A/N: Our first goal has been reached, there will be a Double Release next Monday. Our target is to reach 700 powerstones by Sunday for a Triple Release next week Monday. This story's continuation depends on your support—so don't forget to give the story powerstones! New Goal: 700 Powerstones! Btw Goro's new stats will be revealed in the next chapter.
Team 10 each took a pay slip, and as they exited the room, the Hokage called for Goro to remain behind with Asuma.
'I knew he'd do this. It's becoming a pattern now. At least his reasons for holding me back are reasonable.'
"Yes, Lord Third," Goro replied, turning on his heels and standing in the center of the room again, next to Asuma.
Running his hand through his goatee while he looked at the report Asuma had submitted, Hiruzen began, "Somehow, you've managed to defeat a Rank S criminal who's also affiliated with the criminal group, the Akatsuki… In this report, Asuma says you performed a giant Rasengan and did most of the work yourself. I don't mean to doubt you both, but I presume you can understand how absurd this sounds. The only thing allowing me to believe you is the corpse you've recovered."
Looking up from the piece of paper and staring Goro in the eyes, Hiruzen interrogated, "Where did you learn that jutsu?"
"I thought I invented it. I've only recently learned that it was already a jutsu used by the Fourth Hokage," Goro answered, his tone sincere.
Hiruzen put the paper down and rested his head on his fist, his head tilted. "This child far surpasses Itachi in talent. It looks like I have no other choice…" Hiruzen mused.
Joining the conversation, Asuma added, "There's nothing I can teach this child. It'd be best if he got a promotion to Chunin, so he can have more freedom to take on the missions he wants and spend more time developing his skills. There's no use in assigning him any more Rank D missions."
Relieved that someone else shared his sentiment, Hiruzen stopped deliberating. "Goro, you've shown yourself to be a very capable shinobi. I'll give you a written exam, and if you complete it, you will be assigned the rank of Chunin. How does that sound?" Hiruzen asked.
'No. It isn't time yet to get promoted. I still have so much to gain from the Chunin Exams. The Forest of Death is a hub of corpses; I can't let that opportunity slip through my hands.'
Bowing courteously, Goro responded, "I want to do things the normal way. I want my peers to acknowledge my efforts and not think I had it easy."
Hiruzen smiled faintly upon hearing Goro's response. Sighing and leaning back in his chair in defeat, Hiruzen said, "The Will of Fire burns deep within you."
Asuma chuckled at Goro's response. "I never took you for the honorable type," he laughed.
"You're dismissed," Hiruzen said, prompting Goro to leave the room.
Outside the Hokage building, waiting for Goro, was Ino. Running over to him, Ino complained, "It took you long enough. What was the Hokage even talking to you about?"
"Some mission details, nothing important," Goro replied, keeping things brief.
Ino was eager to spend time with Goro but felt as if he always kept her at a distance. "So… are you busy?" Ino wondered.
'I planned to test out my new jutsu, so there's no loss in allowing her to come along.'
"I planned to test out my new jutsu," Goro answered, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
Ino had never seen Goro in such a mood. He was always level-headed and rarely revealed his thoughts or emotions. Feeling she would only get in his way, Ino sighed, "I'll leave you to it, then."
Goro grabbed her arm, preventing her from creating distance between them. "I wouldn't mind it if you came along," he said.
'I want to see how much chakra it would require to hold more than one person anyway.'
Ino agreed to the proposal in a heartbeat, and the two made their way to the training grounds.
Upon arriving at the training grounds, Goro threw together a random combination of hand signs and yelled, "Water Style: Phoenix Ride!"
Goro had made sure to only use 5% of his chakra, knowing that if he used more, he might accidentally create a creature that would flatten the forest.
Appearing in front of the two was a fully formed phoenix made of water, with two machine guns equipped under its wings.
'This jutsu is majestic. It could definitely compete with Sai's art jutsu.'
"Whoa…! So cool!" Ino yelled, unable to take her eyes off the mythical bird.
Goro smirked at Ino's comment; it was nice to hear someone appreciate his design. The bird was large enough to hold the two of them and stood at a grand 4 meters tall.
Jumping onto the phoenix, Goro reached down to help Ino onto the bird. Once she was on, Goro tried to move the phoenix with commands, but it didn't budge.
'System, how do I move this thing?'
[You can control the Water Phoenix's movement with your mind. To establish a link, tap your forehead to its head.]
Heeding the System's words, Goro leaned toward the bird, pressing his forehead against it. In that moment, Goro could feel the connection being made. It was as if a string tied his consciousness to the bird.
Goro willed the bird to fly, and as he intended, the bird began to flap its wings, taking to the sky.
Startled by the sudden takeoff, Ino wrapped her arms around Goro's waist and closed her eyes, her stomach churning from the movement.
"Ino, look around," Goro said.
Opening her eyes to a squint, Ino instantly fell in love with the sight below her. Although it made her queasy, watching the village from up in the sky was a sight she hadn't imagined witnessing.
Ino believed she would fall if she let go of Goro, so she held him even tighter while she enjoyed the view.
"Great, isn't it?" Goro yelled over the wind, his adrenaline pumping.
Ino did her best to nod, but the wind pressure was far too strong. Goro, however, understood that she agreed from her movements.
As the two flew beyond the village gates, they noticed a group of Cloud shinobi approaching the village.
'What's this about? I'm sure the Leaf and Cloud's relationship wasn't good… So how can Cloud shinobi turn up at our village? This can't be about the rogue ninja I killed, can it?'
Circling the group below, Ino finally found the courage to take a glimpse at the ground, but her eyes returned, confused.
"Who're those people?" she asked, trying to figure out the answer to her question.
Flying a little lower, Goro responded, "They're Cloud shinobi. I don't know what they're doing here, though…"
The Cloud ninja reached the village gates and began to argue with the Chunin who manned it. Izumo and Kotetsu were trying to keep things civil, but the Cloud ninja were adamant about entering the village without a permit.
'System, I get the gist of what's going on, but to confirm or refute my suspicions, I'd like to know what they're talking about.'
[They're claiming they were sent by the Raikage and that they're looking for a boy who killed a ninja from their nation.]
Having confirmed his suspicions, Goro's phoenix swooped down and landed in the midst of the trouble.
"Lay off the guards," Goro demanded, hopping off the phoenix.
Ino tried to dismount the phoenix, but the drop was too high for her. "Goro, wait!" she yelled, hoping to catch his attention.
One of the Cloud ninja pulled out a piece of paper, looked at it, then back at Goro and yelled "That's the bastard responsible!".
Reminder: A/N: Our target is to reach 700 powerstones by Sunday for a Triple Release next week Monday. This story's continuation depends on your support—so don't forget to give the story powerstones! New Goal: 700 Powerstones!