Kurenai Yuhi

Inside Su Yu's home.

Hinata Hyuga sat before a low table.

Su Yu brought over two cups of hot tea, placing one in front of himself and the other before Hinata Hyuga.

"Thank you," Hinata Hyuga whispered.

"You're welcome," Su Yu said, sitting down across from Hinata Hyuga.

Hinata Hyuga held the hot tea and took a small sip.

Then, she seemed to be scalded by the heat.

"This world requires strength to speak for itself. I cannot accept your confession from earlier. It is not because of you, but because of me. As for why I say this, you will understand in the future," Su Yu said, looking at Hinata Hyuga as he gave his answer.

"Do... do you not like me?" Hinata Hyuga lowered her small head.

"I do. As of now, you are the girl I like the most," Su Yu said without hesitation.

"Then why..."

"Give me some time, and I will give you the reason. When that reason appears, you might fear me, or you might hate me," Su Yu said, taking her small hand in his.

"Fear or hate you?" Hinata Hyuga found it difficult to understand Su Yu's words.

Su Yu did not offer further explanation; he withdrew his hand and began to explain his new understanding of taijutsu.

Hinata Hyuga listened very intently.

When the sun began to set.

In the courtyard of Su Yu's home.

He was in the middle of instructing Hinata Hyuga when Uzuki Yugao arrived.

Upon seeing Hinata Hyuga, Uzuki Yugao's expression showed a hint of surprise.

Hinata Hyuga hurriedly bowed in greeting.

"This is your share," Uzuki Yugao said, handing Su Yu an envelope.

"Thank you," Su Yu knew this was the payment for the mission in the Land of Waves.

"Is this your girlfriend?" Uzuki Yugao asked.

"Not yet," Su Yu shook his head.

Hinata Hyuga's face flushed slightly.

"If you can become an Anbu captain, the head of the Hyuga Clan likely wouldn't refuse," Uzuki Yugao reminded him.

"I will strive toward that goal," Su Yu understood what Uzuki Yugao meant.

Hinata Hyuga's face turned even redder, and she even turned her head away.

"There is one month left until the Chunin Exams, and the Anbu also has a chunin assessment. Which one will you choose?" Uzuki Yugao asked after a moment of hesitation.

"I want to become a chunin as soon as possible," Su Yu answered without hesitation.

"The Anbu chunin assessment is very difficult. You will face current Anbu chunin, and you may even have to escape from the hands of a jonin," Uzuki Yugao said, looking at Su Yu.

"In a one-on-one situation, I don't believe I would lose to any chunin or jonin," Su Yu looked straight at Uzuki Yugao.

"Confidence is a good thing, but you must still be careful. When you are ready, come find me," Uzuki Yugao said, then vanished.

Su Yu looked at the spot where Uzuki Yugao had disappeared.

"Su... Su Yu-kun, are you going to join the Anbu?" Hinata Hyuga asked.

"I won't be joining the Anbu; I just want to become a chunin. Let's go, I'll walk you home," Su Yu said, taking Hinata Hyuga's small hand.

With her hand held by his, Hinata Hyuga asked no more questions.

The two walked all the way to the Hyuga Clan compound.

Su Yu watched Hinata Hyuga walk through the gate before turning to leave.

The Anbu chunin assessment would certainly require the approval of the Third Hokage, which meant his true strength was already known to the Third Hokage.

Although he could pass the assessment now.

However, what if a new achievement appeared for defeating a chunin or a jonin...

Therefore, he had to reach the rank of chunin first.

This was actually quite simple.

Training, extracting chakra, eating, and replenishing consumed stamina.

Within one week, reach the rank of chunin, Su Yu silently set his goal.

Five days later.

In the forest of Konoha.

Su Yu was eating grilled meat.

For the past five days, he had remained in the forest.

When he slept at night, two Shadow Clones would stand guard by his side.

He was training almost every single moment.

Yet, it still took him five days to reach the chakra levels of a Chunin.

New achievements had been unlocked.

1. Use an offensive ninjutsu once.

2. Learn the Shadow Clone Technique (Completed).

3. Defeat a Chunin once.

4. Taijutsu Mastery (Completed).

5. Learn a Sealing Technique.

6. Learn a Medical Ninjutsu.

7. Use a Fire-style ninjutsu.

8. Use a Wind-style ninjutsu.

9. Use a Water-style ninjutsu.

10. Complete all the above achievements.

After Su Yu finished reading the new achievements, his first reaction was that it was too strange.

Was this trying to turn him into an all-rounder ninja?

Setting aside offensive ninjutsu, Sealing Techniques and Medical Ninjutsu were both highly specialized fields.

Konoha had a dedicated medical ninja department and a specialized Sealing Squad; if he tried to learn everything, he might run out of time, and these things were notoriously difficult to master.

Sealing Techniques and Medical Ninjutsu were not things one could learn in a day or two.

If he were to learn them, it would be best to focus on the specific skills he needed.

For example, a sealing technique capable of sealing a Tailed Beast, or the Chakra Scalpel and healing techniques.

Medical ninjutsu was one thing, but a sealing technique capable of containing a Tailed Beast was definitely not something someone at his level could touch.

Unless, during the Konoha Crush, he could become an Anbu ninja protecting the Hokage's office.

However, such an opportunity seemed rather impossible.

When Su Yu walked out of the forest.

The time had just reached noon.

He arrived at the residence of Uzuki Yugao.

This was the address Uzuki Yugao had given him when he headed for the forest.

Uzuki Yugao and Kurenai Yuhi lived in the same building.

Su Yu stood before the door and knocked.

Not long after.

Uzuki Yugao opened the door.

Su Yu was stunned by Uzuki Yugao's attire.

He immediately turned his head away.

"Teacher Uzuki Yugao, could you please put on some clothes before opening the door for me? I don't want to be misunderstood."

"..." Uzuki Yugao.

She had just finished taking a shower and, hearing a knock, had come to the door wrapped only in a bath towel; she hadn't expected the visitor to be Su Yu.

Appearing like this in front of her subordinate was indeed somewhat inappropriate.

Uzuki Yugao closed the door.

A few minutes later.

She opened the door again, now changed into her Konoha ninja attire.

"Are you prepared to take the Chunin assessment?"

Su Yu nodded.

"Then follow me." Uzuki Yugao said seriously.

The two left the building, one following the other.

When they reached the ground floor.

They happened to run into Kurenai Yuhi.

Seeing Kurenai Yuhi, Uzuki Yugao hesitated for a moment before blocking her path.

"Is something the matter?" Kurenai Yuhi asked, puzzled.

"Jonin Kurenai Yuhi, you are a master of genjutsu; could I please ask for your help in assessing my subordinate?" Uzuki Yugao stared intently at Kurenai Yuhi.

"Assess a subordinate?" Kurenai Yuhi was taken aback.

"Su Yu has already reached the level of a Chunin, so I specially applied for an Anbu Chunin assessment for him, which requires a Jonin to increase the difficulty," Uzuki Yugao explained simply.

"An Anbu Chunin assessment!" Kurenai Yuhi was startled.

She knew that Su Yu, much like Hinata Hyuga, was a Genin who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy.

She had not expected that Su Yu would already be eligible to participate in a Chunin assessment arranged by the Anbu.

This was undoubtedly the fastest any graduate Genin had ever reached the level of a Chunin.

With that thought in mind, Kurenai Yuhi no longer hesitated.

"No problem, I will assess Su Yu."