In Konoha: Three Choices at the Start

To borrow Boss Cao's words: "I'll take care of your wife for you!"

The thought of what Kushina and Uchiha Mikoto would look like in a few years sent Liuyun's mind wandering. His inner lecher stirred.

He wanted Eastern Wu, and he wanted Cao Wei too. Mine! Mine! They're all mine!

"Quiet, everyone! Class is starting!"

With a roar that could shake the rafters, their teacher, Wang Tenggangyi, walked in.

If his name had stopped after the first two characters, Liuyun might have been impressed. Unfortunately, it had four.

He was no Emperor Wang Teng, born at the pinnacle in some novel.

Liuyun shook his head and stayed slumped over his desk. The Ninja Academy's lessons were useless to him now.

He glanced at the textbooks on his desk, a mocking smile tugging at his lips.

A Brief Discussion of Konoha's Reforms by the Third Hokage, A Brief Discussion of Konoha's History by the Third Hokage, and On the Importance of the Will of Fire. All signed by Hiruzen Sarutobi.

That shameless bastard, the Third Hokage, had already started brainwashing Konoha's future generation.

The lesson ended with Liuyun nearly asleep.

Each class at the Ninja Academy lasted two hours.

It was about as long as a university lecture in his previous world.

After two classes, the students ate lunch at school.

They had an hour's break before classes resumed.

The school day was much like the one in his previous world: eight hours.

The only difference was that the Ninja Academy taught theory in the morning, then held practical shinobi training in the afternoon, including Taijutsu and Kunai throwing.

The summer sun beat down fiercely, as though it wanted to turn into magma and roast the entire Shinobi World.

Beneath a tree at the Ninja Academy, Liuyun lay on the grass with his head resting on Kushina's lap.

He savored the rare lunch break.

Feeling the springy softness beneath the back of his head and breathing in Kushina's sweet scent, Liuyun sighed inwardly. Lap pillows are the greatest.

Beside him, Kushina's face burned red. She looked ready to steam as she sat frozen like a statue.

Uchiha Mikoto pressed her lips together to hide a smile, mischief glinting in her dark eyes.

She had never seen her good friend like this before.

Meanwhile, her nimble little hands moved over Liuyun, massaging away his fatigue.

The warmth between the three of them made them look like a family in a beautiful painting.

"I'm so jealous of that bastard Liuyun. He actually got Big Sis Kushina to act like that!"

Not far away, Shikaku, one of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, spoke with a sigh.

"That guy only has his looks! Strength is what matters in this world!"

Inoichi Yamanaka sounded annoyed, though envy flickered in his eyes.

"You're right. Liuyun will probably be in trouble again during practical class."

Shikaku glanced thoughtfully toward Uchiha Yuantong, whose spiteful expression suggested he wanted Liuyun dead.

Shikaku shook his head. Despite their both belonging to the Uchiha Clan, Yuantong's behavior disgusted him.

Yuantong bullied the weak, feared the strong, and acted arrogant despite having nothing to back it up. If not for his Uchiha Clan ties,

Shikaku would have taught him a lesson himself.

A shrill whistle broke the quiet of the Ninja Academy.

Everyone headed toward Training Ground Four.

That was where their afternoon sparring sessions took place.

Wearing a Chunin vest, Wang Tenggangyi surveyed the students from his full height.

Satisfaction showed on his stern face.

He got straight to the point.

"Good! Nobody's late! We'll begin this afternoon's sparring!"

"Same rules as always. When I call your names, step forward!"

"First match! Uchiha Liuyun versus Uchiha Yuantong! Everyone else, stand back!"

"Go, Liuyun!" the two girls called.

Kushina and Uchiha Mikoto cheered one after the other.

"Liuyun! I don't fancy your chances, but I still hope you teach Uchiha Yuantong a lesson!"

Shikaku walked over and patted Liuyun on the shoulder.

The other students offered Liuyun encouragement too.

Hardly anyone cheered for Uchiha Yuantong.

That alone showed how unpopular Yuantong was at the Ninja Academy.

"Uchiha Liuyun! I told you I'd give you a beating!"

The two faced each other, Yuantong's face twisted with malice.

"A lion doesn't concern himself with the threats of ants."

Liuyun shook his head without even looking at Yuantong.

