Chapter 20

When Liu Feng arrived at the Hokage Building, he 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 his pipe 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, and carried an indescribable air of authority.

"Third Hokage."

"You must be Liu Feng."

A kind, amiable 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 Hiruzen Sarutobi's first formal meeting with him.

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

Liu Feng asked Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"I heard you were the one who saved the Uzumaki clan?" Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Liu Feng with scrutiny in his eyes.

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

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

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

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

Liu Feng kept smiling, though inwardly he sneered. Pleased, my ass. You probably wish the Uchiha family would never produce another genius.

"You praise me too highly, Third Hokage. I do not consider myself a genius. Compared to Lord Orochimaru, I am far inferior."

At present, Orochimaru was Konoha's publicly acknowledged 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 something like that so suddenly was clearly a test—more precisely, a test of the Uchiha clan.

The Uchiha clan had grown too close to the Uzumaki clan lately. Hiruzen Sarutobi was probably losing sleep over it.

"Wherever the leaves dance, fire burns on without end. The fire's light will illuminate the village and make the newly sprouted leaves grow."

Liu Feng directly recited the Will of Fire. They had begun teaching it as soon as students entered the Academy, so he could recite it backward by now.

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

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

"You are right, Hokage. The collective interest stands above all else. Every person in Konoha is an inheritor of the Will of Fire, are they not?"

Liu Feng voiced strong agreement with Hiruzen Sarutobi. 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 highly 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 was he suddenly being invited to join them?

The Anbu selected only the finest ninja. Their primary duties were protecting the Hokage and preventing foreign enemies from infiltrating Konoha Ninja Village. When necessary, they also carried out missions such as reconnaissance and assassination.

They were the Hokage's core force under his direct command.

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Chapter 20

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

Uchiha Itachi was supposed to be the first Uchiha clansman to join the Anbu, but Uchiha Itachi had not even been born yet. Whether he would have a chance to be born in the future was still unknown.

Now that the Third Hokage had invited him into the Anbu, did he truly trust him?

Liu Feng raised his head and glanced at the Third Hokage. Impossible. He was probably planning to place Liu Feng in the Anbu so he could monitor him.

"I apologize, Hokage, but I do not wish to join the Anbu."

Liu Feng refused decisively.

He had never considered joining the Anbu. There was not much benefit in it for him, either.

The Anbu was indeed a place to hone one's experience, but Liu Feng did not need that. If he truly wanted to improve his combat experience, fighting in the Trial Space was far better.

Even if he died in the Trial Space, he could revive.

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

The Third Hokage's expression did not change much after Liu Feng rejected him. He gave Liu Feng a deep look.

In truth, he had already prepared himself for Liu Feng to refuse.

"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 37 for your assessment. I look forward to seeing you become a Chunin."

Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Liu Feng an approval form for the Chunin Exam. After Liu Feng accepted it, he took his leave.

After leaving the Hokage Building, Liu Feng felt as though someone was watching him. He frowned slightly but ignored it, heading toward Training Ground 37 in Konoha.

"Is Hiruzen Sarutobi monitoring me? Since I refused to join the Anbu this time, he will probably pay even more 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 them.

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

"I need to obtain the Mangekyō Sharingan as soon as possible."

Only after obtaining the Mangekyō Sharingan would Liu Feng truly have some confidence. At present, the System Panel's overall evaluation of him was Jonin.

In reality, Liu Feng was no weaker than an Elite Jonin in any aspect, aside from perhaps lacking 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 was hiding in some unknown corner, Liu Feng would have the confidence to face anyone.