The Can't-Stop-Talking Star

The conversation ended. In short, the Third Hokage had chatted for a while, shared his views on the various crises facing Konoha, and instructed the Aburame Clan to continue investigating.

Yang Xing and the others, however, had nothing they were asked to do.

After all, they were just a small team of little kids, barely eleven years old. The Third Hokage hadn't expected much from them.

For Yang Xing and the others, this was also a rare chance to enjoy some time off.

Although they didn't know when another special mission might come along, at least they were sure to get a little rest.

Only, Yang Xing realized that coming back didn't actually mean he could get a proper rest.

He'd been on the road the whole way back and hadn't had any time to try out or check his new activity achievements and aura.

That five-star rating for killing an elite Jonin had earned him a unique achievement and two Evolution Fruits. His strength had increased tremendously.

Oh, and there was also the aura he'd plundered from the elite Jonin. Just that aura alone had kept Yang Xing excited for quite a while.

Special Jonin of the Land of Earth (Unique Aura): Provides Earth-attribute chakra and increases the power of all Earth Style ninjutsu by 1x.

Reduces the power of all Earth Style ninjutsu by 1x. Automatically grants mastery of all Earth Style ninjutsu below S-rank that are not Kekkei Genkai techniques. Earth Style techniques already mastered are upgraded to enhanced versions.

Earth Style: Hardening Technique, enhanced version: The original earth-and-stone defense around the body is replaced with iron ore.

Earth Style: Earth Rain Clay, Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall, and Earth Spear: Their coverage is increased by 30% compared to the originals.

Clearly, "improved" and "enhanced" were two different concepts. Although they were somewhat similar, Yang Xing was sure that the power of an improved technique surpassed that of an enhanced one.

His ninjutsu should now fall into four categories. Ordinary techniques were the weakest; techniques with increased power were stronger; enhanced versions had their power greatly increased; and improved techniques were like overpowered versions of their original selves.

First Successful Kill of an Elite Jonin (Unique Achievement): Select a ninjutsu technique. In addition to improving its power, greatly reduces its chakra cost.

This unique achievement was arguably the most tempting of all. Just imagining the power of an improved technique made Yang Xing eager to try it out. Unfortunately, he didn't have time to choose a technique and test it right now.

After leaving the Hokage building, he went straight around to the back.

Near one of the building's walls, he found Minato Namikaze waiting for him.

Seeing Minato Namikaze beckon to him with a smile, Yang Xing had no choice but to go over.

He sighed softly, lamenting that he really was quite charming, then walked over.

They exchanged a few pleasantries, leaned against the wall, and began to chat.

"Hey, Yang Xing, what do you think of Konoha?" Minato Namikaze asked briefly. As he spoke, he wasn't looking at Yang Xing, but gazing up at the sky.

"What do I think?" Yang Xing thought for a moment and could only come up with one word. "Home?"

"Oh, well, you could put it that way. But here, there are ordinary civilians as well as powerful ninja. The powerful ninja are divided into elite, mid-level, and low-level ranks, and above them is the Kage Level, the faith and supreme authority of the whole village." Minato Namikaze's gaze wandered from the sky back to Yang Xing, and this time he stared right at him. "The title of Hokage is only given to someone with potential who can benefit the village. You know that, right?"

"Hmm?" Yang Xing had known all that for a while, but Minato seemed a little strange today.

What puzzled Yang Xing even more was the achievement notification he heard in his ear.

"Obtained ordinary achievements: Person Favored by the Fourth Hokage; became the village's 'Jewel'; Kid with a Promising Future; Emerging Talent."

"Reached the required number of ordinary achievements. Received a 20% increase to all physical attributes. 5 more ordinary achievements needed to reach the next reward."

Getting so many achievements all at once surprised Yang Xing a little.

Although the bonus was only 20% to his physical attributes, it was still quite helpful to him right now.

At the moment, Yang Xing had no time to pay attention to his achievements, because they seemed to be connected to what Minato Namikaze would say next.

The words that followed proved him right.

"Special S-rank mission triggered: Cultivation by the Fourth Hokage. For the sake of Konoha's future, do you accept?"

"Decline."

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely!"

Yang Xing answered without hesitation. He secretly reached over and turned off his phone just as quickly.

Then he looked up and put on a clueless expression as he watched Minato Namikaze, who clearly had something to say.

"Yang Xing, do you want to become Hokage?" Minato Namikaze asked suddenly, his expression serious.

Even with the system's prompt, Yang Xing was still stunned for a moment.

It seemed Minato Namikaze wanted to groom him to become the next Hokage. Startled, Yang Xing quickly said, "I-I can't do that."

"That's not necessarily true." Minato Namikaze smiled, his eyes seeming to see right through everything. "That female elite Jonin teacher told me you took down several elite Jonin. The Aburame Clan's Insect Technique is powerful, but there's no way Shibi Aburame alone could have dealt with the two elite Jonin from the Water Flow Clan and the elite Jonin from the Land of Earth's Intelligence Division."

"Hahaha... Maybe I was just lucky."

"Stop pretending." At Yang Xing's evasive smile, Minato Namikaze's expression turned serious. "Yang Xing, I can't quite figure you out right now, and I don't know what kind of impact you'll have on Konoha. But you certainly have a bright future. So I'm giving you two choices: stay in Konoha and become a good ninja who contributes to the village—or perhaps even a good Hokage. Or choose the second option: be forgotten, and never become a Konoha elite Jonin."

"Minato-sensei, are you threatening me?"

"No, no. I'm just asking you." Minato Namikaze pursed his lips, his smile turning a little crafty. "Well, as Hokage of Konoha, I do have a bit of authority. At the very least, I could easily make sure a little kid never passed the Chunin Ninja Exams, no matter how hard he tried, and never passed the elite Jonin assessment."

How sinister, how cunning, how vile, how shameless!

And... and how utterly shameless!

After a moment of silence, Yang Xing still shook his head. "I still can't agree."

Minato Namikaze was surprised. He hadn't expected Yang Xing to refuse so decisively, and his brows furrowed. "Hey, isn't becoming Hokage of Konoha and getting my recommendation as the Fourth Hokage enough? Yang Xing, I can understand how you managed it. I don't know what method you used, but in such a short time, you went from the lowest rank, Genin, to having Chunin-level chakra. I can tell that within ten years, you could reach near-Kage Level strength."

Of course, there was one thing the Fourth Hokage would never understand: Yang Xing didn't need ten years. In just a year, or even a few months, he could become near-Kage Level.

With an Evolution Fruit and the Sharingan, Yang Xing's future strength was impossible to predict.