The Third Hokage's Invitation

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Although Naoki felt somewhat unsatisfied, he understood that Shisui would never use the Mangekyo Sharingan in a setting like this. It was the same as Naoki not using Revolving Will or the Third Kazekage human puppet.

Besides, if Shisui truly used major techniques like Kotoamatsukami or Susanoo, Naoki would not be able to withstand them. So he did not dwell on it and accepted the victory with complete calm.

After he stepped down from the training platform, Guy and Asuma immediately surrounded him.

Guy happily congratulated him. "Naoki, congratulations!"

After winning this round, Naoki's promotion to special jonin was almost certain, so Guy congratulated him in advance.

Asuma glanced at Shisui in the distance and muttered quietly to Naoki, "That Shisui really deserves his reputation. Aside from you, there probably aren't many people here who could block his Body Flicker Technique."

Guy scratched his head and agreed. "Yeah. I thought about it for a long time, and I still can't figure out how to counter it. His Body Flicker Technique is too fast, and his swordsmanship is polished too. I would probably need to use the Eight Gates to fight him."

To a certain extent, Naoki's Tenseigan did restrain the Sharingan of the Uchiha.

First, the Tenseigan could resist the vast majority of ordinary genjutsu. That alone could suppress many Uchiha who were skilled in genjutsu.

Second, the Tenseigan's powerful insight, combined with Rotation, made Naoki almost immune to all Uchiha ninja-tool throwing. For the Uchiha, who refined ninja-tool throwing deeply, that was undoubtedly another major form of suppression.

Finally, Naoki's chakra volume surpassed that of most Uchiha, which gave him a significant advantage in tactical choice.

Of course, this suppression applied only to ordinary Uchiha.

If he faced a powerful Uchiha who had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, it was hard to say whether Naoki's Tenseigan could withstand Mangekyo ocular techniques.

Seeing Asuma and Guy still deep in thought, trying to figure out how to counter Shisui's Body Flicker Technique, Naoki shook his head and smiled. "Shisui is the top genius of this Uchiha generation. It is only natural for him to have that kind of strength. Do not get too tangled up over it."

Asuma nodded, but his expression remained gloomy.

Guy laughed brightly. "Haha! I have one more target to chase!"

Asuma looked speechless. "What is there to be happy about?"

Guy slapped Asuma's shoulder and flashed his white teeth. "Hot-blooded competition between comrades is true youth! Asuma, do not fall behind!"

Asuma knocked Guy's hand away from his shoulder. He looked at Naoki, then glanced toward Shisui in the distance, and finally fixed his eyes on Guy. "Fall behind? Hmph. Do not underestimate me."

With that, Asuma turned and stormed to one side.

Guy did not take it to heart. He rubbed his fists together and looked around, muttering, "When is it my turn? I can barely wait!"

After Training Ground One was cleared, the assessment continued.

Guy and Asuma went up one after another and smoothly defeated their opponents, each taking one precious slot for promotion to special jonin.

After match after match, fifteen winners were soon decided. With the emergence of those winners, the special jonin promotion assessment officially came to an end.

In the end, because of his outstanding performance, Shisui Uchiha, despite losing, was given an additional special slot and successfully promoted to special jonin as well.

The chunin who had failed the selection had no objections to the Third Hokage's decision. After all, everyone had personally witnessed the intense clash between Naoki and Shisui. They knew Shisui had indeed reached the standard for promotion. He had simply been unlucky enough to draw Naoki, who was stronger than him.

After the assessment ended, the Third Hokage asked Naoki, Guy, Asuma, and Shisui to stay behind.

With his pipe in his mouth, the Third Hokage carefully examined the four of them. Then he issued a sincere invitation. "All of you are excellent shinobi, and you are Konoha's future. I hope you will join ANBU and become pillars who protect the village."

The current Konoha urgently needed strong members of the new generation, and all four people before him were seedlings the Third Hokage viewed favorably.

Facing a personal recruitment from the Third Hokage, Naoki, Guy, and Shisui did not hesitate at all. They agreed on the spot.

Unexpectedly, Asuma, the Third Hokage's own son, clearly objected. Crossing his arms, he said with a defiant look, "I have no interest in becoming one of those sneaky figures hiding in the dark."

The Third Hokage's brows tightened. "What nonsense are you saying?"

Asuma, in his rebellious period, was not afraid of the Third. He swept a cold look over Naoki, Guy, and Shisui beside him, then shouted angrily at his father, "I will prove to you that I am not worse than anyone else!"

Before anyone could react, Asuma snapped his head away and left directly.

Asuma was sensitive. Across the previous rounds, every opponent he faced had happened to be a little weaker than him. That had made him faintly sense the manipulation behind this special jonin selection.

His pride would not allow him to accept such kindness arranged in advance by the Third Hokage.

At the same time, he knew that the current him was indeed not a match for Naoki or Shisui. He did not even have absolute confidence against Guy. So his only choice was to leave in anger.

After Asuma caused that scene, the Third Hokage no longer had the mood to say much. He briefly explained the matters related to joining ANBU to Naoki, Guy, and Shisui, then turned and left as well.

Exhausted, Naoki refused Guy's suggestion that they celebrate and returned home alone.

But the moment he entered his house, he found the one-eyed viper coiled in the corner of the room, hissing and flicking its tongue.

Naoki took the note from the one-eyed viper's mouth, glanced at it, then burned it. After changing into casual clothes, he went alone to an izakaya in the village.

He went up to the second floor and entered a private room. There, he said to Orochimaru, who was drinking alone, "Lord Orochimaru, why have you infiltrated the village? This is dangerous."

"Dangerous?" Orochimaru smiled darkly. "The Fourth and the Nine-Tails jinchuriki are both gone. The old man is tied up with too many matters. The village is far less dangerous than it looks."

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

As for the Third Hokage and Jiraiya, even if they encountered Orochimaru, there was a high chance they would not have the heart to kill him. So although the current Konoha looked heavily guarded, Orochimaru knew the village well enough that entering it was not impossible.

Secretly resisting the pressure radiating from Orochimaru, Naoki kept his expression calm and asked, "Then what orders do you have for me?"

Orochimaru stared at Naoki. "Did your special jonin assessment go smoothly?"

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