After casually joking around with Kurenai Yuhi, Rin Nohara, Anko Mitarashi, and Yugao Uzuki for a while, Mirai Uchiha finally turned serious.
"So, what brings all of you here at once?"
Kurenai puffed her cheeks. "Rin and I are taking the Jonin Exams, so we wanted to ask you to give us some guidance."
"Do you even *notice* us at all?"
Mirai felt a bit embarrassed.
Lately, he had indeed been too preoccupied between Konan and Mikoto Uchiha, neglecting these young girls.
Self-reflection was needed—a thorough one.
He had vowed to be a man who spreads love unconditionally, so how could he be so careless!
As Mirai was silently reflecting, Kurenai muttered again, "It's all Father's fault. If he'd let me move out and live with you, this wouldn't have happened."
Mirai clicked his tongue, silently mourning for Shizuka Yuhi for a moment.
When daughters grow up, they won't stay home anymore.
Looks like he should keep a low profile from now on.
Thinking for a while, Mirai shifted his gaze toward Yugao Uzuki and Anko Mitarashi. "Don't tell me you two are taking the Jonin Exam too."
Anko couldn't help but giggle. "Playboy senior, we're taking the Chunin Exams."
"This time, villages including Sunagakure, Kumogakure, Kirigakure, and Iwagakure—as well as several promising minor hidden villages—will be participating. We don't want to shame Konoha."
Hearing Anko's words, Mirai suddenly remembered that the Chunin Exams were just around the corner.
With everything going on lately, he'd nearly forgotten all about it.
Mirai then turned to Yugao Uzuki. "Yugao, you're an Anbu ninja. Are you participating in this Chunin Exam too?"
Yugao nodded. "I'm still a Genin, so it's perfectly reasonable for me to take the Chunin Exam."
Seeing the eager looks in their eyes, Mirai shrugged his hands. "Since you've sincerely asked, I'll generously offer my guidance."
"Let's get one thing straight—I'll be extremely strict, so you'd better brace yourselves mentally."
"Besides..." Mirai smoothly ran his gelled fingers through his hair, "...there's absolutely no shortcut to becoming stronger as a ninja."
Kurenai, Rin Nohara, and Anko Mitarashi all excitedly nodded.
Receiving guidance from someone as strong as Mirai was something many people could only dream of.
What was a little hardship compared to that chance?
Only Yugao Uzuki...
Looking at Mirai's solemn expression, memories of the last time he'd guided her in swordsmanship training flashed unbidden into her mind.
This time, with Anko Mitarashi and the others around, Mirai Uchiha probably wouldn't give any special guidance, right?
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Watching Kurenai Yuhi and the others quickly run off with flushed faces, Mirai Uchiha couldn't help but shake his head.
Seriously, they were refusing proper treatment.
He had only slightly corrected their taijutsu stances. Why did they run away like that?
Of course, during these three days, all four of them had clearly improved.
Under his guidance, Kurenai Yuhi and the other three girls' strength had significantly increased.
Take Yugao Uzuki for example—her combat strength was now enough to rival some elite chunin.
Mitarashi Anko was slightly weaker, but still reached the level of a regular chunin.
As for Kurenai Yuhi and Rin Nohara...
Based on their performance, they most likely wouldn't pass this jonin exam.
Kurenai specialized in genjutsu, and her strength was roughly at the tokubetsu jonin level.
Rin Nohara excelled in medical ninjutsu, but her combat abilities remained somewhat weak.
Her overall strength was about equal to Yugao's.
But all this was only temporary.
Since they were his women, he would definitely ensure they obtained powerful abilities in the future.
Let those other girls who couldn't have him be jealous.
Lifting his head to glance at the sun, it was already close to noon.
Mirai Uchiha activated the Flying Thunder God Technique and arrived at the Hokage's Office.
He opened the lunchbox personally prepared by Uchiha Mikoto, and a fragrant aroma wafted up to him.
After some time of learning and adaptation, Mikoto's cooking skills were no worse than his.
In fact, she had even begun innovating, researching and developing several new and interesting dishes on her own.
They suited Mirai Uchiha's tastes perfectly.
While he was eating, a knock sounded from outside the office.
"Come in."
As soon as Mirai Uchiha spoke, Shikaku Nara walked in.
"Lord Mirai, Asuma Sarutobi has lost contact."
Mirai Uchiha raised an eyebrow: "What happened?"
Shikaku Nara said solemnly, "More than half a month ago, Asuma Sarutobi accepted a mission at the mission hall—to escort a merchant caravan—but hasn't returned to the village to submit the mission report yet."
"I've already sent people to investigate, and the merchant caravan safely reached its destination a week ago."
"Given a ninja's travel speed, Asuma should have returned long ago, but someone spotted him in a border town within the Land of Fire."
After finishing his report, Shikaku Nara stood quietly, awaiting Mirai Uchiha's decision.
To his slight surprise, Mirai Uchiha showed no extreme reaction. He simply spoke calmly, "Handle it according to the village's rules."
"Issue a hunt order for Asuma Sarutobi as a Konoha rogue ninja and release a wanted notice across the ninja world."
"Yes."
Shikaku Nara nodded and left.
The Hokage's son being hunted as a rogue ninja...
Once this news spreads, the entire ninja world would surely be shocked.
Inside the Hokage's Office.
Mirai Uchiha sat in the Hokage's exclusive seat, staring blankly at the passersby outside the window.
In the original story, Asuma Sarutobi had also secretly left the village, yet as the son of Hiruzen Sarutobi, Asuma became one of the Twelve Guardian Shinobi of the Fire Daimyo under the identity of a Konoha ninja.
And successfully earned a bounty of 35,000,000 ryo.
Mirai Uchiha was curious—this time, with Asuma branded as a rogue ninja, where would his path lead him?
He hadn't chosen to attack Asuma. After all, they had been teammates for a while.
He hoped that the other would survive longer even as a missing-nin. Otherwise, it would become too boring.
"Asuma... you, who always felt ashamed of being the Hokage's son, how far can you go now that you've lost the Hokage's protection?"
"What an exciting path..."
After murmuring softly to himself, Mirai Uchiha suddenly sensed the summons from the Flying Thunder God Marker.
In an instant, his figure vanished from the Hokage's Office.
Inside a dim, damp cave, Orochimaru's pale face appeared before Mirai.
"Long time no see, Mirai-kun!"
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