Becoming a Chunin
Unfortunately, there was no bounty.
Not all missions offer rewards. For example, the mission Kakashi assigned to the Konoha genin during the Konoha Crush Plan, while counted towards their total mission count, didn't actually come with any monetary compensation.
After all, when working for the village, talking about money can be a bit hurtful. Fortunately, it still counts towards the total mission count, which is used to measure whether someone is qualified for promotion and... to show off.
Consider it a different kind of military merit reward? Lin Ke's mission this time was the same, a white-collar type of task assisting a Jonin in receiving comrades.
Anyway, he had expected it in advance. No money was fine, as long as it could be a stepping stone for promotion.
In the following days, he became slightly busier, or rather, very busy.
With the Chunin Exams underway, a significant number of Genin qualified to perform C-Rank Missions were fully engaged in the exhibition matches. The resulting increase in missions inevitably needed to be handled by someone.
Nara Yan Shui, in order to train him, and also at his own request, meant that for the following period, he was either on the road to a mission or on the road back to the village.
Multiple towns surrounding Konoha Village bore the footprints of Fifth Squad. During the month and a half of the Chunin Exams, they completed a total of three C-Rank Missions and two D-Rank Missions. B-Rank Missions were nowhere to be seen. Nara Yan Shui couldn't bring him along on every mission, nor could he frequently issue out-of-grade missions.
That's right, Lin Ke discovered that his Jonin instructor wasn't their nanny 24/7. On the contrary, he had his own missions. The Fifth Squad's subsequent missions were often taken along the way to accommodate the higher-level missions Nara Yan Shui received.
The three members of Fifth Squad were purely accessories.
With the mobility of ninjas, the time they spent on the road to missions or resting after completing them was enough for Nara Yan Shui to go and solve his own missions.
Although they did quite a few missions, with three C-Rank missions involving leaving the village in a month and a half, Fifth Squad basically just wandered around the vicinity of Konoha Village, not even as far as Tanzaku Street like their first time out.
One of them was even just capturing wild animals on the edge of the village to fill the Training Grounds.
The other two C-Rank Missions involved conflicts with a group of Ronin hired by a certain company. Lin Ke hardly made a move, simply directing Yuan Wei and Xia to instantly divide, kill, and disperse the opponents. He only stepped in at the end because Yuan Wei was injured in his recklessness, and he had to clean up the mess.
Ninjas trained in the Ninja Academy had an overwhelming advantage against Ronin. For him, a cheat, killing Ronin was no more difficult than killing a wild beast.
By the time the Chunin Exams ended, C-Rank Missions became less numerous and more sought after, and Fifth Squad's frantic mission-taking came to an end.
Time flew by quickly in training—performing missions—training, until late August, when Fifth Squad temporarily returned to the village for rest and a sudden piece of good news arrived.
"Finally got it, the Earth Dragon Concealment Technique..."
Lin Ke originally thought he would have to become a Chunin and then apply to the village to search the ninjutsu-related library for this outdated low-level Earth Release, but he didn't expect someone to actually have this somewhat obscure Earth Dragon Concealment Technique. After paying a sum of money, he successfully obtained the ninjutsu.
Before the ninjutsu scroll could even warm up in his hands, Nara Yan Shui found him celebrating at Ichiraku Ramen and informed him:
You're being promoted to Chunin. —Hokage Office.
"Click."
The Third Hokage stamped the document, casually placing it on the pile of files next to him, and looked up at the Genin standing across from his desk.
Well, he had to lean forward a little to look the other person in the eye.
Should I have the Anbu replace the desk with a one-meter one in the future...? As a mature Kage, the Third Hokage pondered his future plans while amiably saying, "Genin Lin Ke, congratulations."
"Recommended by Jonin Nara Yan Shui, and after unanimous approval by the village's higher-ups, you possess the necessary qualifications to become a Chunin. From today onwards, you are a Chunin of Konoha Village."
"Becoming a Chunin requires not only a certain level of combat ability, but also intelligence gathering skills, teamwork skills, battle situation analysis skills, and the ability to apply tactics are all essential qualities for a Chunin..."
It's all content from the "Konoha Chunin Guidance Manual"...
Lin Ke stood there, listening to the Third Hokage babbling on for ten minutes. He now knew who compiled that "Konoha Chunin Guidance Manual" and why Nara Yan Shui looked at him with a smile as he walked into the Hokage Office, saying he was going to the restroom.
It was supposed to be a double celebration, not only getting the ninjutsu he wanted but also successfully being promoted to Chunin, but for some reason, standing in the Hokage Office gave him the feeling of attending a meeting with his boss in his previous life.
He just couldn't be happy.
But it was very familiar.
So he quickly got into the zone, listening attentively with a serious expression, nodding occasionally to show agreement, his mind completely occupied with what he should do after becoming a Chunin.
The Third Hokage went from the necessary qualities of a Chunin to the development of the village, finally concluding with the Will of Fire, looking at the upright, expressionless kid with lingering interest, and nodding in satisfaction.
What a good kid, he sighed inwardly.
Lin Ke came back to his senses. Having listened to his boss speak so much in his previous life, he had naturally developed the skill of daydreaming while still being able to semi-automatically agree. Most of those words went in one ear and out the other.
It's finally over. Can I go get my Chunin Vest now? he thought.
"Chunin Lin Ke." The Third Hokage gazed at the only nine-year-old prodigy of the new generation. Perhaps it was because he was getting old, but looking at such a young kid who displayed such special talent always reminded him of his most beloved disciple.
"Please remember, the strength of a ninja doesn't rely solely on the individual, but on the entire village."
"Yes," Lin Ke slightly lowered his head.
The Third Hokage turned his face to look outside, gazing at the bustling Konoha. A slight smile appeared on his stern face as he pushed the Chunin certification, which he had just stamped, to the edge of the desk, saying, "Well then, congratulations once again."
Lin Ke stepped forward, took his proof of becoming a Chunin, bowed, and said, "Third Hokage, I'll take my leave."
Having said that, he turned and left.
"Tap, tap," the Third Hokage tapped the desk, picked up his pipe, and said, "Increase the protection level for Chunin Lin Ke."
From attention to protection, this was all he could do.
Whether it was the First Hokage, who mercilessly killed his friend and was willing to eliminate anyone who opposed the village, or the Second Hokage, who sacrificed himself to cover the retreat, or the Fourth Hokage, who gave his life for the village, as Hokage, they had all done enough and shouldered even more.
The world cannot be run solely through upright means. A ninja is a dark profession, and what the Hokage carries and bears is inevitably a deeper darkness.
And he, who failed to bear the darkness, must be the most naive and incompetent one.
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