This Really Is an Age Problem

"Unfortunately, I really don't want to become Hokage." Yang Xing shook his head with a sigh. This time, he wasn't brushing the matter off. He said seriously, "One day, I'll leave. I want to travel across the whole country and fulfill my dream."

"Your dream?" Seeing the determination in Yang Xing's eyes, Minato Namikaze didn't want to admit it, but he understood that Yang Xing wouldn't listen to anything he said right now. "Yang Xing, do you really not want to think it over?"

The next generation of Konoha—or rather, the next generation's potential to produce powerful ninja on the level of a Hokage—made Yang Xing incredibly valuable to Konoha.

He had to do everything in his power to win Yang Xing over. It was his duty as the Fourth Hokage.

"Minato-sensei, I call you my teacher, so I can promise you this: I'll never do anything to hurt any ordinary people in Konoha." Yang Xing calmly met Minato Namikaze's gaze.

Seeing the seriousness in his eyes, Minato Namikaze could only give up.

"I see. Looks like there's no point in saying anything more." Minato Namikaze sighed, then put a hand on Yang Xing's shoulder and said earnestly, "Still, Yang Xing, be careful. You have to keep your strength hidden. Use your more exceptional abilities sparingly from now on, especially around certain people in Konoha."

"What do you mean?"

"You'll understand someday. All right, enough of that. Tell me, what do you want to do in other countries?" Now that he knew Yang Xing wanted to get out and see the world, Minato Namikaze was a little curious.

He really wanted to know what goals this powerful little guy had.

"Girls, of course." To Minato Namikaze's surprise, Yang Xing sighed right in front of him. "There are too few beautiful women in Konoha, and most of them are underage. The ones with looks and figures are already married. Even the single ones only admire Konoha's higher-ups. Minato-sensei, haven't you noticed how often people look back at you when you walk down the street?"

Minato Namikaze: "..."

Minato Namikaze wiped the sweat from his forehead and managed a strained smile. "Well, I can't say I've noticed."

"So this place is impossible to live in!" Yang Xing clenched his fists, looking as if he wanted to pound the ground and scream. "You beasts! Why can't those beautiful women look back at me or flirt with me?"

Minato Namikaze raised a hand, beads of sweat as big as beans on his forehead. "Um, Yang Xing, you're only eleven. You do understand that no adult woman in the world would flirt with an eleven-year-old, right?"

"Ha! This has nothing to do with age. It's the whole village's problem—the women's problem." Yang Xing waved a hand, utterly convinced. "Minato-sensei, I'm not joking. I'm completely serious."

Minato Namikaze's face grew a little damp with embarrassment. He wanted to shout at the kid, I'm completely serious too! This absolutely is an age problem!

"Minato-sensei, I really don't understand. How do you stay so calm when so many beautiful women look at you and flirt with you? If it were me, I don't think I could handle it. Um, Minato-sensei..."

"Hahaha! I just remembered I have something to do. I'll be going!" Minato Namikaze turned and hurried off without a second thought. As he left, he didn't forget to wave and call, "Anyway, Yang Xing, think about what I said earlier."

Once Yang Xing started talking about girls, he just wouldn't stop.

This was near the Hokage Building, right in the center of Konoha. And he was the Fourth Hokage.

If anyone saw him talking about women with a little kid, who knew what the people of Konoha would say? Even if they didn't say anything...

He was sure there was one person who would beat him to a pulp. Kushina Uzumaki wouldn't just beat him to a pulp; she might even bury him alive.

So even though he was fleeing in a sorry state, Minato Namikaze hurried away. Yang Xing might well be the most troublesome student he'd ever have—or perhaps the most troublesome rival.

Watching Minato Namikaze sprint away, Yang Xing's lips curled into a smug smile. He turned to leave, humming softly.

"What a ridiculous village, what a ridiculous Hokage. I want the whole world—the whole world's beautiful women are waiting for me! I don't want to be some little-place leader. My goal is the world!"

Humming about his ambitions, Yang Xing headed home.

All he really wanted was to go home, sleep well, eat a big meal, test the strength of his Earth Style, then think carefully about which ninjutsu enhancement to choose for his achievement.

That was what he wanted to do right now, but he couldn't do it just yet.

As soon as he parted ways with Minato Namikaze, Yang Xing realized someone was following him.

The person had probably started tailing him when Minato Namikaze left and he came out from behind the Hokage Building. There was a good chance the person worked in the Hokage Building.

As for who it was, Yang Xing had no idea.

At the very least, this sneaky follower wasn't anyone he knew.

Not wanting the person to learn where he lived, Yang Xing took a winding route through the bustling streets.

A short distance behind him, a man with his face hidden beneath a hat stared intently at the child ahead. Seeing Yang Xing nimbly weave through the crowd, the man grew tense and immediately followed.

"No good. This kid's too fast. I have to catch up!"

Yang Xing was moving far too quickly. The man in the hat grew anxious and failed to control his speed. With a sudden burst of movement, he followed Yang Xing straight into an empty alley.

The narrow alley was only wide enough for one person. As soon as he entered, the man realized something was wrong.

Yang Xing was already standing there, facing him and watching him in silence.

"All right, tell me. Why are you following me? Who are you?" Seeing that the man had stopped and made no move to attack, Yang Xing crossed his arms and regarded him calmly. "If you don't want to lose the ability to use ninjutsu, you'd better explain."

It sounded arrogant for an eleven-year-old like Yang Xing to threaten to make someone lose the ability to use ninjutsu, but the man didn't doubt that the child in front of him could do it.

The moment he heard Yang Xing's words, the man dropped to one knee without a second thought.

As Yang Xing watched, puzzled, the man in the hat pulled it off. The cat-faced mask and the distinctive insignia of a senior Anbu Ninja made Yang Xing furrow his brow.

A badge marking a senior Anbu Ninja officer wasn't something just anyone could have. This wasn't an ordinary ninja. The man in front of him was at least a Jonin.