Chapter 31: The Third Hokage’s Invitation

Chapter 31: Chapter 31: The Third Hokage’s Invitation

Although he felt somewhat unsatisfied, Hyuga Kagami also understood that there was no way Shisui would use his Mangekyō Sharingan in an occasion like this. It was the same reason Kagami himself wouldn’t use the Wheel of Will or the Third Kazekage human puppet.

Besides, if Shisui really did use a trump card like Kotoamatsukami or Susanoo, Kagami wouldn’t be able to withstand it anyway.

So he didn’t dwell on it any further and calmly accepted his victory in this match.

After stepping down from the training platform, Guy and Asuma immediately gathered around him.

Guy happily congratulated him.

"Kagami, congratulations!"

Now that he had won this round, Hyuga Kagami’s promotion to Special Jōnin was practically set in stone, so Guy had already begun congratulating him in advance.

Asuma glanced toward Shisui in the distance before muttering quietly to Kagami, "That Shisui really does live up to his reputation. Other than you, I doubt there are more than a few people here who could stop his Body Flicker Technique!"

Guy scratched his head and agreed, "Yeah. I thought about it for ages, but I still couldn’t come up with a way to counter it. His Body Flicker Technique is just too fast, and his swordsmanship is excellent too. I’d probably have to use the Eight Gates to fight him on even terms."

In a certain sense, Hyuga Kagami, who possessed the Tenseigan, really did have something of a natural advantage against the Uchiha’s Sharingan.

First of all, the Tenseigan was immune to the vast majority of ordinary genjutsu. That alone gave Kagami a considerable advantage over many Uchiha who specialized in genjutsu.

Secondly, the Tenseigan’s formidable powers of perception, combined with Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven, made him virtually immune to the Uchiha’s ninja-tool throwing techniques. For the Uchiha, who devoted considerable effort to mastering ninja-tool throwing, this was undoubtedly another major disadvantage.

Finally, Hyuga Kagami’s chakra reserves surpassed those of the vast majority of Uchiha, giving him a considerable advantage when it came to choosing tactics.

Of course, these advantages only applied against ordinary Uchiha.

If he were facing an Uchiha powerhouse who had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, then whether Hyuga Kagami’s Tenseigan could actually withstand the Mangekyō’s dōjutsu was difficult to say.

Seeing Asuma and Guy still racking their brains over how to counter Shisui’s Body Flicker Technique, Hyuga Kagami shook his head with a smile.

"Shisui is the number one genius of this generation of Uchiha. It’s only natural that he’d be this strong. You two don’t need to obsess over it."

Asuma nodded, though his expression remained gloomy.

Guy, on the other hand, burst into hearty laughter. "Hahaha! Now I have one more person to chase after!"

Asuma stared at him speechlessly. "What’s there to be happy about?"

Guy slapped Asuma on the shoulder, flashing his white teeth in a broad grin. "A hot-blooded rivalry between comrades—that’s what true youth is all about! Asuma, you’d better not fall behind!"

Brushing Guy’s hand off his shoulder, Asuma looked at Hyuga Kagami, then glanced toward Shisui in the distance before finally fixing his gaze on Guy.

"Fall behind!? Hmph, don’t underestimate me!"

With that, Asuma turned around and stalked off to the side in a huff.

Guy didn’t pay it much mind. He rubbed his hands together eagerly as he looked around, muttering under his breath, "When’s it going to be my turn? I can barely wait anymore!"

Once Training Ground No. 1 had been cleared, the examination resumed.

Guy and Asuma took the stage one after another and smoothly defeated their respective opponents, each securing one of the precious promotion slots for Special Jōnin.

Match after match went by, and before long, fifteen victors had emerged. With that, the Special Jōnin promotion examination officially came to an end.

In the end, due to his outstanding performance, Uchiha Shisui, despite having lost his match, was granted an additional special slot and successfully promoted to Special Jōnin as well.

