Starting Out With Indra's Chakra — Section 13

Having arrived at the Hokage Building, Liu Feng had to ask around before finding the Third Hokage's office, since it was his first time there.

Knock, knock, knock!!!

"Come in." The Third Hokage set down the pipe in his hand and spoke.

Liu Feng pushed open the door and walked in, his gaze falling on the Third Hokage. At this time, the Third Hokage was still quite young, in the prime of his life, carrying an indescribable aura of authority.

"Third Hokage-sama."

"You must be Liu Feng."

A kind-looking smile suddenly appeared on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face as he sized Liu Feng up.

Although he had read Liu Feng's files countless times, this was the first time Hiruzen Sarutobi had formally met him.

"May I ask why the Third Hokage summoned me?"

Liu Feng asked Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"I heard you saved the Uzumaki clan?" Hiruzen Sarutobi scrutinized Liu Feng.

"No, Teacher Yun saved the Uzumaki clan. I merely followed Teacher Yun and helped out a little." Liu Feng wore a smile.

Studying Liu Feng carefully, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not detect any sign that he was lying.

"I heard you defeated Fugaku right after graduating, and now you are applying for the Chunin Exam. It seems Konoha has produced another genius. I am very pleased."

Hiruzen Sarutobi walked over and patted Liu Feng on the shoulder.

Liu Feng's smile remained unchanged, but he secretly sneered. Pleased, my ass. You probably wish the Uchiha family would never produce another genius.

"You flatter me, Third Hokage-sama. I do not consider myself a genius. Compared to Lord Orochimaru, I am far inferior."

At present, Orochimaru was Konoha's publicly recognized genius. As the Third Hokage's disciple, he was widely known among all of Konoha's villagers.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at Liu Feng and suddenly asked, "Liu Feng, what do you think of Konoha?"

Liu Feng's heart tightened upon hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's question. Asking him this so suddenly was clearly a test—perhaps a test of the Uchiha clan.

The Uchiha and Uzumaki clans had grown too close recently. Hiruzen Sarutobi was probably losing sleep over it.

"Where the leaves dance, fire burns on without end. The fire's light illuminates the village and allows new leaves to sprout."

Liu Feng directly recited the Will of Fire. They had started teaching it as soon as he entered the academy, and he could now recite it backward and forward.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded at Liu Feng in satisfaction. At least, he appeared very satisfied on the surface.

"It seems Konoha will gain another inheritor of the Will of Fire. The Will of Fire is a selfless spirit. Every clan must not only consider the interests of its own members, but also put the bigger picture and the village first."

"You are right, Hokage-sama. Collective interests stand above all else. Every person in Konoha is an inheritor of the Will of Fire, are they not?"

Liu Feng expressed wholehearted agreement with Hiruzen Sarutobi's words. Well, at least on the surface. If he showed any disagreement, Hiruzen Sarutobi would probably start keeping a close eye on him.

"Liu Feng, I would like to invite you to join the Anbu. Would you be willing?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed extremely satisfied with Liu Feng, so he extended the invitation.

Liu Feng was somewhat stunned when he heard Hiruzen Sarutobi invite him into the Anbu. Why had he suddenly been invited to join the Anbu?

The Anbu consisted of the finest selected ninja. Their main duties were protecting the Hokage and preventing enemy incursions into Konoha Ninja Village. When necessary, they also carried out reconnaissance, assassinations, and other missions.

This was the Hokage's core force under his direct command.

Joining the Anbu represented gaining the Third Hokage's trust, yet not a single Uchiha family ninja had joined the Anbu so far.

Uchiha Itachi should have been the first Uchiha Clan Member to join the Anbu, but he had not even been born yet. Whether he would ever have the chance to be born was still uncertain.

Was the Third Hokage truly inviting him into the Anbu because he trusted him?

Liu Feng glanced up at the Third Hokage. Impossible. He probably wanted to place him in the Anbu to monitor him.

"My apologies, Hokage-sama, but I do not wish to join the Anbu."

Liu Feng decisively refused.

He had never considered joining the Anbu. There was little benefit in it for him.

The Anbu was indeed a place to gain experience, but Liu Feng did not need that. If he wanted to improve his combat experience, fighting in the System's Trial Space would be much better.

Even if he died in the Trial Space, he could be revived.

If he joined the Anbu, then honestly, it would be all too easy for the Third Hokage to get him killed.

After being refused by Liu Feng, the Third Hokage's expression did not change much. He gave Liu Feng a deep look.

In truth, he had already prepared himself for Liu Feng's refusal.

"If you do not wish to join, then forget it. The Anbu will welcome you at any time." Hiruzen Sarutobi wore a gentle smile.

"Take this and go to Training Ground No. 37 for your assessment. I look forward to seeing you become a Chunin."

Hiruzen Sarutobi handed Liu Feng an approval form for the Chunin assessment. After taking it, Liu Feng bade him farewell.

After leaving the Hokage Building, Liu Feng felt as though someone was watching him. He frowned slightly but ignored it, heading toward Training Ground No. 37 in Konoha.

