Naruto: Starting with Creating a Genius Persona

Chapter 104 is at least quite lively (7/16)

Nighttime, at the home of the setting sun.

Soft lighting illuminated the cozy living room. Yuhi Hong prepared tea for her father and placed it on the low table in front of him, while she knelt beside him, looking somewhat preoccupied.

"Dad," she said softly, breaking the brief silence.

"Hmm?" Yuhi Shinku put down the scroll in his hand and looked at his daughter. He had crimson eyes similar to Yuhi Kurenai's, but they were deeper and more composed, and his temperament was gentle and reserved.

"Are you... going to have a duel with that samurai from the Land of Iron tomorrow?" Kurenai asked. Although the news had not been officially announced, she had a vague guess from the sudden visit of an ANBU member earlier.

Kurenai Yuhi nodded slightly, not denying it: "The Hokage has already given the order."

Kurenai opened her mouth, intending to habitually comment, "That samurai is too despicable," but the words Isshin had spoken during the day about life and death on the battlefield and the shackles of the weak inexplicably echoed in her mind.

She found herself no longer able to describe the other person with the same despicable word as an ordinary villager.

Moreover, Kurenai Yuhi was a ninja, and she suddenly realized that the reason she had subconsciously thought the other party was despicable was simply because the other party's identity as a samurai had misled her, making her believe that the other party would abide by the rules and regulations of Bushido.

In the end, she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue, turning them into a simple admonition: "Be careful."

Yuhi Makoto paused slightly, keenly sensing the complexity in her daughter's tone—not just worry, but something else entirely.

He smiled gently, reached out and ruffled Xi Ri Hong's hair, his voice steady and reassuring.

"rest assured."

Looking at her father's calm and confident face, Yuhi Hong's slight unease gradually subsided. She nodded and said no more.

"That's despicable! Absolutely despicable!"

In Tsunade's mansion, Shizune's sullen voice broke the tranquility of the night.

"Lady Tsunade, you really missed out today!"

Although Tsunade is the instructor of Team 10, Shizune still habitually calls her Tsunade-sama in private.

Shizune's cheeks were flushed with excitement from rushing back, her eyes wide with shock: "That samurai from the Land of Iron, he... he actually used fire magic in the competition! He just fired at Kono Jonin, bang! bang! bang! He just like that! What kind of nonsense is that?!"

"Senior Kono respected his status as a samurai and tried his best to spar with him using swordsmanship. Even when he used ninjutsu, he did so openly and fairly. And what happened? He actually fired a gun when no one was paying attention! This wasn't a contest; it was a sneak attack, it was cheating!"

Tsunade was leaning lazily against the window, holding a small bottle of sake in her hand, pouring herself a drink, and the moonlight shone through the window onto her long golden hair.

Hearing the barrage of complaints from the silent woman, she turned her head slightly, a half-smile curving her beautiful lips, her brown eyes filled with amusement.

Tsunade didn't interrupt Shizune, and just listened as she recounted the events that had occurred in the third training ground that afternoon in a tone full of righteous indignation, adding embellishments to the story.

"He also said that everything in the world can be a sword, and that adhering to forms is a shackle for the weak! This is utter fallacy! It's just an excuse for the despicable methods he used! What's the point of victory if it has to be achieved through such means?"

Seeing Shizune's adorable expression of having her worldview shaken, Tsunade finally couldn't help but chuckle. She tilted her head back and drank the remaining wine in her cup, the amber liquid shimmering in the moonlight.

"Are you done talking?" Tsunade put down her wine glass, her voice slightly tipsy and as languid and magnetic as ever.

"Lady Tsunade!" Shizune was even more displeased when she saw that she was still laughing: "You're still laughing! That samurai was really going too far!"

Both Kurenai and Shinichi felt something was wrong at the time!

"Is that so? Don't forget, Shizune, you're a ninja now." Tsunade said calmly upon hearing this.

Right, I'm a ninja, what right do I have to call the other party's methods despicable?

Shizune was momentarily speechless. She suddenly remembered that during the competition earlier that day, when she faced the words of that warrior from the Land of Iron, those who spoke out angrily were ordinary villagers and ninjas of similar age and youthful vigor.

The older ninja seniors looked solemn, but seemed unsurprised by it.

