Although Jiraiya had long since possessed the strength of a jōnin, the village had yet to formally assess him. As a result, he still a chūnin and received the benefits of a chūnin, though Sarutobi Hiruzen had secretly provided him with additional allowances.
Now that the village was preparing to assess him for jōnin rank, Jiraiya wasn't particularly surprised. If they had delayed any longer, he would have submitted a request for the evaluation himself. After all, becoming a jōnin would grant him a degree of authority and influence.
Most importantly, as a jōnin, he would gain access to A-rank and even S-rank missions. The rewards for completing these missions were substantial.
However, wealth wasn't Jiraiya's main motivation. He wasn't lacking money. His relationship with Tsunade was excellent, and if he needed funds or resources, a simple word to her would ensure the Senju clan took care of it. What mattered most to him was the experience and reputation he would gain from completing A-rank and S-rank missions. If he wanted to become Hokage, he needed sufficient qualifications and prestige—only then could he secure the support of the majority of the villagers.
Taking on high-difficulty missions was the best way to accumulate these qualifications. As for building his reputation, that would be much easier. Once the Second Shinobi World War began, as long as he performed outstandingly, he would naturally earn the respect and admiration of his fellow Konoha shinobi.
The Second Shinobi World War was on the verge of breaking out. The Land of Rain was already in chaos.
"Sensei, no matter what kind of assessment it is, I'm confident I can pass," Jiraiya declared.
The village's jōnin assessments varied. Some required missions outside the village, while others involved duels with existing jōnin. Jiraiya wasn't sure what kind of test the village had planned for him this time.
"Jiraiya, your assessment will involve an external mission. As long as you complete it successfully, you'll be promoted to jōnin," Sarutobi Hiruzen explained.
Hiruzen was pleased with Jiraiya's confidence. Self-belief was a fundamental trait of strong individuals and capable leaders. After all, if one didn't believe in themselves, how could they expect others to?
"Sensei, what is my mission for the jōnin assessment?" Jiraiya asked.
"Here is your mission scroll."
Hiruzen retrieved a scroll from his desk and handed it to Jiraiya. Upon reading it, Jiraiya's expression hardened. The Second Shinobi World War truly was imminent. His mission was to eliminate a bounty station within the Land of Fire. This particular bounty station had been established by the Land of Earth.
The primary purpose of the Land of Earth's bounty station within the Land of Fire was to collect intelligence. Similarly, the Land of Fire also had bounty stations in other countries. During peacetime, major nations turned a blind eye to these operations as long as they weren't overtly gathering intelligence. However, with the prospect of war looming, any facility capable of gathering intelligence had to be eradicated.
During wartime, leaked intelligence could have catastrophic consequences, potentially leading to the failure of an entire campaign.
After memorizing the mission details, Jiraiya incinerated the scroll with a Fire Release technique.
"Does this mean we're going to war with the Land of Earth?" Jiraiya asked.
If he hadn't asked, it would have seemed as though he was unnaturally calm, which would have been unusual given the gravity of the situation.
"The Lands of Wind and Earth are already preparing to invade the Land of Rain to seize resources. Naturally, we can't sit idly by. When the time comes, we'll also enter the Land of Rain to secure our rightful interests. Conflict with those two nations is inevitable," Hiruzen replied, exhaling a puff of smoke.
Securing rightful interests. Hiruzen's choice of words was masterful, framing aggression in a justifiable light. As a political leader, he excelled at such rhetoric.
From the perspective of the Land of Fire, there was nothing wrong with Hiruzen's statement. Jiraiya even felt compelled to applaud his sensei. However, from the viewpoint of the Land of Rain's citizens, Hiruzen's words would undoubtedly be deemed shameless.
"So, war is inevitable, huh, Sensei?" Jiraiya sighed.
"The fleeting peace we've enjoyed will soon be shattered," Hiruzen said solemnly.
"Sensei, when the war begins, I will defend Konoha with my life," Jiraiya declared passionately.
"That's the spirit of the Will of Fire," Hiruzen thought with satisfaction.
"Sensei, I'll head out for the mission now. I promise not a single ninja from the Land of Earth will escape," Jiraiya continued.
According to the intelligence, the bounty station established by the Land of Earth had been funded and staffed by both the daimyo of the Land of Earth and Iwagakure. It was guarded by two jōnin and four elite chūnin. There were no elite jōnin present, making the mission manageable for someone of Jiraiya's caliber.
"Be thorough. Ensure no one escapes, and avoid exposing your identity. I'll assign a team from the Anbu to provide covert support. If they're forced to intervene, your assessment will be considered a failure," Hiruzen instructed.
Jiraiya wasn't surprised by Hiruzen's decision to assign Anbu support. As one of Konoha's prodigies, it was only natural for Hiruzen to ensure his safety during such a mission. Not sending support would have been far more unusual.
Hiruzen clapped his hands, and a squad of Anbu entered the room. The team leader was a jōnin wearing a cat-shaped mask. She had a slender figure, with long, snow-white legs that naturally drew attention.
Jiraiya hadn't expected the leader of his support team to be one of Konoha's rare female jōnin. Skilled female jōnin were exceptionally rare in the village.
"I am Yuhi Mitsune, assigned to provide covert support for your mission. My specialty is genjutsu," the cat-masked jōnin said, her voice cold and youthful.
Jiraiya nodded. So, she was from the Yuhi clan. While not one of Konoha's largest clans, the Yuhi clan was highly skilled in genjutsu. Even the Uchiha clan, with their Sharingan, could occasionally fall victim to the Yuhi clan's techniques. Their expertise in genjutsu was undeniable.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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