Choice (First Update)

Chapter 138: Choice (First Update)

Xu Yue had used Wood Realm twice. The second time, he had only dealt with Kakuzu alone, so Orochimaru could not possibly have known about it. But during the first time, there had been other surviving Konoha ninja.

Given Orochimaru’s status and methods, it was only natural that he could obtain some information from them.

Xu Yue was not surprised in the slightest. He merely broke into a bright smile.

"Teacher, you really are something. Do I look like that kind of person? I only wanted to make a deal with you."

"Impure World Reincarnation? If you leave with me, won’t you learn it eventually?"

Xu Yue had been around Orochimaru for so long. If Orochimaru had not noticed what he wanted at all, then he would not be Orochimaru. It did not matter how well Xu Yue usually hid it.

"After all, Konoha has been built up for so long. The price of one Impure World Reincarnation isn’t enough. Besides, after Teacher leaves, you’ll need collaborators in Konoha too, won’t you…?"

"Collaborators? It seems Lord Yue already believes he is qualified to stand on the same level as me and cooperate with me…"

After leaving the basement, Xu Yue looked at the Third Hokage standing silently at the entrance, his hat brim pulled low, and sighed.

"Third Hokage, I’ve done my best. It seems there’s no way to turn this around."

Slowly lifting the brim of the hat marked with the character for fire, Hiruzen Sarutobi revealed a face that carried a trace of age and hardship, yet was still considered middle-aged. It was filled with regret and melancholy.

"Then, Uchiha Yue, what is your choice?"

"Third Hokage, since you chose to act personally, you naturally understand the meaning of the bond between teacher and student. I will not betray Konoha, but I will stop you from pursuing my teacher. In the end, I am willing to accept punishment."

Xu Yue raised a hand in a gesture of invitation.

Fully aware of the Third Hokage’s reluctance and regret, Xu Yue unhesitatingly chose this option. It looked as though it offended both sides and earned him nothing but trouble, but in truth, it was the best possible way to earn goodwill.

The Third Hokage wanted to resolve this personally, only to let Orochimaru go with his own hands in the end. How awkward would that be? Better to gratefully accept the ladder I’m offering you!!

The Third Hokage looked at Xu Yue with a somewhat complicated yet approving gaze and slowly removed his conical hat.

"Young man, respecting your teacher is a good thing, but you must distinguish right from wrong."

"If I discover that my teacher is harming Konoha, I will certainly do everything I can to stop him. Likewise, I will stop anyone who wishes to harm my teacher. Let me witness the true strength of my teacher’s teacher!"

A Flying Thunder God Kunai appeared in Xu Yue’s hand.

"Flying Thunder God, is it?"

The Third Hokage’s eyes became even more approving as he fully untied the Hokage robe behind him.

Although Orochimaru had left, he had still left behind a disciple who had truly inherited the Will of Fire.

Whether from his friend Kakashi, from the Fourth Hokage, or even from personally observing Xu Yue’s exchanges with Kakashi through the Distant Viewing Technique before, he had come to fully understand Xu Yue’s character. Like his former teammate Kagami Uchiha, Xu Yue was one of the Uchiha Clan’s rare exceptions…

"Well then, it has been a long time since I last guided a junior…"

With a flick of his hand, a single shuriken—combined with the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique—sent every Flying Thunder God Kunai Xu Yue had thrown flying away!

It was a truly terrifying display of how the Third Hokage’s experience and strength complemented one another!

The Third Hokage appeared to possess none of the specialties the other Kage had. No bloodline limit, no secret techniques.

Yet the Third Hokage at the final peak of his life possessed the ability to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary with a mere flick of his hand!

He could unleash all kinds of ninjutsu with effortless ease. Unlike Kakuzu, who also possessed all five elemental natures but mostly used large-scale, destructive ninjutsu, the Third Hokage’s combinations used the smallest cost to achieve the best results.

The current Third Hokage was on a completely different level from Kakuzu. Among all the Kage-level powerhouses Xu Yue had encountered so far, including the Fourth Hokage before he had reached his peak, he was unquestionably the strongest!

If the Third Hokage had held killing intent, Xu Yue, without Sage Mode, would have nearly been instantly killed even with Flying Thunder God and the Mangekyō Sharingan.

