Immortality begins with the ninjas of Konoha

After activating his body, Kakashi moved with incredible speed, spinning around like a top as he attacked, his short swords flashing so fast that Might Guy could barely keep up.

When Kakashi seized the opportunity to successfully circle around behind and launch another surprise attack, the exhausted Might Guy hurriedly created distance.

The two chased each other on the tree trunk until Might Guy barely managed to shake off Kakashi and reach the ground, at which point the situation changed again.

"what!"

With a scream, Might Guy sank into the ground, with only his head sticking out, just like Ebisu.

Having successfully launched the sneak attack, Furukawa Osamu leisurely appeared in front of the group, pondered for a moment, and then proactively "dissuaded" them from entering:

"Don't expose your back to the enemy."

"It seems your captain shouldn't have been nominated so easily; advancing to Chunin too early might not be a good thing."

After rescuing the three with his deadpan eyes, Kakashi unusually said a few more words:

"Recently, the danger of C-rank missions has increased. Even if you are promoted to Chunin, there won't be any Jonin to give you special treatment."

"The village has been taking on too many requests; something seems amiss."

Konoha has been accepting all commissions this year, regardless of the protests from Sunagakure. As long as the money is right, they will take on any level of mission.

The Jonin were extremely busy, and low-level missions were being dumped on the incompetent Chunin and inexperienced Genin.

The two did not tell their companions the truth. Apart from the request, while other ninja villages were mobilizing food and ninja tools, Konoha was quietly stockpiling "troops".

In the event of a localized conflict, undertaking a D-level mission would actually be a better option.

“Yeah, Guy! Even if you become a Chunin, it will be hard for you to become a captain. Even Shu and Kakashi are subject to age restrictions.”

Ebisu hurriedly tried to dissuade him, as he really didn't want to take the exam right after graduation, and Genma Shiranui felt the same way. Fearing that Might Guy would be stubborn, he reassured him:

"Kai, we can wait until next year. I'll work hard on the missions later."

Might Guy, stroking his chin, finally nodded. He wasn't afraid of the danger, but he also had to consider his teammates' situation.

"Okay, you're right, youth has only just begun, and I am indeed a bit impatient!"

Normally, students graduate at age 12, but now it's happening earlier. Kakashi hadn't thought about these things in previous years, but after carrying out several high-level missions, he understood the village's intentions.

If things go wrong, these students who graduated early will be sent to the battlefield. Kakashi looked at Might Guy, who was laughing heartily with renewed energy, and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Kai, you're not a tool, don't die!"

"..."

After eating so much barbecue at the restaurant that night that he was completely stuffed, Matt Kai fully recovered and even remembered to "restrain himself" when saying goodbye at the door.

Kakashi waved his hand, his mood suddenly turning somewhat somber, and whispered to Furukawa Osamu beside him:

"Xiu, you knew all along? So all that stuff in the textbooks is just for kids?"

"War requires tools, and tools are not limited by age or status."

Kakashi was very proud of being a Chunin at the age of six. Looking back now, he realizes that the village was setting an example to encourage young people to leave school early.

"Don't assume things haven't happened."

"Whether or not one becomes a tool depends on oneself. As for Hyuga Shuichi's situation, there's nothing we can do."

"Maybe the Hokage can change everything? You can give it a try."

Osamu Furukawa responded simply that multiple ninja villages were preparing for war, and the reputation of the Kumogakure's AB combination had spread to Konoha, with Chunin having received relevant intelligence.

"The Hokage?"

Kakashi subconsciously looked up at the Shadow Rock. In the darkness, he could only see some outlines, and the three Hokage on the rock wall were all in darkness.

-

Late at night, Furukawa Osamu returned to the apartment door. Just as he was about to open it, he turned to look into the shadows and whispered:

"Lord Orochimaru, what brings you here?"

"Such keen perception. It seems Tsunade wasn't just talking nonsense while drunk. Xiu, won't you invite me to sit for a while?"

Orochimaru, dressed in a Jonin green vest, slowly emerged from the darkness. Seeing Furukawa Osamu open the door and extend his hand in invitation, he immediately smiled and continued in a hoarse voice:

"I knew I hadn't misjudged you!"

