Clearance

What came after their first C-rank mission was a punishment in the form of 5 D-rank missions until Tsunade felt satisfied by Mikoto's and Kushina's apology. But the fact that Mikoto awakened her Sharingan greatly pleased Tsunade. On the other hand, Kai earned 10 SP, so he was happy.

---

"Are you sure about this?" Mikoto pouted, unhappy about the slight as Tsunade instructed Kushina on the sword technique.

Meanwhile, Kai looked at the wrist weights and leg weights before nodding, "I think I am getting used to them."

"You just bought them 30 minutes ago!" Mikoto glared as Kai snorted in return, "Irrelevant! Now you may just stand a chance to win WITH that Sharingan." He was speaking the truth after all. The weight would mess up his coordination harshly and even now, he was at a little fence about Tsunade's suggestions of using the weights as it would not only throw him off at the beginning but once he removed the weights, he may need another bout of recovery spars to recollect his perception of strength. Then again... this training may just help his physique AND his perception.

He saw Mikoto's black eyes turn red with a single tomoe and marveled at the sight. According to Mikoto, she could see better and more precisely, her reaction time is improved greatly, and apparently, not as great as byakugan but Sharingan CAN see the major block of a person's chakra that allows the Sharingan users to note if the target is in genjutsu or not. It also has a higher dynamic vision alongside the ability to cast Genjutsu by sight.

"I've already copied some of your techniques!" Mikoto exclaimed proudly, "Ready to teach me again?"

That, too. Goddamn Sharingan really is just full of abilities! And it's not like they have access to one of these abilities, oh no. They have access to all of it and it grows to a certain degree when the Sharingan advances!

But they had yet to move as Kai couldn't help but just take notice of Mikoto now that the change with her eyes red felt more prominent. She has always been fair but now... she certainly looked like... growing. With his face going blank, Kai looked down at his own body and closed his eyes before suddenly shuddering his chakra as Mikoto exclaimed, "Oi, I didn't put you in a Genjutsu!"

"Tch..." Kai looked up again and found her utterly confused before she smirked, "Ohhh~ Kai-chan," Mikoto smirked, "I can't help but be an illusion, you know."

"I'd say that all the losses would make you see that you're real enough but oh well," he drawled, making the girl snort and the two rushed at each other promptly. Although Mikoto proudly stated that she copied a few of his moves, it was unintentional. Sharingan users may copy their opponents but such invasive methods must not be recklessly used on the members of the village. Mikoto, however, could still slip up in control since the dojutsu was new to her.

They quickly began their Taijutsu fest as Kushina looked at them with a wondrous expression and turned to Tsunade, cutely requesting while widening her violet eyes, "Sensei, can I join in the fray?"

"I don't know," Tsunade smiled and drawled lazily, "Can you?" with threat evident in her tone.

Pouting, Kushina continued her own practice.

Soon, Kai sidestepped as Mikoto seemed to have predicted this and had a kick next to his cheek, kissing him the very next moment as his head snapped sideways. Not from the force of the kick but his own doing as she scoffed at the weak feedback from her kick and followed quickly.

As they practiced, Tsunade continued to glance in their direction at times, 'Kushina already had a chunin level reserve but her body is quickly catching up. She also took a shine to swords technique and will grow as a fuinjutsu user, so she's already good enough to be a chunin officially. Just need to beat out a few bad habits...

Mikoto's body is a little weaker, but she's started to focus more on it after that realization. But her skills once enhanced by Sharingan are all chunin level and her chakra reserve will reach that level soon enough. She can even cast D and E-rank Genjutsu with a glance of her Sharingan.'

She then looked at the boy. Honestly, she was getting more and more doubtful that he belonged to some clan and just happened to have been orphaned.

'Chunin-level physique and his reserves are about to reach that level. Given the speed of his growth... probably half a month? Maybe sooner. Damn, I just had to promise nature transformation to him when I haven't even started with the mystical palm technique...'

The only reason Tsunade decided to 'punish' them wasn't because of their slight mishap in the C-rank mission but the fact that they were all almost chunins and had yet to completely finish their theories! Not to mention the fact that killing didn't affect the team but what could happen worse than death. This was something they would gradually learn to cope with, Tsunade did, too, after all. The village can only be peaceful if someone is out there facing all this.

These kids were a little too good for her to even cope with...

Grumbling, Tsunade waited until their spar ended. Mikoto won today but it barely brought satisfaction to the girl. She teased the hell out of the boy but Tsunade could see the urge for self-improvement in the girl.

"Alright, rest up and sit down. We only have 20℅ of the theory remaining and with ten written tests in the hospital, we can start with your training in iryo ninjutsu!"

This pulled groans from everyone.

---

"Damn it, Tsunade Senju!" Danzo Shimura thundered as everyone's gaze on the man narrowed. This was no mere general council. Every clan head of the village irrespective of their clan's status was present in this room as a large u-shaped desk was occupied by these heads. With the proxy not allowed, neither Mito nor Kai was present in the room, and Tsunade resisted the urge to groan while speaking up as she looked at the large map on the floor in between the scope of the large bench.

