Zhou Cheng naturally noticed Guy's somewhat aggrieved expression and gave him an apologetic smile. It wasn't that Guy wasn't outstanding; he simply wasn't the right teacher for Zhou Cheng.
"Guy-sensei, I know you're strong, but I want to become a great shinobi. I can't train in taijutsu alone."
"I need to develop in every area, and you're not the right person to teach me!"
Although Guy was displeased, he quickly pulled himself together, flashed Zhou Cheng a toothy grin, and gave him a thumbs-up.
"I understand everything you're saying. It's just a shame about your talent for taijutsu!"
It really, really was a shame that he couldn't take a child like this as his student!
If Zhou Cheng could focus on taijutsu, then once he made a name for himself, he would surely get everyone to start taking taijutsu seriously.
Kakashi studied Zhou Cheng for so long that even Guy and Asuma began to grow impatient.
Talent like this really was a little frightening.
Was he really not a spy?
If he turned down the Third Hokage's offer because he feared exposing himself, why was he approaching me now?
"You've already applied for early graduation, haven't you?"
"Then, as long as you graduate successfully, I'll agree to take you as my student."
I'll take him in first and observe him gradually. If he really is just a pitiful war orphan, I'll teach him properly!
"My house is at..."
Kakashi gave Zhou Cheng his home address and told him to come find him after graduating, then left with Guy and Asuma.
Zhou Cheng cheerfully said goodbye to them, delighted beyond words.
Now that I've become Kakashi's student, those two old foxes, the Third Hokage and Danzo, should stop thinking about taking me in, right?
Haku walked up beside Zhou Cheng, looking curious.
"Cheng Zhou, why do you want him as your teacher?"
"Without his Sharingan, he wouldn't be nearly as famous as he is now."
With Cheng Zhou's talent, he would become a jonin sooner or later. By then, he would surely be stronger than everyone else!
Zhou Cheng affectionately patted Haku's head, his expression turning meaningful.
"You wouldn't understand even if I told you now. You'll understand someday!"
I'd rather die than join those two old foxes' faction. They really would sell me out!
Afterward, Zhou Cheng horsed around with the Konoha 12 for a while before they all went home.
Since Zhou Cheng and Neji's match had attracted so much attention, the Ninja Academy had no choice but to suspend classes for the day.
The Hyuga Clan's Main Family residence.
Hyuga Hiashi brought Neji Hyuga back here.
Neither of them had said a word on the way.
It was clear that both were in low spirits.
Neji had lost, and to a commoner without a kekkei genkai at that.
This had dealt a blow to the Hyuga Clan's reputation.
It had given many people the mistaken impression that the Hyuga Clan was nothing special, nowhere near as powerful as the rumors claimed.
The two entered the Hyuga Clan's reception room and took their respective seats according to rank. Hiashi finally spoke, though his face remained tense and stern.
"Neji, don't dwell on it too much!"
"No one can guarantee they'll keep winning forever!"
"With your Byakugan activated, you're definitely stronger than Zhou Cheng in taijutsu!"
"You lost because of your grasp of the overall situation and your calculations!"
He had high hopes for Neji and wanted him to recognize his shortcomings and correct them.
Neji Hyuga remained silent. Although he and Zhou Cheng had exchanged the seal of reconciliation, he still felt deeply uncomfortable!
Nobody wanted to lose, especially after being hailed as a genius. That made defeat even harder to accept.
"One day, I'll defeat him!"
Neji raised his head, his eyes filled with fighting spirit.
He would turn every bit of frustration in his heart into motivation.
Zhou Cheng, I hope you'll be a worthy opponent!
The Hokage Office, inside the Hokage Building.
Hiruzen Sarutobi covered the crystal ball with a cloth.
He had watched the entire match, and his fondness for Zhou Cheng had only grown.
When he saw Zhou Cheng hold his own against Neji in their taijutsu exchange,
Hiruzen Sarutobi had been so delighted that he nearly jumped out of his chair.
Guy was right. With such talent for taijutsu, the boy really was an excellent prospect for specializing in it.
But Zhou Cheng wasn't talented in taijutsu alone. His talent for ninjutsu was monstrous as well.
He had performed an A-rank ninjutsu before even graduating.
A-rank ninjutsu demanded extremely precise chakra control.
He was only in his early teens! If he grew up without setbacks, just how powerful would he be as an adult?
Hiruzen Sarutobi lit his dry pipe and took a puff.
Should I approve his graduation application?
His strength and shinobi knowledge are already more than sufficient. I just never expected him to choose Kakashi as his teacher.
That was something Hiruzen Sarutobi still couldn't understand.
As a Kage-level powerhouse, was he really inferior to an elite jonin?
Just then, the door to the Hokage Office was pushed open.
Tuan Zhan walked in, his whole body wrapped in bandages.
Two Konoha Advisors, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, followed behind him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't the least bit surprised by their arrival.
He also knew why they had come. They, too, were here because of Zhou Cheng.
Danzo sat down opposite Hiruzen Sarutobi, barely able to contain his eagerness.
"Hiruzen, approve Zhou Cheng's request, then send him to my Root for a few years of training. In a few years, he'll certainly become Konoha's sharpest blade!"
No, my sharpest blade!
The two Advisors exchanged a glance, then spoke up to stake their claim.
"No, he should be assigned to our advisory department."
"With this child's talent, he's destined to be extraordinary!"
"We can groom him as a future candidate for Hokage!"
"It's essential that he spend some time in the advisory department learning how to manage the entire village and handle relations with other villages."
As long as they successfully brainwashed Zhou Cheng into being loyal only to the two of them, their positions would become even more secure once he became a candidate for Hokage.
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't answer and instead continued smoking his dry pipe. You three old fossils, don't think I don't know what you're scheming.
"None of us has a chance. He chose Kakashi-sensei!"
He wanted to redirect their attention toward Kakashi.
Let them go make trouble for Kakashi.
Then Hiruzen Sarutobi could sit back and reap the benefits of their conflict.
"What? What right does Kakashi have to compete with us for a student?!"
"Does he still think the Hatake Clan is the great clan it was when Sakumo was alive?"
Naturally, Danzo and the two Advisors didn't believe Zhou Cheng had approached Kakashi himself. They all assumed Kakashi had sought Zhou Cheng out.
"Wait, could he be planning to use Zhou Cheng to revive the Hatake Clan?"
"No, we can't let that happen!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was taken aback by the two Advisors' twisted reasoning and hurriedly took a puff from his dry pipe to hide his awkwardness.
He had originally only wanted to turn their attention toward Kakashi.
He hadn't expected them to invent the rest themselves. This saved him quite a bit of effort figuring out how to set them against Kakashi.
"I'm troubled by this myself!"
"I'm still trying to figure out how to make Zhou Cheng change his mind!"