Fugaku had always kept an eye on Chuan Yu's talent.
So he discussed with Itachi the idea of sending Chuan Yu to the Academy early to study alongside Sasuke.
After all, Anbu missions weren't safe, either. They could run into all kinds of opponents.
But Chuan Yu turned him down outright.
He thought going to the Ninja Academy would be a waste of time. For all he knew, the teachers there might have to learn from him.
"There's just no getting through to you. Itachi, you'd better take good care of Chuan Yu for me!"
"Don't worry, Father."
From then on, aside from training his body, Chuan Yu spent all his spare time with Sasuke.
The incident in Mist Village had only just been resolved. To avoid drawing attention, Chuan Yu stayed home every day for now.
But since he never neglected his training, and the system kept encouraging him with all its ninjutsu and abilities,
Chuan Yu felt himself getting stronger by the day.
The Hokage Building.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at his desk, watching a clear crystal ball.
Amazingly, the crystal ball reflected an image.
A blond little boy was drinking a cup of expired milk. A bucket of instant noodles sat on the table, and his face was full of anticipation.
Hiruzen's eyes dimmed, but he quickly shook his head and made the image disappear.
"Hiruzen, still dwelling on that?"
Danzo walked in, carrying a cup of tea.
"On the night of the Nine-Tails' invasion, if you and I had acted together, would Minato have survived?"
Hiruzen took a drag from his pipe and spoke in a flat voice.
"At least your position is secure now, isn't it?"
"If it hadn't been for my suggestion, you'd probably have already stepped down. Honor and status wouldn't matter anymore."
Danzo narrowed his eyes and sipped the scalding tea. Then he stood and looked out the window.
"If Minato had become Hokage, all the work we've carefully cultivated in Konoha would've been for nothing. You should understand that."
Danzo's words left Hiruzen silent. At first, he had taken up the Second Hokage's will.
So why had he strayed from the path he'd set out on?
"Don't dwell on that. As for the Uchiha situation, I still stand by my original idea. What do you think?"
Danzo came over, set down his cup, and stared into Hiruzen's eyes as if issuing an order.
At the mention of the Uchiha, Hiruzen's brow creased slightly.
"Shisui is dead now. I don't think they'll have any other ideas—or at least, not for the time being."
"Don't be so sure. They're the toughest piece for Konoha to swallow right now."
Danzo sighed and slowly walked out of the room.
Back then, Namikaze Minato had been so popular in the village
that he'd been given the title of Fourth Hokage even before officially taking office.
The two old men, Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi, had resented this, so they chose to sit back and do nothing on the Night of the Nine-Tails.
As a result, countless villagers were killed or injured. With no reinforcements coming, Namikaze Minato had no choice but to use a forbidden technique.
That was also the night Naruto was born.
His parents had been forced to their deaths, and the poor child knew nothing about it.
With time, Hiruzen Sarutobi had come to regret his decision.
But there was no changing what had happened.
When had power become something he couldn't let go of...
It seemed he'd wandered farther and farther down this road...
Beside a stream near Uchiha Fugaku's house.
Uchiha Sasuke sat on a nearby rock, absorbed in the manga in his hands.
Chuan Yu was repeatedly training his stamina.
The Ninja World might be all about ninjutsu, but in a crucial moment, Taijutsu was still what mattered most.
Chakra could run out, but Taijutsu let you show your best even when you were completely spent.
And effective physical training also helped chakra flow smoothly through the body.
They said a genius was ninety-nine percent effort and one percent talent. That one percent was the crucial part.
Take Might Guy, for example...
Itachi had said the guy had caused a scene at the Hokage Building yesterday, shouting that he wanted to join the Anbu.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had rejected him outright.
The reason: he didn't meet the basic requirements to become an Anbu Ninja...
Whenever he saw a fight, he couldn't wait to jump in. Even when he was supposed to stay hidden, he'd suddenly leap out and hit his opponent with the Leaf Great Whirlwind.
He'd even announce his name: the Blue Beast of Konoha... Might Guy.
Danzo wouldn't take him into Root, either...
Youth, huh...
Maybe it was just freedom...
"1001..."
"1002..."
"1003..."
Chuan Yu was on the ground, supporting himself with both hands. His body was practically at its limit, but to him, the strength he could summon at the very end was his true power.
It all came from the potential his body already held.
Suddenly, several Shuriken shot toward Sasuke.
His keen senses jolted his brain. Chuan Yu flipped to his feet, grabbed the long blade stuck in the ground beside him, and instantly reached Sasuke.
He spun the blade in his hand and deflected every Shuriken. Then a sky full of crows swooped toward them, shrieking.
In the reflection of the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, Itachi's face appeared clearly through the crows.
The two exchanged smiles and formed Hand Seals almost simultaneously.
"Fire Style! Great Fireball Technique!"
"Fire Style! Great Fireball Technique!"
Two massive flames formed into fireballs and collided head-on.
Flames filled the sky. The crows that couldn't escape in time were reduced to ashes.
Sasuke stared, dumbfounded.
Burnt crows rained down from the sky, and the animals that had been foraging came running out.
"You've gotten pretty good at ninjutsu, too. Looks like you haven't been slacking off lately."
After they landed, Itachi spoke with approval.
[ Ding! Fire-Roasted Crows! The host's actions just now have sparked the system's inspiration! As a special bonus, the host has gained a basic culinary ability! ]
[ 1. Lao Ba Secret Burger. (Surprise Cooking) ]
[ 2. Fierce Aoligei. (Wild Cooking) ]
[ 3. Daipai Nagoya. (Extra-Spicy Cooking) ]
[ 4. My Name Is Bear Grylls. (Primitive Cooking) ]
Chuan Yu was utterly astonished.
So choosing a cooking ability was like picking something off a menu. Just looking at the options killed his appetite.
This system really was impressive at its job. Even that had managed to inspire it...
Still, you needed something different in the Ninja World.
Cooking was a must, too, but was the system serious about that second option, Surprise Cooking?
Surprise...
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
Still, another cooking skill was another skill. No reason to turn it down.
"Big brother! I'm so hungry..."
Sasuke bounced over to them, and Chuan Yu was delighted.
This was his moment...
"Ahem..."
"Well, I suppose I can make a meal for you."
Chuan Yu coughed twice, then clasped his hands behind his back and shook his head with the air of a seasoned chef.
"You can cook?"
Itachi looked at Chuan Yu in surprise.
"I know a little, I know a little..."
Just then, a wild boar happened to pass by...
If nothing unexpected happened...
That would be their lunch...
The three of them looked at the wild boar...
The wild boar froze...
Before you continue