The war room was designed in this way itself.

"Whatever do you mean, Elder Shimura?"

Oh, when the Elders enter the advisory council, they give up the administrative control of their respective clan 'officially' and have no voting power like the administrative council of clan heads. This meant that Shimura's younger Cousin was the current patriarch of the clan.

Danzo walked into the empty space between the bench and stepped on the portion marked as Iwagakure, "Because of your actions of mobilizing your clan civilians and bringing them out of hiding, you have alerted Iwagakure as their forces are mobilizing openly and are procuring more and more slaves as a way to train their fodder!"

Unlike Konoha which provides a criminal to their most coveted geniuses in times of war to harden their minds... Iwagakure has a tradition of using innocent civilians. And not only does the act of killing an innocent soon turn even the weakest Iwagakure nin into a dreadful and relatively unhinged opponent but it also makes them cautious of their own mortality. But the Earth Daimyo would never let Iwagakure of all attack their own civilian villages and thus, Iwa procures slaves from other lands.

"So... you mean to say that the immigration of civilian Senju members whose identity should have had some form of protection was already known to Iwagakure and possibly Kumogakure?" Tsunade smiled, "Then I'm relieved to have protected my clansmen."

Danzo hissed, "Tsunade, do you understand that this may propel the first skirmish to an earlier date?"

"Let's do it this way," Tsunade thought of the easiest option her currently bored mind could consider because it was so very obvious, "The fact that the Senju civilians were known to other shinobi village's networks would mean that the genins of the corp currently in their station are also in danger. Senju controls many large chains which can be temporarily suspended but the small stores and stalls would be liquidated. The large chains can continue with a slight setback when the war eventually starts and ends while new stores can be opened. The village will also be provided a 20℅ cut with the assistance in liquidation."

That's right, when in doubt, slap 'em with stacks of Ryo till they beg for more!

But contrary to her expectations, while a few young clan heads felt impressed, others including the Hokage and his son, the head of the Sarutobi clan discreetly shook their heads. Danzo was giddy internally as he stated loudly while pointing at Tsunade's nose, "Have you learned nothing?! If other clans follow your role and suddenly liquidate everything, the economy of the Land of Fire as a whole will take a major hit, further shortening the date of the skirmish and mind you, other shinobi villages will notice this and WILL attack when we show the slightest weakness."

Tsunade blinked and looked a little... impressed. And she was. Not with Danzo, of course. With herself. Had Mito not started interfering... had Tsunade been the same, the moment Danzo pointed at her, she would have tried to snap his finger. But... she surprisingly found herself leaning back on her chair with a thumb and curled index cupping her chin as she began to understand the implications. It really was more than just money.

"I see," Tsunade smiled, "Hm, you're right, Elder Shimura. What do you suggest we do now?"

Hokage had to double-take!

What. The. Holy. Hell?!

Tsunade actually listened?!

He looked at his blonde student with amazement while Danzo, who was preparing for any retort Tsunade might speak up defensively and ruin her image to shreds almost fell back, not preparing for such a response.

"Well, Senju Interim Matriarch is still young and learning. And the situation isn't entirely ruined so instead of focusing on the slights, let's make the best use of the knowledge that Iwa is going a bit more public and will propel Suna and Kumo to do the same. Are we sure about Kiri's status on the matter?" And nobody certainly thought that Yata Uchiha of all people would diffuse the situation with a few words that made Danzo feel horribly stifled.

But Hiruzen couldn't help and smile slightly. While Mikoto may be an excellent kunoichi candidate, he was subtly hinting at Tsunade during the Academy teaching to pick the Uchiha princess as her last member of the team. It was something as simple as having Mikoto's file opened on the table when Tsunade came to see him or just speaking casually about how Kai, Kushina, and Mikoto would have good teamwork because they already knew each other.

The reason was obvious, too. The Uchiha WILL see the Senju Princess choosing their own in good light. The Uchihas are much simple in that manner and in time, as Mikoto grows indebted to Tsunade, a form of cooperation may also be formed aside from their competition against one another, the first hint of which was seen today, right now, in fact.

And the news that Tsunade had greatly eased Mikoto's situation did not go unnoticed by others and Yata Uchiha.

"Uchiha-san is right. The logical step after a blunder is not to appoint blame but rectify the error if possible or make up for it. The Senju Civilians can't head out now for a foreseeable future," the Aburame clan head spoke calmly, his voice more respected in times of war alongside Nara, "So, this leaves us with the option to fortify ourselves and keep the situation balanced to stretch out the remaining few moments of relative peace as long as possible."

Huffing in annoyance internally, Danzo returned to his seat. Meanwhile, a White-haired handsome man, the kind that would have been considered the 'Daddy' in Kai's previous world spoke up with a collected smile, "It would be better to use these stores as a hidden transportation means of our own war supplies and if possible, our men. I suspect that the first, 'calm' skirmish may just happen by the end of the year and the other Shinobi Villages will try to scramble for more and more reasons to attack our borders."