Upon entering the living room, Orochimaru gave it a quick look around. Furukawa Osamu had brewed a pot of iced tea and had just sat down on the sofa when he heard an invitation from the other party:

"Xiu, would you be interested in exploring the mysteries of the soul together? It's the first step towards immortality."

Seeing the excited look on Orochimaru's face, Furukawa Osamu did not respond directly:

"I thought Lord Orochimaru was preparing for the Hokage position, and Tsunade-sensei was very troubled every day."

"The Hokage? Sarutobi-sensei is still young; those discussions in the village are meaningless."

"To seek the truth, eternal life is the key; ultimately, ninjas must rely on strength."

When asked about the next Hokage, a topic of much discussion these past two years, Orochimaru simply smiled dismissively, saying that the Hokage was insignificant in the face of eternity.

Furukawa Osamu didn't take it seriously. If he were to nominate anyone now, the three legendary Sannin would be the best candidates. If he were to narrow it down further, it would be a competition between Tsunade and Orochimaru.

"Trust me, you'll be interested in this technique!"

Without giving Furukawa Osamu a chance to ask further questions, Orochimaru remained silent for a moment, then swiftly produced a scroll.

When Furukawa Osamu took it in his hand, he immediately showed a look of surprise:

"Spiritualization technique? Forbidden technique?"

"Forbidden techniques are only for ordinary ninjas. The village has never given up on researching these techniques, but most people don't have the talent."

Satisfied with Furukawa Osamu's surprised expression, Orochimaru chuckled and explained, then added:

"If you agree, this will be a secret between the two of us. After you master this technique, you will need to help me conduct some experiments in the future."

"Your medical ninjutsu is also a great help to me. Tsunade speaks highly of you, and I trust my old friend's judgment!"

Seeing Orochimaru hand over another scroll, Furukawa Osamu stopped looking at it and solemnly said:

"Completing this technique may take a very long time!"

A smile returned to Orochimaru's face. Ignoring the time constraints, he said expectantly:

"It's a pleasure doing business with you, Xiu. I knew I hadn't misjudged you!"

"..."

Chapter 37 "Tools" and "Naruto"... (Please continue reading)

In early September, Konoha's leadership promoted a group of Chunin, all around 13 years old, as planned.

After the official announcement, the village was in an uproar. In the eyes of most villagers, the continuous emergence of genius ninjas was the best proof of the village's strength!

Obito Uchiha, who was eliminated in the second round after only passing the written test, was unwilling to accept this and kept complaining while on mission that morning:

"At this rate, by the time I become a Chunin, Kakashi will have become a Jonin!"

"If I end up working under him, I'll have to pay him half my salary..."

While keeping an eye on pedestrians on the street, Rin Nohara also observed the houses on both sides. The task of finding the cat was not easy, and the old lady didn't always help her.

"Kakashi doesn't seem to want us to be promoted to Chunin too early."

"Xiu also mentioned this in the medical class. They should know more information, so there's no need for them to rush into the exam."

"Obito, if you're short on money, I can help you out. After all, I don't need to change my ninja tools often, and Kakashi even gave me a medical kit..."

He let what was said earlier go in one ear and out the other, only remembering Kakashi giving him a gift. Obito was so angry he jumped up and down, immediately shouting his complaints:

"That repressed pervert! He really did make his move secretly!"

"Lin, I will protect you. Damn it, I prepared a gift too, you cunning fellow!"

"..."

After babbling on and on, the bamboo dragonfly with bandages wrapped around its head quietly pulled away a little. Everyone around them was watching, which was quite embarrassing.

Unexpectedly, Obito reacted so strongly. Rin Nohara quickly pulled him back and then bowed slightly to the crowd to express her apology.

"Feizhu-kun, let's get out of here first!"

"Obito, how many times have I told you not to disturb everyone?"

Looking at his left hand being held by the girl, Obito's face flushed slightly. He immediately forgot what he had just said and thought to himself with a smug satisfaction:

"Lin really cares more about me!"

Around noon, the three completed their mission, and the Jonin leading the team hurriedly left.

"Are there that many high-level missions? The new captain is the same."

