Renjiro stood in front of the mirror, his reflection staring back at him with a mixture of anticipation and resolve. Today was special. The day he would become a Jounin. The thought filled him with an odd sense of satisfaction, though it was laced with a hint of unease.
The floating islands were still fresh in his mind—the conversation with Momo and Tenjin still echoing in his thoughts—but none of that mattered right now. At least not for now.
His hand hovered over the Konoha flak jacket folded neatly on the edge of the bed, the one he would soon wear as a mark of his promotion. All Konoha Shinobi got a new one whenever they became jounins despite them all looking the same. Renjiro did not quite understand why but when he asked around, Miwa Told him that it was to signify his new chapter in life.
He had spent the last two months after the force to focus entirely on his skills. He knew he had to be ready for whatever the future held, especially if he planned to take on multiple missions in one sitting.
'I didn't expect this promotion so soon,' Renjiro thought, pulling the jacket over his tunic and fastening the metal plates on his arms. His scarlet hair, slightly longer than before, fell into place naturally as he tightened his forehead protector, the familiar leaf symbol reflecting in the morning light. He had hoped to begin his marathon of missions, but the village had other plans for him.
Just as he was preparing to embark on those missions, he was informed of the sudden development—he was to stay in the village, and more surprisingly, he was to be promoted to the rank of Jounin.
A handful of Jounins had given their recommendations, apparently impressed by Renjiro's abilities and accomplishments. That news had blindsided him. His time in the police force had been gruelling, but hardly the place to display the level of prowess required for such a promotion.
'The village must be bolstering its ranks for the next war,' Renjiro had thought.
The timing was too convenient. With tensions mounting across the nations, it made sense. They were looking for capable shinobi, and Renjiro's high bounty alone spoke volumes about his strength and reputation in the wider shinobi world.
The number of people he had killed in combat was not insignificant, but that wasn't something he ever liked to dwell on. Nevertheless, it was clear that his abilities were being recognized, even if he didn't feel he had done anything special.
The thought made him chuckle bitterly. 'Funny how things work out.'
With his preparations complete, Renjiro made his way through the village, the usual bustling streets feeling more alive than usual. The Hokage's building loomed in the distance, and today, it wasn't just another mission briefing or standard report. It was the Jounin promotion ceremony.
He arrived at the Hokage's building just as the sun reached its zenith, casting long shadows over the village. Outside the building, a few shinobi were already gathered, dressed in their finest attires.
Renjiro scanned the faces but found none of them familiar. He didn't expect to know many of them, given how isolated his training had been in recent months.
Standing a bit apart from the group, Renjiro felt a growing tension in the air. As the minutes passed, more shinobi arrived, each one carrying themselves with the quiet confidence of a seasoned warrior. Renjiro wasn't sure if he should be anxious or excited, but his heart beat steadily as he awaited the arrival of the Hokage.
And then, as if on cue, a hush fell over the crowd.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, entered the courtyard, his presence commanding immediate respect. He was followed closely by several notable figures, including the three village elders, Nara Shiba, and the other clan heads.
Among them was a figure Renjiro had never seen in person before—Danzo Shimura.
Renjiro narrowed his eyes as he observed the man. This was the first time their paths had crossed, though Danzo's reputation preceded him.
The man would later be a shadowy figure in the village, one whose influence was felt more than seen. Yet standing here now, face-to-face with him, Renjiro found himself unimpressed.
Danzo's appearance was ordinary, his gait stiff and formal. For all the stories of his ruthlessness and the Sharingans he was going to possess, the man didn't strike Renjiro as intimidating.
Renjiro did not even get the urge to use his chakra field to detect his strength as he did whenever he came across powerful people. Which spoke a lot about the current state of Danzo.
'I guess without all those Sharingans, he's not as menacing as I thought he'd be,' Renjiro mused, a flicker of amusement dancing across his mind.
As Danzo took his place near the podium, Renjiro's gaze lingered on him. For a moment, their eyes met, and Renjiro didn't bother to look away like anyone in his position would normally do. If anything, his gaze hardened.
There was something about Danzo that stirred a deep disgust in him—an instinctual repulsion that he couldn't quite place. He kept his expression neutral, but the feeling gnawed at him. Danzo's eyes, calculating and cold, seemed to reflect the same unease.
Danzo's brow furrowed, clearly unsettled by Renjiro's unwavering stare. He could sense the disdain emanating from the young red-haired shinobi. It was subtle but unmistakable.
For a moment, Danzo felt an odd sensation, almost like the presence of danger—but it passed quickly, replaced by an inscrutable calm. If only he knew that he had just met the author of his demise, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.
Turning away from Renjiro, Danzo's focus shifted to the ceremony, but the brief exchange lingered in the air between them.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped forward to address the crowd, "Today marks an important occasion for the village of Konoha," he began, his voice warm but firm.
"The shinobi standing before me have shown remarkable dedication, skill, and perseverance. They embody the Will of Fire, the belief that we protect the village and its future, not for ourselves, but for the generations to come."
Renjiro listened carefully, though the speech was as expected. The Will of Fire had been mentioned, again. At this point, Renjiro could predict Hiruzen's speech and he would hit the mark most of the time.
Next, Nara Shiba, the current Jounin commander, took the stage. His eyes scanned the group of new Jounins, and Renjiro couldn't help but feel the weight of his scrutiny.
"As Jounins, you are no longer just shinobi," Shiba said, his voice cold and efficient. "You are leaders. You will command teams, make critical decisions on the battlefield, and ensure that the missions you undertake are completed with precision. The village will rely on you more than ever before."
Then the rest of the ceremony proceeded with little fanfare. Each new Jounin was called forward, their promotion made official by the Third Hokage himself.
When Renjiro's name was called, he stepped forward, his expression calm, but his heart raced slightly. Hiruzen's hand rested on his shoulder for a brief moment, a gesture of approval and trust.
"You've earned this, Renjiro," Hiruzen said quietly, his voice filled with warmth.
As the ceremony concluded, the newly promoted Jounins were then allowed to interact. Which was good since Renjiro had finally seen some familiar faces.
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