Forbidden Techniques
"Hiruzen, appointing a sixteen-year-old jōnin to command the eastern front is reckless!'
"First the forbidden techniques, now this appointment—you act without consulting us."
The two advisors were at it again.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Sandaime Hokage, felt a headache coming on. He never imagined that after striving for change, his greatest opposition wouldn't come from Danzō, but from his longtime comrades.
He hesitated, then sighed. "If not him, which of you will volunteer to lead the frontlines?"
"Well…"
Homura faltered.
Utatane Koharu paused before saying, "It's… not impossible."
"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen are no ordinary foes."
'…'
Her hesitation spoke plainly: Just admit you don't trust him.
Koharu's cheek twitched, but she didn't refute Sandaime's point.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen were formidable—even in their prime, neither advisor could claim to defeat them.
While commanders weren't required to fight directly, decisive intervention was sometimes unavoidable.
"Months ago, I tasked Kyōichi with studying Kirigakure's techniques. His progress is remarkable. He can now use genjutsu within mist to obscure his location."
"Moreover, he's a master swordsman. The Seven Swordsmen gain no advantage against him."
Only then did Sandaime elaborate.
Homura and Koharu had no rebuttal. Hiruzen's unspoken "If you're so capable, take command yourselves" struck true. Years removed from the battlefield, they dared not step up—not out of cowardice, but the weight of thousands of shinobi lives.
A burden they subconsciously feared to bear.
"Hiruzen, we understand your desire to strengthen Konoha… but recklessness invites regret."
Homura's words rang hollow—familiar, even.
Sandaime didn't dwell on it, exhaustion weighing heavy. These old friends opposed progress for opposition's sake, blind to his and Kyōichi's vision.
Relics of a bygone era.
With a dismissive wave, he sent them away and sat in silence.
One truth went unspoken: Kyōichi and Tsunade both held contracts with Katsuyu, enabling slug-mediated communication.
Thus, Kyōichi's command was Tsunade's indirect leadership—a detail he couldn't explain.
Moreover—
Though war hadn't formally begun, Jiraiya's intelligence warned of unrest in Iwagakure and Kumogakure. Yet the two villages avoided conflict—unnaturally.
Sandaime suspected a tacit alliance.
With Kirigakure threatening the east, Konoha stood besieged.
Boldness was essential now—as in Nidaime-sama's era. At least he, the old man, could still act as a failsafe.
If all else fails, I'll take the field.
Successors are ready.
Resolve solidified, Hiruzen finalized his plans.
Proceed as decided!
The young needed trials by fire. Time was scarce, but he trusted Kyōichi to rise under pressure.
——
Meanwhile, Kyōichi remained unperturbed.
Commanding armies was daunting, but he held unique advantages—intimate knowledge of Kirigakure's strategies.
Kiri wouldn't commit fully. Their elite Seven Swordsmen posed threats, but nothing insurmountable.
——
Elsewhere, Gekkō Hayate was discharged from the hospital.
Kyōichi's new chakra blade arrived—a compact ninjatō optimized for quick-draw techniques and elemental sword styles.
While less specialized than Kakashi's or Asuma's weapons, its versatility pleased him.
He had planned to head to the frontlines soon, but another matter forced a delay.
The lifting of the forbidden techniques ban!
With war approaching, Sandaime had no time to hesitate.
He swiftly approved Tsunade and Kyōichi's plan to lift restrictions on certain techniques.
Thus, Konoha's jōnin were secretly summoned to a base.
"Hokage-sama."
Hundreds of shinobi gathered—the weakest among them were special jōnin, with many clan shinobi present. Together, they represented Konoha's elite.
"I've called you here today to introduce two techniques."
Sandaime was direct.
He unfurled two scrolls, displaying them for all to see.
The shinobi studied the contents.
Moments later, Yamanaka Inoichi spoke up.
"Hokage-sama, this… isn't this a bit…"
The first scroll detailed methods to open the first two Gates of the Eight Gates. The second scroll explained a breathing technique to enhance cell activity, boosting strength, speed, and more.
These were forbidden techniques!
Sandaime was lifting the ban, and he hadn't been informed.
"Let the Hokage-sama speak first,"Shikaku interjected.
He knew the details and saw no reason to oppose the plan. It was well-considered and justified.
"As you all know, the current situation is dire. The three great villages are preparing to move against us. War is imminent."
"These two techniques are forbidden, but their dissemination isn't to encourage misuse. It's to increase your chances of survival on the battlefield."
"Konoha cannot afford heavy losses. Participation is voluntary—those who learn the techniques must undergo periodic check-ups and treatments in Konoha."
Sandaime's tone was grave.
Each jōnin required significant time and resources to train.
Losing even one was a severe blow to Konoha, another reason for his swift decision.
The jōnin fell silent.
Sandaime spoke the truth.
In Konoha's wars, it wasn't the chūnin and genin sent as cannon fodder. The jōnin bore the brunt of the pressure, suffering heavy casualties in every conflict.
Mastering these techniques would significantly boost their survival rates.
Compared to that, the side effects were negligible.
Survival was paramount!
"Hokage-sama, I'm willing to learn!"
"Me too."
"I… "
Kyōichi noticed that the first to speak were jōnin from civilian backgrounds.
They had climbed from genin step by step, lacking the resources of clan shinobi. For them, these techniques were lifelines.
By the end, nearly all the shinobi volunteered to learn.
More skills never hurt.
Learn first, decide later whether to use them.
"Good. Then, Shinden Kyōichi will teach you the Breathing Activation Technique."
Sandaime stepped aside, making way.
Kyōichi stepped forward.
He understood this was Sandaime's way of paving the road for his future command.
By teaching them now, they would owe him a debt when he took command later.