As Obito left the mission commission building, he muttered to himself that in his mind, the team leader shouldn't be like this; he should be more concerned about them.

"It's said that the village has taken over all the requests from the surrounding area, which is why the Jonin are even busier!"

Tobi-tsubou shared some information she had received from her seniors in the intelligence unit, but Obito completely ignored it and, without a second thought, continued to criticize:

"We still haven't seen the instructor we were promised. How are we supposed to learn more advanced ninjutsu if this continues?"

"Does the Uchiha clan also face this problem?"

When Obito heard the question about the Flying Bamboo Dragonfly, he could only smile awkwardly. He was a nobody in the clan, only possessing some basic ninjutsu left by his parents.

Nohara Rin was still going to do her internship at the medical school. Knowing that Obito longed for friends, she immediately smiled and said:

"Tobito-kun is going to the intelligence department this afternoon. Obito, would you like to come with me to the medical unit?"

"The order guides us in practical combat. He has already completed many advanced missions, and this experience is very helpful to us."

He wanted to agree immediately, but the thought of possibly "losing face" in front of the girl made him give a dry laugh and deliberately boast:

"Lin, don't worry about me. There are some teachings in the clan, and I'll be able to awaken the Sharingan soon!"

Rin Nohara didn't expose Obito's lie, and continued to encourage him with great enthusiasm:

"Don't push yourself too hard, Obito, let's do our best together!"

After the two left, Obito, who had just been smiling, immediately lost his enthusiasm, and a look of dejection quickly appeared on his face. Thinking of the girl's smile, he subconsciously muttered:

“Lin…”

-

Kakashi liked to use his "talent" to persuade genin to quit, and the higher-ups didn't stop him. They simply assigned him to graduating teams with poor grades, and his missions were mostly D-rank.

On the other hand, Furukawa Osamu's side was different. In the medical team, he practically represented Tsunade, and talented and young medical ninjas gathered around him.

Some Chunin from commoner backgrounds who have accumulated seniority also like to join Furukawa Osamu's team. If Tsunade were to become Hokage, she would definitely pour resources into the medical team.

Promotion is difficult, but a raise is still possible, and everyone is looking forward to it.

In the training grounds on the back mountain at dusk, Furukawa Osamu leaped and swiftly slashed downwards, instantly creating a huge crater in the ground. Without checking the surrounding area, he continued to warn others:

"Observe your opponents carefully, and with the protection of your teammates, you'll have more time to think."

"Gathering intelligence during battle and seizing the opponent's weaknesses is also part of the job of a medical ninja."

Debris flew everywhere, and the medical team members, including Shizune and Rin Nohara, who had dodged, all fell to the ground on the spot, barely managing to stand up. Then, Osamu Furukawa disappeared again, and soon after, a muffled groan could be heard from behind.

Han Fang and the others collapsed to the ground, clutching their necks. Nohara Rin, who instinctively turned around, drew her kunai, but as soon as she swung it, she felt a sharp pain in her wrist.

"clang..."

The kunai fell to the ground. By the time Nohara Rin realized what was happening, Furukawa Osamu had already flicked it on her forehead. The girl was powerless to resist and flew out, rolling twice on the ground.

With a cry of pain, Nohara Rin sat up, and Shizune also fell over. The two instinctively screamed and ended up falling to the ground a second time.

Recently, the "Crimson Nightmare" has gradually decreased, and Furukawa Osamu has turned the energy of [Gathering] into instinct. Not only has his swordsmanship become faster and sharper, but his use of chakra has also improved once again.

"That's enough, Xiu. There's no need to make things difficult for everyone."

Tsunade, wearing a Jonin green vest, stepped in to stop the fight. Nohara Rin, who had barely managed to stand, didn't want to admit defeat and hesitated for a moment before speaking up:

"Lady Tsunade, we can still hold on."

"Reflexes, insight, and decision-making in battle—these often rely on talent. You all know the three principles of medical ninjas."

“My previous suggestions did have flaws, and there’s no need to force yourselves. You can better utilize your talents in the medical class.”

Tsunade gently comforted everyone, and Shizune noticed that Furukawa Osamu wasn't even sweating. Her frustration gradually turned into anticipation.