Konoha: Intentionally losing to Hinata at the start

Naruto is actually now at the level of a Jonin, but he hasn't passed the Chunin Exams.

His contemporaries have all become Chunin.

Only he and Sasuke were still genin.

Naruto was talking to Shikamaru when Tsunade brought him up. Naruto thought about it and realized that he really was a genin.

"The Chunin Exams? Of course I'll participate."

Naruto was unaware that all of the Konoha 12, except for him and Sasuke, had become Chunin.

He just doesn't know this yet, and still thinks everyone is a low-level ninja.

After chatting with a few people in the Hokage's room for a while, Sakura, Naruto, Shikamaru, and Temari went out.

Jiraiya stood at the window, looking outside, and calmly said, "Akatsuki has started capturing Jinchuriki in the ninja world again, but we still haven't found out what their purpose is."

Jiraiya was very wary of Akatsuki, an organization that brought together several Kage-level powerhouses.

The key issue is that we don't know what their purpose is, especially since they are collecting tailed beasts, a strategic weapon.

For Naruto and Konoha, the existence of these people is extremely dangerous.

Tsunade frowned, walked to the window, crossed her arms, and looked out. "They are all rogue ninjas who were hired by various ninja villages. What could their purpose be? It can't be for peace, can it?"

Hashirama Senju had also collected tailed beasts before; he had captured all the tailed beasts except for the One-Tailed Beast.

At that time, the tailed beasts were free, so they were very easy to capture, depending on who it was.

Hashirama Senju was naturally no challenge for him.

But it's really difficult for others.

Tsunade remembers very clearly (Group 371, Akatsuki's external propaganda included things like peace).

How can we achieve world peace if we're just collecting tailed beasts?

Jiraiya thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps it's related to the ninjutsu they collected over the previous three years. At that time, they suddenly stopped collecting tailed beasts, but collected many sealing techniques and other ninjutsu."

Tsunade wasn't entirely sure, but she felt it might be related to this matter.

After a long while, Jiraiya said, "However, it is indeed a bit dangerous to have Naruto following me now. Perhaps returning to Konoha would be better for his safety. Besides, his current strength is enough to handle some things."

"Moreover, three years have passed, and Orochimaru should be starting to close in on Sasuke soon."

"Naruto can't give up on Sasuke, it all depends on whether Sasuke can get rid of Orochimaru."

Upon hearing this, Tsunade turned to look at Yu Ming.

That's true. With Yu Ming in the village now, it's unlikely that Akatsuki ninjas will attack Konoha.

"I'll have Yu Ming keep an eye on Naruto from now on."

Tsunade is not worried about Yu Ming's safety now, because she doesn't think there is anyone in the ninja world who can defeat him.

Jiraiya laughed and said, "I brought Naruto back for this very purpose, so that Yu Ming could keep an eye on Naruto."

"Our Konoha cannot lose the Nine-Tails."

To put it bluntly, Jiraiya was still doing it for the village. For both Tsunade and Jiraiya, the village was extremely important.

After talking for a while in the Hokage's room, they headed to the Third Training Ground.

When they arrived at the third training ground, Sakura and Naruto had not yet arrived.

Kakashi did arrive, but he was leaning against a tree, engrossed in reading a novel.

Tsunade was speechless. "Why would anyone like to watch this kind of thing?"

Jiraiya was somewhat embarrassed. Although he felt that what he wrote was very good, it was not as bad as what Tsunade said.

Yu Ming sat on the tree trunk and watched as the sun was about to set when Sakura and Naruto finally arrived.

This is Kakashi's test for Naruto and Sakura.

This battle was actually a real fight between ninjas.

After all, true ninjas are different from Yu Ming. They don't immediately use ninjutsu upon meeting. They only resort to ninjutsu when they are certain that other methods cannot defeat their opponent.

This is the last option.

Ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu are the three most basic abilities of a ninja.

However, those who excel in all three are Jonin.

Although Guy is extremely strong in taijutsu, his ninjutsu and ability to counter genjutsu are also quite good.

Therefore, Guy can become a Jonin.

Unlike Xiao Li, who genuinely couldn't even master physical skills.

However, both Lee and Guy possess chakra, and their chakra reserves are quite substantial, given their already high physical strength and the fact that chakra can be increased through training.

However, their talent in ninjutsu is indeed not very good.

Kai is alright, he's just not very good at it.

But Xiao Li was completely hopeless; he simply couldn't do it.

If it weren't for Kai taking a liking to him at the Ninja Academy, he wouldn't even have been able to graduate from the Ninja Academy.

Moreover, back then, it was Kakashi who was also keeping an eye on Rock Lee.

So neither Guy nor Kakashi actually paid any attention to the students at the Ninja Academy in private.

On the contrary, they are very concerned, after all, this is the next generation of Konoha.

Kakashi's transformation began long before he left Root and joined the Third Hokage's direct subordinate Anbu.

