Arc IV Chapter 14

IV

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Arc IV Chapter 14

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The grass blew in the wind and ancient trees watch over the clearing. Asami's petite figure rested underneath a tall tree. Its shadow offered her comfort, shielding her from the ardent sun. It was summer, it was hot, and it was testing time.    

Debris fell from the sky, debris Asami and her ballistic tests were responsible for.

A massive falling boulder nearly crushed her, but only nearly. Obviously, the boulder failed in its feeble attempt to murder her.

She had channelled too much chakra into her attack and accidentally pulverised the target boulder. The result was a shower of rock and stone raining on the training ground.

She slightly messed up, didn't she?

Asami prepared her next test series; curious how multiple layers of shielding would fare. Her lightning against spaced chakra armour.

Her eyes searched for a new target. Fortunately, the training ground provided an ample supply of boulders for target practice.

Asami found a suitable candidate.

She created a series of consecutive chakra shields and very angry sphere of high voltage lightning. The wild currents only waited to be discharged, to be unleashed. Hopefully, she hadn’t used too much chakra again.

Propelled by her chakra, a spear of light shot forwards with the full might of its burning wrath.

Her lightning bolt accelerated in a fraction of a second, but not for Asami. For her, time passed differently. The entire world slowed down.

Uchiha lived in their own time. They lived their own little world. Whether other Uchiha ever thought the same? She would never know.

Asami smirked. The currents of fate were indeed beyond unpredictable. Nevertheless, it was her who was graced with the powers of the Sharingan. They had chosen her.

Her lightning connected, piercing her first shield with ease. The shield shattered. The initial layers didn’t offer significant resistance, but her test yielded the result she desired.  

Asami smiled. Her lightning tumbled more and more with every shield penetrated.--

Each shield deflected her projectile, each shield weakened her thunderbolt until it disintegrated.

Her shields won. Her lightning  penetrated eight out of ten layers, but the ninth layer stood firm.  An impressive result considering the strength of her attack.

Satisfied with the results, Asami continued with her experiments to create a cute impenetrable Susanoo. This time she would test composite armour ...

Asami tensed up. An unidentified person had invaded her perimeter. The intruder moved in her direction.

Asami rose, dedicating her attention to the newcomer. She didn’t recognise the boy, but judging by his attire he was a chunin.  

The boy lowered his head and knelt. He waited for her to speak.

Asami offered a sweet smile. "Who are you, and what's your purpose?"

"I am Mashiro, Yamanaka Mashiro. I came to deliver a message." Mashiro looked up.

“Are you Minami Asami?"

"I am, the one and only."  Asami furrowed her eyebrow.

His behaviour was ... unusual. Messengers rarely confirmed identities unless ... Asami’s eyes widened.

Mashiro extracted a scroll from his leather pouch. "The Hokage ordered me to deliver you this scroll."

Asami's anxious hands enveloped the scroll adorned with the official seal of the Hokage. It wasn't the seal used for daily affairs, but the seal used for important documents, documents that mattered.

Asami beamed. "Thank you for your services, you are dismissed."

Mashiro disappeared and Asami opened the scroll. 

She scanned the document to disclose its secrets. The opening lines were inconspicuous as usual. She had seen them before.

"Following document may contain confidential Information ... if you are not the designated addressee ... advised to destroy the scroll ...  any unauthorised act of publication ... liable to prosecution ... severe consequences ...“ Asami clicked her tongue. Always this threatening undertone. But she was used to it. .

Word for word, Asami went through the scroll until she stumbled across the relevant paragraphs.

"... In consideration of your past contributions in service of Konohagakure

we, the Village Council of Konohagakure,  

composed of

the Sandaime Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen,

Councilor, Shimura Danzo,

Councilor, Mitokado Homura,

Councilor, Utatane Koharu,

Councilor, Nara Shikaku,

Councilor, Aburame Ichiyo,

Councilor, Yamanaka Inoichi,

made the following decision

on the recommendation of the Sandaime Hokage

to promote Minami Asami, No. 011567, with immediate effect to the rank of jonin  and assign her command over the forces of Konohagakure  ..."

"In the face of the current crisis, a potential invasion by foreign powers, we decided to task you in cooperation with Councilor Nara Shikaku with the primary defence of Konohagakure.

signed

Sandaime Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen."

Asami broke out in incredulous laughter. Her laughgter echoed across the empty training ground. Nobody heard her. Nobody saw her.

Asami didn’t believe her luck.

From now on, she answered to no one except the Hokage.  Her political aspirations took a considerable leap forwards. They weren’t mere fantasy anymore. 

"You will henceforth act in the name of the Hokage, and we vest you with all necessary powers to accomplish your task.“ 

“We sincerely hope that our faith in you is not misplaced." 

Asami smiled. It wouldn't be.

Asami rolled up the scroll. Her Susanoo had to wait for the time being. Great things were expected from her, and she would deliver. Asami had a village to defend, a battle to fight. Everything she required was information.

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