A few days later, in the morning.
The hanging sun brought a touch of warmth to the cold winter day.
Hokage's Office.
"…And that concludes the specifics of this mission."
Orochimaru reported his work with composure and clarity, neither humble nor arrogant.
After listening to the report, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but feel more and more satisfied with Orochimaru. He thought to himself that he truly had an outstanding disciple.
His favoritism was practically written all over his face. Jiraiya noticed this, crossing his arms behind his head in frustration. He huffed and turned his head away, thinking to himself that one day he would surpass Orochimaru and force their teacher to see him in a new light.
With the mission report complete, Hiruzen turned his gaze to the two men and one woman standing beside him. The passage of time had left visible marks on their faces.
Looking at them, Hiruzen couldn't help but reflect on his own fleeting youth.
He asked, "What do you think of Orochimaru?"
Danzo, devoid of emotion, replied, "He is a finished product."
This was an extremely high evaluation, signifying that Orochimaru possessed all the traits of an excellent ninja.
Danzo wasn't one to flatter, so this comment could be considered an objective assessment of Orochimaru's current abilities.
Following Danzo's statement, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado also gave their opinions, which echoed Danzo's sentiments.
Danzo shot them a sidelong glance, his expression showing disdain.
In their younger years, those two had been more reliable, but as time passed, they became increasingly indecisive.
The so-called "advisors" had essentially turned into Hiruzen and Danzo's echo chambers.
Hiruzen took a deep drag from his pipe, puffing out clouds of smoke as he pondered for a moment before speaking.
"I'm planning to promote him to jōnin. What do you think?"
PS: The original didn't clarify this, so I'm adding a little creative touch. With Orochimaru's talent, it's not too far-fetched, right?
At those words, the other three widened their eyes in astonishment.
"J-Jōnin?"
They wondered if they had heard incorrectly.
How old was Orochimaru again?
Not even thirteen yet, right?
Thinking about the age at which they had become jōnin compared to Orochimaru's current age, they couldn't help but feel envious.
And even so, they had already been considered quite young when they were promoted.
Of course, this had a lot to do with the times. Back in their era, it had been much more peaceful.
Back then, Konoha had the "God of Shinobi" watching over it, which kept other nations in check and deterred any reckless actions.
Unlike now, when small skirmishes frequently broke out.
Reflecting on this, the three couldn't help but feel sentimental about how quickly time had passed. In the blink of an eye, they had gone from young rookies to middle-aged individuals.
"The decision is yours to make," Danzo said, giving Hiruzen a deep look.
He knew all too well the relationship between Orochimaru and Hiruzen.
While Orochimaru undoubtedly had the ability to qualify for jōnin, Danzo wasn't naive enough to believe that was the sole reason for the promotion.
He was no longer the politically naive man he had once been.
"You make it sound like I'm some sort of dictator," Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled. "If anyone has any objections, feel free to voice them so we can discuss further. Konoha doesn't belong to me alone; it belongs to all of us."
If Tōshirō were present, he'd likely be silently ranting, thinking this scene resembled the righteous speeches of certain leaders from his previous life.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado exchanged glances.
Koharu was the first to speak. "Orochimaru is too young. Isn't it a bit early to promote him to jōnin?"
Homura countered, "Heroes have always emerged in their youth. I think Orochimaru is fine. His usual performance is evident to all, and I believe no one will object."
"But," Koharu added worriedly, "Orochimaru is the Hokage's disciple. Won't there be gossip about favoritism?"
Hiruzen interjected, "Koharu has a point. I didn't consider this thoroughly. Let's put this matter aside for now."
Homura tried to persuade him. "Come on, there's no harm in promoting talent, even if it's your own student. You all know the current times are unstable, with outstanding talents emerging everywhere—like that Salamander Hanzō from the Land of Rain, dominating the scene for now.
"As one of the five great nations, Konoha mustn't fall behind. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.
"I think promoting Orochimaru to jōnin is perfectly reasonable. Keeping him at chūnin would only hinder his growth.
"Hiruzen, stop hesitating."
Watching the others echo each other's sentiments, Danzo, a traditionalist ninja, inwardly scoffed.
"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures, huh…"
It was precisely because those in power could define when times were 'extraordinary' that it was even more important not to abuse authority.
But that was the beauty of power—it allowed you to turn black into white, and white into black. Power granted the final say.
Hiruzen nodded slightly and spoke at a calm pace. "Danzo, do you have any objections? Feel free to share them—this is a democracy, after all."
Danzo opened his eyes briefly and then closed them again. "I have no objections."
After all, the others had already covered both the good points and the concerns. What else was there to add?
Hiruzen, half-feigning reluctance, concluded, "I've considered all your opinions carefully. In that case, Orochimaru will temporarily take on the role of jōnin. We'll observe his performance over the short term. If it's not suitable, we can replace him and give him more experience. If it's suitable, he can stay on. What do you think?"
Danzo smirked inwardly.
"Temporary…"
Heh.
When he was younger, Danzo hadn't noticed how skillful his friend was. But with age and experience, he'd grown to appreciate just how clever Hiruzen truly was, especially in his choice of words—flawless.
A 'temporary' position held all the same authority as an official one. The difference was just in name.
With Hiruzen's final say, the other three had no objections.
And so, Orochimaru's promotion to jōnin was officially decided in this small council.
However, this raised a new issue: who would form a team with Orochimaru?
Homura brought up this question.
Hiruzen already had an idea in mind and replied smoothly, "Tsunade and Jiraiya."
The other three nodded. These two were also Hiruzen's students, so it made sense to group them with Orochimaru.
"But isn't the team missing one more person?" someone asked.
Hiruzen nodded. "Yes. Do you have any suggestions?"
Given the close relationship between these three students of Hiruzen, it was clear he had his reasons for keeping them together. No one wanted to cause trouble, so they all deferred to his decision.
Seeing their understanding, Hiruzen revealed his choice. "Since no one has any suggestions, I do have someone in mind. What do you think?"
"Who?"
The three were curious, wondering who Hiruzen had specifically chosen to join this team.
Under their expectant gazes, Hiruzen slowly said a name: "Tōshirō . Uchiha Tōshirō ."
(End of Chapter)
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