Even with a Dog, It'd Be the Same

The moment Xiu finished speaking, the training ground fell silent.

What a fearless newborn calf.

Kurenai Yuhi opened her mouth, speechless yet somehow amused.

Still, that arrogant attitude was very Uchiha-like. She had thought he was the gentle type.

"Hey! Xiu! You can't be disrespectful to the Hokage!"

Iruka planted his hands on his hips and spoke righteously, then quickly apologized to Hiruzen Sarutobi. "I'm sorry, Third Hokage. This child..."

"I understand, I understand." Hiruzen Sarutobi raised a hand in a calming gesture and laughed helplessly. "These old bones of mine can't take much tossing around. Naturally, this sort of thing should be handled by a professional, so I specially invited an examiner for you before coming here."

As soon as he finished speaking, Kurenai Yuhi stepped forward. "My name is Kurenai Yuhi. I'm the examiner in charge of your graduation assessment. If you want to pass, you must earn my recognition through your strength."

Xiu raised a brow, then crooked a finger at her. One hand in his pocket, he stood where he was as a trace of crimson surfaced in his eyes. "...Fine. Then come at me."

Then come at me?

Kurenai Yuhi was so irritated that she laughed.

She turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi, the meaning in her eyes obvious: Can I teach him a harsh lesson?

Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his forehead in pain, waved a hand, and turned to walk aside. Iruka and the other man hurriedly followed.

"You should wait over there too," Xiu said to Izumi.

"Okay." Izumi did not hesitate and quickly ran off.

Kurenai Yuhi took a deep breath, her full chest rising and falling. "It seems I really have been underestimated..."

"No, you misunderstood." The tomoe in Xiu's eyes spun rapidly. "With your strength, you aren't even qualified to catch my attention."

The instant he finished speaking, a great tree suddenly burst from beneath Xiu's feet. Several thick, twisting branches extended from its trunk and bound him tightly.

Yet in that brief instant, Kurenai had already appeared behind Xiu.

Special Jonin generally referred to ninjas whose overall strength was at the Chunin level, but who possessed abilities comparable to a Jonin in certain specialized fields.

Kurenai Yuhi's specialty was Genjutsu.

What few people knew was that her speed was also exceptional.

Ever since receiving Hiruzen Sarutobi's warning, Kurenai had secretly been on guard against Xiu's Sharingan.

Although Xiu's way of speaking was infuriating, it was not enough to make her lose her composure.

Thus, despite being one of the village's finest Genjutsu specialists, she had not rashly clashed head-on with a Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

After casting Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death at the fastest speed possible, she used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind Xiu.

Even a Three-Tomoe Sharingan needed time to break free after being caught in Genjutsu.

And when the gap in strength between the two sides was too great, that brief instant was enough to completely decide the outcome.

At the end of the day, he was only a six-year-old brat. Even with Three Tomoe, his other abilities could be no more than Genin level...

Kurenai Yuhi's thoughts raced as she raised her hand and held a kunai across Xiu's throat.

"The game is over, you arrogant brat..."

As she spoke, Kurenai took half a step closer, wanting to properly admire Xiu's helpless expression.

But Xiu did not even glance at her. Instead, he turned to look at Hiruzen Sarutobi at the edge of the field.

"Yes, the game is over."

"Hm?" Kurenai Yuhi froze slightly, and a bad feeling suddenly rose in her heart. "What are you talking about, kid...?"

"I-I-I... I didn't say anything!"

A trembling voice sounded beside Kurenai's ear. The next second, Xiu before her suddenly transformed into a man wearing a Chunin flak jacket.

It was none other than Izumi's homeroom teacher.

At that moment, his face was deathly pale, and his legs were shaking.

And Kurenai's kunai was steadily pressed against his crotch. With the slightest movement, she could help him sever his ties to the mortal world.

Kurenai Yuhi stiffly turned her head, only to discover that Xiu was standing calmly in his original spot, without having moved a single step.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had his pipe in his mouth, one hand supporting his forehead as his face filled with a bitter smile.

Kurenai's eyes held both shock and confusion. "This... I clearly cast Genjutsu..."

"When people are walking down the road and encounter an obstacle, they instinctively avoid it or move it aside."

Xiu spoke indifferently, as though stating something obvious. "But if they encounter a bug, they only need to raise their foot and crush it. Would you count every ant on the road?"

Kurenai did not get angry at that. She had already grown accustomed to his arrogant way of speaking.

She merely continued asking in confusion. "But I'm sure I never looked into your eyes."

"You really are confident." Xiu gave a mocking laugh.

"Sigh... This really is something. I originally wanted this child to learn that there were always stronger people out there, but it seems that failed too. What a headache, hahaha!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi burst into laughter, his hearty laugh slightly dispersing the awkward atmosphere.

Kurenai Yuhi hurriedly put away her kunai and lowered her head. "My deepest apologies, Lord Hokage. I have disappointed you."

"Well... this isn't your fault. A person's field of vision is broad. Even if you deliberately control your gaze to avoid making eye contact, your peripheral vision will still instinctively notice things."

Hiruzen Sarutobi explained, giving Kurenai a way out. "Without specialized training, even the slightest shift in one's gaze can leave an opening."

Kurenai Yuhi cast Xiu an inquiring look. "Is... that how it was?"

Xiu snorted and lifted his chin. "More or less. What normal ninja would form hand seals while facing a Sharingan? And you even used Genjutsu. You're arrogant beyond all reason."

Kurenai Yuhi: "..."

Suddenly, she recalled Xiu's gesture of crooking his finger at her. At that very moment, her gaze seemed to have shifted along with his finger.

In other words, he had already planted a suggestion in her mind back then!

Damn it, he did not even need hand seals. This Bloodline was far too unreasonable!

"So amazing! As expected of Xiu!" At the edge of the field, Izumi watched Xiu with sparkling eyes.

"That means I passed, right?" Xiu looked toward the Third Hokage.

Beating Kurenai was nothing. With his current setup, even if Konoha F4 came at him together, they would only get beaten into the ground. The only thing that could limit him was combat experience.

It had to be said that the Sharingan was truly useful. Many Genjutsu did not even require hand seals, especially Genjutsu: Sharingan.

It combined hypnosis, hallucinations, fear, interference, and control, nearly bringing the Sharingan's abilities to their fullest extent!

According to the scroll Fugaku had given him, many clan members gifted in Genjutsu would instinctively use this technique after awakening their Sharingan.

Rather than calling it a technique, it was more like a summary of the methods through which Genjutsu eyes manifested their power.

"Of course. With such outstanding use of Genjutsu, I truly cannot think of any reason to refuse."

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled. "However, according to procedure, after graduation, Genin need an experienced Jonin to lead their team. I intend to have Kurenai serve as your Jonin leader. What do you think?"

Xiu refused without hesitation. "There's no need. She's too weak. I only plan to team up with Aunt Hazuki and Izumi."

"That's the problem." Hiruzen Sarutobi wore an expression that said the rules were the rules, and there was nothing he could do. "According to ninja regulations, missions must be carried out by a four-person squad."

Xiu shook his head again. "It's fine. Bringing a dog would be no different."

Kurenai Yuhi: "..."