One day later.
Shinichi had just returned home. Before he even had time to change out of his dust-stained training clothes, he heard a knock at the door.
When he opened it, a staff member from the Hokage Office Building stood outside, holding a document envelope with both hands, his expression solemn.
"Higashino Shinichi, Chūnin—this is a promotion order personally signed by the Hokage. Please review it."
Shinichi accepted the envelope and nodded.
"Thank you for your hard work, senpai."
The staff member gave a slight bow, said nothing more, and turned to leave.
After closing the door, Shinichi opened the envelope. Inside was an official promotion document, stamped with the Hokage's seal, clearly stating:
[Effective immediately, Higashino Shinichi is promoted to Special Jōnin and shall receive Special Jōnin benefits.]
Special Jōnin?
Shinichi's gaze lingered on those words for a moment before he continued reading.
The stated reason for promotion: outstanding strategic analysis ability, deep insight into the shinobi world situation, and the significant value of the three analytical reports he had submitted. After review by the Hokage and advisory council, he was granted an exceptional promotion.
He fell silent for a few seconds, then gave a slight nod.
From the perspective of "Entry" generation tied to professional classification, Special Jōnin might not be enough. What his personal panel would likely recognize was the formal rank of "Jōnin."
However, having Special Jōnin as a foundation would accelerate his promotion to full Jōnin—and make the process much smoother.
He put away the promotion document, then shifted his attention to another item in the envelope.
It was an order.
"Teaching a class?"
Shinichi read it carefully. The document instructed him to prepare for a lecture in five days' time at the Hokage building, delivering a specialized briefing on the current shinobi world situation and war preparations to those present.
A lecture?
How should he present it?
Shinichi walked to the window. Outside, the lights of Konohagakure gradually lit up, like countless stars scattered across the night. In the distance, the outline of the Hokage Rock loomed faintly in the dusk.
The faces of the First, Second, and Third Hokage stood solemn and silent, overlooking a village on the brink of a coming storm.
At the same time, across Konohagakure—
Documents bearing the signature "Special Jōnin Higashino Shinichi" were being delivered one after another to their intended recipients.
The first to receive them were Chūnin squad leaders, Special Jōnin, and full Jōnin currently in the village. Some had just returned from missions, others were leading teams on training grounds, when messengers suddenly appeared and handed them sealed envelopes stamped with the Hokage's seal.
"What's this?" someone muttered, opening it on the spot.
Then they saw the name on the cover.
Special Jōnin?
Higashino Shinichi?
When did that genius junior become a Special Jōnin?
Many were stunned. Of course they knew who Higashino Shinichi was—his name was practically known throughout all of Konohagakure.
The brightest rising star of Konoha. The most outstanding genius of recent years. Just over a month ago, he had fought to a draw in the arena against a powerful samurai from the Land of Iron, who had publicly acknowledged him as "the strongest" among his generation.
That battle had spread throughout the entire village—everyone knew about it.
But Special Jōnin?
He was only ten years old.
Even if his strength was absurd, even if he could rank among Jōnin, this was still too fast.
Some frowned. Some shook their heads. Some dismissed it outright. But regardless of what they thought, they kept reading.
Then, very quickly, their page-turning stopped.
...
In the home of Minato, the lights were warm.
From the kitchen came the sounds of cooking. Kushina, wearing an apron, was busy at the stove, cheerfully humming an unknown tune as she stirred the food. She was clearly in a good mood.
Ever since Shinichi developed the Rasengan, Minato had learned the technique and used its chakra control principles to help Kushina better manage the power of the Nine-Tails within her. The results had been unexpectedly effective.
Because of this, Kushina had gained far greater freedom—she could now move about and live normally within Konohagakure, no longer requiring strict supervision like before.
Soon after, the two naturally began living together.
In the living room, at the low table, Minato held a document, carefully scanning every line.
Across from him, Jiraiya sat cross-legged without any regard for posture, holding the same document. His brows were tightly furrowed, and his usually carefree face now showed a rare seriousness.
Jiraiya had returned to Konoha a month ago. He spent most of his time traveling and rarely stayed in one place, but this time, even before the Third Hokage could summon him, he had already sensed the increasingly turbulent undercurrents in the shinobi world—military expansion among the great nations, escalating border conflicts, and the strange movements within Sunagakure.
Following the Third Hokage's intent, he returned.
Since then, he frequently came to Minato's place to mooch meals.
First, because Kushina's cooking was genuinely delicious.
Second, because he had someone here to talk to.
"Minato," Jiraiya suddenly said, setting down the document and looking at his disciple with a serious expression. "What do you think? Do you really believe the situation will develop the way Shinichi predicted? That in this coming war, Konoha might even face a four-sided assault from Sunagakure, Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure?"
Minato fell silent for a few seconds, took a sip of tea, then slowly set the cup down.
"Jiraiya-sensei, I think it's very possible."
"I've read this document three times. The third time, I read it with the intent of refuting it."
"I tried to find flaws in his logic—points where his reasoning wouldn't hold."
He paused briefly, then continued: "But I couldn't find any."
"Every conclusion has supporting evidence. Every piece of evidence corresponds to reality. It all starts from what each power must do based on their actual needs—and from that, deduces what they will inevitably do."
"That's what makes it terrifying."
Jiraiya fell silent.
Minato continued, speaking slower than usual, as if thinking while talking: "And, Jiraiya-sensei, since the village has distributed this document, it means the Third Hokage and the others have already conducted multiple evaluations. With his caution, and with the experience of the three advisors, they wouldn't make such a major decision based solely on Shinichi's analysis."
"They must have run their own repeated simulations, confirmed that what the boy said is correct, and that the situation is highly likely to develop in this direction—only then would they distribute this document."
Jiraiya nodded, saying nothing.
Outside, the night was deep. The lights of Konohagakure flickered in the darkness. He stared out the window, lost in thought.
After a long while, he finally spoke, his voice much lower than usual: "Minato… do you think… the day when people truly understand one another… will ever come?"
Minato froze for a moment, then after a few seconds, he smiled.
It was a bright, warm smile—like sunlight.
"Jiraiya-sensei… I don't know how to make it happen, and I don't know when that day will come."
"But I believe that the day you believe in… will definitely come."
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