The title of strongest Hokage might have been greatly exaggerated, but that did not mean the Third Hokage was weak. It was simply that those before him had been far too strong!

There was a reason the Reincarnators had not doubted the authenticity of that information at all!

And now, the Third Hokage was clearly just guiding Xu Yue, feeding him moves.

Faced with such a freely offered benefit, Xu Yue naturally could not let it slip away. He immediately gave up on the Sage Mode he had been preparing and instead had his true body bring out all his various ability systems.

He used the Third Hokage directly as a sparring partner, integrating all of his abilities together.

"Whether it is speed, strength, taijutsu, or Chakra reserves, you have already reached a considerable level."

Even while casually exchanging moves with Xu Yue, the Third Hokage still had the leisure to speak. His tone was calm and relaxed. Xu Yue’s Chakra was insufficient in his own eyes, but among those of the same generation, the Third Hokage considered it quite outstanding. Xu Yue simply had too many ultimate moves and consumed too much.

"However, you place too much emphasis on powerful abilities and cannot integrate your own capabilities at all. There are often obvious gaps and openings between your moves. Against ordinary opponents, perhaps you can make up for them with your Sharingan, but against seasoned experts, it is completely inadequate. Small tricks have their own advantages as well…"

One shuriken knocked away Xu Yue’s Kunai again, while another anticipated the location where Xu Yue would appear. The moment he emerged, it struck him perfectly. The Third Hokage suppressed Xu Yue so thoroughly that he had no temper left to lose!

Even something as insignificant as a shuriken could produce such miraculous results!

Xu Yue even suspected that, even if he used Sage Mode, he would only be able to barely contend with the Third Hokage for the duration of Sage Mode.

The terror of a Kage-level powerhouse could never be underestimated simply because he had defeated a countered Kakuzu and the AB Combo in their youth…

At this moment, Xu Yue was like a sponge. Under the tutelage of the Third Hokage, known as the Professor of Ninjutsu, he visibly absorbed the battle experience being fed to him and rapidly filled in his shortcomings.

From being completely suppressed at the start, he gradually reached the point where they were evenly matched and traded blows. In terms of efficiency, it was far more effective than ten training cards!

Although the Third Hokage had never increased the strength he displayed and had remained at the level of holding back to provide guidance, there was no doubt that Xu Yue had fully stepped into the ranks of true jonin even without using major moves like senjutsu, the Mangekyō, or Wood Style. He had begun to grow accustomed to integrating his conventional strength.

He was making up for his weaknesses.

"Alright, we’ll stop here."

After forcing Xu Yue back with a strike, the Third Hokage straightened his clothes, which had barely been affected, and put his conical hat back on.

His gaze turned somewhat complicated as he looked toward the entrance behind Xu Yue.

Orochimaru’s presence had already disappeared…

In that instant, Xu Yue felt that the Third Hokage seemed to have aged considerably, revealing the fatigue of someone whose age had begun to send him rapidly downhill.

For a hero of a generation of ninja, failing to die at the height of his prime could perhaps be considered a kind of misfortune.

"Thank you for your guidance, Third Hokage, and thank you for showing mercy."

Xu Yue bowed respectfully.

But the Third Hokage merely waved his hand.

"I know you have not used Wood Style yet. If you have time, you can come chat with this old man. Now that I’ve handed everything over to the Fourth Hokage, I have become free. When you think about it, I’m your grandteacher too, aren’t I…?"

With a slightly stooped back, he turned and walked toward the village. Xu Yue watched his retreating figure and could not help sighing inwardly.

Free, huh? Kushina is already pregnant. You won’t be free for much longer…

First update, to repay everyone for your support. An extra chapter for reaching 2,500 average subscriptions~ Thank you, everyone~ There are still two guaranteed updates today.

The current Third Hokage was at his final peak before beginning his decline. The strongest Hokage title is something to laugh about, but the Third Hokage’s strength absolutely cannot be denied~

I originally wanted to write the battle in more detail… but the daily update volume is genuinely exhausting. If I expanded the battle descriptions, I’m afraid it would affect the update pace and be unfriendly to readers following the updates. I’d like to hear everyone’s suggestions~