Chapter 19: Joining the Hidden Mist
"That's enough for today!" Elder Seiji called out to the two, ending the spar.
Kiyoshi and Ling approached each other and formed the reconciliation seal.
"Your strength is very good, Young Master Kiyoshi!" Ling praised Kiyoshi, then put back on the mask he had taken off during the battle and disappeared.
"That was truly amazing, little Kiyoshi. A 9-year-old Jōnin! Very good. Bi, you take little Kiyoshi to register now. I will go and speak with the Third Mizukage," Elder Seiji said, turning to Bi beside him.
"Yes, Elder. Please come with me, Young Master Kiyoshi," Bi respectfully replied.
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Name: Kiyoshi Otsutsuki
Age: 9 (Born on February 10th, Mist Year 19)
Height: 151cm
Weight: 49kg
Ninja Registration Number: 005666
Ninja Rank: Jōnin
Mission Experience: D-Rank 0, C-Rank 0, B-Rank 0, A-Rank 0, S-Rank 0
Chakra Nature: Wind, Lightning, Water, Fire, Earth, Yin, Yang
Kekkei Genkai: Shikotsumyaku
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Having registered his information, Kiyoshi officially joined the Hidden Mist under the name Kiyoshi Otsutsuki. With Elder Seiji vouching for him, Kiyoshi directly obtained the rank of Jōnin. Afterwards, Bi and Kiyoshi returned to Elder Seiji.
After lunch, Elder Seiji summoned Ling, the Anbu squad leader, again and asked him to take Kiyoshi to the Anbu base for his induction.
Elder Seiji had already spoken with the Third Mizukage . For Elder Seiji, guaranteeing Kiyoshi's entry into the Hidden Mist and becoming an Anbu was an easy matter.
Kiyoshi's long-sought goal of joining the Hidden Mist and entering the Anbu was so easily achieved with Elder Seiji's command.
Hidden Mist Village, Anbu Main Base, Ling led Kiyoshi slowly into the barrier.
At the same time, another masked Anbu ninja approached from the opposite direction, followed by a young boy who had just passed the Anbu exams.
The boy had a scar resembling a stitched-up wound under his left eye, distinctive green hair and purple eyes, and carried a staff-like weapon on his back with a hook at the front and decorated with green flowers.
"The new generation of the Yagura clan?" Ling said with a look of realization, recognizing the boy's identity.
The boy and Kiyoshi glanced at each other, and the boy felt a hint of curiosity about Kiyoshi, who had joined the Anbu on the same day as him.
Arriving at the base and receiving the standard equipment, Kiyoshi officially became a member of the Hidden Mist Anbu.
"Young Master Kiyoshi, I will return first. Next is the induction training for Anbu recruits, you don't need to hide your strength," Ling hinted meaningfully.
Kiyoshi went to the side to change into his Anbu uniform, put on his mask, and strapped his ninja sword to his back. At this time, the boy he had just met had already changed his attire and approached Kiyoshi familiarly.
"As members who joined the Anbu together, I think we should get to know each other," the boy's voice came.
"I am Yagura Karatachi, and you are?" Yagura extended both hands to Kiyoshi, looking slightly lively.
"Kiyoshi Otsutsuki!" Kiyoshi replied indifferently, having no ill feelings towards the sociable Yagura.
At the same time, Kiyoshi extended his right hand and shook Yagura's hand politely.
"You two should indeed get to know each other well. For the next period of time, you will be teammates!" a plain voice came from a distance.
"I am an Anbu squad leader, codenamed Kazama (Wind), and also your future captain, provided you gain my approval. Follow me, rookies!" Kazama said to the two, then turned and walked towards the training grounds.
Kiyoshi's heart did not waver. Ling had already hinted at this.
Yagura, however, was a little nervous. The same age as Kiyoshi, he had just become a Chūnin at the beginning of the year. Under the arrangement of his clan, he had spent several months finally meeting the threshold requirements for the Anbu and had joined after passing the exams. But he understood that his current strength was definitely at the bottom of the Anbu.
The nervous Yagura couldn't help but look at Kiyoshi, wanting to know what his newly acquainted companion thought. But to Yagura's disappointment, Kiyoshi gave no reaction, remaining very calm.
Arriving at the training grounds, Kazama introduced himself to the two rookies.
"This is the Fourth Training Ground of the headquarters base. There are a total of five training grounds here at the headquarters. The first three training grounds are specifically for Anbu members to practice ninjutsu. The fourth and fifth training grounds are used for Anbu members to spar and fight. I'll give you two five minutes to discuss tactics. You will attack together, and if you can last more than ten minutes against me, you will pass. Let me give you a piece of information in advance: I am a Jōnin who uses Wind Release and Water Release!"
Because of Elder Seiji's involvement, Kiyoshi's matter was classified at a very high level of secrecy within the Anbu. Therefore, Kazama was unaware of Kiyoshi's strength and was treating him according to the normal procedure for new Anbu recruits.
Yagura's face turned pale. Two Chūnin, or possibly an Elite Chūnin and a Chūnin, against a battle-hardened Anbu Jōnin. Although they only needed to last for ten minutes, Yagura still felt he had no chance of winning.
"What should we do, Kiyoshi? We definitely can't beat him. Can you use the Hidden Mist Technique? If Captain Kazama doesn't have sensory abilities, we can hide our presence and drag it out for ten minutes," Yagura didn't know Kiyoshi's strength and only felt that he should be like him, also a Chūnin, at most an Elite Chūnin.
Hearing Yagura's analysis, the corner of Kiyoshi's mouth twitched involuntarily.
"Or do you have any secret techniques that can enhance your strength? I am currently a Chūnin, but I have a secret technique that can temporarily increase my strength, probably raising it to the level of an Elite Chūnin for about two or three minutes. If you also have a similar burst secret technique, let's work together and try to take down Captain Kazama in a short time," Yagura rambled on to Kiyoshi like a Gatling gun.
"I am a Jōnin!" Kiyoshi, unable to bear Yagura's talk no jutsu, said calmly.
Yagura's mouth was still going non-stop, but suddenly he seemed to have heard some incredible information.
"Jō... Jō... Jōnin?" Yagura's mouth dropped open in shock.
"You're also 9 years old, right? How did you train? Are there any secrets?" After a pause of about a few seconds, Yagura fired off another barrage of questions.
"Shut up!" Kiyoshi's head throbbed. He had no way to deal with this活宝 (lively treasure). After passing the exam, he and Yagura were teammates. With such a活宝 by his side, it seemed that the days ahead would not be boring.
"Time's up, get ready to start!" Kazama, who had been closing his eyes to rest, suddenly spoke.
Kiyoshi and Yagura, who were ready, bowed to Kazama and then launched their attack.
Kiyoshi quickly rushed towards Kazama, buying time for Yagura behind him to cast his ninjutsu.
"Wind Release: Breakthrough!"
The D-rank Wind Release ninjutsu was used by Kazama without forming any hand seals. Although its power was very weak and not enough to hurt Kiyoshi, it was only meant to slow down Kiyoshi's forward momentum and buy him enough time to form hand seals for his subsequent ninjutsu.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Having completed the hand seals, Kazama used his next ninjutsu. The C-rank Wind Release had already gained considerable power in his hands, and a gust of wind blew fiercely towards Kiyoshi and Yagura behind him.