With the members of his squad essentially decided, Shuji turned his attention to a more practical concern: building a workable team strategy.
This was nothing like the conventional squad his predecessor had belonged to—one shinobi specializing in ninja tools and intelligence, one focused on taijutsu, and Shuji himself serving as the ninjutsu-oriented chūnin responsible for suppressing enemies with firepower whenever the situation became complicated.
His new team had a far more unusual structure, filled with strengths, weaknesses, and unpredictable variables.
Shuji spread paper across the desk and picked up his brush.
Ink bled softly into the page as he began organizing his thoughts into clear categories.
UCHIHA ITACHI Strengths: Extraordinary talent far beyond others his age.
His mastery of ninjutsu has already reached approximately chūnin level, with particular proficiency in Fire Release, genjutsu, and ninja-tool manipulation.
He possesses excellent combat instincts, exceptional observational ability, and a highly analytical mind.
His two-tomoe Sharingan gives him tremendous future potential.
Limitations: He is only eight years old, and his body is still far from fully developed.
His stamina, explosive physical strength, and ability to sustain prolonged combat are significantly inferior to those of an adult shinobi.
Although his chakra reserves exceed those of most children his age, they remain insufficient for the kind of drawn-out battles expected of an experienced chūnin.
His practical combat experience is also relatively limited, especially when facing complex battlefields of extreme intensity.
Provisional Role: Itachi cannot be treated as the squad’s primary attacker or the core of a prolonged engagement.
He is better suited to serving as a tactical core, support fighter, and battlefield controller.
His Sharingan’s perception, genjutsu interference, precision ninja-tool throwing, and powerful Fire Release can provide crucial support from the outskirts of a battle or at medium range, create openings, and suppress key enemy targets.
He must be kept out of extended close-quarters engagements that demand sustained high-intensity taijutsu or excessive chakra consumption.
MITARASHI ANKO Strengths: A textbook elite chūnin in terms of overall fundamentals.
Her taijutsu foundation is solid, with a well-balanced combination of speed, strength, and flexibility.
She possesses a broad ninjutsu repertoire, particularly Fire Release, Earth Release, and the Hidden Shadow Snake Hands series of techniques.
Years of exposure to snake venom have given her exceptional poison resistance.
She also has excellent stamina, a resilient will, and extensive real-combat experience.
Limitations – Current Condition: Orochimaru’s defection dealt her a severe psychological blow, leaving her trapped in a period of depression, confusion, and emotional exhaustion.
Her fighting spirit is currently low, and her reactions may no longer be as sharp as they were at her peak.
Her overall combat effectiveness therefore contains a significant element of instability.
Provisional Role: Under normal circumstances, Anko should serve as the squad’s main attacker and frontline assault fighter.
The explosive power created by combining her taijutsu with ninjutsu makes her ideal for tearing open an enemy formation.
However, her current mental state has to be taken into account.
Temporary Strategy: Until her true condition is confirmed, she should not be placed in a close-range position where she must absorb the greatest pressure immediately.
Instead, she can operate as a flanking force or second-wave attacker, or use her ninjutsu and secret techniques from medium range to create chaos and inflict damage.
Shuji’s brush paused beside Anko’s name, leaving a heavy blot of ink on the page.
No matter how clear his analysis looked on paper, it was still only theory.
The intelligence supplied by the Third Hokage—and the listless Anko Shuji had seen with his own eyes—stood in stark contrast to the energetic elite chūnin described in her official records.
Did her taijutsu still possess its former sharpness and ferocity?
Could she still perform her snake techniques smoothly and instinctively?
When danger suddenly appeared, could her body still react without hesitation?
All of those questions remained unanswered.
A nonstandard squad filled with problems.
Shuji set down the brush and rubbed between his brows.
Itachi’s genius was imprisoned within the limitations of an eight-year-old body.
Anko’s blade, meanwhile, had been coated in the rust of trauma.
Tactical coordination.
Trust.
Combat assessment.
Everything had to be built on one thing first: reality.
There was no point planning battles entirely on paper.
Shuji decisively added one final line beneath his notes.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: INTERNAL SQUAD COMBAT ASSESSMENT.
Only through a real clash could he judge the quality of the blades in his hands—and whether the hands wielding those blades were still steady.
Elsewhere, Sarutobi Hiruzen leaned back in his chair and listened to the ANBU report.
The silver-haired ANBU shinobi standing before him removed his mask, revealing Hatake Kakashi’s unmistakably tired-looking eye.
