"Graduating already?"
Hearing Yagyu's words, his mother paused for a moment. Then a trace of reminiscence and worry appeared in her eyes.
"Before I knew it… Sosuke, you're about to become a shinobi."
Yagyu smiled and nodded.
He sat down in front of his mother.
"Don't worry, Mom. You should trust your son, I'm very strong."
At the very least, much stronger than that old man.
After hearing her son's words, his mother, who was not the gentle type, glared at him and raised her hand to smack him on the head.
"Even if you're strong, there will always be someone stronger than you in the shinobi world. If you carry that kind of mindset, someday I might hear the news that you died on a mission. A shinobi must be cautious and humble. Do you understand?"
Hearing that.
Yagyu rubbed his forehead helplessly.
"I understand, Mom. Don't worry. I'm going upstairs."
After saying that.
Yagyu immediately slipped out of the bookstore and entered the backyard of his home.
There was no helping it.
His mother was simply too formidable.
Yagyu Sosuke ultimately had no way to resist her.
Returning to the backyard.
After entering his room, Yagyu pulled out a small notebook hidden in a secret compartment beneath his bed.
After opening it, the pages were densely filled with notes written in Chinese, recording future events.
Some were detailed, others were more brief.
"After Naruto fails tomorrow's exam, Mizuki will tempt him into stealing the Scroll of Seals. Then comes team assignments, daily D-rank missions, the Land of Waves arc, the Chunin Exams, and the Konoha Crush plan…"
While flipping through the pages, Yagyu carefully recalled the entire storyline in his mind.
After an hour.
Once he had reviewed everything written in the notebook, Yagyu stored it securely.
"The future is truly turbulent."
With a thoughtful expression, Yagyu spoke in his mind.
"System, open my status panel."
[Ding! Host Status Panel.]
[Name: Yagyu Sosuke]
[Chakra: 1766]
[Ninjutsu: 531]
[Taijutsu: 525]
[Genjutsu: 521]
[Kekkei Genkai: Senju Sage Body (20%), Sharingan (Three Tomoe)]
[Overall Strength Evaluation: Elite Jonin]
Compared to when he first obtained the system, these luxurious four core ninja attributes could be described as a complete transformation, clearly demonstrating Yagyu's strength.
Not to mention anything else.
Just the number of ninjutsu Yagyu had mastered was already terrifying.
Any ninjutsu the Third Hokage had mastered, and even some he had not mastered, Yagyu had either learned on his own or obtained through occasional system sign-in rewards.
Fire Release techniques such as Great Fireball Jutsu, Dragon Flame Jutsu, Fire Dragon Flame Bullet Jutsu, and Great Dragon Fire Jutsu.
Wind Release techniques such as Whirlwind Fist, Wind Blade, Great Breakthrough, Gale Palm, and Pressure Damage.
Besides those, Yagyu had also mastered many Lightning Release, Water Release, and Earth Release Jutsu.
Of course, genjutsu was no exception.
Or rather, with the Sharingan, Yagyu possessed a natural advantage in genjutsu.
Perhaps the current Yagyu could not yet compare to Kakashi, the Copy Ninja who was said to have copied thousands of ninjutsu.
But in reality.
After awakening the Three Tomoe Sharingan, the number of ninjutsu Yagyu could master would only continue to increase.
At present, aside from the fact that he had never shed blood or experienced killing.
In every other aspect, he was not far behind veteran Elite Jonin.
After all, he had been carefully trained by the Third Hokage and undergone four years of continuous combat training as his final disciple.
Yagyu would never lack combat experience.
"How will the old man arrange things for me?"
A thoughtful expression appeared on Yagyu's face as his eyes flickered with contemplation.
"If nothing else works, I'll request to be placed in a team alone. That would be fine too, at least it won't slow down my progress. If they assign me two weak teammates, I might end up acting like a babysitter."
Thinking about team assignments also made Yagyu think about the upcoming Chunin Exams.
And the Konoha Crush plan.
As well as the death of the Third Hokage.
"Sigh."
Yagyu sighed. In fact, he had been conflicted for several years about whether he should save the Third Hokage during the Konoha Crush.
But even now he had not reached a conclusion.
Because the decision was closely tied to his own interests.
If he were still a student in the academy, living peacefully, the Third Hokage providing him protection would naturally be the best outcome.
But now that he was about to graduate, some of Yagyu's hidden strength.
Or rather, some of his abilities.
Would inevitably begin to reveal themselves little by little.
If that happened, the Third Hokage would no longer be the most suitable superior for him.
Only Tsunade, who was younger and not restrained by the elders or Danzo, would be suitable as his leader.
In other words.
When he was still a student, it was best for the Third Hokage to remain in power.
When he became a shinobi, Tsunade taking office would be the choice most beneficial to Yagyu.
After thinking for a while, Yagyu set the matter aside.
When the day came that he had to make a decision, he would let his instincts tell him what choice to make.
…
The next day.
Everything proceeded exactly as Yagyu remembered, beginning with the extremely simple graduation exam that required only the Clone Jutsu.
In the entire class, only Uzumaki Naruto failed.
Inevitably, the still naive Naruto would be easily manipulated by Mizuki and tricked into stealing the fake Scroll of Seals.
That's right, the fake Scroll of Seals.
How could the real Scroll of Seals possibly be obtained by Uzumaki Naruto?
Even if Yagyu made a move, he might not succeed in taking the Scroll of Seals under the layers of surveillance surrounding it.
Let alone Naruto in his current state.
After the exam ended and Yagyu received his ninja forehead protector, he gathered briefly with Ino, Nara Shikamaru, and Akimichi Choji.
Then he returned home.
He had no interest in what would happen next.
Let alone interfering in it.
…
That night.
Yagyu had just lain down, not yet asleep.
Whoosh.
A sharp sound of wind cutting through the air came from the window beside his room.
Knock knock knock.
Immediately after, someone gently knocked on Yagyu's window.
"At this hour…"
Looking puzzled, Yagyu calmly opened the window.
"Who is it?"
The moment the window opened, Yagyu saw a shinobi standing outside, wearing ANBU equipment and an animal mask.
Looking at the ANBU member calmly, Yagyu showed no fear.
"ANBU… may I ask what you need from me?"
ANBU were considered elite shinobi among Konoha's forces.
But even so.
Ordinary elites were still trash in front of Yagyu.
Unless they were top-tier elite shinobi like Kakashi or Might Guy who could give Yagyu a sense of danger.
Others like Sarutobi Asuma or Kurenai Yuhi were still lacking.
"Yagyu Sosuke."
Looking at Yagyu, the ANBU spoke in a neutral voice.
"A special graduation mission assigned to you by the Hokage."
As soon as the words fell.
A mission scroll was thrown directly toward Yagyu.
Whoosh.
After handing the mission scroll to Yagyu.
The ANBU figure disappeared into the night with another gust of wind.
Arriving quickly and leaving just as quickly.
Perfectly demonstrating the working style of the ANBU.
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