Chapter 215: Jonin Recommendation List
Nara Shikaku continued:
“Second agenda item, rotational conscription for positions such as Stronghold Fortress Jonin, Guardian Jonin, etc.
These Jonin stationed away from the village are key to the village’s influence.
Any Jonin who receives the village’s conscription must not refuse for any reason.”
Yoru listened to the list, growing colder with each name.
Stronghold Fortress garrison Jonin is a tough job, with few Jonin willing to be stationed in border fortresses.
But Daimyo Guardian Jonin positions are prime spots.
Land of Fire Daimyo Guardian Jonin are all Sarutobi Clan Jonin.
Land of Rivers Daimyo Guardian Jonin are Mito Mon’en’s son and Koharu Utatane’s daughter.
Land of Whirlpools Daimyo Guardian Jonin are Ino-Shika-Cho Clan Jonin.
Land of Grass Daimyo Guardian Jonin is a Shimura Ninja.
Only Land of Hot Water Guardian Jonin are two civilian Jonin.
These Jonin, paired with some Hyuga Ninja and Inuzuka Ninja, form the mainstay of the Guardian Ninja.
Prime spots all go to the Five Great Clans; the high-ranking officials don’t even bother to cover it up.
Daimyo Guardian Ninja can learn earliest about national and Daimyo commission missions, and have the power to recommend candidates to the Daimyo.
With Guardian Ninja recommendations, S-rank missions are much easier to obtain.
The criteria for S-rank missions aren’t about danger equivalent to battling Kage Level Ninja or Elite Jonin, but missions concerning national secrets with significant impact on the nation and Daimyo.
The Five Great Clans dominate Guardian Ninja positions, then help their own ninja clan compatriots obtain S-rank missions.
Five Great Clans Ninja have more S-rank missions, promoting to Jonin faster.
Five Great Clans have more Jonin, dominating even more Guardian Ninja positions.
A perfect closed loop; others can only smell it from afar even if they want a bite.
Yoru looked at Tsunade and the others in the first row, finding none of them objecting to the Guardian Jonin list.
Ever since Hiruzen Sarutobi became Hokage, Guardian Jonin have always been allocated this way; others opposed it before but it didn’t work.
Those who opposed either vanished while opposing or backed down while opposing.
In any case, no one opposes now.
Nara Shikaku continued announcing agenda items one by one.
These agenda items are very important, key to village operations; no Jonin would oppose them.
The true core agenda of today’s Jonin Meeting is the Jonin Recommendation Quota; that’s when things get bloody.
“Ninth agenda item, post-war Jonin recommendation assessment list.”
Yoru sat up straight; here it comes, the main course.
Nara Shikaku said:
“Post-war, Battlefield Commanders-in-Chief and Deputy Commanders together recommended 41 Special Jonin for promotion to Jonin.
After Hokage’s evaluation, 20 have entered Jonin promotion review; now announcing the personnel list entering Jonin review.”
Yoru listened and found the list was shuffled.
If not shuffled, it would be bad; ranking by clan name would reveal too many new Five Great Clans Jonin.
After carefully listening to the list, Yoru got the faction breakdown of new Jonin.
Sarutobi Clan 5, Ino-Shika-Cho Clan 4, Shimura Clan
Uchiha Clan, Senju Clan, Hyuga Clan each
Remaining 6 are civilian Special Jonin.
Crucially, these 6 civilian Special Jonin are also high-ranking officials’ confidants.
Yoru frowned; among civilian Special Jonin, neither Shinma nor Shirakumo Hayama recommended by Sakumo Hatake made the list.
The meeting room was unusually quiet; everyone was calculating shifts in Jonin Meeting power.
Before others figured it out, Tsunade suddenly stood up.
“Third Hokage, Senju Michiko whom I recommended failed to enter the review list; please give me a reason!”
In an instant, the meeting room fell extremely silent.
Nara Shikaku said: “Tsuna…”
His first word was interrupted by Tsunade.
“Senju Michiko served as medical ninja on Grass Country, Land of Rivers, and Land of Whirlpools battlefields; just her surgery record—Senju Michiko performed 411 front-line surgeries across three wars!
Do you know what 411 front-line surgeries mean?
At least 220 of them returned to the battlefield days after surgery.
Third Hokage, please explain: where did she fall short? Why can’t she be promoted to Jonin?”
Tsunade recommended three Senju Clan Ninja; one died suddenly from old injuries recurring, another—Senju Yukie—accepted Anbu mission review and was released only yesterday.
Senju Yukie made the list, but Senju Michiko did not.
Yoru felt a bit guilty; Senju Michiko not making the list was indeed his doing.
Sarutobi Clan, Shimura Clan, and other Jonin all looked at Tsunade with unkind gazes.
Politely call her Princess; bluntly, with the Senju Clan nearly gone, what princess nonsense?
With the Senju Clan weakened to that state, what right does Tsunade have to question the Hokage’s decision?
Nara Shikaku pretended to flip through documents, saying to one:
“Senju Michiko had a severe medical accident; the deceased’s family detonated several exploding tags in Konoha Hospital.
Given the terrible impact of this medical accident, Senju Michiko’s Jonin recommendation was halted.”
Sakumo Hatake stood up at this time and said:
“Hokage, Leader Shikaku, I have a deep impression of Senju Michiko; she is a medical ninja with superb medical skills.
Whether surgery or detoxification, she is outstanding in the Front Line Medical Post.
Saying she equals two squads is exaggerated; saying she equals one squad in the war is even conservative.
A medical accident isn’t necessarily the doctor’s fault; wait for Konoha Hospital’s investigation report.”
Uchiha Kane followed: “As Deputy Commander of the Land of Whirlpools War, I inspected the Medical Bay several times.
Once I saw Senju Michiko finish three surgeries, holding half a ration pill, leaning against a pillar asleep.
If she weren’t a Senju Clan Ninja, I would have been the first to recommend her for Jonin.”
Sakumo Hatake speaking for Tsunade was understandable; he spoke for her at the last Jonin Meeting.
Uchiha Kane speaking out shocked the Jonin.
Uchiha Genin are extremely radical, but Jonin remain conservative and yielding.
The Uchiha Clan rarely opposes village decisions openly; after so many years, this is Uchiha Kane’s first differing opinion at a Jonin Meeting.
Senju Clan, Uchiha Clan, Sakumo Hatake—three sides openly allying?
Their entry point was very apt: not combat ninja like Shirakumo Hayama or Uchiha Goka, but medical ninja Senju Michiko.
Senju Michiko tirelessly treated wounded ninja on the battlefield, naturally earning ninja sympathy and favor.
This was the scheme decided after the three discussed: say nothing about Uchiha Goka, Shirakumo Hayama, etc., but definitely recommend Senju Michiko for Jonin.
Even clay figures have tempers; the high-ranking officials went too far.
Yoru stared at the Third Hokage under his mask, observing every micro-expression.
Anbu learned yesterday that Senju, Uchiha, and Sakumo Hatake had joined; the Third had anticipated this.
Just as the Third prepared to speak, Orochimaru suddenly stood up.
