Famous Throughout Konoha

On the high platform.

"So he still lost."

Jiraiya squatted off to the side, his face full of unwillingness. Distracted, he kept grumbling under his breath.

The disciple he had his eye on had actually lost to an unknown kid like Ryōken.

The problem was that he had been brimming with confidence in Minato Namikaze before, acting as if Minato's victory was beyond doubt. In the end, he had been slapped in the face by a child.

With so many peers watching, where was he supposed to put his face?

"Hmph, that kid Ryōken will probably be taken on as a disciple by that freak White Fang. It won't be easy to mess with him then. Sigh."

"A big freak raising a little freak."

"I wanted to take in a genius disciple and make that White Fang bastard jealous. Who would've thought he'd just go and take in a monster of a disciple instead?"

"But if I'm having a bad time, Minato, you brat, shouldn't even think about having it easy."

At that thought, Jiraiya revealed a sinister smile and began chuckling slyly, fully exposing the aura of a lecherous middle-aged man.

In the distance, Minato and Kushina were about to leave when Minato suddenly sneezed. He looked up at the sky with a baffled expression.

Tsunade resisted the urge to kick Jiraiya flying. She turned to look at Rosen Senju, who had conceded in the arena.

Disappointment appeared in her beautiful eyes.

Although she knew the Senju Clan had declined, she had never expected the strongest genius of this generation to lack even the courage to step forward and fight.

At this rate, the once-glorious Senju Clan would truly fade into obscurity and exist only in history.

"Grandfather, was doing this really the right choice?"

A trace of confusion appeared in Tsunade's eyes.

When Hashirama Senju founded Konoha, he had decided to integrate the Senju Clan into all of Konoha, hoping to eliminate the barriers between clans and build a harmonious, powerful Konoha.

They had willingly handed over many ninjutsu and forbidden techniques unique to the Senju Clan, encouraging the other clans to participate as well.

Unfortunately, the First and Second Hokage had both died too early.

Such a massive undertaking had been difficult to complete. Even though the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had devoted himself heart and soul to it, he lacked the strength to suppress the overall situation and could not see it through.

He could only go a step further by uncovering many talented commoners. At least he had done his utmost.

By now, the Senju Clan had indeed weakened and no longer possessed the glory it had enjoyed during the Warring States Era.

Yet enormous rifts still lay between clan and clan, as well as between clans and commoners. They were difficult to bridge.

Without question, the First and Second Hokage had been great Hokage.

For the sake of the village, they had even chosen to sacrifice their own clan. Naturally, it had produced results.

The Hokage faction representing commoners had greatly strengthened as a result, laying the foundation for the Third Hokage to promote talented people.

However, the Senju Clan's decline had become inevitable.

Still, Tsunade clearly was not the sort of young woman to brood over gains and losses. After a brief moment of confusion, her resolve hardened once more.

Since it was Grandfather's belief, I will carry it through without hesitation, whatever the cost.

As she thought this, determination appeared on her beautiful face, making her all the more captivating.

"What an incredible Bloodline Limit. I truly want to study it properly."

Orochimaru let out a series of inscrutable chuckles, eerie and unpredictable, with a trace of fanaticism.

Danzo slowly raised his head and looked toward Hiruzen Sarutobi. "You decide what to do with this child."

"If you cannot rest easy, hand him over to me. I can definitely train him into Root's trump card."

With that, he rose to his feet and left the high platform without looking back.

Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his head. With his hands clasped before his chest, he pondered in silence, unable to make a decision.

Only after a long while did he stand.

He looked at Hatake Sakumo, who had been standing quietly all along, and spoke solemnly.

"White Fang, I'm entrusting this child to you. Pay special attention to his sense of belonging toward Konoha."

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

Hatake Sakumo turned around and answered sternly.

During the Ninja Academy's practical combat assessment, Ryōken had swept aside all challengers and claimed first place.

In a single day, his name as a genius spread throughout Konoha.

Everyone was shocked by the news. No one had expected that the child fated to never become a ninja could actually come this far.

Many people who had mocked Ryōken or looked down on him before were filled with shame.

