Guy couldn't stand it on the spot when he saw Obito become a Jonin.
The aura of youth surged wildly, and Guy was fired up: "Ah! Obito's youth has been recognized, how can I still be so slack?"
"Let my youth burn!"
Guy roared, running out of the Hokage Office on his hands.
"..."
A group of people watched Guy's inexplicable outburst, not knowing what to say.
The Third Hokage sat in his chair, slowly exhaling a puff of smoke as he watched Obito's ecstatic expression.
Obito's Jonin advancement ceremony was very perfunctory.
In the Ninja Village, a Jonin is considered part of the lower-upper management.
Although it doesn't require a fixed unified exam like the Chunin advancement, the process for advancing to Jonin is extremely cumbersome.
In terms of ability, one must master at least two Chakra nature transformations and possess the ability to lead a squad, plan tactics, and handle emergencies.
In terms of missions, one must complete a large number of B-rank missions, be able to complete A-rank missions independently, and have experience participating in S-rank missions.
Finally, when applying, one must receive recommendations from many Jonin, followed by the Hokage's approval and a comprehensive evaluation before a qualified Jonin can be appointed.
Even in times of war, when things are simplified and the process is compressed by half, it wasn't as fast as Obito's.
The Third Hokage promoted Obito to Jonin purely out of a small whim of his Hokage authority.
Infiltrating Madara's lair and learning about the Eye of the Moon Plan is equivalent to a 3S-rank mission.
Furthermore, the Third Hokage also wanted to win over the Uchiha, using the signal of promoting Obito to Jonin to tell them.
Following Madara only leads to pipe dreams; only by following the Village can one have meat to eat.
The Third Hokage looked around, searching for any sign of the Uchiha.
Finally, his eyes fixed on two unfamiliar members of the Aburame Clan, and he smiled: "Mikoto, Itachi, there's no need for this. Ryou is Ryou, and Uchiha is Uchiha."
"I won't lump him together with your Uchiha Clan. Besides, you Uchiha have already stripped Ryou of his surname and expelled him from the clan."
Mikoto and Itachi dispelled their Transformation Jutsu and returned to their original forms.
"I'm sorry, my brother has caused trouble for the Village."
Mikoto then apologized to Ryoma.
Ryoma was stunned; so these two weren't from the Aburame Clan!
Ryoma didn't blame them much; instead, he adjusted his sunglasses, somewhat concerned about Itachi.
Because Itachi, at only a few years old, wasn't yet of age to attend the Ninja Academy, yet he had already mastered a Transformation Jutsu at the level of an Academy graduate.
This talent was a bit exaggerated.
The Uchiha truly are a clan of calamity; the greater their ability, the greater the disaster they cause.
Everyone in the Hokage Office noticed Itachi's innate Ninja talent.
The Third Hokage took a puff of smoke and sighed while looking at Itachi: "Itachi, your father is perhaps being too strict with you."
Everyone knew about Uchiha Fugaku's practice of sending his few-year-old son to the battlefield.
This was the tradition of the Warring States Period.
The Third Hokage didn't comment further; if he had Fugaku's ruthlessness, Asuma wouldn't be as rebellious as he is now.
The Uchiha Clan is harsh to others but even harsher to themselves; they are an extremely contradictory clan.
Itachi spoke like a little adult: "The Village is in trouble. Although I am not a Ninja, I am a member of Konoha's elite clan."
"I have an obligation to stand up and protect Konoha."
His words made the Third Hokage laugh: "Yes, wherever the leaves fly, the fire will burn. The shadow of the fire will shine upon the Village, and new leaves will sprout."
Itachi looked on with yearning.
Mikoto felt a bit wary; she shouldn't have brought Itachi.
The Third Hokage looked at Itachi for a moment and said, "Itachi, do you want to go to the Ninja Academy?"
The entry age for the Ninja Academy is 6, and Itachi was still quite young.
Itachi clenched his fist: "I do. I want to become a Ninja as soon as possible, and one day, I'll bring my uncle back."
Everyone laughed kindly.
The impression Ryou gave now was that of Madara's top lackey, with strength comparable to the Sannin.
