Chapter 19

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

He'll soon be my grandstudent!

"Teacher Wangchong! Can we call it now?"

Liuyun held a Kunai to Minato Namikaze's neck and asked with a smile.

Fujiwara Wangchong felt awkward and bewildered. He was supposed to be refereeing this fight, but he still had no idea what the hell had happened.

He didn't even know when Minato Namikaze had fallen under Genjutsu.

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

Only when he saw Hiruzen Sarutobi nod did Fujiwara Wangchong breathe a sigh of relief.

He announced loudly, "The winner is Uchiha Liuyun!"

By then, Liuyun had already released Minato Namikaze from the Genjutsu.

Faced with the familiar scene and the Kunai against his neck, Minato Namikaze gave the same rueful smile as before.

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

"Ask your teacher when you get back. Once you've figured out how Genjutsu works, maybe you won't be defeated in an instant again."

Liuyun turned to leave, then paused. "A friendly warning: if we ever fight again, don't look into my eyes."

With that, he strode away.

"His eyes!"

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

Liuyun had seized even that opening. Minato couldn't help admiring how sharp he was.

Suddenly, Minato Namikaze wiped the rueful smile from his face and shouted solemnly,

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

Liuyun hadn't planned to respond, 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 raising your head, aloof and indifferent. Reward: Chakra increased by ten percent!

2. Say, "I'll be waiting," in a cool, aloof voice. Reward: physical constitution increased by ten percent!

3. Deliver a classic line to show off! Reward: Mental Energy increased by thirty percent!

(PS: Host, you've read so many novels about showing off. If you still can't come up with a line, swallow shit and kill yourself!)

Liuyun hated this damn system more and more!

He ran through all the iconic lines he could remember, and his eyes lit up.

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

"Those I have defeated will never again be my rivals. I'll give you time to chase me, until I'm so far ahead you can no longer see me!"

The sheer force of that boast swept over everyone. As if to play along, a light breeze stirred around Liuyun.

Then he strode up to Mikoto and Kushina like a shooting star, his expression cool and aloof.

"So far ahead I can no longer see him? That's Liuyun for you. He even managed to say something so profound!"

A rueful smile returned to Minato Namikaze's face.

Seated in his chair, Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth twitched. Was this the Liuyun who, according to his intelligence, lacked the Uchiha Clan's arrogance?

He might not have their arrogance, but he had something the rest of the Uchiha Clan lacked: sheer domineering presence—or rather, Bragging Release.

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

Madara had taken that quality to its absolute peak.

"Tsunade! Why does the way Liuyun talks make me want to hit him?" Jiraiya asked, dark lines appearing on his forehead.

"I feel the same way. He's so young, yet instead of learning something worthwhile, he's copying other people's smug posturing! Still, that line did sound pretty commanding. He's picked up a little from me!"

Tsunade sounded angry at first, then praised Liuyun without reservation.

Jiraiya curled his lip. Great. They aren't even master and student yet, and she's already defending him!

Once they are, there'll be no stopping them.

"Remember your conditions!" Tsunade added.

"I know!"

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

"And what you said was so cool!"

The moment Liuyun returned to the group, Kushina threw herself against him and showered him with praise!

Liuyun accepted it all without complaint. His only regret was that Kushina didn't stay pressed against him for long enough!

His other arm felt a soft touch, and Mikoto's happy voice reached him. "Congratulations, Liuyun!"

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

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

"Got it! I'm definitely going to pass the Genin exam."

Kushina clenched her fists, her eyes blazing with determination.

Next, Hiashi and his brother, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, and the others all came over to congratulate Liuyun.

But the conflicted looks in their eyes were impossible to hide.

Liuyun didn't mind. As far as he was concerned, Hiashi and Inoichi were the only ones he needed to pay attention to.

The rest were child's play—kids he could take down with a single slash.

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

Liuyun and Minato Namikaze's fight ended almost as if it had been a game.

Wang Tenggangyi walked up beside Fujiwara Wangchong and called out,

"The Genin exam officially begins now! Step forward when I call your name!"

"First, Hyuga Hiashi!"

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

Liuyun and the two girls rested in the shade of a large tree, wearing the Forehead Protectors Wang Tenggangyi had just awarded them.

Unlike the other students, they hadn't gathered in little groups to chat, show off, and admire their new Forehead Protectors.

(Those who send flowers will be looked after by Rem tonight. Those who send rating votes will be looked after by Tsunade! Send both, and they'll both look after you tonight!)

The System Was Up to Its Tricks Again!

Instead, they were hoping the last student would hurry up and finish the exam.

Then they could go home instead of waiting around here with nothing to do.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had it easy. He'd only stayed a short while before leaving, unlike them.

As the sky gradually darkened, the final student at last finished the exam.

Wang Tenggangyi's thunderous shout rang across the entire Training Ground.

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

"Finally, we can leave!"

Liuyun lifted his head from Kushina's slender but springy thighs, stretched, and sighed.

"It's finally over!"

"Kushina, want to have dinner together tonight?"

"Sure! Sure! Are you cooking it yourself?"

Kushina's eyes shone. She swallowed unconsciously and nodded so fast her head bobbed—an unmistakable little foodie.

"Yep! To celebrate our graduation, I'll cook!"

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

After leaving the Ninja Academy, they bought some ingredients, climbed over the wall, and returned to his residence.

Liuyun took the seasonings he had prepared from the System Inventory, set up the grill beside him, and devoted himself to cooking.

The sky was black as spilled ink, its darkness oppressive.

Kushina lay on the grass nearby, patting her full belly with a satisfied look, not caring in the slightest whether she looked ladylike.

Mikoto, meanwhile, dutifully began clearing away the dishes they had used for dinner.

The earnest look on her little face made Liuyun want to kiss her.

"Kushina, it's time to go home. Otherwise, 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 got 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 go," Liuyun comforted her softly.

"All right." Kushina sounded listless. She clearly still didn't want to leave.

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

At the same time, Liuyun spread his powerful sensory awareness, keeping constant watch on everyone around them.

He remembered that not long after graduation, Kumogakure spies hidden in Konoha would abduct Kushina.

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

With Liuyun here now, Minato could forget about it.

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

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

"Well, I was just about to come looking for you two, and here you are! What perfect timing!"

"Tsunade! Sorry to make you worry!" Kushina stuck out her tongue sheepishly.

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

Tsunade folded her arms, a trace of concern in her voice.

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

"See you!" Liuyun shook his head with a smile. When will that girl ever stop being so oblivious?

He glanced at Tsunade's figure, which was considerably fuller than Kushina's, and smiled faintly.

"Lady Tsunade, I'll be going."

"Wait!" Tsunade immediately slung an arm around Liuyun's shoulders as if 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 breath.

How was a lifelong shut-in like him, counting both his previous life and this one, supposed to take that?

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

Tsunade saw the tension on Liuyun's face and felt secretly pleased.

Looks like this move still works. Just as I thought, this brat is exactly like Jiraiya!

"Um... what did you want to talk about?"