered accurate.
However, Mokgetsu didn't pay much attention; for Rain Village and the Ninja Sect, this wasn't classified information.
They had so few people that they couldn't simply hide and do nothing.
The gap between ordinary Ninja Villages and the Five Great Ninja Villages was too vast, making it virtually impossible to prevent infiltration.
Unless Mokgetsu personally stepped in, with full sensory deployment and identifying spies through the panel, infiltration could be stopped.
But that was too much trouble; with that time, Mokgetsu might as well directly use his hard power to aggressively confront the enemy.