"Oh, yeah? Then watch this ant beat the life out of your lion! You're a worthless nobody, yet you dare act tough in front of me!"

Yuantong sneered, his eyes flashing coldly.

Liuyun had rejected his suggestion that morning, and Yuantong had decided to make him pay for it today.

After forming the Seal of Confrontation, Yuantong lunged at Liuyun.

He swung his thin fist at Liuyun's face.

"Uchiha Liuyun! This is what you get for crossing me!"

As his fist closed in on Liuyun's forehead, a smug smile spread across Yuantong's face.

Liuyun shook his head slightly. After three months of hard training, his Taijutsu was already no weaker than Yuantong's.

And after the surge in strength he had gained last night, Yuantong's movements looked to him like a film played in slow motion. They were painfully slow.

Liuyun stepped forward with his left foot and turned slightly, slipping past Yuantong's attack.

Then he lifted his leg and spun. His slender leg blurred as it slammed into Yuantong's stomach.

(Could you spare some flowers, my fellow lechers?)

A Match Against Minato Namikaze!

Thud! A muffled impact rang out.

Yuantong flew back as fast as he had charged in.

The force sent him hurtling three or four meters.

His feet dragged across the ground, carving two long furrows.

Thump!

As the force spent itself, Yuantong collapsed.

Clutching his stomach, he curled up like a shrimp. His eyes rolled back, foam spilled from his mouth, and he lost consciousness.

One move. Yuantong had been utterly defeated!

At the same moment, the system's cold voice sounded in Liuyun's mind.

"Ding! Congratulations, host, on completing option three. Your physique has been doubled!"

A warm current suddenly flowed through Liuyun's limbs and body. He felt his physical strength rising rapidly.

The reward put Liuyun in a good mood. He looked across the silent training ground, then turned a puzzled gaze on Wang Tenggangyi nearby.

It's over. Why hasn't he announced the result?

"Ahem! Teacher! It's over!"

Liuyun reminded him quietly.

"Oh! Uchiha Yuantong has lost consciousness. Uchiha Liuyun wins this match!"

Wang Tenggangyi came to his senses and announced the result loudly.

His voice brought the stunned students back to reality.

"Seriously? Liuyun won? He knocked Uchiha Yuantong out in one move?!"

Inoichi Yamanaka's eyes widened. He still struggled to believe it.

"Uchiha Yuantong is annoying, but he's fairly strong. I couldn't knock him out in one move."

Choza narrowed his eyes, his expression serious.

"There's probably only one person in our class who could do that."

As he spoke, Shikaku looked toward Minato Namikaze nearby.

His eyes shifted, giving no hint of what he was thinking.

While the others reacted with shock and speculation, Uchiha Mikoto and Kushina were overjoyed.

"Congratulations, Liuyun!"

"Who knew you could beat Uchiha Yuantong!"

Kushina punched Liuyun's shoulder, excitement brightening her face.

"I told you. A lion doesn't concern himself with whether an ant lives or dies."

Liuyun trotted out another line from the system's collection of show-off quotes.

"I thought you were bluffing! How was I supposed to know you meant it?"

Kushina pouted, sounding a little aggrieved.

"My fault! My fault!"

As the three talked, medical staff carried Yuantong away. Wang Tenggangyi announced the second match, drawing everyone's attention back.

"Hyuga Hiashi versus Hana Inuzuka!"

"Liuyun, who do you think will win?" Uchiha Mikoto asked.

"Hiashi," Liuyun answered without hesitation.

The Hyuga Clan was now the third great clan after the Senju and Uchiha. Its deep foundations spoke for themselves.

Besides, Hiashi and Hana Inuzuka were hardly on equal footing.

They were still at the Ninja Academy. Many students were not even Genin, and most had enough Chakra for only one or two jutsu.

Most fights came down to Taijutsu. And what was the Hyuga Clan known for? Taijutsu, of course. The answer was obvious.

Just as Liuyun predicted, the fight was not particularly fierce. Hiashi swept Hana aside.

He had already awakened the Byakugan, though. That was something Liuyun had not expected.

Hyuga Hiashi won the second match!

The third match...

As Wang Tenggangyi called out names, students stepped forward one pair after another.

Before anyone knew it, the sun was setting.

The sparring session was nearing its end.