ALL NOVEL Chapter 7: Chapter 7
"Lord Hokage, if possible, please schedule Tetsuya Fujiwara's exam for two days from now."
"Alright, I understand! I'll make the arrangements!"
Although Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't sure why Sanjodou Suzuko was so insistent, he still agreed.
Perhaps attending the exam in person could offer a much-needed change of pace.
"In that case, I'll leave it to you, Lord Hokage. I'll take my leave now!"
The moment Sanjodou Suzuko stepped out of the Hokage's office, she finally dared to exhale deeply, as if a heavy weight had been lifted.
Once she confirmed the anbu's surveillance had withdrawn from her, she quickly walked away.
...
Maybe no one could have predicted it.
The wheels of fate were about to turn.
Not long after Sanjodou Suzuko left, a Jonin entered the Hokage's office with two Genin in tow.
"Lord Hokage, this is how the situation unfolded."
At that moment, Danzo and his two companions had already left.
Upon hearing the Jonin's report, Sarutobi Hiruzen blew a heavy ring of smoke.
"Is that so?"
"Alright, I got it! Well done, Jonin Yūhi, I appreciate your hard work!"
"Understood."
Standing before Sarutobi was Jonin Yuhi Shin, a member of the Yuhi clan.
"Uchiha Mikoto, a Genin."
Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at the two Genin behind Yuhi Shin, letting out a quiet sigh.
Witnessing life and death is something every ninja must endure.
But the bonds forged between comrades are not easily explained in a few words.
Konoha has had its fair share of talented Genin, who survived countless battles without falling on the battlefield—yet crumbled after losing their teammates.
"Lord Hokage..."
If Tetsuya Fujiwara were present, the moment he saw Uchiha Mikoto, he would no doubt cry out: black-haired, long-straight beauty alert!
At this point in time, Uchiha Mikoto was around twelve years old, and her body had already begun to develop. Even in her Genin uniform, the subtle curve of her chest was noticeable.
Her long, sleek, jet-black hair framed her delicate, adorable face, enhancing her natural beauty.
"You need to cherish these bonds. I'm sure Yuno, wherever she is, wouldn't want you to be consumed by hatred and pain."
As he looked into Uchiha Mikoto's eyes, which held a single Tomoe Sharingan, Sarutobi Hiruzen found himself at a loss. How could he possibly console this once-cheerful girl now engulfed in sorrow?
The Uchiha clan...
The Sharingan, one of the most powerful Kekkei Genkai in the ninja world, was also a product of hatred—a cursed power.
Because of this very thing!
Countless Uchiha clan members had been consumed by arrogance, pride, paranoia, and madness.
A kind soul like Kagami Uchiha was a rare exception in their clan.
"Yes, Lord Hokage, I understand. I'll get myself in check."
"Jonin Yuhi, I'm leaving these two in your care."
"Rest assured, Lord Hokage! I'll keep a close watch on them."
"Oh, and Mikoto, I happen to have a task for you. Now that I think about it, you're the perfect person for the job."
After a brief silence, Sarutobi Hiruzen pulled out Tetsuya Fujiwara's early graduation application and handed it to Uchiha Mikoto.
The Uchiha clan, with its Sharingan, would be more than enough to assess Tetsuya Fujiwara's potential.
---
Two days flew by in the blink of an eye, barely leaving a trace in the long river of life.
The day Tetsuya Fujiwara had been waiting for had finally arrived.
"Tetsuya, let's go."
Standing outside the Academy gates, Sanjodou Suzuko had also changed into a tight-fitting outfit.
Unlike Tetsuya's attire, Suzuko's outfit perfectly highlighted her tall, graceful figure as she stood before him.
But today, Tetsuya obviously had no time for such stray thoughts.
"Yes, Teacher Suzuko."
Behind Tetsuya, strapped to his back, was the same small, unremarkable sword he always carried. Around his waist, he wore a ninja tool pouch he had gotten from Tanaka Jirou.
Though his outfit and equipment seemed basic, they couldn't hide the growing sharpness in his presence.
Over the past two days, his experiences at Training Ground 37 had exceeded even his wildest expectations.
Even without the system's task bonuses, Tetsuya had accumulated 219 kill points after slaying over ten beasts.
He had successfully advanced his Water Style: Water Clone Jutsu to the intermediate level, and the remaining points were spent on his Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu.
Host: Tetsuya Fujiwara
Kekkei Genkai: None
Ninjutsu: Water Style: Water Clone Jutsu (33/300) – C-rank, Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu (138/300 Intermediate) – C-rank, Transformation Jutsu (Advanced) – E-rank, Substitution Jutsu (Intermediate) – E-rank, Clone Jutsu (Intermediate) – E-rank
Kill Points: 0
His stats were still slim!
But if today's weather cooperated...
He might just pull off something unexpected.
As he looked at the clouds slowly gathering overhead, Tetsuya's pace gradually slowed.
Konoha's Training Ground 24.
Usually a place where many Chunin and Genin could be found, today, it was eerily empty.
The reason was simple: the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was here.
Training Ground 24 had been cleared by the Anbu.
When the dark clouds fully enveloped the training ground, Tetsuya arrived.
But as he surveyed the figures gathered on the nearby observation platform, a flicker of surprise crossed his otherwise calm and resolute face.
Those outfits!
He knew them all too well!
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen!
A master of all five chakra natures, hailed as Konoha's "Strongest Hokage," the "Professor of Ninjutsu," a legend.
Though some exaggeration surrounded those titles, for the current shinobi world, Sarutobi Hiruzen, still in his prime, was undeniably a terrifying figure.
Where the leaves dance, the fire burns eternally!
A simple phrase that nearly defined his youth.
But more shocking than Sarutobi's presence were the three individuals who had also shown up today.
Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru!
Tetsuya's gaze lingered on them for just a moment before he quickly averted his eyes.
Though Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru hadn't yet reached the level of the legendary Sannin, even at their current strength, they were far beyond what he could handle.
No point provoking them.
As he pondered this, Tetsuya's attention was suddenly drawn to a black-haired girl standing not too far away.
That outfit!
An Uchiha, huh?
Looks like she's my opponent.
She sure is easy on the eyes!
But I wonder... has she awakened her Sharingan yet?
"Hokage-sama!"
Urged on by Sanjodou Suzuko, Tetsuya reluctantly tore his gaze away from her, following Suzuko down to the platform below.
"Hm."
"Tetsuya Fujiwara!"
As the star of the show, Tetsuya inevitably drew the attention of most of the onlookers.
Gazing at Tetsuya's youthful face, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but recall the report he had received from the Anbu two days ago, detailing Tetsuya's past.
He now fully understood the reason behind Tetsuya's urgent application for early graduation.
The Turnsleep Clan...
But after all, that was Koharu's family.
If possible, he didn't want to make things difficult for her.
Yet nothing is ever absolute.
As the Hokage of Konoha, if Tetsuya Fujiwara could prove himself worthy...
Or to put it more bluntly, if he could demonstrate sufficient value...
Sarutobi wouldn't mind giving a slight push to the Fujiwara, Tanaka, and Uesugi clans.
Such were his vague expectations.
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