Five days later, on the front lines of the Land of Fire.
The tension that had gripped the battlefield after the previous clash had eased slightly, replaced by a temporary calm. The sounds of war had not vanished entirely, but for now, there was a rare moment of stillness—a fragile pause before the next storm.
Near a quiet lakeside, Aoki Yoru sat beside a small fire, carefully turning a skewer of fish over a simple grill. The flames crackled softly, and the scent of roasted meat drifted through the air, a welcome change from the ever-present smell of blood and medicine in the camp.
After five days of relentless work, the situation at the medical station had finally stabilized.
The severely wounded had already been transported back to Konoha for proper treatment. With fewer critical patients remaining, the pressure on the medical staff had eased slightly. For the first time in days, Aoki Yoru had a moment to breathe.
And he intended to enjoy it.
He had long grown tired of military ration pills. Ever since coming to the battlefield, he had made it a habit to carry seasonings with him. Whenever he found the chance, he would hunt or fish and cook for himself.
It was one of the few small comforts he allowed himself.
At that moment, he was not alone.
Sitting beside him, happily devouring grilled fish, was a small white ninja dog.
This was none other than Kakashi's summon, Pakkun.
Just moments ago, Pakkun had suddenly burst out from the nearby bushes. His eyes had locked onto the sizzling fish like a predator spotting prey. Drool had practically pooled on the ground as he stared at the grill, looking like a starving spirit reborn.
Without hesitation, he had invited himself to the meal.
Now, he was eating with complete satisfaction, his tail wagging lazily.
Aoki Yoru glanced at him sideways.
"By the way, Pakkun," he said casually, "why did Kakashi-sensei summon you here?"
Pakkun paused mid-bite, chewing thoughtfully before replying.
"Oh, right. Kakashi told me to come find you," he said as if just remembering. "Commander Shikaku wants to see you at the command center."
Aoki Yoru froze.
Slowly, he lowered the fish in his hand and stared at the dog in disbelief.
"…And you're only telling me now?"
Pakkun shrugged nonchalantly.
"The fish smelled too good."
Aoki Yoru let out a silent sigh.
He stood up, brushed the dust off his clothes, and stretched slightly. Since the message had already been delayed, a few extra moments wouldn't make much difference.
Without rushing, he began walking toward the command center.
Command Tent
Lifting the heavy curtain at the entrance, Aoki Yoru stepped inside.
The interior of the tent was dimly lit. Documents were piled high on the central table, and the faint smell of ink and tobacco lingered in the air.
At the moment, only Shikaku Nara was present.
He stood behind the table, reviewing paperwork, his brows slightly furrowed. Even at a glance, the exhaustion on his face was evident. Dark circles lingered under his eyes, and his posture, though upright, carried the weight of days without proper rest.
Aoki Yoru stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Commander Shikaku, Aoki Yoru reporting."
Shikaku looked up, setting aside the document in his hand. A faint smile appeared on his face as he studied the young ninja before him.
"I've been meaning to see you since the battle," he said.
His tone was calm, but there was clear approval in his eyes.
"The village has taken note of your performance—both in destroying the enemy's supply point and your actions on the battlefield."
He paused briefly.
"Truly, heroes arise from the younger generation."
Aoki Yoru bowed slightly again, his expression composed.
"I am honored by your praise, Commander. This is my duty. I also owe everything to the village's guidance."
Shikaku nodded in satisfaction.
He reached into the stack of documents and pulled out a folded decree, stamped with gold markings. Without hesitation, he handed it over.
"This is your reward."
"You have been officially appointed as a Special Jonin of Konoha."
"Congratulations, Special Jonin Aoki Yoru."
For a moment, time seemed to slow.
Aoki Yoru straightened instinctively, accepting the document with both hands. Carefully, he unfolded it.
The red seal of the Hokage stood out vividly against the paper.
Beneath it, the words were written clearly:
"Hereby appointing Aoki Yoru as Special Jonin of Konoha Village."
He stared at the document for a brief moment, unable to hide his surprise.
"This… isn't this too fast?"
Special Jonin.
That title was not something handed out lightly.
In Konoha, there were only a few dozen individuals who held that rank. Each one was a core pillar of the village, recognized for exceptional ability in specific areas.
And now—
He was one of them.
Shikaku smiled faintly.
"Your strength and contributions justify it," he said. "And Kakashi strongly recommended you."
