The Third Hokage's Shock

The Third Hokage's Shock

Just as Xu Fan had expected, when the next day arrived, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, indeed came to the Senju Clan compound.

The leader of Kumogakure had wanted the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan, so they naturally would not harm Hinata.

According to Xu Fan's calculations, Hinata would definitely have awakened last night at the earliest, or this morning at the latest.

The Senju Clan, plus the characteristics of a young boy.

Who else could it have been but him?

Even if Hiruzen Sarutobi had not come personally, he would probably have sent someone.

"Lord Hokage."

After breakfast, Xu Fan paced back and forth at the entrance to the compound. After an unknown amount of time, he finally saw Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly approaching and went up to greet him.

"Senju Xu." Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded with a smile.

As the Third Hokage, Hiruzen had always kept the names and Chakra of the village's younger generation in mind, let alone a descendant of the Senju Clan.

"I can already refine Chakra." After greeting him, Xu Fan got straight to the point. "I want to attend the Ninja Academy."

Five years ago, Xu Fan had already made such a request, but he had been rejected because his Chakra was scarce and his body frail.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart tightened.

Could the one who defeated the Cloud Shinobi yesterday really have been Senju Xu?

No...

How could that be possible?

Kumogakure had sent not only an Elite Jonin, and he had also inspected the scene himself.

Even the village's Jonin could not cause that level of destruction.

He was only a thirteen-year-old child.

Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes, unable to stop himself from recalling the legends of Lord Hashirama, the First Hokage.

The existence known throughout the shinobi world as the God of Shinobi.

Could it be that Senju Xu had awakened Lord Hashirama's unique Kekkei Genkai at this age?

In fact, before Hiruzen Sarutobi had decided to come to the Senju compound.

He had specifically asked the Anbu Ninja Kakashi Hatake to retrieve a photo of Senju Xu and take it to Hinata for confirmation.

She also believed that Senju Xu had saved her.

However, Hinata had no memory of Senju Xu fighting the Cloud Shinobi.

Because of that, it was impossible for the time being to confirm whether anyone else had been with Xu Fan at the time.

"Xu, you're amazing. Can you show Grandpa Hokage?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's lips curled into a kind smile.

If Xu Fan had truly awakened the First Hokage's Kekkei Genkai, that was no trivial matter.

"Of course." Xu Fan also put on a delighted expression.

However, Xu Fan had no intention of displaying his full strength.

After all, he was only doing this to check in at the Ninja Academy, become a real ninja, and eventually enter the Konoha leadership or even become Hokage.

Not to show off his Chakra amount.

Xu Fan formed a hand sign and began gathering the Chakra within his body.

I'll show about ten percent.

Even among people his age, this amount of Chakra should not be considered weak.

Hiruzen Sarutobi swallowed and observed Xu Fan with great care.

Although Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared to be merely a little curious about Xu Fan, he was actually testing his Chakra.

But what was going on...

The Xu Fan before him was completely different from the Senju Xu he had seen before.

In less than a single breath, Xu Fan evenly spread Chakra throughout his entire body. It even began to seep out, forming a faint Chakra cloak around him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had only ever seen this kind of Chakra transformation on Jinchuriki.

For a moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi froze.

Even by the most conservative estimate, Xu Fan's Chakra amount was more than a hundred times that of Kakashi Hatake.

"At only thirteen, his Chakra amount is already so vast..." Hiruzen Sarutobi could not help murmuring inwardly.

And this was only his adolescence.

If he reached his prime, how terrifying would he become?

This boy...

Was he a monster?

No, not a monster like a Jinchuriki.

This boy...

Had inherited the mantle of the First Hokage...

That's right!

The Senju Clan, whose strength and population had both steadily declined, had unexpectedly produced such a genius!

"Whew..."

Xu Fan let out a long breath and stopped, unable to resist saying, "Unfortunately, this should be my limit."

"Your limit?" Hiruzen Sarutobi murmured.

This child Senju Xu had truly changed. With this level of Chakra alone, he had already left many self-proclaimed genius ninjas far behind.

Yet he... still felt dissatisfied!

Of course, the Third Hokage would never have dreamed that the limit Xu Fan spoke of and the limit he understood were not the same thing.

"If I kept going, I might even form a Chakra cloak visible to the naked eye. There's no need to go that far just to enroll."

Xu Fan shook his head. Even he had not expected that he could imitate the Chakra cloak that only Jinchuriki had always been able to use.

It had to be said, this was truly a qualitative change brought about by a quantitative one.

With enough Chakra, you really could do whatever you wanted.

"Grandpa Hokage, can I attend the Ninja Academy?" Xu Fan raised his head and asked with a smile.

"Of course you can." Hiruzen Sarutobi was already deeply shocked, but he still gently patted Xu Fan's head.

Although this year's Ninja Academy enrollment had only recently ended, he would not fall behind in his studies.

Most importantly, Hiruzen Sarutobi was now filled with anticipation for Xu Fan's growth.

No matter what, he was only getting older.

He needed a successor who could inherit the Will of Fire.

When the opportunity arises, I'll remove Danzo from his position as advisor and disband Root as well.

Hiruzen could not help pondering it inwardly.

He had actually entertained this idea long ago, but Xu Fan's appearance had only strengthened his resolve.

At the same time, Root, which had been secretly investigating, also delivered this information to Lord Danzo.

"Senju Xu?"

Danzo repeated the name. Strength burst from his hand unconsciously, crushing the teacup in his grasp.

"Are you certain?" Danzo instinctively glanced at his bandaged arm. Although his expression remained calm, his heart was already greatly shaken.

Based on all the clues.

Senju Xu was very likely the person who had killed the Cloud Shinobi and caused the destruction in the Border Forest.

"Absolutely certain." The Root member knelt on one knee, his tone incomparably firm. As a sensory ninja, he would never misjudge this.

The Chakra amount possessed by that boy was greater than anyone he had ever known.

"Is that so?"

Danzo clenched his fist. If he merely possessed an enormous Chakra amount, that would be one thing, but if he could also use Wood Release...

"I understand. You may leave."

Danzo spoke expressionlessly, but countless plans were already forming in his mind.

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