The Third Hokage's Trump Card

Afterward.

Chiye Jun found a chance to explain things to Hinata.

Fortunately, Hinata was understanding and also greatly admired Chiye Jun's efforts to save someone.

Chiye Jun breathed a sigh of relief.

The five teenagers chatted and laughed as they returned to the village.

Just then, they ran into Sakura coming out of the red bean shop.

"Sasuke! Where did you all come back from?"

Sasuke said nothing, shoved his hands into his pockets, and left alone.

Naruto also grinned and pulled Chiye Jun away to eat ramen.

Hinata said softly, "We went to the sea of flowers..."

A sea of flowers?

The five of them went out together and didn't even invite me!

Sakura erupted inwardly.

"That's too much! They're deliberately excluding me! And Sasuke even went with them! Aaargh..."

But Ino smiled and formally announced:

"Sakura, from now on, I'll never compete with you for Sasuke again! Hahaha!"

After what happened today, she had become completely captivated by Chiye Jun.

And he had seen everything. From now on, she was his woman...

Sakura had no idea what had happened and was utterly baffled.

That night, after returning home.

Chiye Jun eagerly entered the space.

He began practicing the Konoha Dragon God.

He was utterly stunned by its dazzling effects...

"Wait, aren't secret techniques only passed down to descendants?"

"Didn't Dad die early? And I've never heard of any Chiye Clan ancestor being a ninja!"

Then how was there an ancestral secret technique?

Could it be...

My ancestor was connected to Master Chen?

The system promptly answered.

With that classic line:

[Anything is possible with a system-produced item]

And so, he trained for a long time.

Before leaving the space, he dug out a ball of yarn and some knitting needles.

Using his tailoring skill, he began making Naruto a birthday present.

Whenever he thought of the gift, he could not help but burst into laughter...

The next day.

Konoha's mission assignment office.

"Oh, my Little Tiger! You've finally been found! Mommy was worried sick!"

An unbelievably terrifying female soprano blasted through the entire office.

The wife of the Land of Fire's daimyo—Lady Shijimi, with her ton-heavy, planet-sized face.

She was unleashing an unmatched sound release: skull-splitting pain.

Kakashi, who had just been left dazed by Naruto shouting through his headset, vomited blood again and collapsed...

That afternoon.

The back mountain of Konoha Village.

Jagged rocks rose everywhere, ancient vines twisting around them.

Looking up, all one could see were steep cliffs.

A black garment hung from a pine tree, dancing in the wind.

At the foot of the mountain.

"This was a gift from my boyfriend. I never expected a freak gust to blow it all the way up there. Please, I'm counting on you!"

A brawny woman lowered her head in gratitude.

"What a bizarre D-rank mission." Chiye Jun smiled helplessly.

Kakashi stood beneath the cliff, looking completely calm.

"Use this mission to begin cliff-climbing training. And you can't use your hands!"

Naruto was the first to explode!

"What? No hands? How are we supposed to climb? Kakashi-sensei, are you kidding?"

The corners of Sasuke's lips lifted slightly. "Now this is a little interesting."

Sakura clung tightly to Sasuke's side.

"Sasuke, good luck! You can definitely do it!"

Kakashi's lazy voice drifted over. "Everyone has to climb. This is to train your chakra control..."

Five minutes later.

Sakura, who had been struggling to climb, fell and bruised her face badly.

Sasuke had only just fought his way halfway up.

Naruto, meanwhile, unleashed his Talk-no-Jutsu, sobbing and complaining nonstop...

Chiye Jun flexed his hands, gathered chakra beneath his feet, and effortlessly walked straight up the cliff.

"Wow! Jun, you're amazing! How did you do that?" Naruto asked excitedly.

Sasuke looked calm on the surface, but inwardly he was deeply shocked.

He actually just walked right up...

Chiye Jun reached the tree and easily took down the bra cup.

Damn, it's huge. It's practically the size of a pilot's helmet...

Kakashi was not at all surprised by his chakra control.

This time, instead of training them to climb trees, he had directly upgraded it to cliff climbing...

At dusk.

The Hokage's office.

"Kakashi, I agree with you. This Chiye Jun truly possesses jōnin-level strength!"

The Third Hokage looked out the window, puffing on his pipe.

"He has too many unknown factors..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly thought of his former beloved disciple, Orochimaru.

His brows furrowed tightly as an inexplicable worry arose within him.

Chiye Jun was rising too quickly...

"Lately, that kid has been going outside the village all the time. It seems he even went to the Valley of the End? Don't relax the surveillance on him," the Third Hokage said.

Kakashi nodded.

Then he touched his forehead protector and said with some concern, "This time, he killed two Cloud Shinobi! Last time, because of this, Hyūga Hizashi..."

Kakashi thought of how Hizashi had been sacrificed for peace back then.

The Third Hokage said nothing, merely pacing around the room.

After a long while, he looked up and said:

"In a little over a month, it will be the Chūnin Exams. Konoha is hosting them this time, and ninja villages from all over will gather here."

Kakashi was confused.

Weren't they talking about Chiye Jun?

Why had they suddenly brought up the Chūnin Exams...

What the Third Hokage said next greatly shocked him.

"Use the Chūnin Exams to let him shine brilliantly. It will also be the perfect chance to show the other ninja villages the spirit of the Will of Fire and Konoha Village's strength!"

Kakashi had not expected the Third Hokage to treat Chiye Jun as a trump card...

"You also know that the Chūnin Exams are actually a small-scale war between ninja villages. Displaying strength and intimidating the opposition are their true purposes."

Kakashi said nothing.

After shadowing and interacting with Chiye Jun, he had already come to like this warm, cheerful kid.

Compared to Naruto, he knew when to stop with his antics.

Compared to Sasuke, he was steady without being gloomy.

"Strengthen the village's defenses during this time. Assign more personnel and prevent another incident of Cloud Shinobi sneaking in!"

Then Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand, and Kakashi left.

At the same time.

At Chiye Jun's home.

Naruto sat on the sofa, his face full of anticipation.

Sasuke had also been invited to the birthday dinner.

He remained silent, but he was also curious what gift Chiye Jun would give Naruto.