Chapter 694: Daido's Captaincy
Chapter 694: Daido's Captaincy
Under Yu Sheng Mu Yue's initiative, the Uchiha ninjas selected for the Reform Police Force were swiftly organized into teams.
The Jonin-level Uchihas were assigned as captains of various squads, while the Chunin Uchihas served as squad members.
However, a minor detour occurred when Daido, who wasn't part of the Reform Police Force, expressed his desire to join and lead a squad, citing his ambition to become the Hokage and enhance his abilities.
Yu Sheng Mu Yue suspected that Daido was more eager to experience being a captain, especially after enduring Kakashi's leadership for so long.
Without hesitation, Yu Sheng Mu Yue assigned Daido to a temporary three-person squad lacking a captain.
"Finally, it's my turn to be a captain! This time, I'll show Kakashi what I'm capable of and let Rin witness my progress," Daido exclaimed excitedly on his way to the training grounds.
Even though it was just a small Jonin captain position with authority over only three squad members, it was a significant step in Daido's life and a firm stride towards his Hokage aspirations.
Currently, his three squad members were Chunin, and if he became a Hokage candidate as a Jonin, that would be three valuable Jonin votes.
"Senior Daido, it's been a while," Koushi Tetsu exclaimed, recognizing a familiar figure and eagerly catching up to greet him.
Among his senior classmates at the Ninja Academy, Koushi Tetsu admired Daido and Might Guy the most, aside from his brother Ebizuki.
The year Koushi Tetsu entered the Ninja Academy coincided with Daido's remarkable transformation from a dead-last to a genius ninja.
Moreover, Daido's achievements became increasingly impressive after graduating from the Academy. At just ten years old, he advanced to the Jonin rank and later secured second place in the Youth Martial Arts Tournament.
"Tetsu, it's been a while," Daido greeted with a smile.
"Senior Daido, are you planning to train at the nearby training grounds today?" Koushi Tetsu jogged alongside Daido to inquire.
"You could say that," Daido nodded.
Before the two could converse further, a voice caught their attention.
"Tetsu, Senior Daido?" Shiniguki Kumo asked uncertainly.
"Good morning, Kumo. Yes, Senior Daido is here to train in this area," Koushi Tetsu explained, turning back.
Shiniguki Kumo's expression revealed understanding, and he greeted Daido enthusiastically.
"Senior Daido, were you at the Hokage Tower during Teacher Yu Sheng Mu Yue's succession ceremony? I don't recall seeing you below," Shiniguki Kumo asked curiously.
"Yes, I was there, but my seat was at the very back," Daido replied.
Both Shiniguki Kumo and Koushi Tetsu couldn't help but show envy, as they had been squeezed on the ground during the ceremony.
"No wonder it's Senior Daido. Even Teacher Ishizaka Ryohou couldn't make it to the Hokage Tower for the ceremony," Koushi Tetsu marveled.
Ishizaka Ryohou was their Jonin instructor.
"Indeed," Shiniguki Kumo nodded in admiration.
"But speaking of Teacher Ishizaka Ryohou, I wonder when his injuries will heal. I hope he recovers soon."
As they discussed their instructor, Shiniguki Kumo sighed.
Ishizaka Ryohou didn't possess Yu Sheng Mu Yue's formidable strength or exceptional teaching abilities, but he genuinely cared for his students. During their last mission, if it weren't for Ishizaka Ryohou's valiant protection, some of them might have been sacrificed.
"What are you sighing about so early in the morning?" Akane wondered, recognizing the familiar figure and hearing the sighs. She quickly ran over and patted Shiniguki Kumo's shoulder.
"Senior Daido, good morning," Akane greeted with a smile as she approached.
Daido responded with a smile.
"It's about Teacher Ishizaka Ryohou, of course," Koushi Tetsu said.
"If we're not going out on a mission today, let's visit Teacher Ishizaka Ryohou together after our afternoon training," Akane suggested.
Both Shiniguki Kumo and Akane nodded in agreement.
After all, Ishizaka Ryohou had sustained severe injuries while protecting them.
