Konoha Genin Liuxia Pays His Respects!

Liuxia walked slowly through the bustling streets of Konoha. On both sides of the road, the crowds surged and various shops lined the way; the cries of vendors and the sound of laughter intertwined, creating the uniquely lively scene of Konoha. However, Liuxia's heart was turbulent and far from calm. He had clearly just experienced a battle of significant meaning—a battle that was not only a test of his personal abilities but also a trial imposed by the higher-ups of Konoha, or perhaps an interference in the village's politics.

He knew that the Third Hokage had personally chosen Uchiha Fugaku as his opponent, and behind this lay complex political considerations. Fugaku was not only the young heir of the Uchiha clan but also its future leader; the outcome of this battle would undoubtedly influence the power structure within Konoha. Although Liuxia was young, he knew that regardless of whether he won or lost, a grudge had already been forged between him and the Uchiha clan.

Liuxia's footsteps came to a halt in front of the Hokage office building. He took a deep breath and gathered his thoughts. He understood that since he had already caught the attention of Konoha's leadership, he must act with caution in every step he took from now on, at least until his strength reached a point where he could flip the table.

Walking into the Hokage office, Liuxia saw the familiar figure of the Third Hokage. A gentle smile graced the Hokage's face, but Liuxia knew that hidden behind that amiable expression was the heart of a seasoned, unfathomable politician.

"Liuxia, you've come." The Third Hokage's voice was calm and steady.

Liuxia bowed respectfully, "Uncle Third, sorry to keep you waiting."

"It is no matter. I have already heard the report on your battle. Very good! I had intended for Fugaku to give you a bit of a setback as a lesson, but I did not expect you to be even more outstanding than I realized." The Third Hokage's words revealed his satisfaction with Liuxia.

Although Liuxia held some reservations about certain actions of the Third Hokage, he understood that in Konoha, respecting one's elders and superiors was a basic etiquette. He maintained a respectful attitude on the surface while silently grumbling to himself. He knew that while this old man did not have a heart filled only with power like Danzo Shimura, he still had many issues; the decay of Konoha had only been able to spread under his intentional or unintentional indulgence.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, looked at Liuxia's respectful yet slightly mischievous demeanor. Not knowing that this kid already harbored thoughts of insubordination, Hiruzen couldn't help but feel a hint of amusement. He knew Liuxia was a young man with potential, and with his straightforward personality, lack of concern for trifles, and status as a descendant of the Senju clan, he was firmly in the Hokage faction—a natural ally.

"Liuxia, your performance was truly impressive," the Third Hokage said with a smile. "Your combat techniques, strategy, and courage all prove that you are an excellent ninja."

"I still have many shortcomings!" Liuxia responded modestly.

"That is only natural; the path of a ninja is endless," the Third Hokage nodded in agreement. "However, you have already taken a solid first step."

As he spoke, Hiruzen Sarutobi took an exquisite wooden box from a drawer nearby and handed it to Liuxia. Liuxia took the box and opened it to find several items neatly arranged inside: a forehead protector engraved with the Konoha symbol, a ninja certificate printed with his name and registration number, and some basic ninja equipment.

"This is your starter pack for new ninjas, Liuxia," the Third Hokage explained. "The forehead protector represents your identity, and the ninja certificate is your ID card in Konoha. Number 009527—I originally wanted to use my own birthday, but let's pay tribute instead—this is your registration number in Konoha, and it is your honor."

Liuxia took the forehead protector and the certificate with both hands and tied the protector around his forehead. This was the beginning of his legend in the ninja world!

"Lord Hokage, I will certainly not let you down," Liuxia said firmly.

The Third Hokage looked at Liuxia's determined eyes and felt comforted. He knew that the future of Konoha would be guarded by young people just like Liuxia.

"Go, Liuxia. The sky of Konoha awaits you to soar through it," the Third Hokage encouraged.

Liuxia bowed deeply, his heart filled with anticipation and resolve for the future. He knew this was only the beginning; his ninja career had just raised its curtain. He turned to leave the Hokage office, ready to face new challenges.

"Oh, one more thing!"

The Third Hokage's voice suddenly came from behind. Liuxia nearly lost his footing; he turned around, revealing a slightly helpless smile.

"Yes, Uncle Third!"

Liuxia did not care much about the squad; he knew that for both himself and the village, the most important thing right now was the upcoming Chunin Exams. As for the squad, he trusted that the Third Hokage would make the most appropriate arrangements.

Seeing that the Third seemed to have no other instructions, Liuxia turned to leave once more.

"One more thing! The Chunin Exams will be held in two months; make sure to work hard then," the Third Hokage's voice rang out again, this time with a hint of encouragement.

"Understood, Uncle Third, I will do my best." Liuxia felt even more helpless. Had the Third been possessed by a nagging father? Was there anything he couldn't just say all at once? He wasn't afraid of throwing out his back, but he was still young and didn't even have a girlfriend yet!

"Uncle Third, that's everything, right?" Liuxia asked again as he prepared to leave, just to be sure.

"Yes, that's all. Remember to close the door on your way out," the Third Hokage's voice carried a hint of relaxation.

Liuxia nodded and turned to leave the Hokage office. He did not notice that after confirming he had left, a sly smile appeared on the Third Hokage's face.

"It seems I really need to take a break lately. Biwako has been wanting a child so much that she's made me start becoming forgetful. I'll just stay at the Hokage building to work for these few days; for the sake of the village, she should understand... right? Yes!" The Third Hokage muttered to himself, a slightly awkward smile on his face.

He had a change of heart and decided to patrol the village first to ensure everything was well. He began to use the Telescope Technique to "patrol" the village.

Setting aside the Third Hokage, who was using the Telescope Technique to peek—ahem, to patrol the village—though this pervert did linger at the bathhouse for a bit too long...

Liuxia had already returned home to celebrate his and Nawaki's graduation party with his family. At this moment, the house was filled with a joyful atmosphere, and everyone's faces were beaming with happy smiles.

Nawaki had also gladly accepted the suggestion of early graduation proposed by Hiruzen Sarutobi. Today, Nawaki's strength had seen a qualitative leap compared to the version of him in the original timeline. All of this was thanks to the rigorous training he had received alongside Liuxia since childhood. Under such high-intensity training, Nawaki's strength had improved significantly, enough to rival or even surpass an average Chunin. He was most proficient in Taijutsu and Water Release ninjutsu—after all, he had been beaten into gaining that experience.

After the party ended, Liuxia sat alone on the roof, gazing at the stars in the night sky. It was the same night sky as it had been years ago, but he himself was already different!

"Check achievements—reward for the achievement of becoming a Genin!"