"Hatake-san is correct," Yamanaka leader shook his head and mumbled, "But if we wish to use the already exposed Senju stores, we need to first tackle a technical issue. There must be a great information network under Iwa or Kumo. Suna doesn't have the resources for it. But if Senju civilians can be recognized, we must assume that our own few civilian stores may be targeted, too. The situation won't be the worst for the business chains and stores close to our village and the capital."

Not all clans have enough resources to have civilian business interests and fully focus on the shinobi business. The Hatake clan fell into the category and its leader, Sakumo Hatake couldn't have thought of what Yamanaka pointed out.

But his own words made the Yamanaka leader frown inwardly.

'Tsunade must have known that her civilians outside but close to the village would be safe and in the capital, too... but she brought back everyone. The only two reasons I can think of for this are that Tsunade has some information not known to others or... paranoia.'

The truth was that it was a mix of both.

And just like that, the first War Council meeting began and started preparing concrete defense plans.

---

"This is it..." Mikoto shifted nervously in her seat as the team sat in the hallway of Konoha Hospital. They looked at various doctors and medic-nin in lab coats moving around. A few glanced in their direction since the underground layer of the hospital was restricted to the staff itself but then they saw whose office they sat outside of and walked away with their own work.

"It was easy," Kai gave a breezy smile, "I think it was the easiest exam of all 10~ Don't you think so, Kushina-chan, Mikoto-chan?"

Kushina punched the boy hard, taking away 0.1℅ of his health and pouting, "Shut it! It was hard as heck dattebane! Tch, you were better when it was easy to pick you up and have you on our laps..."

Mikoto nodded in silent agreement, glaring at the boy past Kushina.

They had started their theoretical exams nine days ago and while they passed all nine... Tsunade pulled out all stops today. Half of the things weren't even taught to them! And Tsunade was clear that failing any of these tests would mean that they will have remedial classes with a passing score being 60℅.

"My, my, is Tsunade still letting you three hang out to dry?"

An amused chortle with a hint of dry rasp made the trio's head whip in the direction of the voice and found an unusually pale youth with his sleek black hair pulled back into a low ponytail and his body covered by a large lab coat. The trio stood up and politely greeted the resident researcher of the Hospital and a good friend of Tsunade— Orochimaru. This man was also the 'friend' who was supposed to teach Kai some more genjutsu techniques later down the line but Tsunade had yet to make good on the promise given how their schedule has been.

And honestly speaking, Kai was more creeped out by the fact that Orochimaru could pass as a good-looking sissy, and his overall catty nature and somewhat slurred tone didn't make the situation any better.

"Orochimaru-san, Tsunade Sensei is just reviewing our papers," Mikoto smiled.

"Hmm, that I know. We discussed your answers for the other nine tests and I have no doubt I will have to cut short my research and would have to listen to Tsunade complain about you three," A hint of annoyance flashed in Orochimaru's eyes and then smiled, "But just between you three and me... those drunken blabbers are more of a brag. Don't tell her I said this, however."

Kushina and Mikoto lit up while Kai... the one who has been scoring top through all the nine papers just shrugged. Orochimaru's gaze briefly trailed the boy... a marvel, to be exact. He was getting more and more regretful that he didn't try to snap up Minato and Kai and now both of them were in the 'incompetent' or heavy hands of his teammates... 'Sigh...'

"Well, I can also say that you three lucky stars may just help break her curse of always losing a gamble," Orochimaru smirked.

"A gamble?" Kushina inquired.

"Ara, I said too much," He smirked in amusement, "I will let you be. And again, between you three and me... I was the one who set the remaining half of your last exam. I hope you loved questions 51-100~" he walked away lazily while the trio remained rooted.

"Alright, enough dawdling with Orochi! Come in," Tsunade called the sulking trio inside her lab and made them sit away from all the pieces of equipment on the other side of the room with a toughened glass partition in the middle.

Tsunade looked at them and stated coldly, "Kushina, you scored 20℅. Mikoto, you scored 35℅. And Kai... you scored 51℅."

She saw their bodies stiffen but before Kushina could whine, Tsunade smiled, "Good job. You all pass."

"Huh?"

"Well, you cleared all the requirements in the last examination but... I and Orochimaru just couldn't stop! Still, good job tackling the exam, and Kai, the way you cleared one of the questions out of the syllabus was crazy... but I like it. And so will Orochi when I brag— ehm, discuss your examination with them. Oh, yeah, you three didn't know but I, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya discuss the growth of our disciples almost every night."

With that, Tsunade chuckled and gave a light-hearted grin, "We'll start with the practical part of iryo ninjutsu now itself!"

***

Shoutout to TheHadCMan, PIEGURU8, Mohamed Slt, Rusted, John Smith!!

Read 15 advance chapters here—

Patre on.com/Fanharem

And do vote some powerstones~