Under the stimulation of such a stark reversal, those people began crazily boasting to everyone they met about how powerful Ryōken was and how thrilling that battle between geniuses had been, hoping to hide their embarrassment.

Many parents also changed their tune at once. Overnight, Ryōken became the proverbial child of someone else's family, used in every possible way to lecture their own children.

His reputation underwent an instant, dramatic reversal. It was quite amusing.

However, Ryōken had no interest in such trivial matters. He brought Hiwa Hyuga straight to Ichiraku Ramen.

Before he even entered, Ryōken began shouting loudly. Like a child returning home, he no longer had any of the imposing air he had shown in the arena.

"Uncle, I'm having three bowls of tonkotsu ramen today."

"What's the happy occasion? You're eating that much?"

Standing behind the counter, Uncle Ichiraku watched Ryōken enter with a gentle gaze and a smile.

He had practically watched Ryōken grow up. In his eyes, Ryōken was no different from his own child.

At that, Hiwa giggled, her eyes curving into crescents as she proudly said, "Ryōken got first place in the practical combat assessment."

"First place!"

As she spoke, she held up one finger and waved it smugly, emphasizing it once again.

Ryōken quietly watched from the side, feeling more relaxed and content than ever before.

Looking at this warm scene, Ryōken silently made up his mind.

Only greater strength could protect all of this.

Whether it was the future Great Ninja War, Madara Uchiha, or Kaguya Otsutsuki.

Event: Practical Combat Assessment Settlement in Progress

Congratulations, Host. You defeated the child of the era, Minato Namikaze, and obtained one activation right for a subsystem.

Please use it with caution!

A mechanical electronic voice suddenly echoed in his mind. It was the long-absent voice of the system.

"A child of the era?"

He had swept through the Third Great Ninja War, so he could indeed be considered a child of the era. Not to mention that he was the father of Naruto, the child of destiny.

But none of that mattered. Nothing could stop his conviction to eat ramen right now.

"Ryōken, the ramen's ready. Come eat!"

Hiwa Hyuga's soft voice drifted over.

"I'm coming, I'm coming. Uncle, your skills are getting better and better. You finished so quickly."

He casually spoke as he walked over and sat on a tall stool.

For a time, only rising steam and the sounds of eating noodles echoed through the little shop.

Suddenly, Uncle Ichiraku looked at the two of them and teased, "Little Hiwa, you need to hurry up. Ryōken got first place, so who knows how many girls will fall for him. Be careful, or Ryōken might get snatched away."

Cough!

That one sentence nearly made Ryōken choke to death. He coughed dryly for a long time before recovering, looking at Uncle Ichiraku with a speechless expression.

Most helpless of all, Hiwa actually nodded with a serious expression. Her little face was solemn, and a sharp light flashed in her eyes as she said, "Of course. No one can take Ryōken away from me."

Were girls in the ninja world all this mature so early?

He looked her up and down.

Mm!

Her figure was quite good. She would surely grow into a great beauty.

Uh, that seemed like a strange thought to have.

The Uchiha compound.

It was brightly lit.

Separated from Konoha, the clan grounds covered a vast area, fully displaying the bearing of a noble clan with a thousand-year legacy.

Inside a room near the center.

Kouichi Uchiha knelt on one knee with his head lowered, barely daring to breathe.

Before him stood a straight-backed, middle-aged man with a gloomy expression and sinister features.

This was Kouichi Uchiha's father, the Uchiha Clan's Second Elder, Han Uchiha.

"You have disappointed me, Kouichi."

"Your brother is at a critical point in his struggle for the clan head's position, yet you caused such trouble. It has put us in a very passive position."

Kouichi Uchiha's body trembled. He suddenly raised his head, one tomoe slowly turning in his blood-red eyes. They were demonic and ominous, enough to seize one's soul. He said resolutely, "Rest assured, Father. I will personally kill Ryōken and wash away this humiliation. I will never let Brother be affected."

"I hope so."

After saying that, Han Uchiha turned away and stood with his hands behind his back. A trace of gratification unexpectedly appeared in his sharp eyes.

"War is coming."

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