The day after Yagami Yue met with Orochimaru, Konoha’s reward arrived.
The person who delivered it was Ibiki Morino.
“Chūnin Yagami Yue has rendered outstanding service.
By special authorization, he is hereby promoted from chūnin to jōnin.”
“He is also awarded an A-rank ninjutsu: Lightning Release: Thunderbolt Tornado, along with one million ryō.”
Yagami Yue had been promoted from chūnin to jōnin.
He had only just turned eight.
At such a young age, he had already become a jōnin, making him something of a record-breaker in the shinobi world.
And considering that Yue had seriously injured the Fourth Kazekage with that mysterious shooting-star-like technique, the promotion was completely justified.
The shinobi beneath him would only find it natural.
No one would think he had been promoted too quickly.
Yagami Yue accepted the ninjutsu scroll along with a bank passbook.
Banks had existed in the shinobi world for quite some time.
Otherwise, when people were dealing with tens of millions of ryō, they couldn’t exactly carry everything around in sacks.
“By the way,” Ibiki said, “the Hokage wishes to see you.”
“Leave tomorrow.”
Yagami Yue stiffened slightly.
Then he nodded.
“Understood.”
…
…
The next day, Yagami Yue returned to Konoha.
The gates of Konoha still stood tall and imposing.
Yue glanced at them before walking inside.
“Stop.
Identity check.”
Two gate guards stepped forward and blocked his path.
Yagami Yue was simply too young.
He was wearing a small-sized shinobi uniform and a forehead protector.
He looked like a sharp, capable young shinobi who had only recently gone to the battlefield.
But someone this young should normally be operating as part of a squad.
So why was he alone?
It was suspicious.
Yagami Yue swept the two guards with a cold glance.
The two shinobi instantly felt as though they were being stared at by a wild beast.
They shuddered.
Goosebumps covered their bodies.
Yagami Yue had killed countless enemies on the battlefield.
Without realizing it, his killing intent had grown considerably.
And just now, some of that killing intent had naturally seeped into his gaze.
The two guards were startled and immediately drew their kunai.
“Who are you?”
Yagami Yue:
“…”
He silently pulled out his identification documents and handed them over.
The two guards took them and looked them over.
“Jōnin?”
“Yagami Yue?”
The two guards froze.
“Lord Konoha Shooting Star!”
“Lord Yagami Yue!”
They immediately stood straight and saluted.
Their eyes were filled with awe.
Yagami Yue was practically a legend of Konoha.
He had started out as an ordinary civilian-born shinobi, then rapidly grown stronger after entering the battlefield.
He had even seriously injured the Fourth Kazekage.
That was the Kazekage!
Someone whom ordinary shinobi could only spend their entire lives looking up to.
And they had heard that Lord Yagami Yue hadn’t even been injured.
Didn’t that mean Lord Yagami Yue was actually stronger than the Fourth Kazekage?
Well…
Even if he wasn’t quite that strong, he was still terrifying.
There was another important point.
Yagami Yue was a civilian-born shinobi.
A grassroots shinobi.
Just like them.
Yagami Yue looked at the two guards’ almost starry-eyed expressions and was slightly surprised.
Is my reputation really this high in Konoha?
“What does ‘Konoha Shooting Star’ mean?” Yue asked curiously.
“It’s the nickname the villagers gave you, Lord Yagami Yue.”
“They say you possess a ninjutsu that resembles a shooting star, and that you used it to seriously injure the Fourth Kazekage.”
“So the villagers began calling you the ‘Konoha Shooting Star.'”
“I see.”
Yagami Yue nodded.
This title was certainly more respectable than anything involving a beast.
For example, there was the Yellow Flash.
If that became the Wild Bull Flash, it would instantly become ridiculously lame.
Or Konoha’s White Fang.
If that became the Wild Boar White Fang, it would be equally terrible.
Yagami Yue had never been particularly fond of titles like The Beast Sword God.
Now that he had become the Konoha Shooting Star, things were much better.
Of course…
If Konoha Shooting Star became Shinobi World Shooting Star, that would be even better.
…
Hokage’s Office
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
“Lord Hokage, Yagami Yue has arrived.”
“Come in.”
Yagami Yue entered.
The Third Hokage raised his head and looked at him.
Yagami Yue looked back at Hiruzen with a cold gaze.
This was the first time the two had met face-to-face.
Yet in their minds, they had already encountered each other countless times.
Hiruzen looked at Yagami Yue and sighed internally.
He’s far too young…
Yagami Yue looked at Hiruzen. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
Anger churned violently inside him.
Silence.
Neither spoke.
The atmosphere became increasingly tense.
Several minutes passed.
“Cough…”
Hiruzen finally broke the silence.
“Yagami Yue, let me tell you a story…”
Yagami Yue gave a cold laugh.
“If it’s some inspirational story about the necessity of sacrifice, then forget it.”
“I don’t want to hear it.”
“After all, it wasn’t your father who died.”
Hiruzen shook his head.
“It isn’t a story about inspirational ideals.”
“Nor is it about sacrifice.”
“It is the story of a foolish father…”
Hiruzen let out a long sigh.
His voice was filled with sorrow and the exhaustion of old age.
“For the sake of Shinnosuke…”
“I lost my judgment for a moment.”
“I was the one who ordered your father to be framed.”
“I am guilty.”
“I am unworthy of being Hokage.”
“I owe your father an apology…”
“Shinnosuke?”
“Your son?”
Yagami Yue suddenly threw his head back and laughed.
“Hahahaha!”
His laughter was filled with hostility.
“So that’s how it was!”
“If that’s the case, why bother apologizing?”
“Does an apology actually solve anything?”
“If apologies were enough, why are we even fighting this war?”
“Why don’t you go to Sunagakure, apologize to them, beg for forgiveness, and bring about world peace?”
At that moment—
The Third Hokage walked toward Yagami Yue.
Then—
He bowed deeply.
Yagami Yue’s body trembled.
He stared in disbelief.
The Third Hokage…
Had actually bowed.
To him.
He had bowed to Yagami Yue.
“Hmph.”
Yagami Yue’s expression remained cold.
“You think bowing is enough?”