The reason why Guy is not as highly regarded as Kakashi by others is that Kakashi is not only strong in taijutsu, but also in ninjutsu and genjutsu, making him almost the ceiling of Jonin.

Kakashi can be considered a very pure ninja, possessing a clever mind and powerful comprehensive abilities in ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu.

Therefore, Kakashi was renowned both in Konoha and in other ninja villages.

Once you surpass Kakashi, you're basically either a near-Kage or directly at the Kage level.

To be fair, Kashi's chakra level isn't actually low; among Jonin, excluding Jinchuriki, it's quite high.

It's just that his body isn't suited to using the Sharingan, so when he uses it, his body can't handle the pain.

Not to mention that if Kakashi were to use the Mangekyou Sharingan, he would have to lie in bed for several days.

Let alone Kakashi, even members of the Uchiha clan cannot use the Mangekyou Sharingan too often, otherwise not only will their eyes be damaged, but their bodies will also be unable to withstand it.

So for an outsider to use the Sharingan to the level of Kakashi, it's really because his talent is too high. Otherwise, let alone the Mangekyou Sharingan, even the three-tomoe Sharingan would be enough to make people suffer.

This is why Yu Ming felt that Kakashi was very suitable to succeed Tsunade.

In a few more years, Kakashi will have reached Kage-level strength, sufficient experience, and the right age. He will also have a significant reputation in the ninja world, making him fully qualified to become a proper Hokage.

Chapter 189

Yu Ming sat in the tree, watching Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura fight.

To be honest, Yu Ming found it quite interesting.

The battle lasted a little too long, from dusk until dawn the next day, with both sides still probing and attacking.

Yu Ming had never experienced a battle like this before. The longest battle he had ever fought was probably only about half an hour.

It was only when Yu Ming was working with those from Kusagakure who had reached the Kage level through special techniques that it took him so long.

The battle was quite interesting at first, but after watching for a while, Yu Ming took out his book and started reading on his own.

Tsunade turned to look at Yu Ming, only to find that he wasn't even watching. She sighed, "This level of battle must be too boring for him."

Jiraiya chuckled and said, "Indeed, for someone of his strength, this battle is quite tedious."

"But it seems that my results over the past three years have been pretty good. Now the two of them can challenge Kakashi."

Tsunade laughed and said, "In the past three years, he still only knows that one ninjutsu, Shadow Clone Jutsu and Rasengan. He hasn't learned any other ninjutsu. 297 has laid a foundation, but his attack methods are still too limited and he is easily targeted."

If Naruto didn't have the protagonist's halo, his attack methods would be severely limited.

Moreover, given his personality, he would probably rarely act using ninja methods.

In battle, things can easily go wrong.

Jiraiya disagreed, saying, "As long as you use it flexibly in battle, even a single attack method can achieve excellent results."

"I'm also quite worried about the fourth generation's attack methods, but the effect is very good. As long as I teach him the basics, I believe he will definitely be able to use them very well."

Tsunade laughed and said, "Your expectations of him are a bit too high."

Jiraiya originally wanted to refute something, but when he looked at Yu Ming in the tree, he said helplessly, "Compared to that guy, no one is any good. But Naruto has great potential. As long as he masters the power of the Nine-Tails within him, he might really be able to reach Yu Ming's level in the future."

Tsunade remained calm and smiled slightly, "Do you even believe what you're saying?"

It wasn't that Tsunade deliberately favored Yu Ming; it was simply the truth. Tsunade didn't believe that anyone she knew possessed Yu Ming's talent, nor did she believe that anyone had Yu Ming's strength.

Even if Jiraiya activated Sage Mode, it wouldn't help.

Yu Ming's current strength is beyond even Tsunade's comprehension, but her previous statement about being ten times stronger than before was no joke.

She really did have that feeling.

Jiraiya naturally didn't believe it. If it were Yu Ming three years ago, Jiraiya might have had some confidence, but the current Yu Ming was so strong that even Jiraiya didn't show up. This shows that Yu Ming had far exceeded his strength.

Even if Naruto masters the Nine-Tails, can he really stand on the same level as Yu Ming?

Jiraiya had no confidence at all; he didn't believe Naruto possessed such an ability.

Although Jiraiya felt that Yu Ming's future might surpass that of the Fourth Hokage, the key point was that three years ago, Jiraiya sensed that Yu Ming's strength might have already surpassed that of the Fourth Hokage.

The two are not on the same level at all.

With hard work, Naruto can indeed catch up with, and even surpass, Sasuke.

Because Sasuke is a normal person.

However, even with his efforts, Naruto might not be able to see Yu Ming's back, because Jiraiya believes that Yu Ming is a monster and not a normal human being at all.

He had never seen anyone with such terrifying talent.

At only 16 years old, he already possesses power that could potentially surpass that of a Kage.

What is this if not a monster?