In Konoha: Three Choices at the Start

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded repeatedly, pleased with his plan. Even his gaze toward Liuyun, standing not far away, grew warmer.

The boy was about to become his grand-disciple!

"Teacher Wangchong! Can we call it?"

Liuyun held a kunai against Minato Namikaze's neck and asked with a smile.

Fujiwara Wangchong felt awkward and bewildered. As the referee, he still had no damn idea what had happened.

He did not even know when Minato Namikaze had fallen under the genjutsu.

With no other choice, he looked toward Hiruzen Sarutobi in the distance.

Only when Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded did Fujiwara Wangchong breathe a sigh of relief.

He announced loudly, "The winner of this match is Uchiha Liuyun!"

By then, Liuyun had released Minato Namikaze from the genjutsu.

Seeing and feeling the familiar scene around him, Minato Namikaze gave another wry smile.

"When did you cast your genjutsu? I really want to know."

"Go ask the teacher behind you. Once you've figured out how genjutsu works, maybe you won't lose in an instant like that!"

Liuyun turned away, then paused. "A friendly tip: if we ever fight again, don't look into my eyes!"

With that, he strode off.

"His eyes!"

Minato Namikaze recalled meeting Liuyun's eyes for an instant while he was running.

Liuyun had seized an opening that small. Even Minato had to admire how sharp he was.

Suddenly, Minato Namikaze wiped the wry smile from his face and shouted with a serious expression.

"Liuyun! I'll beat you one day!"

Liuyun had not planned to answer, but the system's options appeared in his mind again!

"Ding! Host, it's time to show off!"

1. Walk toward your two future wives without even looking back, aloof and indifferent. Reward: Chakra increased by 10%!

2. Coolly say, "I'll be waiting." Reward: Physique increased by 10%!

3. Deliver a classic boast! Reward: Mental Energy increased by 30%!

(PS: Host, you've read so many novels full of show-offs. If you can't come up with a line, just swallow shit and kill yourself!)

This damn system was getting more annoying by the day!

Liuyun searched his memory for legendary moments of showing off, and his eyes lit up.

He stopped, raised his gaze toward the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, and spoke in a low, detached voice.

"Those I've defeated have never been worthy of being my rivals. I'll give you time to catch up—until I'm so far ahead you can no longer see me!"

The sheer force of his boasting washed over everyone. As if playing along, a gentle breeze stirred around him.

Having said his piece, Liuyun strode up to Mikoto and Kushina like a shooting star, his expression cool and aloof.

"So far ahead I can't see him? That's Liuyun for you! He can even say something that profound!"

A bitter smile returned to Minato Namikaze's face.

Sitting in his chair, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not stop the corners of his mouth from twitching. The reports had said Liuyun lacked the Uchiha Clan's arrogance. Was this what they meant?

He might not have that arrogance, but he possessed something the other Uchiha lacked: an overwhelming air of Bragging Release.

That tone reminded Hiruzen of Madara Uchiha, one of Konoha's two founders!

Madara had taken that quality to its absolute limit.

"Tsunade, why does the way Liuyun talks make me want to hit him?" Jiraiya asked, dark lines crossing his forehead.

"Me too! He's so young, yet instead of learning something useful, he's already showing off like that! Still, it was a pretty commanding line. He's picked up a thing or two from me!"

Tsunade sounded angry at first, then offered her praise without restraint.

Jiraiya pursed his lips. Great. They weren't even master and disciple yet, and she was already defending him!

Once they were, there'd be no keeping either of them in check.

"Remember your condition!" Tsunade reminded him.

"I know!"

"Liuyun! You were amazing! You beat that pretty boy Minato Namikaze just like that!"

"And what you said was so cool!"

Back among the crowd, Kushina immediately pressed her slender body against him, lavishing him with praise!

Liuyun accepted it all without complaint. His only regret was that Kushina pulled away too soon!

His other arm softened under a familiar touch, and Mikoto's delighted voice reached him. "Congratulations, Liuyun!"

"Mm! Mm!" Liuyun nodded and reached out with both hands, giving each girl a pat on the head.

"You two need to work hard too," he said gently.

"I know! I'll definitely pass the Genin assessment."

Kushina clenched her fists, her eyes blazing with determination.

Next came the Hiashi brothers, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, and others, all congratulating Liuyun.

But there was no hiding the complicated look in their eyes.

Liuyun did not mind. As far as he was concerned, he only needed to pay attention to Hiashi and Inoichi.

The rest were small fry, the sort he could cut down one at a time.

