Hiruzen Sarutobi's Astonishment

Hokage Office.

The Anbu who had brought Feng Ye did not enter. With a flicker, he vanished at the doorway. Feng Ye was unsurprised and stepped inside.

The moment he entered the office, he saw a Jonin organizing documents beside the desk. Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind the desk, while Kakashi stood before it.

Sensing Feng Ye's arrival, Kakashi did not look up. He merely stared silently at his toes, wearing an expression that said this had nothing to do with him.

"..."

Feng Ye glanced at Kakashi, then walked to the desk and looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Although he now possessed the strength of a Special Jonin, and even ordinary Jonin might not match him in speed, he could still feel pressure before Hiruzen Sarutobi. After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi was currently the Hokage at the peak of his power!

Whether it was Chakra, Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, or experience in every regard, he stood at the pinnacle of Kage-level strength. It could be said that he stood at the very summit of the current ninja world.

Even against a monster like the Third Raikage, who could fight ten thousand alone, Hiruzen Sarutobi possessed all sorts of forbidden secret techniques like the Reaper Death Seal to contend with him.

"Don't be nervous. I only called you here to ask you something."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke to Feng Ye kindly. "Last night, was it you who took out the Hidden Mist Village scout near the village?"

"...Yes."

Since they had already found out, there was no point in meaningless concealment. He might as well admit it openly. In any case, his current strength was enough to draw Hiruzen Sarutobi's attention.

As long as he received enough attention, he would receive corresponding protection. After all, the only person in Konoha who posed a threat to him was Danzo, and with Hiruzen Sarutobi's attention, Danzo would not dare do anything openly.

Though Hiruzen Sarutobi had more or less confirmed it already, Feng Ye's admission still caused a trace of shock to appear on his face.

That had been an elite scout from the Hidden Mist Village!

At Feng Ye's age, he already possessed the strength to kill an elite scout. His talent might even surpass Kakashi's!

A genius beyond Kakashi!

"Tell me the details."

After calming his thoughts, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke to Feng Ye.

Feng Ye briefly recounted what had happened. Aside from concealing his Time Acceleration ability, he explained everything, including his training and the battle.

"You were faster than a Hidden Mist Village scout?!"

After hearing Feng Ye's account, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke in amazement.

Ninjas who served as scouts either specialized in speed or sensory abilities. But even those who specialized in sensing were not slow. Yet Feng Ye had actually surpassed his opponent in speed and used that advantage to kill him in an extremely short time. It was undoubtedly astonishing.

Feng Ye was only nine years old!

"Yes."

Feng Ye nodded. "My talent in Ninjutsu and Chakra is average, but my physical aptitude for Taijutsu seems to be different from ordinary people's. That's why I was also well suited to the swordsmanship my father taught me."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze moved back and forth between Feng Ye and Kakashi. Now that he looked at it, Feng Ye was likely even more like the young White Fang than Kakashi was!

After his brief amazement, Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff of smoke and asked Feng Ye, "Since you have always been stronger than Kakashi, why have you remained at the Ninja Academy? There is nothing there that can help you anymore, is there?"

"...I don't think standing out too much is a good thing."

As Feng Ye answered, he glanced at Kakashi. "The urge to compete and prove oneself is too childish. Ninjas are always in danger, and hiding oneself is the safer approach."

This response was largely Feng Ye's genuine opinion, without any lies. He had merely concealed his wariness toward Konoha's higher-ups, such as Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo.

"I see..."

Upon hearing Feng Ye's response, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not help showing a trace of approval in his eyes. "Although you are only one year older than Kakashi, you are far more mature."

To break free from the desire to compete at this age and possess such a steady, mature mindset—regardless of his strength, Feng Ye was at least more outstanding than Kakashi in terms of mentality.

Hiruzen Sarutobi thought of Hatake Sakumo and could not help sighing inwardly.

He had not expected the two children Sakumo left behind to both possess such extraordinary talent, each more exceptional than the last... Sakumo must surely be comforted over there.

"With your abilities, you can already graduate from the academy."

After coming back to himself, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Feng Ye.

Feng Ye considered it. "There are only six months left until my normal graduation anyway, and after graduating, I would still need to be assigned to a team. Graduating now and being placed into another class would be troublesome."

"Hmm, that is true."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slightly. If Feng Ye graduated now, it would be troublesome to place him among the previous year's students, since their assignments had long been settled, while this year's students still had half a year before graduation.

However, after learning of Feng Ye's talent and strength, Hiruzen Sarutobi also wanted him to graduate early, become an official ninja, and participate in the training of formal ninja missions.

After hesitating for a while.

Hiruzen Sarutobi made his decision.

"Since you do not wish to graduate early, then I will respect your wishes. Graduate normally with this year's class."

Upon hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, Feng Ye bowed to him.

"Thank you, Lord Hokage."

"Sakumo raised two fine sons..."

After sighing again, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled kindly at Feng Ye. "In that case, you may return now."

Feng Ye nodded, then left the Hokage Office and vanished from sight.

Kakashi remained where he was.

After Feng Ye left, Hiruzen Sarutobi lifted his teacup and took a sip, then looked at Kakashi. "I never expected your older brother, despite being only one year older than you, to already think like an adult. Kakashi, you should learn more from him."

If Kakashi had Feng Ye's steadiness, Hiruzen Sarutobi would not have had to worry over Kakashi's team assignment and specifically hand the task to Minato Namikaze.

"Brother is sometimes too steady."

Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, Kakashi could not help making a sarcastic remark. "...He can act as though he never heard all those people mocking him."

"That is the difference between you and him."

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head, inwardly praising Feng Ye even more. "Although he has not yet graduated, he already possesses the qualities of an excellent ninja. A ninja is..."

As he listened to Hiruzen Sarutobi's "lesson," Kakashi's mouth twitched slightly, and his gaze carried the urge to complain.

No one had ever praised Feng Ye for being steady before.

So strength was the key point, right?!

Kakashi felt that was the correct conclusion.

In the end, Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered that matters concerning Feng Ye were not to be spread freely. The news that Feng Ye had killed an elite Hidden Mist Village scout was sealed away and concealed.

Kakashi's displayed genius had already placed him on enemy villages' assassination lists. If Feng Ye were exposed as well, it would likewise add to the danger. For genius ninjas like Feng Ye and Kakashi, who came from loyal Konoha families, Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally upheld a protective stance.

Only after Feng Ye graduated and became an official ninja would it be time to reveal the brilliance of Konoha's genius ninja.

Thanks to Dawn's First Light 9 for the generous reward.