Chapter 18 - Asuma Is Still Too Young

Chapter 18 - Asuma Is Still Too Young

Stepping out of the Hokage's office, Kazane took a deep breath, letting the crisp village air fill his lungs. The scent of ink, paper, and faint traces of tobacco still clung to his senses, remnants of the long conversation he had just endured.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was not an easy man to face—much less deceive. That old fox had built his legacy on outmaneuvering both allies and enemies alike. Every word exchanged with him felt like walking on a blade's edge. Even now, Kazane could still feel the weight of the Third Hokage's calculating gaze, dissecting his every move.

At his current level, Kazane knew he lacked the strength to demand true respect. He had no prestigious clan to shield him, no overwhelming power to make others hesitate. He was merely a promising talent—useful for now, but dispensable.

Even legends like White Fang had been discarded when they became inconvenient. Compared to someone of that caliber, Kazane was just another name on a long list of young shinobi trying to prove themselves. He would have to be careful.

As he stepped onto the main road, the late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the streets of Konoha. The village bustled with activity—vendors called out to passing shinobi, children raced down the cobblestone paths, and teams of genin fresh out of the academy chatted excitedly about their latest missions. It was a familiar scene, one that masked the ruthless reality lurking beneath the surface of the ninja world.

Just as Kazane was about to blend into the crowd, a voice rang out from behind him.

"Finally caught you... You really made me work for it."

His steps faltered. A sense of dread coiled in his stomach as he turned his head slowly, hoping—praying—that he had misheard.

No such luck.

Standing before him was the one person he had been avoiding for the past half-month—Yuhi Shinku.

Kazane's vision darkened.

Shinku was an experienced jonin, and unlike many shinobi who held lofty ideals about honor and dignity, he wasn't above using underhanded methods to get what he wanted. The older man's expression was unreadable, but Kazane could tell from the glint in his eyes that he was not here for pleasantries.

"Kid, come with me. Let's have a little chat in private, I want to see what progress you've made in your ninjutsu."

Kazane's stomach clenched. He knew exactly what Shinku meant by "chat." The last time they had a "discussion," he had ended up unconscious on the training field while Shinku had walked away without so much as a bruise.

Kazane forced a smile, keeping his tone as light as possible. "Uncle, you know I don't use ninjutsu! Kakashi's waiting for me at home, so I'll be leaving now."

Without waiting for a response, he pivoted sharply and took off in a sprint.

Shinku sighed, shaking his head. "Always making things difficult, huh?"

He lifted his hand in a half-ram seal. "Genjutsu—Mist Servant Technique."

A faint mist curled around the street, and Kazane's surroundings wavered like a mirage. The once-crowded road seemed to stretch unnaturally, the buildings shifting in and out of focus. From the corner of his eye, shadowy figures flickered at the edges of his vision—illusory clones moving in unsettling unison.

Then—

Ding!

Foreign virus detected. Antivirus software activated. Threat neutralized.

Kazane stumbled mid-step, momentarily thrown off by the unexpected system notification.

Then he realized—he was fine.

His mind was perfectly clear. The usual sense of disorientation that accompanied genjutsu was absent. No dizziness, no sluggishness. The illusion around him was there, but it held no power over him.

It took him a second to fully process what had just happened.

The system had classified genjutsu as a form of mental interference—an external force attempting to manipulate his perception. And, just like a virus, it had been automatically neutralized.

That meant… he was immune.

Kazane's heart pounded, not from fear but from sheer exhilaration. This changed everything.

Genjutsu had always been one of his biggest weaknesses. Against an opponent specializing in illusions, he had always assumed he would be at a severe disadvantage. Even powerful shinobi like Yagura—who had perfect control over a Tailed Beast—had fallen victim to genjutsu. It was a terrifyingly efficient method of combat, one that could decide the outcome of a battle in an instant.

But if he was immune…

That meant, in certain matchups, he held an overwhelming advantage.

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

Without sparing a second glance at Shinku, Kazane picked up speed and vanished down the winding streets of Konoha.

Shinku stood in place, frowning deeply.

"Impossible… My genjutsu was definitely successful." His eyes narrowed in thought. "Did his willpower become strong enough to completely resist it?"

After a long pause, he exhaled sharply. "I'll have to test this on that another brat from the Hatake clan to see if something went wrong."

Somewhere far from the village, Kakashi—who was currently on a mission with Minato Namikaze—suddenly sneezed.

Minato glanced at him with mild concern. "What's wrong, Kakashi?"

"It's nothing, sensei," Kakashi muttered, rubbing his nose. "Let's just keep moving."

Still, an odd sense of unease settled in his chest, as if something troublesome was on the horizon.

---

Inside the Hokage's Office

Sarutobi Hiruzen sat behind his desk, a thick scroll spread open before him, its contents detailing the upcoming graduates of the Ninja Academy. His sharp, battle-hardened eyes skimmed the names, though his attention lingered on one in particular— Kazane.

He exhaled slowly, watching the faint trail of smoke curl from his pipe. Kazane's evaluation was clear—his skills were specialized, honed purely in kenjutsu. That was both a strength and a limitation. A shinobi with a single overwhelming specialty could be formidable, but it also made them predictable, easier to counter. If he were just a little stronger, he could be shaped into a high-value asset for the Anbu, much like Hatake Sakumo had been in his prime.

