A Clash with Hiruzen

Ye Liang dusted the windblown grit from his clothes.

Modern knowledge told him that at a time like this, he had to put on an act—and commit to it completely. Otherwise, the other side would definitely look down on him, and then it would be game over.

"You're Konoha's Hokage, right? I'm a ninja from Otogakure. I came here while traveling and accidentally ran into your disciple. Please don't take offense!" Ye Liang extended his hand toward the Third Hokage.

No matter what world one was in, a handshake was always part of proper etiquette.

Hiruzen Sarutobi hesitated for a moment, but he still extended his hand.

Just as their palms touched, a powerful force suddenly surged from the Third Hokage's hand. Ye Liang then saw the Third Hokage staring at him with a gloomy expression!

This guy wants to test my strength!

Ye Liang immediately guessed what he was thinking.

He exerted force at once.

Although his Chakra had been depleted during his chase with Orochimaru, his physical strength remained intact. Ye Liang could only gamble on the power bestowed by the system!

Creak!

Ye Liang's sleeve suddenly tore apart.

With his strength amplified, Ye Liang's arm swelled like an inflated ball. Naturally, clothes from his previous life could not withstand it.

In an instant, Ye Liang's sleeve burst apart.

Good heavens, this wandering ninja actually has the strength of a jonin. No wonder he could hold Orochimaru off for so long. But how had no one ever heard of such a powerful young man before? Otogakure?

Hiruzen Sarutobi was deeply puzzled. Yet no matter how he guessed, he could never have figured out where Otogakure was, because that village would only be created by Orochimaru later—and right now, no one even knew whether Orochimaru would survive.

"Lord Hokage, isn't it a little excessive to treat a traveling guest like this?"

Ye Liang looked at the Third Hokage with unyielding resolve.

His palm hurt terribly—worse than a fracture. Ye Liang even felt as though his bones were about to crack!

So this is the Third Hokage's strength!

Ye Liang understood the gap between them, but he refused to give in.

Damn it, whoever backs down first is a puppy!

With an angry roar in his heart, Ye Liang was determined to fight the Third Hokage to the bitter end.

"Then let go first!" The Third Hokage was in quite an awkward position himself. He had just gone through a major battle, and his physical strength had been severely depleted.

Now, being suddenly forced to compete in strength with a vigorous young man like Ye Liang made him feel his age. As Ye Liang knew, the Third Hokage was already over fifty in this era.

But the Third Hokage had his pride too!

You old bastard! You're already so old, yet you're still this strong? Are you some kind of rhinoceros?!

Ye Liang's face was flushed red, and the Third Hokage was no better. The two glared at each other furiously, like two upside-down monkey butts.

"Um, Lord Hokage! How about we end this here? You've been shaking hands for quite a while now."

The ninja beside them could no longer stand watching.

The two men locked in their contest looked ready to die from congestion. Even the blindest onlookers could see what was happening.

"Who exactly is this young man? He can actually contend with Lord Hokage!"

"No idea! I heard him mention Otogakure just now. He should be a ninja from there, but I've never heard of it!"

"It must be some powerful hidden village! I heard that during the First Hokage's era, some powerful villages that cherished peace hid themselves away in remote mountains and ancient forests because they despised war. It must be something like that."

"No wonder he can clash with Lord Hokage! Exactly!"

"A hidden village, a powerful Kekkei Genkai, and a mysterious super expert! I didn't even know such a village existed. What a disgrace to Konoha!"

The crowd sighed with regret, and the Third Hokage quickly flung away the hand he had been gripping so tightly.

Now that someone had offered him a way out, it was the perfect chance to let go.

"Kid, you're quite strong. But Orochimaru's matter still hasn't been settled, so stay in Konoha for now. Enjoy yourself for a few days. I think highly of you, haha." The Third Hokage laughed a few times, then hurriedly led his subordinates away as though fleeing.

"Coward."

Ye Liang shook his head, looking down on the old man's behavior.

Still, the old man had told him to stay in Konoha for a few days, and that gave him a headache.

As a young man who had crossed over bodily from modern society, Ye Liang had no money on him at all. And even if he did, his money would be useless here.

So where was he supposed to stay?

Ye Liang silently turned his head behind him.

Mitarashi Anko, sensing that something was wrong, had already prepared to run.

Even Lord Hokage could do nothing to this expert. How was she supposed to report him? Was she supposed to deliver herself right to him?!

"Miss Anko? As far as I know, you're living alone right now, aren't you?"

What is this guy trying to do!

How does he know I live alone?

Could it be...!

Of course, he's been coveting my body for a long time! No wonder he was always getting handsy with me earlier!

"Lord Hokage! Save me!"

Much later, at dusk.

Ye Liang arrived at a secluded residence.

It was shabby, located in Konoha's slums, but Ye Liang immediately guessed that it was Mitarashi Anko's home.

Anko's parents had died when she was young. Konoha had been exceptionally dark back then, with bloody wars everywhere, so as an orphan, Anko could only live alone in the slums.

In that respect, she was just like Naruto.

At this point, Ye Liang also guessed the exact time period.

The Third Hokage was still in power, and Orochimaru had already begun researching Forbidden Jutsu. In other words, this was still the wartime era when Hanzō the Salamander ruled.

Before long, though, the Fourth Hokage would emerge, followed by the Nine-Tails attacking the village, officially ushering in Shippuden.

I can't believe I crossed over to the early days of Shippuden. That's a good thing. Otherwise, with my current abilities, I couldn't possibly handle those godlike freaks!

Ye Liang secretly rejoiced for a while.

When Akatsuki appeared in the later period and Kaguya's army attacked the village, that would be when the truly powerful descended. This transitional period gave Ye Liang just enough time to develop.

It was just that the goddess Hinata probably had not even been born yet. That was a bit troublesome.

Hinata should be born within the next two years.

Do I have to wait twenty years for her?

Ye Liang was still an eighteen-year-old young man. Even if he waited twenty years, he would only be thirty-eight.

Ye Liang felt that he could wait!

Besides, with those immortality techniques Orochimaru was researching, Ye Liang could use them to strengthen himself. Then he would neither age nor die, and he would have all the time in the world.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Perfect."

Ye Liang smacked his lips and walked naturally into Anko's private room.

"Hey, you bastard, what are you trying to do? Aren't you ashamed? This is my home!"

"So what if it's your home? I saved your life earlier. What's wrong with sleeping here for a while?"

"Ah! Why are you touching my wallet?!"

"I'm going out to get some ramen! Got a problem with that?!"

"My poor wallet..."