Third Hokage

"Thank you..."

After hearing Yun Xi's words, Naruto gradually calmed down.

After thanking him, he slowly returned to the corner where he had been sitting, his mind elsewhere.

"Stop making a fuss. Let's continue with the introductions!"

Iruka had recovered by now and began to take charge of the classroom.

"Next... you can introduce yourself."

After looking around, Iruka pointed directly at Yun Xi, indicating that he should start.

"Me? My name is Yun Xi. My biggest dream is simple: I just want to survive in this world."

Seeing this, Yun Xi introduced himself simply, wearing a faint smile.

After he finished, Yun Xi went straight back to the edge of the classroom. He gazed into the distance and murmured, "Lord Hokage, I just helped you deal with a major headache. I wonder if you'll give me a reward?"

When Yun Xi finished muttering, a helpless smile appeared at the corner of his mouth...

Once Yun Xi had finished, Sasuke was next.

As a genius of the Uchiha Clan, Sasuke naturally drew plenty of attention when he stepped forward.

His impressive strength and striking looks made him one of the most noticeable people in the classroom.

After a brief introduction, the Konoha 12 took turns introducing themselves, but Yun Xi paid them no mind.

He had noticed that after he stopped Naruto from losing control, two Chunin wearing cat masks had suddenly appeared near the Ninja Academy.

They were also keeping all their attention on him...

"Are they Anbu Ninja?"

After noticing their outfits, Yun Xi naturally figured out who they were.

The strength of two Chunin was no threat to Yun Xi, but the Hokage behind them still seemed like a bit of trouble.

Inside the Hokage Office Building.

An old man in red-and-white Hokage robes stared gravely at the crystal ball on the desk before him.

The crystal ball showed what had happened between Yun Xi and the teachers at the Ninja Academy.

"Yun Xi?"

After hearing Yun Xi's introduction, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi looked somewhat grave.

Using the Telescope Technique, he had watched the entire scene unfold in meticulous detail.

"Lord Hokage, we found out who he is. The child who approached the Jinchuriki is named Yun Xi. He's a war orphan. Both of his parents were civilians, and they died in the Nine-Tails Incident..."

Just as the Third Hokage was lost in thought, two Chunin dressed as Anbu suddenly appeared behind him.

They had also investigated all of Yun Xi's background.

"A war orphan?"

Even after learning Yun Xi's identity, the Third Hokage remained grave.

He seemed to recall something unpleasant as well.

After a few seconds of silence, the Third Hokage spoke again. "When the Ninja Academy enrollment is over, bring that boy to meet me."

"Yes!"

After receiving the Third Hokage's order, the two Anbu elite vanished once more.

The vast Hokage Office was once again left with only the Hokage.

"Civilians who lost their parents in the Nine-Tails Incident are standing up for the hero's son, while I..."

Yun Xi, of course, knew nothing about the Hokage's order. Once all the new students had finished introducing themselves, he went to a secluded corner of the training ground.

Since it was the first day of school, there were no formal lessons, so Yun Xi had nothing to do.

He had come to the corner of the training ground because he wanted to find out why the two Anbu Ninja had been watching him.

He already had an idea, but he still wanted to see what the Hokage truly thought about his stepping in to help Naruto earlier.

"Come out. Do I have to ask you to come out?"

Seeing no one around, Yun Xi drew two Shuriken from his waist and hurled them toward the bushes in the distance.

"Have we been spotted?"

Seeing the Shuriken flying toward them, the two Anbu Ninja realized something was wrong and leaped out from their hiding place.

As they dodged, Yun Xi's Shuriken missed.

"What do you want with me?"

Once the two Anbu Ninja appeared, Yun Xi got straight to the point.

"Lord Hokage would like to see you..."

After exchanging a glance, the two Anbu elite told him why they had come to find him.

Their eyes were also filled with confusion.

They simply couldn't understand how a child who wasn't even a ninja had seen through their concealment.

"Let's go. Don't overthink it. I just tossed out a couple of Shuriken at random. It was pure luck."

To save the two Anbu elite some face, Yun Xi explained his actions with an expression that said he'd just gotten lucky.

But his explanation only left the two Anbu Ninja more speechless, so they could only lead the way.

The Hokage Office Building wasn't far from the Ninja Academy.

It took Yun Xi only about ten minutes to reach the door of the Hokage's office.

At that moment, the two Anbu Ninja suddenly disappeared...

"What a hassle..." Yun Xi couldn't help complaining when he saw that.

As soon as he knocked on the office door, a few seconds later, an old man's voice came from inside the Hokage Office.

"Come in. The door's unlocked."

After hearing that, Yun Xi didn't hesitate and pushed the door open.

"So strong!"

That was Yun Xi's first impression of the Third Hokage.

Although the Third Hokage was simply sitting at his desk, he still gave Yun Xi the feeling of facing a mountain.

"So this is the strength of a Kage Level expert?"

Yun Xi wondered to himself. At first, he had thought that although his current strength wasn't on par with that of an elite Jonin,

after activating his Sharingan and Heaven Curse Mark, at least his Taijutsu would be no worse than that of a conventional Jonin.

He had even thought he might be able to trade a few blows with a Kage Level expert.

But after seeing the Third Hokage in person, Yun Xi realized he had been imagining things...

"I still need more money!"

Feeling the Third Hokage's powerful presence, Yun Xi was overcome by a sense of helplessness.

At the same time, his desire to grow stronger intensified.

"Heh heh, don't be afraid. I just want to see what you're really capable of."

Seeing how cautious Yun Xi was, the Third Hokage spoke first, smiling warmly at him.

He looked just like a kindly old man, and the overwhelming presence he'd exuded moments before had vanished...

"Old geezer, I'd have to be a fool to believe you!"

Yun Xi thought to himself, but he didn't dare say it aloud.

"Grandpa Hokage, I'm not capable of much..."

Yun Xi understood that keeping his abilities hidden was the right choice.

He answered the Third Hokage in the obedient voice of a well-behaved child.

But the Third Hokage didn't respond to that. Instead, he asked in an extremely serious tone, "If Konoha were in danger, and you were the only one capable of saving it, would you do everything in your power to protect it?"

Here it comes!

Hearing the Third Hokage's question, Yun Xi, who knew the story, naturally understood that the Third Hokage was testing him.

He was testing Yun Xi's attitude toward Konoha!

"Of course. Konoha is my home. If I'm capable, I absolutely won't let anyone destroy it!"

Yun Xi wasn't saying this just to fool the Third Hokage. He meant every word.

Konoha wasn't a bad ninja village in Yun Xi's eyes. At least among the Five Great Shinobi Villages, it was one of the better ones.

And there were people in this village whom Yun Xi wanted to protect.

Uncle Heiwa, who treated him like family...

And the other civilians who often helped him.

Yun Xi could never forget their kindness!

"Good..."

After hearing Yun Xi's words, the Third Hokage gave a quiet reply and fixed Yun Xi with a sharp gaze...