In Konoha: Three Choices at the Start

"What's that smell?"

Liuyun sniffed the air. Something smelled burnt. He raised an eyebrow.

"Did you forget to turn off the stove?"

"Oh no! I forgot!"

Uchiha Mikoto's expression changed. She spun around and hurried inside on her slender legs.

"That girl!" Liuyun chuckled.

Only after Uchiha Fuchu and his companion had vanished from sight did Liuyun narrow his eyes.

"Uchiha Fuchu is quite a character."

"Father! I can't accept this!"

On the road, Uchiha Fugaku gripped his crutch tightly, his face twisted with anger.

His leg had been broken, yet he was the one who had to apologize—and to a commoner, no less.

"You have no choice but to accept it!" Uchiha Fuchu sighed, then warned him earnestly.

"Just remember this: you can provoke anyone in the Uchiha Clan, but you must never provoke Uchiha Liuyun or the girl with him!"

"And if I do provoke him again? What happens? Will Uchiha Liuyun kill me?"

A trace of mockery crossed Uchiha Fugaku's pale face.

"If you die, I won't seek revenge against him." Uchiha Fuchu stared coldly at Uchiha Fugaku.

"Heh. I understand. I'll stay away from him from now on." Uchiha Fugaku gave a bleak smile.

At the Ninja Academy, the classroom buzzed with excited chatter.

Today was graduation day.

Beside Liuyun and Mikoto, Kushina's cheeks were flushed with excitement.

"Hey, hey! We're graduating! Starting today, I'll be a ninja! I'm one step closer to my ultimate dream!"

"Go for it, Kushina! I know you can do it!" Uchiha Mikoto cheered her on.

"Hmph! Of course I can!" Kushina slapped her flat chest and lifted her chin proudly.

"I'll show those stupid men who look down on us that a woman can become Hokage too!"

"Oh, right! Liuyun!"

Kushina suddenly ducked her head between Liuyun and Mikoto and whispered mysteriously.

"Did you hear? The Third Hokage is coming to watch our test today!"

"I heard Tsunade complaining last night that the Third Hokage wants her to lead a team of graduates!"

"We have to do our best and make sure Tsunade becomes our teacher!"

"Really, Kushina? Then we'd better give it everything we've got!" Mikoto's eyes lit up, excitement spreading across her face.

The Author's Note: I checked the dashboard today and nearly fell out of my chair. Thank you to the generous reader who tipped 5,000! I'm overwhelmed. Thank you so much!

Another Instant Defeat: Jiraiya Stunned! (Part 3) ### Watching the two girls chatter, Liuyun wore a faint smile.

Looks like that sly old fox Hiruzen Sarutobi has made his move.

He would bet anything that he would be assigned to one of Hiruzen Sarutobi's three disciples.

Tsunade was the likeliest choice. After all, he knew that formidable woman, and they got along fairly well.

Besides, he was the man who would become the Fifth Hokage.

"Liuyun! This time, I'm going to beat you!" Minato Namikaze stepped in front of him, his expression resolute.

"I'll be waiting." Liuyun looked unconcerned.

A year ago, he might have considered Minato Namikaze a rival. Now... forget it.

"Everyone, assemble at Training Ground Four!"

Wang Tenggangyi poked his head in, papers in hand, and shouted the order.

The students streamed outside, their faces bright with excitement. Liuyun was dragged along by the two girls.

It felt all right, he supposed. There was still some way to go before he reached Cao Wei.

At Training Ground Four, a broad-built young man with a scar across his face stood motionless as a statue.

Not far away stood Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in his Hokage robes.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was still in his prime, his strength at its peak.

When he saw Liuyun and the others emerge, his dark face broke into a beaming smile.

"These children are the village's future!"

The moment the crowd saw the Third Hokage standing before them, its chatter died away.

Every pair of bright eyes turned toward Hiruzen Sarutobi with excitement and anticipation.

"Lord Hokage, everyone is here!" Wang Tenggangyi approached and reported respectfully.

"Good. Let's begin." Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled warmly.

"Yes, sir!"

Wang Tenggangyi turned and shouted to the expectant students.

"Today is your graduation exam!"

"Everything you've worked for over the years comes down to today!"

"This is Chunin Fujiwara Wangchong. The test is simple: hold out for three minutes while he fights at full strength, and you pass!"

"But first, at Lord Hokage's request, we'll hold a friendly match!"

