Under the setting sun, in the peaceful village of Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Ye Chen, an old man, and a young man met officially for the first time. This meeting, however, was a private visit orchestrated by Third Hokage's micro-server.
Ye Chen wasn't surprised by this visit; he understood that even in the afterlife, the old man would occasionally check in on Naruto.
Sarutobi Hiruzen started the conversation, asking, "Are you training here alone? Why not join your fellow students in some recreational activities?"
Ye Chen could sense that the Hokage was testing him, so he replied thoughtfully, "Lord Hokage, as you know, I come from a small ninja village. I've witnessed the harshness of the ninja world, and that's why I'm determined to become stronger."
"Is that your only reason?" Sarutobi Hiruzen inquired casually.
Ye Chen replied, "Of course not. I also want to protect the people important to me and the village that saved my life."
Ye Chen's response not only included himself but also bound him to Konoha, demonstrating his willingness to coexist with the village. He had no intention of becoming an enemy of Konoha, especially while remaining a hidden dragon.
However, if Konoha insisted on forcing him into a difficult position, he would have no choice but to make a decision.
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, satisfied with Ye Chen's answer. He knew that a ninja's duties went beyond killing; they also had to safeguard the bonds they held dear. After all, what separated a ninja from a mere assassin was their sense of guardianship.
Smiling kindly, the Third Hokage said, "It's good that you think this way, my boy. Recently, Konoha has put a lot of pressure on you. I hope you understand our current situation. The major ninja villages are competing for resources and territories, fostering an atmosphere of hostility."
Ye Chen, unfazed by the Hokage's words, replied, "I understand, Lord Hokage. It's only natural."
He was neither a child nor a hot-headed youth. He could tolerate hardship and unfairness, and he didn't harbor any grievances. To earn respect, one had to first stand on equal ground with others.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was pleased with Ye Chen's understanding. He was willing to invest time and effort in cultivating such a promising young ninja. He continued, "Ye Chen, by offending the Uchiha clan, you've drawn their ire."
"I trust Lord Hokage to make the right decision," Ye Chen replied, throwing the issue into the Hokage's hands.
Chuckling, Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "The Uchiha clan is still a part of Konoha, and they wield considerable power. Even I, as Hokage, find them troublesome. However, with your strength, you don't need to continue attending the Ninja Academy. Instead, you can join Anbu. In Anbu, you'll be under my direct command, and even the Uchiha clan won't be able to touch you."
Ye Chen expressed his gratitude, but the Hokage dismissed it, saying, "No need for thanks. Your strength speaks for itself."
Ye Chen had made a wise choice. Joining Anbu was the safest option for him at the moment. Moreover, Anbu missions would provide him with valuable training opportunities, which would further enhance his abilities.
Before leaving, Ye Chen had one more question. "Lord Hokage, I noticed that my teacher, Okamoto, wasn't present at the ninja competition. May I inquire about his whereabouts?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen replied, "Okamoto is on a secret mission outside of Konoha Village."
Though the Hokage didn't provide details, Ye Chen knew the reason behind it. The Second Great Ninja War was looming, and the major ninja villages were on the brink of conflict. The situation in the ninja world was far from peaceful.
The Land of Wind and the Hidden Sand Village, in particular, were eyeing Konoha's fertile land with envy. The lush forests and abundant resources of the Land of Fire made Konoha a prime target.
These circumstances made Ye Chen realize that their generation might be called to the battlefield sooner than expected.
After the Third Hokage's departure, Ye Chen returned to his house, took a shower, and began to contemplate the battle with Namikaze Minato.
He opened his properties panel:
"Host: Ye Chen!
Abilities: Conqueror's HakiLv2, Observation HakiLv2, Armament HakiLv3, Tornado Profound Truth Lv2, Shave Lv2. To upgrade to the next level, you require 10,000 experience points.
Fruit: Mera-mera FruitLv2. To upgrade to the next level, you require 1,000 experience points.
Experience 1,650/10,000."
Ye Chen had a decision to make: should he improve his Conqueror's Haki or enhance the power of his Mera-mera Fruit?
This time, the ninja competition hadn't revealed the full extent of his Devil Fruit power, and it remained his trump card.
In the ninja world, keeping a few aces up one's sleeve was crucial for survival.
After careful consideration, Ye Chen decided that increasing his strength should take precedence. Therefore, he chose to upgrade his Mera-mera Fruit.
"System, upgrade Mera-mera Fruit," Ye Chen requested.
Immediately, his experience points decreased from 1,650 to 605, and his Mera-mera Fruit reached Lv3, equivalent to the level of his Armament Haki.
Ye Chen felt a significant increase in the power of his Devil Fruit. It was different from Chakra; it had a unique and special quality.
With Lv2 Armament Haki, Ye Chen could barely break C-rank Ninjutsu. However, with Lv3 Armament Haki, he could easily shatter C-rank Ninjutsu.
Class C Ninjutsu was typically under the control of Chūnin-level ninja. With his current strength, Ye Chen, a Genin, was on par with an Elite Chūnin and even stronger.