"Is Hiruzen Sarutobi watching me? Since I refused to join the Anbu this time, he will probably pay even closer attention to me."

If Liu Feng had chosen to join the Anbu, he might have gained some of Hiruzen Sarutobi's trust. But there was no way he would join the Anbu.

The Anbu demanded absolute obedience to orders. It did not suit someone like him, someone who valued independence and freedom.

"I need to obtain the Mangekyō Sharingan soon."

Only after obtaining the Mangekyō Sharingan would Liu Feng truly have some confidence. The System Panel currently rated him as a Jonin overall.

In reality, Liu Feng was no weaker than an Elite Jonin in any aspect. At most, he lacked some combat experience.

If he obtained the Mangekyō Sharingan, Liu Feng would be able to contend with Kage-level opponents. By then, aside from Uchiha Madara, who knew which corner he was hiding in, Liu Feng would have confidence against anyone.

Those scattered thoughts vanished in an instant as Liu Feng arrived at Training Ground No. 37.

This was where the current assessments were held. The Chunin assessment took place here. To Become a Chunin, one had to last ten minutes against a genuine Chunin.

This was the current method for becoming a Chunin. In the future, they would likely hold Chunin Exams, with participants advancing through the exams instead.

"You are taking the Chunin assessment not long after graduating? Are you from the Uchiha family?"

The examiner in charge of the Chunin assessment glanced at Liu Feng. Although Liu Feng was young, the examiner did not underestimate him.

Just because he was from the Uchiha family, he could not be underestimated.

"This is your opponent, Chunin Kishida. As long as you can last ten minutes against him, you will pass."

The examiner pointed at the Chunin who had just arrived and spoke to Liu Feng.

Liu Feng nodded. Facing a Chunin, he would not underestimate his opponent, but neither would he take him too seriously.

"Let the battle begin." Kishida spoke expressionlessly.

Seeing that Kishida had no intention of making the first move, Liu Feng raised an eyebrow. He was probably giving Liu Feng the initiative, but Liu Feng would not stand on ceremony.

"Fire Style: Fireball Technique!"

He completed the hand seals in an instant, and a ten-meter-wide fireball came crashing toward Kishida.

Kishida, who had been expressionless, had the corner of his mouth twitch. This was the Fireball Technique? It was absurdly huge.

Even the examiner was shocked upon seeing that Fireball Technique.

It was a C-Rank jutsu, but in Liu Feng's hands, its power was absolutely no weaker than a B-Rank jutsu—perhaps even slightly stronger.

"Substitution Technique."

Kishida was also a battle-hardened Chunin, so his reaction was quite fast. He instantly used the Substitution Technique to evade the jutsu attack.

"You have already lost."

Liu Feng stood behind Kishida, his sharp Tachi pressed against Kishida's back. If Liu Feng thrust forward, he could take Kishida's life in an instant.

"When did you appear behind me?"

Kishida asked Liu Feng in shock.

Liu Feng did not answer Kishida's question, but the examiner beside them knew. Liu Feng had just used Lightning Flash Body, relying on explosive speed to appear behind Kishida before he could react.

Lightning Flash Body could be considered a technique Liu Feng had developed himself, based on some of the principles behind Lightning Style: Chidori.

"Congratulations, Uchiha Liu Feng. From today onward, you are a Chunin of Konoha." The examiner announced.

The assessment required him to last ten minutes against a Chunin. Defeating a Chunin naturally counted as a perfect pass.

Ding, C-Rank Mission: Become a Chunin completed. Reward: 1,000 points, Earth Release Chakra!

Hearing the System's reward notification, Liu Feng smiled. He was getting closer and closer to exchanging for the Mangekyō Sharingan.

If any of the projected characters he had drawn could be defeated, he would instantly gain enough points to exchange for the Mangekyō Sharingan. Unfortunately, his luck was "too good"—the projected characters he drew were all far too powerful.

After becoming a Chunin, Liu Feng left the place.

After he left, that faint sensation of being watched disappeared.

Someone had been watching Liu Feng even during the Chunin assessment. With his powerful perception, Liu Feng had been able to sense it.

He could even guess who it was. It had to be Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.

In fact, Liu Feng's guess was correct. It really was Hiruzen Sarutobi watching him, using the Telescopic Jutsu to observe Liu Feng's every move through the Crystal Ball.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had personally watched Liu Feng's Chunin assessment just now.

"His strength is formidable. Orochimaru might not even have possessed such strength at his age. I wonder whether he has awakened the Sharingan."

Hiruzen Sarutobi closed his eyes and muttered to himself.

This observation had not revealed all of Uchiha Liu Feng's strength. Based on what he had displayed, he was at least an Elite Chunin.

Hiruzen Sarutobi knew that Liu Feng was definitely stronger than an Elite Chunin. He guessed that Liu Feng possessed the strength of a Special Jonin.

As for being even stronger? Hiruzen Sarutobi felt that was impossible. If a ten-year-old possessed Jonin-level strength, that would be far too monstrous.