Itachi's idea was a bit naive.
Kushina squeezed the white cat clone Ryou had left behind and laughed: "Itachi, the New Year is in a couple of days. During the first lunar month, you should get a haircut to curse your uncle to death."
"Hahaha..."
Everyone laughed, with Jiraiya laughing the hardest.
Itachi was stunned, touched his hair, and an idea formed in his mind.
The Third Hokage specially approved a Ninja Academy admission letter for Itachi.
"Itachi, with your talent, you'll graduate from the Ninja Academy in no time. I look forward to you defeating your uncle."
"Yes!"
Itachi happily took the admission letter. He thought it would take another year or two, but he didn't expect to enter the Ninja Academy so soon.
He would become a Ninja as soon as possible, grow strong, and bring his uncle back to face judgment.
One of the Anbu standing guard in the Hokage Office looked at Itachi and smiled with relief.
Mikoto gripped Itachi's hand tightly. Her greatest fear had come true: Itachi was entering the Ninja world early.
Fugaku might be proud, but Mikoto was extremely wary, fearing that Itachi would become a pawn for the higher-ups.
The Third Hokage then said to Mikoto: "Mikoto, Obito's Sharingan was awakened on the battlefield, so he probably isn't familiar with how to use it yet."
"Your Uchiha Clan must teach him well how to use the Sharingan."
Mikoto nodded: "Yes!"
This was certain; Obito returning alive and exposing the Eye of the Moon Plan was undoubtedly a great achievement, which eased the intense conflict between the Uchiha and the Village to some extent.
Furthermore, the Uchiha also wanted to figure out how Obito could use Wood Release.
An Uchiha using the First Hokage's Wood Release was too insane!
Three tomoe Sharingan, Wood Release, and the experience of infiltrating Madara's side... No matter how you looked at it, Obito was no longer the Uchiha everyone used to mock.
Mikoto glanced at Kakashi's eye socket; the Sharingan needs a complete pair to exert its true power.
Would Kakashi return Obito's Sharingan?
Time passed minute by minute, and the Village's Jonin began to gather.
The Third Hokage prepared to clear the room.
"Asuma, you have nothing proper to do all day. Hurry home and practice your Ninjutsu."
Asuma rubbed his head, somewhat impatient: "Practice what? What's there to practice with those basic Ninjutsu?"
"I feel like I'm qualified to start learning high-level Ninjutsu now."
Even a dead last like Obito had become a Jonin; Asuma felt he needed to catch up.
The Third Hokage scolded: "With your meager Chakra, you can't learn jack about high-level Ninjutsu. Learn the basics first."
Asuma curled his lip in disdain and said, "The old man, it's almost the end of the world, why still study the basics?"
"Hurry up and take out the scroll of seals so we can each have a Forbidden Jutsu."
"One Forbidden Jutsu each? Hmph, you can't even master a B-rank Ninjutsu and you want to learn Forbidden Jutsu?"
The Third Hokage couldn't take it anymore, standing up and reaching for his pipe to whack Asuma's thick head.
Young people shouldn't be too arrogant!
Asuma quickly hid behind Minato.
Minato smiled awkwardly and then said to the Hokage-sama, "Hokage-sama, I would like to apply for a high-level Genjutsu from the scroll of seals for Kurenai."
"Oh?!"
Kurenai was still staying in Iwagakure, waiting for Ōnoki to confirm the news of Madara's resurrection.
Kurenai couldn't have Kurenai apply for the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique for her, so Minato, as the captain of this mission, applied for it on her behalf.
The Third Hokage had the Anbu bring the scroll of seals, made a copy of the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, and gave it to Kurenai.
"Kurenai, there's no need to use Shinku's merits for the exchange. Consider it your reward for this mission!"
Although the mission failed, the opponent was Madara after all; even if the Hokage went, there would be no coming back.
After all, they rescued Obito and exposed the Eye of the Moon Plan, so it counts as a major achievement, doesn't it?
Kurenai took it with some surprise: "Thank you, Hokage-sama!"
With the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, Kurenai would have a trump card to compete with the Uchiha.