Seeing the students' confusion, Wang Tenggangyi smiled and called out.

"Uchiha Liuyun! Minato Namikaze! Congratulations! Lord Hokage has made an exception and promoted you both to Genin!"

"You won't need to take this exam. Just fight each other with everything you've got!"

Just as I thought, Liuyun said to himself when he heard Wang Tenggangyi.

That bastard Hiruzen Sarutobi is already paving the way for me!

Ding! It's time to show everyone what you can do!

1. Defeat Minato Namikaze in an instant. Reward: physique increased by 30%!

2. Spare the future Fourth Hokage some embarrassment. Fight him to an Even Match, then win narrowly. Reward: Chakra increased by 10%!

3. End the fight in a draw. Reward: Mental Energy increased by 10%!

"I choose one!"

A stronger physique was exactly what he needed, and option one was what he wanted anyway.

Just then, Minato Namikaze leaped up, performed a stylish backflip, and landed in front of Wang Tenggangyi.

He turned to Liuyun with a slight smile, his eyes shining with excitement.

Minato really knows how to make an entrance. If anyone says he doesn't know how to show off, I'll knock their damn head off.

"Liuyun! Come on! Give that pretty boy a good thrashing!"

Kushina's cheeks were pink with excitement.

"Good luck, Liuyun!" Uchiha Mikoto called.

"All right." Encouraged by the two girls, Liuyun strolled over to face Minato Namikaze.

"Chunin Wangchong, we'll leave it to you," Wang Tenggangyi said.

"Rest assured." Fujiwara Wangchong nodded impassively.

"Lord Hokage, we've prepared a seat for you over there!"

"Sorry for the trouble."

Once Wang Tenggangyi and Hiruzen Sarutobi had taken their seats, Fujiwara Wangchong called out.

"Begin! Show Lord Hokage what you've learned!"

"Liuyun! I found a powerful teacher this year, and I've trained incredibly hard to beat you!"

Minato stood tall, fighting spirit blazing in his eyes.

"I know, I know." Liuyun yawned, looking thoroughly uninterested.

On a large tree in the distance, a man and a woman stood facing each other.

"So this is the student our teacher plans to give you? Is the old man trying to sabotage you?"

Jiraiya watched the scene below with a peculiar look in his eyes.

"I doubt it. Liuyun should be capable enough. I read his file—he beat your prized student Minato Namikaze a year ago!" Tsunade raised an elegant eyebrow, though she sounded uncertain.

"That kid is Uchiha Liuyun?" Jiraiya looked startled.

Minato had mentioned him many times over the past year. Jiraiya had not expected him to look so lazy.

"Tsunade, how about a bet?" Jiraiya's eyes darted about, a sly glint in them.

"A bet on what?" Tsunade perked up at once.

"This fight. We each back our future student."

"What are the stakes?"

"The loser has to grant the winner's student one request!"

"Deal!" Tsunade agreed without a second thought.

As soon as they finished speaking, a wave of startled cries rose from below and drew their attention.

Minato Namikaze charged at Uchiha Liuyun like a streak of golden light.

But in the next instant, Minato froze midstride. His eyes went blank, and he stood there like a statue.

Liuyun, meanwhile, strolled toward Minato as though no one else were there.

Tsunade gave Jiraiya a teasing look and patted him on the shoulder.

"Jiraiya, I'll thank you on behalf of my future student!"

Jiraiya's mouth twitched. With their abilities, both of them could see that Minato had fallen under Liuyun's Genjutsu.

But how long had the fight lasted? Fujiwara Wangchong's voice had barely faded.

The Author's Note: This chapter was written in advance. If you don't want to see instant defeats, I'll add more fight scenes later!

The System Wants Me to Show Off! (Part 4) ### It had been practically an instant defeat, right after he and Tsunade had made their bet. What a slap in the face!

Seated not far away, Hiruzen Sarutobi was stunned.

Uchiha Liuyun's Genjutsu was on par with that of some Special Jonin.

Minato Namikaze's defeat was no disgrace. If Hiruzen had not kept his eyes on Uchiha Liuyun the entire time,

he might not have noticed when Uchiha Liuyun cast the Genjutsu.

At such a young age, the boy's skill with Genjutsu already rivaled Shinku's!

"Excellent, excellent! Giving this boy to Tsunade was the right decision!"