But right now, Kazane was neither a prodigy nor a powerhouse. He was still growing, still fragile in the grand scheme of things. And the real issue was finding a suitable mentor for him.

Sarutobi leaned back in his chair, fingers drumming lightly against the desk. Minato's squad had suffered heavy losses—one member dead, another severely injured. That team had openings, but assigning Kazane there wouldn't work. Minato's fighting style was vastly different, and besides, there was another pressing concern.

Placing two brothers on the same squad was dangerous. If a mission went awry, the village could lose them both. Kakashi was already showing the potential to surpass his father, and Kazane, while not on the same level, was still promising in his own right. Allowing sentimentality to override practicality would be foolish.

His eyes scanned the scroll again, stopping on another set of names—Asuma Sarutobi, Uchiha Obito, Yuhi Kurenai, Nohara Rin, and Might Guy.

He considered his options carefully.

Asuma would remain in the village. His son was still too young for the frontlines, and given the world's growing instability, it was safer to keep him occupied with D-rank missions for the time being. Eventually, he would develop into a capable jonin and take on the role of a Guardian Ninja for the Fire Daimyo. That was the most logical path.

As for Obito, assigning him to Minato's squad would serve another purpose—it would strengthen relations between the Uchiha clan and the future Fourth Hokage. Ensuring the Uchiha remained invested in Konoha's leadership was a long-term political move, one that couldn't be overlooked.

The final slot required balance. A civilian-background kunoichi would help maintain harmony within the squad. Might Guy was an option, but he had a brash nature that might not mesh well with the team dynamics. Nohara Rin, on the other hand, had a stabilizing presence, capable of acting as a peacemaker when tensions arose.

Decision made, Sarutobi took another puff of his pipe, allowing himself a brief moment of amusement.

"The Hokage, spending so much time worrying about team assignments…" he muttered.

But then there was Kazane.

Unlike the others, no obvious mentor came to mind. His fighting style was niche, and the standard three-man cell format didn't accommodate his particular skill set well. There was, however, one person who had taken an interest in him—Orochimaru.

That, in itself, was both an opportunity and a risk.

Orochimaru was a genius, and under his guidance, Kazane could develop into something far more dangerous than just a swordsman. If molded properly, he could become a direct successor to his mentor's techniques. And if Orochimaru did ascend to the position of Hokage, having a handpicked disciple would solidify his influence even further.

Of course, the same could be said for Minato. If Minato became Hokage instead, Kazane's placement elsewhere would prevent any direct ties.

It was a careful game of politics, a long-term investment. The difference between a mere soldier and a shinobi of true influence lay in who guided them.

Sarutobi's thoughts shifted momentarily to Yuhi Shinku. Placing Asuma and Kurenai under his care was another strategic move. Shinku was a cautious man, fiercely protective of his daughter. With Kurenai on the team, he would naturally push for keeping them within the village's safety. That meant Asuma would remain under his father's watchful eye for a little longer, giving him time to mature before being thrust into harsher missions.

A slight smirk tugged at the Hokage's lips. The arrangement might also lead to an amusing outcome—if Asuma developed a fear of Kurenai due to Shinku's strict training methods.

Satisfied with his decisions, Sarutobi rolled up the scroll and set it aside. The rest of the academy graduates were of little consequence in comparison.

He exhaled deeply, his gaze drifting toward the window.

"I just hope Danzo's actions can stabilize things in Kirigakure," he murmured.

The thought brought little comfort.

The real weight on his mind was the state of the ninja world. Tensions were escalating with each passing month, and Konoha was positioned at the center of it all. The Land of Fire had the most abundant resources, making it the prime target of rival villages.

Sunagakure, buried in the unforgiving desert, lacked even the means to fully exploit Konoha's riches, but that didn't mean they wouldn't try. And then there was Iwagakure, still nursing its grudges from the last war. Konoha's dominance in the Second Great Ninja War had left scars across the entire shinobi world.

It was only a matter of time before those scars reopened.

He wasn't naïve enough to hope for peace. The cycle of war never truly ended—it only paused long enough for new generations to inherit old grudges.

But Sarutobi Hiruzen was not yet the weary old man history would remember. He was still the "Ninja Professor," a warrior who had mastered all five chakra natures, a leader who had stood at the pinnacle of the shinobi world for decades. He understood the reality of their existence better than most.

In the world of shinobi, concessions were never enough. A single act of submission only invited more demands.

Only strength preserved peace.

If conflict was inevitable, then Konoha would meet it head-on.

His gaze sharpened, resolve solidifying.

Despite the loss of White Fang, Konoha's forces remained formidable. Orochimaru and Jiraiya were still among the strongest of their generation. Even if Tsunade refused to fight, Minato Namikaze was rising fast—his potential was undeniable.

Including himself and Danzo, the village had at least five Kage-level combatants. And then there was Uzumaki Kushina, the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki.

They were not weak.

If war was coming—

Then Konoha would emerge victorious.

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