A short while later, in a secret chamber in the Hokage Building.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had been sitting calmly, but after hearing the two ANBU members' shaken report, the pipe in his hand abruptly stopped moving.
His entire face turned grave, his eyes filled with disbelief and shock.
"He overwhelmed elite ANBU with taijutsu and instantly countered top-tier stealth assassination..."
"And he can strip others of their aptitude for secret techniques, destroying the foundation of years of training?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi murmured under his breath, his voice trembling.
Beside him, Kakashi shed every trace of his languor. A cold light flickered in his eyes above his mask, his Sharingan turning slightly, his expression utterly solemn.
"Lord Hokage, we can be certain now."
Kakashi's voice was low, every word clear. "Lin Chen's abilities have gone completely beyond the scope of ninjutsu, kekkei genkai, and secret techniques."
"What he possesses is the power to overturn the Shinobi World's entire system of training."
Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent for a long time, his fingers gripping his pipe tightly as countless considerations flashed through his eyes.
Wariness, shock, fear, appreciation for talent... myriad emotions intertwined.
After a moment, he finally spoke slowly, his tone heavy and resolute:
"Stop all probing."
"Activate the Special-Grade Training Plan immediately."
"From this day forward, place Lin Chen on Konoha's highest-priority supervision list!"
Once the orders were given, not a sound remained in the secret chamber.
Kakashi silently lowered his eyes, unable to calm the turmoil within him. This so-called highest-priority supervision appeared to mean exceptional treatment and wholehearted cultivation, but in reality, it would keep Lin Chen firmly within Konoha's sight. Surveillance, control, checks and balances-layer upon layer of shackles lay hidden within it.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was deeply versed in the art of checks and balances. He had never truly trusted any power he could not control.
Elsewhere, in Lin Chen's small courtyard.
The night breeze brushed past the eaves, extinguishing most of the lights. Dappled light and shadow filled the room, quiet and peaceful.
After the ANBU's probing attack, Lin Chen's face showed neither pride nor self-satisfaction, nor any panic at having aroused the high command's wariness. From beginning to end, his state of mind had remained rock-solid, without a ripple.
Having navigated countless struggles across webnovel worlds in his previous life and seen through the illusion of heavenly mandate and destiny, he had long since developed absolute composure and clarity.
Konoha's attempts to recruit and monitor him, the Heavenly Dao's punishments and suppression, the oppressive protagonist halo of Heaven's Chosen Protagonist-to him, none had ever been crises to fear. They were stepping stones he could leverage, break through, and plunder.
He walked slowly back inside and sat upright on the couch, his expression as calm as still water.
"The Third stopped probing and turned to special-grade training not because he values talent, but because he was forced to compromise."
Lin Chen spoke quietly to himself, his thoughts clear, seeing through every calculation of the human heart.
In tonight's battle, the combat strength and bizarre abilities he had displayed had completely shattered Konoha High Command's predictions. Killing him outright would cost too much and risk driving this unanswerable heretic into open rebellion; house arrest would be meaningless, as his stealth abilities had already surpassed Root's highest level, allowing him to come and go freely.
Since they could neither suppress nor contain him, they could only boil the frog slowly, using preferential resources and exceptional training as shackles in an attempt to bind him to Konoha's war chariot.
It was a meticulous calculation. Unfortunately, they had ultimately misjudged his true intentions.
Lin Chen had never intended to pledge allegiance to Konoha or become anyone's blade, much less allow any rules or faction to bind and restrain him.
He walked this Shinobi World solely to defy heaven and change his fate, plunder opportunities across the heavens, tear apart his predetermined destiny, and become a truly free master of his own life.
"You want to keep me penned up?"
A faint, cold curve lifted the corner of Lin Chen's lips. It was neither wild nor vicious, yet it held the defiance and forcefulness in his bones.
"Fine."
"I'll take every resource Konoha offers. I'll freely make use of Konoha's protection."
"But no one gets to bar my path or dictate my choices."
That was Lin Chen's nature.
He assessed circumstances and knew when to advance or retreat, never indulging in mindless bravado or adopting a posture of humble dependence. When patience was needed, he lay low and gathered strength; when strength was needed, he never backed down. Benefits and losses, people's intentions and calculations-he saw them all and kept the whole situation under control.
In his mind, the system notifications refreshed once more.
[Ding! The host's mind is steady, and his mental state has transcended the shackles of destiny!] [Detected the host's traits of absolute composure and calm in adversity. Hidden passive unlocked: a slight increase in Heaven's Chosen exemption!] [The Heavenly Dao corrective will's targeted suppression of you has weakened slightly!] [Current heretic value is stable. No risk of backlash!]
As the system's voice faded, a faint light flickered in Lin Chen's eyes, understanding settling in his heart.
The more restless and obsessive people were, the more they were swept up in worldly fame and gain, the easier it was for the Heavenly Dao to control them and for fate to manipulate them.
But his heart was like a clear mirror, strong because it was free of desire. He did not fight for fleeting fame or cling to momentary glory. He sought only to grow stronger and break through adversity.
This was his most fundamental trump card against destiny.
He slowly closed his eyes and began consolidating what he had gained that night.
He fully integrated max-level stealth, the profound principles of assassination, and the breath-concealment secret technique. Combined with the origin of ocular power and the power of the Heavenly Dao's laws he had plundered earlier, his overall strength had already risen completely above every ninja of the younger generation.
Even against an ordinary Jonin, he could overwhelm them with ease, advancing or retreating at will.
The night passed in silent consolidation, time slipping quietly away.
The next morning, the rising sun broke through the dawn and shone over Konoha.
Classes at the Ninja Academy began as usual, but the atmosphere on campus was entirely different that day.
Rumors of yesterday's earth-shaking duel at the Training Ground, Sasuke's fall from his pedestal, and the strange phenomena that had enveloped the entire field had spread throughout the campus overnight, even reaching Konoha's circles of mid-ranking ninja.
As he walked along, every student stopped and turned to look. Their gazes were complicated, holding awe, shock, and wariness. No one dared show even a trace of contempt or disdain anymore.
The bottom-ranked failure whom anyone could once bully had now become the most terrifying figure in Konoha's younger generation.
Lin Chen walked at an unhurried pace, his expression indifferent, ignoring every gaze around him.
Empty fame and superficial splendor had never merited his attention.
The instant he entered the classroom, he spotted Sasuke Uchiha sitting by the window.
Overnight, Sasuke seemed to have lost all the sharpness and vitality of a genius. His face was pale, his eyes dull, and a thick air of gloom and obsession surrounded him.
His bloodline potential had been stolen, his opportunity to awaken his eyes severed, and the foundation of talent he had honed through years of bitter training destroyed in a single day.
At that moment, he felt no acceptance, only resentment and hatred that ran bone-deep. His pitch-black eyes locked onto Lin Chen as he entered, filled with twisted jealousy and stubborn hatred.
Sensing that venomous stare, Lin Chen's expression did not change, and not a ripple stirred within him.
He never went out of his way to make enemies, but he was never afraid of trouble either.
In his eyes, Sasuke's hatred was nothing more than the final impotent rage of Heaven's Chosen Protagonist.
Today's patient concealment would only become an even richer opportunity for plunder in the future.
The weak wallowed in resentment; the strong controlled the future.
This was the true conviction and confidence that kept Lin Chen undefeated.
Just then, steady footsteps came to a stop at the classroom door.
A solemn-looking ninja wearing a Jonin forehead protector walked slowly inside, his gaze falling directly on Lin Chen as he spoke:
"Lin Chen, Lord Hokage has summoned you. Please come with me to the Hokage Building immediately."
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