The next day, Fenghuo woke up early. He left a Shadow Clone at home to continue practicing Chidori, while his main body headed toward the Hokage's office.
On the way, he encountered many Uchiha clan members. Without exception, they either gave him hostile glares or scoffed coldly with disdain. Their attitudes were openly hostile.
"Traitor!"
"You don't deserve the Sharingan!"
"White-eyed wolf!"
The contempt of the Uchiha elders heavily influenced the general sentiment of the clan. At this point, Fenghuo was completely rejected by the Uchiha.
He sighed quietly. What could he do?
Though he was favored by Danzo, his position was precarious. In Konoha, the only person who could truly protect him and grant him the time to grow was Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage.
Despite the Uchiha clan's wealth and influence, the tragic fates of Shisui Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha demonstrated that even they were vulnerable in the face of Danzo and Hiruzen's political power.
When Fenghuo reached the Hokage's office, his eyes instinctively drifted toward the large tree outside. It brought back memories of his days as a security guard.
"The fire is coming."
Inside the office, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Fenghuo with a gentle smile.
Hiruzen had noticed Fenghuo's avoidance of the Uchiha elders lately and suspected he was making more of it than necessary. Yet, the expression on Fenghuo's face betrayed a flicker of happiness beneath the surface.
"You came just in time," Hiruzen said. "Although you're already a Chūnin, you still need a Jōnin mentor. I've arranged for Yuhi Zhenhong to guide you. What do you think?"
Fenghuo's eyes brightened. "That sounds great!"
Yuhi Zhenhong's illusions were renowned—learning from her would definitely help him improve. Physically, Matt Dai had already honed his skills well, but he still struggled with genjutsu.
Although he had been blessed by Yuhi Zhenhong's lineage to study Kurama clan techniques, much of it remained theoretical, mixed with difficult to understand scrolls. Sealing techniques were especially taxing.
Now, with the Uchiha clan turning against him, having a mentor like Makoto Yuhi to guide him in illusions was a great relief.
"Then it's settled." Hiruzen took a slow puff from his pipe and exhaled smoke rings as if he held the fate of all talents in his hands.
Just then, Hiruzen added, "Yuhi is currently on a mission, so it may take a while before she returns."
Fenghuo's heart sank. A while? Would it be a year? By then, all his hard work might be wasted.
"Master Naruto?" Fenghuo asked hesitantly, seeking reassurance.
Hiruzen cleared his throat. "Don't worry. He should return to the village within two weeks at most."
Fenghuo sighed in relief.
Leaving the Hokage's office, Fenghuo suddenly bumped into a familiar pair.
"Minato, Kushina!" he exclaimed.
Minato Namikaze smiled warmly, reaching out to ruffle Fenghuo's hair. Fenghuo, at seven years old, was nearly as tall as Minato's chest, so the gesture felt oddly patronizing—he twitched at the mental blow.
Before he could react, Kushina Namikaze rushed over and playfully punched and kicked him.
"How many times have I told you to call me 'sister'?! Don't you get it, you brat?"
Fenghuo staggered under the combined playful assault.
Minato chuckled. "Are you okay, Fenghuo?"
"It's nothing... just strange," Fenghuo gritted his teeth.
Kushina clapped her hands with a smug look, head tilted at a forty-five-degree angle, clearly enjoying herself.
Minato then asked, "So, did the Hokage arrange a Jōnin mentor for you?"
"Yeah, Yuhi Zhenhong," Fenghuo replied.
Minato nodded approvingly. "Her genjutsu is excellent—on par with the Uchiha. Study hard. And although I'm not great at illusions, if you need help with ninjutsu or sealing techniques, come find me."
Fenghuo's eyes lit up. Namikaze Minato's sealing techniques, learned through the Uzumaki clan from Kushina, were famously powerful—enough to restrain the Nine-Tails itself. How could he not be excited?
Minato glanced at Kushina, who shot a teasing glare his way.
'This tracheitis,' Fenghuo thought, frustrated—but he had no choice but to call Kushina "sister" here.
Kushina nodded reluctantly. "Maybe... but—"
Minato patted her head. "I'll handle it."
Kushina blushed deeply, shying away.
After thanking them, Fenghuo moved on to meet Matt Dai, who was currently on a D-rank mission helping an elderly woman find her lost kitten.
Fenghuo volunteered to assist and used the time to catch up with Matt Dai, gathering news from outside.
"It's peaceful for now, but there's always tension along the borders. Support from the other Great Ninja Villages could spark a war anytime..." Matt Dai's rough demeanor belied a deep understanding.
Fenghuo was silent. Once the Third Great Ninja War erupted, Konoha would be fighting on multiple fronts against all four great nations. Then even academy students would be tested on the battlefield.
Together, they quickly found the kitten. Afterward, Matt Dai spoke seriously.
"The Eight Gates technique is powerful but hard to maximize with current physical training. I want to develop a style tailored specifically for the Eight Gates. Fenghuo, you're talented in taijutsu—I hope you'll help me."
"Of course!" Fenghuo replied confidently. "It was created by your son anyway, so no pressure."
Moves like Biao Lianhua, Li Lianhua, Chao Peacock, Day Tiger, Xi Xiang—all were ready to be explored and combined.
But just knowing the names wasn't enough; he had to experiment and form routines. Fenghuo was still learning.
Matt Dai wasn't angry at Fenghuo's bluntness; instead, he was excited by the fresh ideas. Grabbing a wooden log, he began experimenting.
He kicked the log into the air, rushed up, wrapped it in bandages, spun around rapidly, then slammed it to the ground.
"Biao Lianhua!"
Boom!
The log bounced twice, intact.
Embarrassed, Fenghuo muttered, "Good luck," and left gracefully.
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