"Usually, on the first day, a temporary captain would familiarize themselves with the team's situation instead of immediately going out on a mission," Shiniguki Kumo analyzed.
Ninja missions weren't solo endeavors; a well-coordinated team had significantly different combat capabilities compared to a team lacking cohesion.
"Whether it's usual or not, he's just a temporary captain. If he wants to cooperate, we'll continue as usual until Teacher Ishizaka Ryohou returns. Otherwise, we'll show him what we're capable of," Akane asserted confidently.
Being among the top Chunin, their exceptional teamwork meant that even a regular Jonin might struggle to best them.
"Yes, let's show him the might of the Yu Sheng Mu Yue's Trident," Koushi Tetsu agreed, clenching his fist.
"We don't have to be confrontational," Shiniguki Kumo suggested, offering a different perspective.
Intrigued, Koushi Tetsu asked, "Kumo, what's your plan?"
"If we openly defy him and it reaches Teacher Yu Sheng Mu Yue, it might reflect poorly on us. Instead, we can be sarcastic and insubordinate, following his orders in name only. This way, we can make him back down," Shiniguki Kumo explained enthusiastically.
"If he boasts about his excellent Ninja Academy grades but our investigation reveals average or poor results, we can pretend to be unaware and praise him initially. Then, we'll let him discover that we know the truth, making him realize our disdain for such mediocre achievements, and after that..."
"We can do this and that..."
Koushi Tetsu and Akane eagerly joined the discussion.
The three of them grew more excited as they spoke, as if they could already envision a cocky Jonin being broken down by their cunning scheme.
Daigo's face revealed a hint of surprise. How could these juniors be so mischievous at such a young age, and be capable of dealing with someone like Kakashi?
As they chatted, they approached a small, scenic building.
"We're here, Senior Daigo. See you later," Shiniguki Kumo and Koushi Tetsu bid farewell to Daigo with smiles.
According to the village's information, this was the designated meeting spot.
"Senior Daigo, let's meet up sometime, and I'll treat you to dumplings," Akane added with a chuckle, also bidding farewell to Daigo.
However, what puzzled them was that Daigo also stopped and stood there, his face beaming with a smile as he watched them.
"Senior Daigo, what are you doing?" Shiniguki asked, perplexed.
"I've arrived at the location too," Daigo chuckled in response.
The smiles on Shiniguki and Koushi's faces gradually faded.
"Senior Daigo, are you here to train? That's great. If a stronger Jonin shows up, you can help us out," Akane suggested with a grin.
Daigo's smile intensified, but he didn't answer Akane's question. Instead, he continued, "Let me reintroduce myself. I'm Uchiha Daigo, the acting captain of Team Six."
Akane's eyes widened, and her smile vanished.
"Haha, Koushi, Akane, I knew you two had such devious intentions," Shiniguki suddenly laughed coldly.
"Regardless of who the captain is, a captain is still a captain. Obeying orders from superiors is a ninja's duty. I intentionally brought up the topic of dealing with the captain, and as expected, you revealed your malicious plans. Truly, the world has become heartless," Shiniguki added.
Shiniguki was quick to react, but Koushi was not far behind. He immediately refuted, "I think you're the one with ulterior motives. I saw through your thoughts a long time ago, which is why I asked if you had any ideas. I never expected you, Shiniguki, and Akane to be so despicable, plotting against the captain even before he appears."
Akane: ...
In an instant, she had become the embodiment of evil, disloyal, and unfilial.
Daigo struggled to contain his laughter. After reading his teammates' profiles, he knew it would be interesting, but he never imagined it would be even more so in reality.
"I was just embodying darkness to lure out the real darkness," Shiniguki insisted.
"It's clearly the darkness hidden within the light that's been exposed!" Koushi firmly argued.
Akane didn't join their debate. Instead, she winced and took out a dumpling, holding it with both hands and offering it to Daigo.
"Captain Daigo, I'm treating you to this dumpling. Please beat them up, but spare me," Akane pleaded sincerely.