None of the Chūnin who had failed to qualify objected to the Third Hokage’s decision. After all, everyone had personally witnessed the fierce battle between Hyuga Kagami and Shisui. They knew that Shisui had unquestionably reached the standard required for promotion to Special Jōnin.

He had simply been unlucky enough to draw Hyuga Kagami, someone even stronger than himself.

After the examination ended, the Third Hokage asked Hyuga Kagami, Guy, Asuma, and Shisui to remain behind.

With his pipe between his lips, the Third carefully looked over the four of them before frankly extending an invitation.

"You are all outstanding shinobi, and you are also the future of Konoha. I hope you will join the ANBU and become pillars that protect the village."

Konoha was currently in desperate need of powerful shinobi from the younger generation, and all four standing before him were promising talents whom the Third Hokage held in high regard.

Faced with the Third Hokage personally recruiting them, Hyuga Kagami, Guy, and Shisui accepted on the spot without the slightest hesitation.

The most unexpected reaction, however, came from Asuma.

Despite being the Third Hokage’s own son, he clearly rejected the offer. Crossing his arms over his chest, he said with an aloof expression,

"I have no interest in becoming one of those shady guys who skulk around in the shadows."

The Third Hokage immediately furrowed his brow. "What nonsense are you talking about?!"

Asuma, who was right in the middle of his rebellious phase, wasn’t afraid of the Third at all. He coldly swept his gaze over Hyuga Kagami, Guy, and Shisui beside him before shouting angrily at the Third,

"I’ll prove to you that I’m no worse than anyone else!"

Before anyone could react, Asuma whipped his head around and strode away.

Asuma was a sensitive person. After several rounds of matches, he had noticed that every opponent he faced just happened to be slightly weaker than him. It had gradually made him realize that there was something fishy about this Special Jōnin selection examination.

His pride wouldn’t allow him to accept the kindness the Third Hokage had secretly arranged for him.

At the same time, he knew perfectly well that, as he was now, he truly wasn’t a match for either Hyuga Kagami or Shisui. Even against Guy, he couldn’t say with certainty that he would win.

So all he could do was storm off in frustration.

After Asuma caused such a scene, the Third Hokage no longer had much interest in saying anything further. He briefly explained the various arrangements concerning their induction into the ANBU to Hyuga Kagami and the other two, then turned and left as well.

Completely exhausted, Hyuga Kagami declined Guy’s suggestion that they go celebrate and returned home alone.

But the moment he stepped through the door, he discovered the one-eyed viper coiled in the corner of the room, flicking its tongue with a soft hiss.

Hyuga Kagami retrieved a note from the one-eyed viper’s mouth and glanced over it. He then burned the note, changed into casual clothes, and headed alone to an izakaya somewhere in the village.

After going up to the second floor and entering a private room, Hyuga Kagami looked at Orochimaru, who was sitting there drinking by himself, and said,

"Lord Orochimaru, why did you sneak into the village? This is extremely dangerous!"

"Dangerous?!" Orochimaru gave a sinister chuckle. "The Fourth and the Nine-Tails’ jinchūriki are both gone, and the old man has his hands full with countless matters. The village is nowhere near as dangerous as it appears."

Just as Orochimaru had said, the current Konoha no longer had many Kage-level powerhouses remaining. Especially after losing the Fourth Hokage, there were very few shinobi left in the village who could truly threaten Orochimaru.

And whether it was the Third Hokage or Jiraiya, even if either of them encountered Orochimaru, nine times out of ten they wouldn’t be able to bring themselves to truly strike him down.

So although Konoha currently appeared to be under extremely tight security, to Orochimaru, who knew the village inside and out, it was by no means some forbidden place he dared not set foot in.

Silently resisting the oppressive aura emanating from Orochimaru, Hyuga Kagami maintained a calm expression and asked,

"Then what instructions do you have for me?"

Orochimaru stared intently at Hyuga Kagami.

"Did your Special Jōnin examination go smoothly?"