But Shizune, still somewhat unconvinced, muttered, "But he's a samurai. Winning by such means is, no matter how you look at it, a bit excessive."

"Too much? Perhaps." Tsunade raised an eyebrow noncommittally, shifting to a more comfortable position and gazing at the tranquil night outside the window. "However, Shizune, this samurai is right about one thing: on the battlefield, to achieve one's goals, to survive, one shouldn't limit oneself. Ninjutsu, genjutsu, taijutsu, poison, traps, explosive tags..."

Tsunade paused here, a certain word seemed to trigger a memory, and her eyes dimmed for a moment, but she quickly covered it up and her tone returned to calm: "In short, in a life-or-death struggle, any means that can save you and your comrades is a good means."

"That samurai's ideology is extreme, even dangerous, but if you completely reject it, you may pay an unbearable price on the real battlefield in the future, because the enemies you encounter in real war will only be more ruthless."

"This ruthless philosophy might be considered unusual among samurai, but it's the norm in ninja battles."

Tsunade's voice softened, sounding like she was instructing someone, yet also like she was talking to herself: "What you need to learn is to understand why such thoughts exist, and then find your own boundaries and path within them, to understand what methods can be used, what bottom lines must never be crossed, and to know exactly how far you are willing to go to protect what is truly important."

Shizune opened her mouth, but in the end she just nodded silently and didn't argue anymore.

Outside the window, the lights of Konoha gradually come on, and beneath the tranquil night, undercurrents are gathering for tomorrow's arena.

The next day, at Konoha's First Arena.

This magnificent venue, which is usually only used for major events such as the Chunin Exams finals, was now packed with people. The seats in the circular stands were almost full, and the noise was like a boiling ocean.

Unlike yesterday's onlookers at the exercise field, most of the villagers who came today had a clear purpose.

They wanted to witness firsthand how that arrogant and despicable warrior from the Land of Iron would suffer a humiliating defeat in front of the true powerhouses of Konoha.

The air was thick with heat and an almost festive excitement, but the theme of this festival was the anticipation of an undeniable victory to wash away yesterday's unpleasantness.

On the viewing platform reserved for high-ranking officials, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, wearing a divine robe, stood calmly in front of the railing, looking down at the dark mass of people and the empty arena below, his expression carrying the same gentle smile as always.

Standing beside him were two Hokage advisors, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.

"At this time, it would be good to liven up the village, divert some attention, and ease the recent tense atmosphere."

The Third Hokage's gaze fell upon the scene, and he smiled at the two advisors.

Mitokado Homura adjusted his glasses, his expression largely unchanged, simply nodding slightly in understanding.

Koharu's expression was noticeably less pleasant; her brows furrowed slightly. She was concerned about the eccentric girl from the Land of Iron...

The samurai, who had stirred up a great uproar in the village, was very dissatisfied.

What bothered her even more was that Hiruzen not only didn't handle the situation discreetly, but instead took the opportunity to create such a big fuss, continuing to build a stage for the other party to make a name for themselves.

"Koharu, don't look so serious. This is the only way to deal with Hiruzen. Look, at least it's quite lively, isn't it?" Seeing Koharu's unpleasant expression, Mitokado Homura smiled and said.

Upon hearing this, Koharu's lips moved, but in the end she only gave a soft hum and did not object.

Upon closer reflection, she understood Hiruzen's difficulties and considerations. The other party was a legitimate employer who had placed a formal commission and paid a huge deposit. The commission clearly stated in black and white that "any means necessary" and "any opponent is welcome."

Konoha could have refused the mission, but since they had already accepted it, if the people they sent out lost and were humiliated, it was simply because they were less skilled.

Are you suggesting that you can kill the client just because they are too powerful?

Konoha certainly has the strength to do that, but if they did, what would Konoha become?

Who would dare to commission us in the future?

The reputation will be completely destroyed, and the impact will be a thousand times worse than losing a few matches.

So, despite his dissatisfaction and feeling somewhat humiliated by that samurai, the best solution at the moment was indeed the one Hiruzen had chosen.

In a more formal and impeccable manner, under the watchful eyes of everyone, and with the true strength of Konoha, this troublesome challenge will be resolved beautifully.

This would not only save face and consolidate prestige, but also ensure the smooth acquisition of subsequent mission rewards, and incidentally give a warning to some of the villagers who had become complacent due to the peace.