Tenten smiled happily and proactively explained: "Natsuki recommended me to Tsunade-sama, and Tsunade-sama just agreed."
"Speaking of which, it seems that is indeed the procedure."
Neji also spoke up at this point, "A Chunin needs to be recommended by other Jonin to be promoted to Jonin.
Teacher Kai also mentioned to me before that he planned to recommend me for Jonin after the Chunin Exams ended."
Sasuke also said: "Kakashi-sensei also said he would recommend me."
Shino: "Teacher Kurenai will also recommend me."
At this, the rest of their friends who were still Genin all looked numb, feeling the deep malice of this Village.
They were all still Genin, and it was one thing that these few had successfully been promoted to Chunin before, but now they were all about to become Jonin too, which was ridiculous!
If they didn't pass the Chunin Exams this time, then the difference between them and these few would be that between Genin and Jonin!
They couldn't be friends anymore!
Naruto clearly hadn't quite understood, and asked further: "To become a Jonin, do you just need to be recommended by other Jonin?"
Natsuki shook his head: "Not necessarily.
A recommendation is one thing, but whether you succeed is another.
Firstly, your strength must be strong enough, and secondly, you need sufficient experience or merit. This is only possible after getting the Hokage's approval.
Take me for example, the reason I was directly promoted to Jonin was not just because I was strong, but also because I had significant merit during the Chunin Exams and gained recognition from many people."
Tenten agreed: "Exactly.
Although I had some merit during the previous Chunin Exams, it wasn't enough, so after becoming a Chunin I had to actively do missions to accumulate experience, and combined with sufficient strength, that's why Tsunade-sama agreed."
So that's how it is!
Everyone suddenly looked enlightened.
Naruto, however, seemed to understand and not understand at the same time, then looked at Shikamaru: "Huh?
Logically, Shikamaru, you should also have a chance to be promoted to Jonin, so why aren't you saying anything?"
Shikamaru rolled his eyes: "You think becoming a Jonin is a good thing?
Becoming a Jonin means shouldering more responsibility, and the things you have to do are more dangerous and troublesome. I'm certainly not willing.
But Asuma and my dad will probably recommend me secretly, tsk, how troublesome!"
Listen to that! Is that something a person would say?
Now everyone finds it hard to pass the Chunin Exams, and you're complaining that being a Jonin is troublesome?
Drag him out and don't let him eat BBQ anymore!
Everyone chatted, laughed, and joked around, and the celebration feast was very successful.
However, the next day, Natsuki was called to the Hokage Office again, because there was another S-Rank mission he needed to do.
Tsunade-sama really favors him; he's been a Jonin for less than a year, and has hardly been assigned any B-Rank or A-Rank missions, they've all been S-Rank. Counting this one, it's already his fifth S-Rank mission.
Natsuki took the scroll, opened it and looked, and was immediately speechless.
Well, it was still related to the Akatsuki.
Thinking about it, it made sense. The Akatsuki had previously sent people to Konoha to capture a Jinchuriki, and they had already been defined as terrorists threatening national security. After all, they were a terrorist organization with designs on nuclear weapons, so naturally they were treated with extreme caution.
Therefore, missions related to the Akatsuki basically always reach S-Rank.
Tsunade said: "Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sand have appeared again. The intelligence says they have also started doing bounty missions."
Natsuki narrowed his eyes: "Those two are doing bounty missions?
It seems because Kakuzu died, and the Akatsuki haven't stockpiled enough funds yet, so they're having other members do it?"
Tsunade agreed: "I think so too.
However, this duo is ultimately not as threatening as the Undead Duo, so we won't make a move against them for now.
You basically investigated their information last time. What you need to do this time is determine the location of the Akatsuki's headquarters!"
Akatsuki headquarters?
Isn't it the Rain Country?
Oh, Konoha doesn't know yet, or rather, the other great Villages aren't clear about it.
So, isn't this still an easy question?
Natsuki nodded solemnly: "Understood, I will track the two of them until I determine the location of the Akatsuki's hideout!"
After saying that, he disappeared with the Body Flicker Technique, went straight home, told Tenten he was going on a long-term mission, prepared his things, and left the Village.
This time Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sand appeared near an Exchange Shop in the Earth Country. It's really impressive that Konoha's Ambu could find them. However, the Earth Country is the territory of the Hidden Stone Village, and Stone Ninja, like Cloud Ninja, don't really like to reason, so it's best not to be discovered by the Stone Ninja, otherwise, it will only lead to conflict.
Natsuki rode a giant eagle, flying over the Fire Country border in two days, passing over the Grass Country, and arriving in the Earth Country.
Then, he transformed based on the local people's attire, pretending to be an ordinary person, and even paid to join a merchant caravan, arriving near the Exchange Shop mentioned in the intelligence.
Then, he temporarily stayed in this vicinity, pretending to be a tourist.
Actually, Natsuki was quite curious that Deidara dared to come to the Earth Country to take black market bounty missions. It was as if he was afraid his master Ōnoki and junior sister Kurotsuchi wouldn't find out.
Deidara was also a bit crazy; for the sake of so-called art, he was actually led astray by Itachi Uchiha.
What would happen if you just stayed put in the Hidden Stone Village?
Could Ōnoki really stop you from playing with clay bombs?
Anyway, if Natsuki were Deidara, he would definitely obediently be Ōnoki's disciple in the Village, marry the long-legged Kurotsuchi when he grew up, and then serve as Tsuchikage for a few years. Life would be perfect like that.
But Deidara wouldn't!
What Tsuchikage, what Kurotsuchi wife, none of it was as important as art!
Natsuki couldn't help but laugh when he thought of Deidara like that, but he didn't expect that sometimes thinking about something makes it appear. Suddenly, a pair of long legs came into view.
Kurotsuchi, with her short black hair and long legs, appeared conspicuously nearby like that.
Accompanying Kurotsuchi was a slightly chubby person, who by his attire should be Kurotsuchi's senior brother, Akatsuchi.
At this time, Kurotsuchi was only around fourteen years old, roughly the same age as Natsuki's generation, but her appearance had already matured. She looked very delicate and pretty, and with her short hair, she appeared heroic and spirited.
Especially her beautiful legs; at this age, they already appeared very long. In a few years, they would be absolutely stunning legs!
However, Kurotsuchi didn't notice Natsuki, but was instead searching around with Akatsuchi for Deidara's whereabouts. It seemed Deidara taking bounty missions in the Earth Country had still been discovered by the Hidden Stone Village.
This young girl Kurotsuchi was also bold; she actually dared to run out of the Village with Akatsuchi. Was she really not afraid of being kidnapped by bad guys?
You know, she was the granddaughter of the Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, she was very valuable!
Just then, Kurotsuchi walked up to Natsuki and politely asked: "Hello, sir, have you seen a man with blonde hair in a ponytail?"
Natsuki, in his uncle disguise, shook his head decisively: "Haven't seen him."
Akatsuchi, however, stared at Natsuki suspiciously: "Sir, you look unfamiliar. Where are you from? When did you get here?"
Natsuki wasn't flustered at all, and chuckled as he replied: "I'm a tourist from the Fire Country, I only arrived here a few days ago."