He then took out a Jonin medallion and handed it over.
"This decision was made after careful consideration."
"The village has high expectations for you."
Aoki Yoru accepted the medallion.
He took a deep breath, steadying himself, and spoke firmly:
"Yes, Commander. I will not disappoint the village or the Third Hokage."
Shikaku nodded.
He then spent some time explaining the responsibilities, authority, and expectations that came with the rank of Special Jonin.
The promotion was not just an honor—it was a burden.
More responsibility.
More danger.
More attention.
After the briefing, Aoki Yoru bowed once more and left the tent.
Outside the Tent
As soon as he stepped outside, Aoki Yoru raised both hands and lightly slapped his cheeks.
His expression turned serious.
"So… I've become a Jonin."
He let out a quiet breath.
"This means I've also become a target."
He was not naïve.
He understood perfectly why the village had promoted him so quickly.
Yes, his achievements were real.
But there was more to it.
The village needed a symbol.
A hero.
Just like Kakashi Hatake had been promoted at a young age during the Third Shinobi World War, inspiring countless young ninja to step onto the battlefield.
Konoha had suffered greatly in recent years—wars, the Nine-Tailed incident, and continuous losses.
Its vitality had yet to fully recover.
Morale needed to be lifted.
The people needed someone to believe in.
And now—
That role had fallen to him.
Aoki Yoru couldn't help but admire the political acumen of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Creating a hero to unify the village… while shifting attention away from casualties," he muttered to himself.
"A single move, multiple gains."
He shook his head.
"Troublesome."
The Next Day
As expected, the news spread quickly.
By the next morning, the entire camp was buzzing with discussion.
A thirteen-year-old Special Jonin.
The last person to achieve such a feat at a similar age had been Kakashi himself.
Naturally, people couldn't stop talking.
Before long, Yui and Kenta found him.
"Congratulations, Yoru!" Kenta said excitedly. "You've actually become a Jonin! You've made a name for yourself!"
Yui nodded, though her expression was more restrained.
"You've gone far ahead of us."
Aoki Yoru smiled bitterly.
"This isn't entirely good news."
The two paused.
"What do you mean?" Kenta asked.
"I'm in the spotlight now," Aoki Yoru said calmly. "Kumogakure isn't stupid. They'll figure out who destroyed their supply point."
"And after killing those three…"
His gaze darkened slightly.
"I'm probably already on their hit list."
The mood shifted instantly.
Kenta's expression grew serious.
"You have to be careful," he said. "If you get surrounded, they'll definitely go all out to kill you."
Aoki Yoru nodded slightly, then turned to Yui.
"How are the others?" he asked. "Our classmates?"
Yui fell silent.
Her expression dimmed.
"Except for those from the major clans… most are gone."
Her voice was quiet.
"I saw many of them die… with my own hands trying to save them."
Silence followed.
Aoki Yoru closed his eyes briefly.
More than a dozen classmates.
People he had trained with.
Talked with.
Now gone.
They had come to the battlefield full of ambition, dreaming of glory.
And in the end—
They died without recognition.
"It wasn't worth it," he said softly.
They had lacked guidance.
Lacked strength.
On the battlefield, they were nothing more than expendable forces.
Kenta's eyes turned red.
"If not for teaming up with you… I'd probably be among them."
He clenched his fists.
"I can't imagine what their families must be going through."
He looked at the two of them, determination burning in his eyes.
"We have to survive."
"No matter what."
Aoki Yoru and Yui exchanged a glance.
Then both nodded firmly.
Days Later
In the following days, Aoki Yoru avoided unnecessary attention.
Everywhere he went, people stared at him.
Some with admiration.
Some with curiosity.
Some with envy.
It was exhausting.
So he stayed inside his tent, focusing entirely on training and research.
Natural Energy.
He needed to grow stronger.
Fast.
Because he knew—
The next battles would be even more dangerous.
He had killed two of Killer Bee's disciples.
Severely injured another key figure.
Kumogakure would not let that go.
They would come for him.
Suddenly—
A loud commotion erupted outside.
Aoki Yoru frowned, his concentration broken.
He pulled back the tent curtain and stepped outside.
The entire camp was in an uproar.
Cheers filled the air.
"What's going on?" he asked someone nearby.
"They've arrived!"
"Konoha reinforcements!"
Aoki Yoru's eyes sharpened slightly.
So—
The next phase of the war had begun.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)