Chapter 230: The Reputation-Building Mission
Ino carefully chose her words. "To be precise, what we saw in the Land of Snow was a train. I consulted some experts here, and the general consensus is that the Land of Fire currently doesn't need long-distance steam-powered trains. There are too many uncontrollable factors. What's suitable for us is building electric trams connecting two or three cities. So, I'm preparing to establish a company specifically for this."
Shikaku asked two more questions, and she explained each point.
Not long after Shikaku left, Etsuri Ramen quietly asked, "What is this 'tram' thing you're talking about?"
There was no reason to keep it a secret. Ino chattered away, explaining her plan to establish a company tentatively named "Yamanaka Tram Company." She anticipated building the main station at the southern end of the Naka River, specifically near the old Uchiha Clan district. The future station would be a moderate distance from the village center, and she had already secretly purchased some land in the area beforehand. This plan also fit well with her previously submitted proposal, the "Naka River and Surrounding Area Grand Development" plan.
Etsuri Ramen praised the scene she described, clearly interested in the tram company, and asked many detailed questions.
The "'Carrying Rice' event" was fast approaching, and land would become even cheaper then. Therefore, Ino's company was still just on paper for now. To complete construction and start generating profit would likely take at least five, or even ten, years into the future. She spoke of her vision and explained the advantages of trams, and Etsuri Ramen nodded enthusiastically.
Fifteen minutes later, when the King of Tardiness, Kakashi, walked into the room and greeted them with a cheerful smile, Ino was taken aback.
Does this mission really require Kakashi's involvement? She thought. They're not actually planning to assassinate the Raikage, are they? She looked at Etsuri Ramen, whom she had just been chatting with for fifteen minutes, with a hint of sympathy. Good luck, old friend. Pray for yourself.
Etsuri Ramen's worry was finally relieved after Jiraiya spoke. Jiraiya looked at the three of them and said:
"The village's ninja strength is still too weak. I've reviewed the Ninja Academy's teaching records over the years. The Three Basic Academy Jutsu are refined techniques and applicable in most situations, which is proven at the genin stage. This shows the Ninja Academy's education is good. However, at the chunin stage, the Three Body Technique can't keep up with a ninja's strength. Most of our chunin lack offensive means. The Third Hokage once intended to add the Water Prison Technique to the current curriculum, but he never completed that work..."
Jiraiya issued a direct command: "...Kakashi, you've mastered the most ninjutsu. Young Ino just graduated and was promoted to Chunin, so you have firsthand experience. Etsuri, you've been involved in editing Ninja Academy textbooks for a long time. I want the three of you to be responsible for this mission: compile and organize several ninjutsu suitable for Chunin use. In the future, when chunin achieve merit, they can exchange for desired ninjutsu from the village."
He was very serious. "This needs to become a formal system. We need to let all the ninjas in the village know about this. You three will focus on this for the next couple of days, then submit it to me and the advisors for deliberation."
"Yes, Lord Hokage." All three replied in unison.
Stepping out of the Hokage's office, Ino immediately asked, "Kakashi-sensei, how exactly should we approach this mission?"
She had understood Jiraiya's intent halfway through his explanation. Simply put, this was a reputation-building mission. Kakashi had done plenty of combat-related missions, but he lacked experience in management and administrative work. This was meant to build his qualifications. For Ino, it was a no-brainer; she was Tsunade's disciple and a member of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, making her a bridge between the Hokage faction and the ninja clans. If she succeeded, she would also gain a lot of good reputation. Even if it caused dissatisfaction among the ninja clans who controlled ninjutsu, she could likely smooth things over.
As for Etsuri Ramen? Ino glanced at him. This person likely also had someone backing him; he was definitely not just a lucky individual.
Kakashi had a rather unmotivated look about him. He genuinely didn't want to do this kind of mission. Hearing Ino's question, he said, "The Water Prison Technique is a C-rank ninjutsu. The Third Hokage has already done some preliminary work on this. We can start there. How about choosing one ninjutsu per chakra nature?"
He used a consulting tone. At this moment, Ino had to represent the ninja clans. She replied vaguely, "Perhaps we can give it a try."
E-rank ninjutsu were for Ninja Academy students, D-rank for genin, C-rank for chunin, and B-rank for jonin. The C-rank Water Prison Technique was just right for ninjas at the chunin stage to learn. The largest number of ninjas in the village were still genin; chunin were already considered elites.
The three headed to the archive room to work.
Kakashi had copied over a thousand ninjutsu with his Sharingan and himself possessed seven chakra natures. He could theoretically use all these ninjutsu. However, just like many people in his previous life, buying a book counted as reading it, and buying a game and watching the intro animation counted as playing it. His ninjutsu collection was similar; copying them down counted as knowing them. Now, if he wanted to use them, he had to seriously think about it.
He had the Sharingan and was promoted to Jonin at age twelve, essentially skipping over the Chunin stage in the blink of an eye. He was now genuinely unclear what kind of ninjutsu chunin needed.
The three divided the work. Kakashi would demonstrate a ninjutsu, then Ino would combine it with her own experience to further subdivide the difficulty level of the ninjutsu. Etsuri would be responsible for recording the specific details of the ninjutsu.
For Water Style, they settled on the Water Prison Technique. For Fire Style, they chose the famous Fire Style: Fireball Technique. This technique had long since not been limited to the Uchiha clan; even Ebisu, Aoba Yamashiro, and Anko Mitarashi knew this jutsu. Ino had finally developed her own fire nature chakra during the intense New Year training period recently, and seeing Kakashi demonstrate it once on the spot, she learned it immediately. It was truly an entry-level Fire Style ninjutsu.
For Wind Style, they selected the C-rank Wind Style: Gale Palm, also a very basic ninjutsu. Furthermore, the hand signs for this jutsu were simple, and it could be combined with taijutsu.
There was a small interlude when experimenting with the Gale Palm. Kakashi demonstrated it once. Ino's Wind Style level was also nearing level 4. Using one hand to take notes, she used the other hand to form one-handed hand signs and mastered the Wind Style ninjutsu after a couple of tries. She noticed something unusual and suddenly looked up, finding Kakashi staring at her with his Sharingan.
"Kakashi-sensei..." Ino was speechless. Her one-handed hand sign technique had been copied for free again.
Kakashi quickly apologized. "Sorry, sorry, it was a completely unconscious action. Ah ha ha ha ha..."
For Earth Style, they chose a very practical D-rank ninjutsu, the Earth Style: Headhunter Technique.
There was nothing they could do about Lightning Style. There were no low-level ninjutsu in this category. Even though Kakashi himself was a master of Lightning Style, it was impossible to develop a C-rank or D-rank Lightning Style ninjutsu on the spot. Most ninjas also didn't have Lightning nature chakra. This could only be temporarily shelved.
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