Watching in Secret

After a long while, the two finally released each other, Koki's face was filled with undisguised joy. "Shisui, guess who I just saw?"

"I have to tell you, I'm amazing! I took down three Jonin in one go!" he said proudly, as if declaring his power to the world.

"Hmph, who told them to dare laugh at me? They deserved to get beaten up!" Koki pouted, a hint of stubbornness in her eyes, making her look incredibly cute.

Shisui couldn't help but laugh out loud and gently pinched his cheek.

"I just met Kakashi's teacher, Minato Namikaze! He's so cool!" Koki exclaimed excitedly. "By the way, have you seen him before?"

"Look, do I look good with my Forehead Protector on?" Koki excitedly showed off her Forehead Protector, eagerly awaiting Shisui's praise.

"Very beautiful."

"Huh? You got it too? I thought it was only for me!"

"Hmph, you actually got the Forehead Protector before me, that's really infuriating! I can't let you get ahead next time." Koki said, feigning anger, but the smile in her eyes betrayed her inner joy.

"Oh, right..."

Koki chattered away like a happy little bird. As time passed, Koki suddenly realized that Shisui hadn't made a sound for a long time, and he turned his head curiously.

From the Koki appeared, Shisui's emotions were completely captivated by her; his gaze remained fixed on Koki, as if he had forgotten everything around him.

Only when the Koki upon him did a faint smile appear on Shisui's face, the soft light scattering into his eyes, shattering into a gentle starlight.

"Don't worry, I will definitely protect you." Shisui's words sounded like a solemn vow.

"Hmph, I don't need your protection! I'm very powerful!"

"Alright, alright, then what would this very capable gentleman like to eat tonight?"

"Hmm... let me think. I want to eat cola chicken wings, scallion chicken, grilled fish... oh yeah! And ramen."

"No problem! I'll go home and make it for you right away."

"Ahhh, Shisui, I love you the most!" Koki cheered, her eyes sparkling with happiness.

At this very moment, Koki was enjoying a pleasant time with Shisui, completely unaware that his every move during the assessment had been observed by the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.

In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat quietly at his desk, slowly inhaling a cigarette. The rising smoke seemed to mirror his complex and swirling thoughts, drifting leisurely in the air.

In every corner of Konoha, almost everyone who had ever seen Koki felt a deep affection for this boy.

He was like a dazzling star, attracting the attention of everyone around him.

This child, no matter how you look at him, seems to have no flaws; he's practically the embodiment of perfection. This was the conclusion Hiruzen Sarutobi reached after making many inquiries.

After witnessing Koki's outstanding performance today, even Hiruzen Sarutobi had to admit that although the child was somewhat "naughty," he was meticulous, exceptionally strong, and kind-hearted.

During the assessment, Koki faced various challenges, but he always remained calm and composed. Whether it was a sudden attack or a complex and ever-changing situation, he was able to quickly analyze the situation and make wise judgments and decisive decisions.

His strength was truly astonishing; in the battle, he easily defeated three Special Jōnin, demonstrating a power beyond his years.

If he were from another family, Hiruzen Sarutobi would have recruited him without hesitation. He firmly believed that such a child would become a future star of Konoha and make immeasurable contributions to the village's prosperity and stability.

However, fate played a cruel joke on them.

Koki is not from any other clan, but a member of the Uchiha Clan —the clan that caused Hiruzen Sarutobi the most headaches!

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared intently at the transparent crystal ball on the table. The image displayed inside the crystal ball was the scene of Minato handing the Forehead Protector to Koki.

Upon seeing this, a surge of anger instantly welled up on his face. He swung his arm violently, slamming the crystal ball shut with a dull thud.

"What exactly happened with Minato?" Hiruzen Sarutobi wondered to himself.

He had clearly instructed Minato Namikaze to carefully examine Koki's true strength.

That's right, just as Koki guessed, Minato Namikaze was indeed sent by Hiruzen Sarutobi to observe him.

When Hiruzen Sarutobi witnessed Koki easily defeat three Special Jōnin, his heart was not stirred much.

Because he had long anticipated that these Jonin would be unable to probe Koki's true strength, and the facts proved this to be true.

This incident once again made Hiruzen Sarutobi realize that one should never underestimate any member of the Uchiha Clan, even if they seem like just an insignificant "kid".

Hiruzen Sarutobi gently shook his head. The power and mystery of the Uchiha Clan were astonishing. Their power was like a flame hidden in the darkness, ready to ignite at any moment and unleash a terrifying light.

As a teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi trained the "Konoha Sannin," who became famous and renowned throughout the world during the Second Shinobi World War.

Logically, he should have chosen a suitable successor from among these three outstanding students, but reality left him feeling quite helpless.

Tsunade resolutely embarked on a journey of travel, indulging in drinking and gambling all day long, and becoming oblivious to the affairs of the world.

Jiraiya chose to stay in the Land of Rain, devoting himself to caring for the three children and declaring that he would continue to fulfill his mission.

As for Orochimaru, this disciple with extremely high talent and who was deeply loved by Hiruzen Sarutobi, he went down a path that deviated from the right track. He became obsessed with science and life research and was unable to extricate himself from the abyss of darkness.

With no suitable disciples to choose from and unable to relinquish the "Hokage" position, Hiruzen Sarutobi was constantly anxious.

Just when he was in trouble, Jiraiya recommended a disciple to him— Minato Namikaze.

The reason why Konoha is so powerful is because of the gathering and support of many families, each with its own characteristics and extraordinary strength.

Among them, the most eye-catching is the mysterious Uchiha Clan, who possess powerful Dōjutsu and are renowned for their Sharingan. Hiruzen Sarutobi's clan also contributes to the prosperity and stability of the village. Then there is the powerful Hyuga Clan, whose Byakugan can see through everything. In addition, the Ino-Shika-Cho clans work closely together to protect the peace of the village.

However, the relationships between the various families are complex and delicate, with each family checking and balancing the others.

To maintain this delicate balance, Hiruzen Sarutobi knew he had to choose someone who loved peace and was not influenced by his own clan to serve as "Hokage".

Minato Namikaze, a child with an unfortunate background and no family connections, was naturally not subject to the constraints of family power.

After several encounters with Minato, Hiruzen Sarutobi grew to appreciate his gentle nature and meticulous way of thinking more and more.

A person like Minato is truly an ideal candidate to govern the village.

He seemed to see a glimmer of hope in the darkness, and felt that Minato was worth "cultivating".

Therefore, he entrusted this task to Minato without hesitation and symbolically granted him the right to directly bestow the Forehead Protector upon Koki.

Unexpectedly, Minato treated the matter as a joke, and only asked Koki a couple of perfunctory questions before easily letting him pass the test and graduate smoothly!