Konoha is My Battlefield!

"The fire is spreading from the southwest! Team Two, get up there and use Wind Style to blow it back!"

"Northeast! Team Five has already used Earth Style to create a firebreak, extinguish it as fast as you can!"

"Captain! There's one last squad hiding underwater in the middle section of the forest river!"

"Nani!? Rescue team, stand by! The rest of you, follow me!"

"Damn it! Did we really let enemy village ninjas sneak in? Everyone, push harder! Protect our forest!"

Konoha, which boasts the highest vegetation coverage in the Ninja World, has its own emergency firefighting squad.

Composed primarily of Water Style ninjas, supported by Wind Style and Earth Style users, it is also equipped with a medical team and an emergency search and rescue unit.

It is worth mentioning that the Hyuga clan also has a presence within the firefighting squad.

Although they do not use ninjutsu, the Hyuga clan's Byakugan is excellent for locating trapped individuals, and Advanced Gentle Fist: Rotation can also handle certain emergency situations.

These were things Ruohuo had not known before.

That was why he listened very attentively when the Third was educating him on these matters.

"I understand, Grandpa Hokage."

"The Konoha Firefighting Squad is just as reliable as the Konoha Military Police Force."

"They are all worth learning from!" Ruohuo said with an officially serious face.

The members of the firefighting squad would never guess in a million years that this fire, which could have easily ignited all of Konoha if not handled carefully, originated from the little boy in the Hokage's office.

A literal little boy.

"..."

The Third glanced at the pipe on his desk; he really wanted a deep puff right now.

"Little Ruohuo... can you tell Grandpa why you started this fire?"

The Third restrained his craving for a smoke; he valued the education of the little guy in front of him far more than a moment of stress relief.

When a child possesses extraordinary power, if they are not properly guided, disasters like today's will certainly not be the last.

"Fire? What fire?" Ruohuo widened his confused, large eyes.

"Grandpa Hokage, what are you talking about?"

Looking into those clear, innocent eyes, the Third hesitated for a moment before pointing toward the thick black smoke in the distance outside the window.

"You used Fire Style during your exam to burn down a large section of the forest. The firefighting squad and almost all the Jonin and Chunin squads were deployed, and they still haven't put out the fire."

"Little Ruohuo... your behavior is extremely dangerous."

For some reason, the Third's mind drifted back to Danzo's words from earlier.

"If he dares to cheat today, he'll dare to steal Konoha's secrets tomorrow!"

If this little guy dares to burn down a mountain today, and he isn't educated properly, then in the future...

The Third found himself missing his student.

At the very least, when Orochimaru was in the village, this child had always been perfectly normal.

"But those two seniors told me that the exam site is a battlefield."

Ruohuo looked earnest. "Grandpa Hokage, did I overestimate them?"

"But I already left them space to escape..."

"..."

The Third was choked for words.

Space to escape...

If I hadn't called a halt to the assessment in time and sent the rescue team to provide support, this fire would probably be burning down my office by now!

You call that space to escape? Escape where? Back into Konoha?

And what frustrated the Third the most was...

This little guy... really wasn't lying.

He had seen Ruohuo's performance in the exam clearly.

If his goal had truly been destruction, then based on Orochimaru's assessment of Ruohuo's strength, this little guy could have certainly done something far more outrageous...

"But why did you destroy the finish line of the assessment?" the Third asked, rubbing his temples.

"Because I didn't want them to pass," Ruohuo said as if it were only natural. "Even if it isn't a real battlefield, I can't exactly let my opponents have it too easy, can I?"

"They are all my seniors, and I couldn't actually hurt them, so I had no choice but to eliminate them."

Is there anything wrong with that? Nothing at all.

He couldn't just kill all the examinees, could he?

"..."

The Third froze, staring into those clear, large eyes.

In a daze, he seemed to see the Danzo of his youth...

Back then, Danzo still had a pair of clear, bright eyes, and he was a very serious person who rarely smiled, always saying dangerous things with a straight face and then actually putting them into action.

At this moment, an absurd thought even crossed the Third's mind.

Ruohuo... does he actually seem quite similar to Danzo?

The Third let out a deep sigh.

Calming down, this little guy actually wasn't wrong about a single thing.

Even if the exam hall isn't a battlefield, the examinees are definitely opponents.

Ruohuo's behavior seemed excessive... it was indeed excessive, but his starting point was not wrong.

On the contrary, if this were truly on a battlefield, then aside from the terrified enemies, no one in the village would criticize Ruohuo's actions.

This little guy... he seems quite suited for the battlefield, doesn't he?

It was a pity that Ruohuo couldn't hear him.

Otherwise, he would definitely have given the Third a thumbs up and announced on the spot:

That's right, I was born for the battlefield, and I have already treated Konoha as my battlefield!

"Hoo..."

After thinking it over, the Third finally let out a breath.

This child's way of thinking... is rather unique.

It couldn't be called dangerous, but it was far too blunt.

Normally, this wouldn't be a bad thing.

After all, he is still young, and with the guidance of teachers and family, he could always be led onto the right path.

But the key is that this child has superb ability and astonishing talent; at such a young age, he has already mastered powerful strength.

He also possesses a special Kekkei Genkai.

This is a bit of a headache...

But fortunately.

He still has a group of old friends he can consult with on how to handle this going forward.

He also has an excellent disciple who can still keep this little guy in check.

And as for Konoha's losses this time...

That boy Fugaku should be able to understand, right?

"You should head back first, little Ruohuo."

The Third waved his hand, feeling physically and mentally exhausted. "Get some good rest, and as for what comes next..."

The Third paused; although the Chunin Exams had been called off, according to the rules...

This child seemingly had no opponents left in the third round of the exam?

"Grandpa Hokage, when can I put on the Chunin flak jacket?"

"I've already promised my grandmother."

Ruohuo certainly wouldn't give the Third a chance to play dumb.

He was still waiting to unlock his Three Tomoe so he could hurry up and research his Roar of the Evil Dragon Technique.

Riding a Fire Dragon, raining down destruction on his enemies...

Just thinking about it is exciting!

By the way, I wonder how I can find a way to get my hands on Wood Style...

As an Uchiha, it probably wouldn't be appropriate to bring that up, right?

How about... asking Orochimaru for a favor?

But if I could ask Orochimaru for a favor, then those other forbidden techniques, like the Flying Raijin or something, also seem quite tempting, don't they?

"This... I still need to discuss it with the other elders, little Ruohuo."

The Third ultimately didn't give a definitive answer.

"You go back first and just wait for notification..."

Ruohuo waited for an entire week.

During this week, he made frequent trips to the Konoha Military Police Force to ask for advice on taijutsu and genjutsu.

But Fugaku rarely appeared; he only saw Fugaku a few times and noticed that he had suddenly become very weary, his entire demeanor drained of spirit, looking haggard as if his body had been hollowed out.

Moreover, he was often hesitant to speak, and Ruohuo had no idea what exactly had happened.

It wasn't until a week later.

Ruohuo received notification to participate in the third round of the exam.

And on this very day.

Orochimaru also returned...