Despite his languid expression, his report was precise and exceptionally clear.
“Target: Shuji.
Special Jōnin promotion assessment, ninjutsu specialization.
Evaluation complete.” The Third Hokage nodded for him to continue.
“In terms of practical combat performance,” Kakashi said evenly, each word concise, “his overall combat proficiency can be classified among highly skilled shinobi.
Considering his current age, mastering all five basic chakra nature transformations is enough to call him a genius.” “Mm.” Hiruzen’s response revealed little.
“The key points are chakra control and endurance,” Kakashi continued.
“During the assessment, he consecutively used techniques from all five chakra natures.
He performed no fewer than six jutsu in total, including the combined Wind and Fire Release technique he used against the forest created by Tenzō.” “His breathing fluctuated somewhat during the assessment, but there were no obvious signs of chakra exhaustion, and his concentration remained stable throughout.” Kakashi paused slightly.
“His total chakra reserves are far beyond those of an ordinary jōnin.” Another brief pause.
“Compared with mine, they’re superior.” Sarutobi Hiruzen closed his eyes.
Kakashi’s chakra reserves were by no means small.
Even while carrying the constant burden imposed by the Sharingan, the amount of chakra he could effectively bring into battle still surpassed that of an average jōnin.
Hiruzen knew Shuji’s background.
The village also possessed detailed records of his performance over the previous several years.
The boy had never previously displayed the ability to cycle through five different nature transformations in rapid succession without becoming visibly exhausted.
It wasn’t simply a matter of how many techniques he had used.
Purifying and transforming chakra into several different elemental natures within a short period demanded considerably more concentration and energy than repeatedly using techniques of a single nature.
Yet Hiruzen didn’t press Kakashi for further details.
Instead, he asked slowly, “How proficient is he with all five nature transformations?” “Highly proficient,” Kakashi answered without hesitation.
“His timing with fundamental elemental techniques—Water Formation Wall, Great Breakthrough, and Ground Walk—was precise, and his transitions between techniques were smooth.” “His combination technique, using Wind Release to amplify Fire Release, demonstrated excellent integration of chakra shape transformation and nature transformation.
The instantaneous destructive power was considerable.” “His technique selection emphasizes practicality and battlefield adaptability.
I observed no obvious weaknesses.” “Taijutsu and adaptability?” Hiruzen asked.
“His taijutsu fundamentals are solid.
His movement and evasion are efficient, and he uses them effectively to create opportunities for ninjutsu or disengage from unfavorable positions.” “His battlefield awareness is excellent.
When confronted with surprise attacks and complicated battlefield-control techniques, he remains calm, judges the situation quickly, and makes decisive choices.” Kakashi recalled the figure that had shot through the blazing corridor carved across Training Ground Three.
“Even under intense pressure, he consistently finds either the optimal solution or the next-best available option.” He delivered his final judgment.
“Overall, his ninjutsu proficiency and ability to apply it in real combat fully meet—and in several areas exceed—the standards expected of a Special Jōnin specializing in ninjutsu.” “His promotion is well deserved.” The office fell silent.
Only the faint crackling of burning tobacco disturbed the stillness.
The Third Hokage’s gaze became distant.
After a moment, he changed the subject.
“How did he react to Tenzō’s Wood Release?” Kakashi thought back to the assessment.
“Initially, he responded using conventional elemental ninjutsu, and his reactions were quick.” “When Tenzō used Nativity of a World of Trees, Shuji chose a high-risk, high-reward response.
He forcibly broke through with a combined Wind and Fire Release technique.” “He never attempted to use any other secret technique to counter or defend against the Wood Release.” Kakashi’s visible eye narrowed slightly.
“Throughout the entire assessment, he showed no sign of using Wood Release himself.” He added after a moment, “His expression was well controlled.
However, at the instant the forest technique was activated, his breathing and presence stalled for an extremely brief moment.” “He most likely recognized Wood Release immediately.” “His decision to break through with overwhelming offense was tactically reasonable, but it may also have concealed an intention to avoid revealing anything—or to avoid inviting a direct comparison.” Kakashi paused.
“Still, refusing to express any opinion about Wood Release is itself a kind of statement.” “Mm.” Hiruzen said nothing more.
He merely waved one hand.
Kakashi understood.
He replaced his ANBU mask, then silently melted into the shadows at the edge of the office and disappeared.
Amid the curling tobacco smoke, the Third Hokage turned his gaze toward the deepening dusk beyond the window.