Sarutobi Asuma

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was a direct disciple of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. He was proficient in every jutsu in Konoha, especially the Five Elemental Natures Jutsu. He could even skillfully combine jutsu of five different natures, earning him the title Professor of Ninjutsu.

The three disciples he had trained had also made resounding names for themselves in the shinobi world. It could even be said that the three of them had influenced the course of the Second Shinobi World War.

On top of that, Hiruzen Sarutobi, now fifty-two years old, was currently at the peak of his strength.

Looking across all of Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi's strength was firmly in the top three. The only person who could probably beat Hiruzen Sarutobi with certainty was Jiraiya after entering Sage Mode.

Strength, status, and outstanding disciples—these three combined made Hiruzen Sarutobi's prestige in Konoha nothing short of blazing.

That much could be seen from the fanatical expressions on these students' faces.

Uchiha Yuan's feelings toward Hiruzen Sarutobi were actually somewhat complicated.

If he had not been surnamed Uchiha, but had instead been an ordinary villager of Konoha, then from that perspective, Hiruzen Sarutobi had absolutely not been a bad Hokage. It could even be said that his merits outweighed his faults.

Leaving aside everything else, during the Second Shinobi World War, after Konoha provoked the war, they fought until the world was turned upside down and won the shinobi world war while facing four enemies alone.

During the Third Great Ninja War, Konoha had been in a weakened state with its talent pool withering away, yet in the end, they had still barely achieved victory and preserved Konoha's foundation.

From the Second Shinobi World War until the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, took office, Konoha had never ceased fighting. They had been at war the entire time.

To win two shinobi world wars on hell difficulty, Hiruzen Sarutobi, as Hokage, had at least put in hard work even if he had no merit.

But setting aside the matter of war, Konoha's talent shortage after the Second Shinobi World War, as well as the later Nine-Tails' Rampage, the sacrifice of the Fourth Hokage and his wife, Hizashi Hyuga being forced to his death, and the extermination of the Uchiha—all of these were the handiwork of Konoha's higher-ups.

As Hokage, could Hiruzen Sarutobi have been completely unaware? Was it possible he did not participate?

Among Konoha's higher-ups, Danzo, in a certain sense, was Hiruzen Sarutobi's white glove. Many of the things he did had been tacitly approved by Hiruzen Sarutobi.

As for those two old things, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, there was even less need to mention them. They were nothing but two shit-stirrers.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had indulged and tacitly allowed such people to become Konoha's higher-ups and grasp power in Konoha. From this perspective, he was clearly an unqualified Hokage.

"Students, I'm sure you all already know that you are about to graduate and head to the battlefield to fight in defense of Konoha. I am very sorry to make you go to war at this age. This is my failure as Hokage."

The Third Hokage's words interrupted Uchiha Yuan's thoughts. After that, the Third Hokage began a long speech on the stage—something about the Will of Fire, something about the shadow of the fire illuminating the village. Uchiha Yuan grew drowsy listening to it.

This level of brainwashing was far too crude. Forget someone like Uchiha Yuan, who had graduated from a key university in his previous life—even a middle school student would not believe it.

But the people of the Naruto World clearly did not have that level of thinking. After the students below heard Hiruzen Sarutobi say this, each of them became more excited than the last, all looking as if they could not wait to shed their blood and give their lives for Konoha.

Uchiha Yuan could only follow along and put on an excited expression.

The only person in the entire place who looked impatient was the Third Hokage's son, Sarutobi Asuma.

After the Third Hokage's speech ended, the sparring between the two classes officially began.

The teachers called names, and those called went up to spar.

Uchiha Yuan observed for a while. Basically, the people who went up to spar were all fairly close in grades and strength.

By that calculation, Hyuga Asana would most likely be matched against the Third Hokage's son, Sarutobi Asuma.

The two of them were respectively first place in Class One and Class Two. It would be just right for them to fight.

But what Uchiha Yuan had not expected was that the teacher actually called Hyuga Asana's name when there were still more than a dozen people left.

And Hyuga Asana's sparring opponent was Yūhi Kurenai.

Yūhi Kurenai's grades in Class One were also around the upper-middle level, but compared with Hyuga Asana, there was still quite a gap. After just three rounds, Yūhi Kurenai had her acupoints sealed by Eight Trigrams Sixteen Palms and lost the spar.

No one was too surprised by this result. Hyuga Asana's strength was plain to see, so it was only normal that Yūhi Kurenai could not beat her.

With Hyuga Asana leaving the stage early, everyone was curious about who Class Two would have spar against the Third Hokage's son, Sarutobi Asuma.

As time passed, group after group went up to the stage.

In the end, Class One still had Sarutobi Asuma left, while on Class Two's side, only Uchiha Yuan remained.

"Next match, Sarutobi Asuma versus Uchiha Yuan!"

At the teacher's command, every student's gaze gathered on the two of them.

Uchiha Yuan sighed inwardly. In fact, when Hyuga Asana had gone up early just now, Uchiha Yuan had already guessed that the Third Hokage might have him fight his own son.

After all, the Third Hokage had been peeping on him for so many days. He could not have peeped for nothing, could he?

After Uchiha Yuan learned Mind's Eye, the Third Hokage had observed him for a total of three days.

It was only after he received the Pension that the Third Hokage gave up observing him.

As for how long the Third Hokage had secretly observed him before he learned Mind's Eye, Uchiha Yuan did not know.

Although Uchiha Yuan did not understand why the Third Hokage wanted to observe him, after observing him for so long, he must have gained something. Arranging for him to spar with Asuma now was most likely to verify those gains.

Since there was no avoiding it, Uchiha Yuan no longer hesitated. He walked straight to the center of the Training Ground. Seeing this, Sarutobi Asuma followed and stood opposite Uchiha Yuan on the Training Ground.

"Uchiha Yuan, I heard you awakened the Uchiha Clan's Kekkei Genkai, the Sharingan?" Sarutobi Asuma asked.

"Mm, I did indeed awaken my eyes," Uchiha Yuan replied calmly.

"Good! Then I won't hold back." As he spoke, Sarutobi Asuma gently moved one hand toward his Ninja Tools pouch.

Uchiha Yuan stood where he was, nodded, and said, "I'll go all out too."

He said he would go all out, but Uchiha Yuan did not activate his Sharingan. Sarutobi Asuma felt that he was being looked down on, and his expression turned serious.

In truth, Sarutobi Asuma had misunderstood. Uchiha Yuan had not activated his Sharingan only because he wanted to save some Chakra. Before the spar even began, what meaning was there in opening the Sharingan just to show off, aside from consuming some Chakra?

"The match officially begins!"

The teacher had barely finished speaking when Sarutobi Asuma made his move. Three kunai shot toward Uchiha Yuan in a triangular formation.

Watching from the side, the Third Hokage shook his head at the sight and thought, Asuma's state of mind is still a little too impetuous. The fight hasn't even started, and he's already been angered by Uchiha Yuan's attitude.

By comparison, Uchiha Yuan's mindset is much calmer.