After all, those two might become his fathers-in-law someday.

With Liuyun and Minato Namikaze's almost playful match over,

Wang Tenggangyi walked up to Fujiwara Wangchong and called out,

"The Genin assessment officially begins now! Come forward when I call your name!"

"First, Hyuga Hiashi!"

Time flowed by. In the blink of an eye, dusk had arrived.

Liuyun and the two girls sat in the shade of a large tree, wearing the forehead protectors Wang Tenggangyi had just awarded them.

Unlike the other students, they were not gathered in little groups to chat, show off, and share their new forehead protectors.

(Those who send flowers get Rem's care tonight. Those who send rating votes get Tsunade's care! Send both, and they'll both take care of you tonight!)

The System Was Up to Its Tricks Again!

Instead, they hoped the final student would hurry up and finish the assessment.

Then they could go home rather than wait around in boredom.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had it easy. He could leave after staying a little while, unlike them.

The sky gradually darkened. At last, just as Liuyun had hoped, the final student finished the assessment.

Wang Tenggangyi's thunderous shout rang across the entire training ground.

"The assessment is over! Everyone who passed, report to Classroom One tomorrow! Dismissed!"

"We can finally leave!"

Liuyun lifted his head from Kushina's slender yet springy thighs, stretched, and let out a sigh.

"It's finally over!"

"Kushina, want to have dinner together tonight?"

"Sure! Sure! Are you cooking?"

Kushina's eyes lit up. She swallowed instinctively and nodded so hard her little head bobbed like a pestle. She was a little glutton through and through.

"Sure! I'll cook to celebrate our graduation!"

Liuyun smiled, remembering how Kushina had wolfed down the barbecue the first time he had cooked for the two girls.

After leaving the Ninja Academy, the three of them bought some ingredients, climbed over the wall, and returned to his place.

Liuyun took the barbecue seasonings he had prepared from his system inventory, set up the grill nearby, and focused on cooking.

The sky was dark as spilled ink, its blackness heavy and oppressive.

Kushina lay on the grass nearby, patting her full belly with a look of satisfaction. She did not care in the least about looking ladylike.

Mikoto, meanwhile, dutifully began clearing away the dishes from dinner.

The earnest look on her little face made Liuyun want to take a bite of her.

"Kushina, it's time to go home. Otherwise, Elder Mito will worry."

Liuyun glanced at the sky as he reminded her.

"Is it? Time went by so fast. I wish we could stay like this forever!"

Kushina sat up, her face falling and her eyes dimming with disappointment.

"If you want, we can eat together every day from now on. But it's late, so we should get going," Liuyun comforted her softly.

"Okay," Kushina said listlessly. Clearly, she still did not want to leave.

After saying goodbye to Mikoto, Liuyun and Kushina climbed over the wall, left the Uchiha Clan compound, and headed toward the Senju Clan.

At the same time, he spread his powerful senses outward, keeping constant watch on everyone around them.

He remembered that not long after graduation, Kumogakure spies hiding in Konoha abducted Kushina.

That was what gave Minato Namikaze his chance to play the hero and rescue her.

With Liuyun here now, Minato could forget about it.

Perhaps Liuyun was being oversensitive. They crossed the bustling streets without incident and arrived at the Senju Clan's gate.

Someone was leaning against the wall beside the gate, a teasing smile on her lips.

"Well, I was just about to look for you, and here you are! Talk about perfect timing!"

"Big Sister Tsunade! Sorry I made you worry!" Kushina stuck out her tongue sheepishly.

"It's fine! We're all family. Hurry inside—Grandma's a little worried about you!"

Tsunade folded her arms, concern creeping into her voice.

"Okay! See you tomorrow, Liuyun!" Kushina waved goodbye and ran inside on her short legs.

"See you!" Liuyun shook his head with a smile. When would that scatterbrain ever change?

He glanced at Tsunade, who was far more developed than Kushina, and smiled faintly.

"Lady Tsunade, I'll be going now!"

"Wait!" Tsunade immediately threw an arm around Liuyun's shoulders as though they were old friends.

Her beautiful eyes studied him closely. "I need to talk to you about something!"

Their faces were so close that Liuyun could clearly feel her warm breath.

How was a lifelong homebody like him, counting both his lives, supposed to withstand that?

If his body had been fully grown, he would have given Tsunade a different treat every night for a week.

Seeing the tension on Liuyun's face, Tsunade felt secretly pleased.

Looks like that move still packs a punch. Just as I thought, this little brat is the same as Jiraiya!

"W-what did you want to talk about? Go ahead."