They weren't afraid of ordinary Jonin, but Daigo wasn't an ordinary Jonin.
According to the rumors circulating in Konoha, Daigo had already reached the level of a Yellow Earth ninja, a powerful ninja in the Ninja World.
Hearing the title 'Captain' made Daigo feel incredibly comfortable, as if a spiritual energy was surging from his feet to the top of his head, making his entire being feel transparent.
He initially wanted to accept this first gift as the team captain, but seeing Akane's reluctant expression, he ultimately returned the dumpling to her.
Daigo felt that if he accepted it, Akane might spend the entire night thinking about it. It was just a dumpling, and it wasn't worth the trouble.
"Thank you, Captain Daigo!"
With the dumpling back in her hands, Akane's face lit up with joy. She had intentionally saved this dumpling from the morning, planning to eat it later to replenish her energy during training.
"Ah!"
Akane thought for a moment, then quickly devoured the dumpling, knowing that only when it reached her stomach would it truly be hers.
"Captain Daigo, don't listen to their slander. Akane was the most arrogant one just now."
"Indeed, setting aside the facts, Akane is the one who deserves a beating the most."
Seeing Akane's unique approach, Shiniguki and Koushi silently aimed their accusations at her.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Daigo's middle and index fingers came together, and his body flashed as he swiftly tapped each of the three's heads.
"There's enough for everyone," Daigo said with a smile, standing among them.
He had intended to feign a more serious expression to establish his authority.
However, no matter how hard Daigo tried to recall, he couldn't find the expression he wanted on Yu Sheng Mu Yue's face in his memories. It seemed like Mu Yue always maintained a gentle demeanor.
Realizing this, Daigo decided to drop the act.
"So, this is how it feels to tap someone's head. No wonder Mu Yue always taps us."
Daigo rubbed his thumb against his middle and index fingers, feeling a secret satisfaction. He felt he had made the right choice.
With entertainment to watch and the chance to experience Mu Yue's treatment, he was willing to pay for it.
"Since we all know each other, there's no need for introductions. Let's begin the formal training. Although I'm your senior, as the captain, I won't hold back," Daigo reminded them.
Daigo had already experienced numerous large and small wars, and he understood that the ninja profession wasn't glamorous; it could even be cruel.
Training might be easy, but missions could be brutal.
Koushi and the others stopped fooling around and nodded seriously.
"Let's start with the bell-ringing training. As long as any one of you grabs the bell, it's a success," Daigo said, taking out two bells.
Daigo had participated in bell-ringing training twice before, once with Mu Yue and once with Minato.
He believed this was an excellent training method to get to know each other, and it had nothing to do with wanting to experience Mu Yue's feelings.
"Bell-Ringing Training? What's the reward if we succeed?" Akane's eyes lit up with curiosity.
She had participated in this training during her internship with Yu Sheng Mu Yue, and the reward was an Advanced Ninjutsu or Taijutsu.
"Reward? If you want a reward, there must be a punishment. If you don't grab the bell, you'll have to complete an exam," Daigo replied after some thought.
Akane: ???
Akane looked at Daigo as if he had just uttered something terrifying.
She had already graduated and become a Chunin, and now exams were still chasing her. She didn't want any part of this.
"I think rewards are unnecessary. Training is something every ninja should do," Akane said earnestly.
"Alright, then the reward is no reward, and the punishment is an exam," Daigo said, barely containing his amusement.
Akane's face was filled with shock. Could this be a new way to play the game?
Seeing Akane's expression, Daigo felt like he was looking at himself after the Exam Training, facing a pile of questions. Perhaps this was how the legacy was passed down.
As Yu Sheng Mu Yue's strongest disciple, he had the duty to pass on his teacher's secret teaching methods.
"If you can grab the bell today, I can teach you a Ninjutsu or Taijutsu. I can teach you Fire Jutsu, and for other Ninjutsu or Taijutsu, I can find someone to teach you," Daigo added.
After all, as Yu Sheng Mu Yue's students, how could he not give them a reward?
