"Why haven't I seen you these past few days?"
Mitarashi Anko didn't mind being pushed away again, and said casually.
"Training." Lin Ke said concisely.
Of course, he was training when he had nothing to do. What else could he do? The Third Hokage had approved quite a few Ninjutsu for him, but unfortunately, he had a hard time learning any Release Techniques other than Earth Release. Nature transformation was different from Taijutsu. Without being able to use cheats, he was just like an ordinary ninja, having to take his time.
After all, he had only been a ninja for a few years. Others would master two types by their twenties. After the Konoha Crush Plan, nothing would happen for a short time for sure. Now, besides Earth Release, he was working hard to cultivate Wind Release.
There was no way around it. The concept of Lightning Release countering Earth Release was deeply ingrained in him from the manga. Being directly hit by Lightning Release would render even the most powerful Earth Release useless.
To ensure that he wouldn't be countered by Release Techniques one day, his next goal was definitely Wind Release, which could counter Lightning.
Cultivating other Release Techniques would also enhance his control over Chakra, which could be considered killing two birds with one stone.
"Let's go to Tea Street together later. My treat." Mitarashi Anko didn't back down because of his coldness and was still very enthusiastic.
Before Lin Ke could speak, a teasing voice rang out at the door, "Such an enthusiastic and proactive girl is bound to suffer, Anko."
Asuma walked in and greeted, "Yo."
Mitarashi Anko rolled her eyes and asked, "Where's Kurenai?"
"Kakashi called her to help." Asuma plopped down on the sofa. "I heard it's because one of his subordinates has talent in Genjutsu... Hmm, it should be that Haruno Sakura."
"Oh~" Mitarashi Anko recalled, "I remember, the female ninja who fought against the Yamanaka girl in the Chunin Exams. Even though her Taijutsu, strength, speed, and even Chakra were inferior to her opponent, she could use better Chakra control skills to fight her to a draw..."
"So she also has talent in Genjutsu."
She sighed. Even among their group of Jonin, the new generation who showed talent at a young age would be remembered.
This was one of the meanings of the Chunin Exams.
As long as you showed yourself, even if you couldn't be promoted to Chunin, you would still be remembered by the higher-ups. If you had some shining points, you might be appreciated.
Haruno Sakura had only shown some performance in the preliminaries. If she performed well in the main competition, she might be favored by the nobles or even the Daimyo.
"Speaking of which, Lin Ke, you were just promoted to Special Jonin... You should be used to this kind of life, right?" Asuma asked, stroking his chin.
The subtext of this was, if there's anything you're not used to, tell us.
Mitarashi Anko slapped her forehead and marveled, "Lin Ke is a Medical Ninja, tsk tsk tsk, and the first Medical Ninja to be with us..."
Are these Jonin usually so bored?
Lin Ke listened to the Jonin chatting nearby, either gossiping or talking about what to eat and drink recently, or their favorite novels, movies, and the merchandise they had bought.
Over there, there were even two Jonin chatting about when to go to Funfun Street while showing strange smiles.
Although most of the missions were confidential, weren't the things you were talking about too down-to-earth?
He originally thought that Jonin would be much more serious, earnest, and mysterious, but he never expected them to be like this.
"There's nothing I'm not used to." Lin Ke sighed silently, feeling disillusioned with the mysterious life of Jonin, and gave a lukewarm answer.
"Kakashi is treating us to Sake House today, do you want to come along, Lin Ke?" Asuma continued to ask.
Mitarashi Anko spoke first, "Hey, hey, hey, Lin Ke is still too young to drink, don't lead him astray..." She's protecting him quite quickly, this guy.
Moreover, even though the average lifespan of ninjas during the war-torn era was only thirty years, the drinking age now was a full twenty years.
An Anbu opened the door and said, "Special Jonin Lin Ke, the Third Hokage summons you."
"Yes."
Lin Ke stood up from between the two of them.
...
Hokage Office.
"Third Hokage."
Lin Ke nodded as he entered the room, and then noticed that he wasn't the only one in the room. There was also his teacher Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Haiichi, Akimichi Choza, the former Ino-Shika-Cho trio, Hyuga Hiashi, Inuzuka, Aburame...
Basically, they were all heads of ninja clans. Except for him, only Hatake Kakashi was alone.
An old, gloomy man with bandages wrapped around his head, smiling at him—could this old guy be Shimura Danzo?
Lin Ke felt strange in his heart and followed his teacher's beckoning, standing behind the former Ino-Shika-Cho.
What is a truly high-end circle?
Ordinary Jonin probably aren't even qualified to enter, and he's just a Special Jonin...
Or maybe we should just look at the heroic Third Hokage in the middle.
"Regarding the selection of personnel to welcome the Land of Wind Mission," Nara Shikaku said, seeing him standing obediently in the back, "I recommend my student, Lin Ke, to represent me."
"Objection."
"Approval."
"Approval."
After a round of voting, the Third Hokage finalized the decision: "Then Hyuga Hiashi will lead the team, with Kakashi and Lin Ke as members, to welcome the Land of Wind Mission."
Hatake Kakashi cast a helpless glance.
As the largest clan in Konoha Village, the head of the Hyuga clan, Hyuga Hiashi, is indeed qualified to represent Konoha Village as the leader. Hatake Kakashi is being groomed by the Third Hokage as a Hokage candidate, but this guy...
Since the war, he has become increasingly decadent, using a large number of missions to numb himself, and even his training has decreased. However, recently, he seems to have been stimulated by something and has restarted his rehabilitation training, with seemingly good results.
In any case, he is qualified to be a representative.
The final choice fell on the new Special Jonin, Lin Ke, who influenced the direction of the war. This was purely due to the efforts of Ino-Shika-Cho, the Hokage's approval, and the tacit consent of the militant faction. Otherwise, it would definitely have been the Jonin squad leader who stepped forward.
The meeting proceeded quickly, without any rambling discussions or suggestions, just one vote after another.
About half an hour after Lin Ke entered, the meeting ended. The representatives of the ninja clans left, and Nara Shikaku said, "Come to my house for dinner tonight."
"Yes, Master," Lin Ke replied, bowing his head.
"He's a good kid," Yamanaka Haiichi said with a smile. "My daughter has mentioned you. If you have time, please visit often."
Akimichi Choza also had a face full of smiles, "My Choji is the same. Come find him to play when you have time."
In their generation's eyes, as long as they're not on the battlefield, they're basically just playing together.
From being a junior to now demonstrating enough value, they can no longer slowly cultivate their relationship. They need to further win him over.
It sounds a bit realistic, but without sufficient benefits, why would the three major clans bind themselves to you?
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