Akane and the others' morale instantly skyrocketed. Some wanted to learn Ninjutsu, while others wanted to avoid the exam.
In the end, with Daigo deliberately holding back, Akane and her team managed to grab the bell just before sunset.
With Daigo's strength, if he hadn't held back, not only would Akane's team have no chance, but even three Jonin would have struggled to grab the bell.
Looking at the delighted Akane and her teammates, Daigo felt a unique sense of accomplishment.
"I should definitely lead a Genin team after they graduate," Daigo thought to himself.
Perhaps he, too, could become someone else's Yu Sheng Mu Yue.
...
Other Uchiha members faced various challenges, but none as smooth as Daigo's journey. However, they didn't encounter any significant problems either.
Uchiha Inohi, although a Chunin, had recently awakened his Sharingan, making his actual combat strength comparable to a Jonin's.
This wasn't uncommon in the Leaf Village, as Jonin were scarce, and many had important duties that prevented them from leading teams. Consequently, several team leaders were veteran Chunin.
When Uchiha Inohi first joined the team as its leader, he could sense a subtle sense of detachment from his three teammates, as if they held some grudge against him.
Most Uchiha were not adept at socializing, but this didn't mean they were oblivious to others' emotions. On the contrary, the Uchiha were surprisingly sensitive to various moods.
In the past, Uchiha Inohi wouldn't have bothered with this.
They were just outsiders weaker than him; why should he waste time investigating the reason for their distance and trying to bridge the gap? He could use that time for training instead. Let the jealous outsiders with poor judgment misunderstand him if they wanted.
However, this time, Uchiha Inohi didn't remain indifferent. He followed the steps outlined by Zhi Shui and Daigo in their lectures.
During training, Uchiha Inohi pushed his teammates with high standards, and after the session, he treated them to a meal, inquiring about any injuries and encouraging them to rest.
Uchiha Inohi understood that one person alone couldn't accomplish a mission, and while he didn't need his teammates to like him, he couldn't afford to have them dislike him.
It didn't matter if they took on fewer missions and earned less money. He was a ninja recognized by the Fourth Hokage, and if he performed as mediocrely as a typical team, he would be letting the Fourth Hokage down.
When they returned to the Uchiha clan, other team leaders would boast about completing numerous S-Rank and A-Rank missions, receiving praise from clients, while he would be seen as an average team leader, bringing shame to his family.
This situation persisted for several days, after which Uchiha Inohi led them on a standard B-Rank mission.
However, this mission took an unexpected turn when the client misreported the details, putting them in a difficult position.
Fortunately, Uchiha Inohi was no ordinary Chunin, and with his superior skills, he managed to complete the mission. He then sternly reprimanded the client for their deception.
After this mission, the teammates' attitudes completely changed.
Uchiha Inohi no longer felt the subtle detachment; instead, he sensed their enthusiasm and guilt.
Upon returning to the Leaf Village, the three teammates treated Uchiha Inohi to drinks and grilled meat, preventing him from going back to train as he had intended.
During their conversation, Uchiha Inohi finally understood why his teammates had initially kept their distance.
He was aware of some rumors about the Uchiha clan, but he never imagined they would be so exaggerated.
"I can't vouch for others, but I can assure you that in the years I've worked in the Police Force, I've never abused my authority to wrongfully accuse anyone or seek personal gain!" Uchiha Inohi said solemnly.
"We believe in your character, Captain Inohi," the teammates reassured him.
"It's mainly because the Police Force was entirely under the Uchiha's control, so people thought it was normal for such things to happen."
"But now I feel the rumors have some issues. Most Uchiha ninjas are probably normal, or else how could there be young ninjas like Captain Inohi?" one of the teammates said.
As time passed, the ninjas who teamed up with the Uchiha Police Force members realized that they weren't as terrible as the rumors suggested.
While this didn't immediately change the Uchiha's reputation in the Leaf Village, it was a step in the right direction.
PS: This chapter is 5k words, and there will be another chapter, but the timing is undecided.
Third day of consecutive updates, please support with monthly votes.
(End of Chapter)
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