This is Truly an Age Issue

"It's a pity, but I really don't want to be Hokage." Yang Xing shook his head with a sigh. This time, he didn't brush it off, but said earnestly, "One day, I will leave. I want to travel across the entire country and fulfill my dream."

"A dream, is it?" Seeing the firm look in Yang Xing's eyes, Minato Namikaze didn't want to admit it, but he understood that at this moment, Yang Xing wouldn't listen to anything else. "Yang Xing, are you sure you don't want to reconsider?"

The next generation of Konoha—or rather, the next generation of powerful ninjas capable of reaching the level of Hokage—made Yang Xing's value to Konoha immeasurably important.

It was necessary to use every means to recruit him; this was something he had to do as the Fourth Hokage.

"Teacher Minato, I call you teacher, and I can guarantee you that I will never do anything to harm any ordinary person in Konoha." Yang Xing looked at Minato Namikaze with a calm expression.

Seeing that earnest gaze, Minato Namikaze could only give up.

"Is that so? It seems that no matter how much I say, it's useless." Minato Namikaze sighed, then placed a hand on Yang Xing's shoulder and said seriously, "However, Yang Xing, be careful. Hiding your strength is a must. In the future, try to use your more prominent abilities less often, especially so that certain people in Konoha don't find out."

"What do you mean?"

"You'll understand in the future. Alright, let's stop talking about this. Tell me, what do you want to do in other countries?" Realizing that Yang Xing wanted to go out and see the world, Minato Namikaze became a bit interested.

He really wanted to figure out what this powerful little guy's ultimate goal was.

"Women, of course." To Minato Namikaze's surprise, Yang Xing exclaimed with a sigh right to his face, "There are too few beauties in Konoha, and most of them are minors. Those who have the looks and the figure are already married, and even the single ones only worship the high-ranking officials of Konoha. Teacher Minato, haven't you noticed that you get a lot of looks when you walk down the street?"

Minato Namikaze: "..."

Minato Namikaze wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled awkwardly, "That... I really haven't noticed."

"So, this place is simply unbearable to stay in." Yang Xing clenched his fists, looking as if he wanted to pound the ground and shout, "Beasts! Why can't those beauties look back at me? Why can't they wink at me? Why is this happening?"

Minato Namikaze raised his hand, beads of sweat the size of beans on his forehead, and said, "Uh, Yang Xing, you're only 11 years old. You should understand that there aren't any adult women in this world who would wink at an 11-year-old..."

"Ha, this isn't an age issue at all; it's a problem with the whole village, a problem with those women." Yang Xing wouldn't listen; he waved his hand, his expression firm. "Teacher Minato, I'm not joking. I'm being very serious."

Minato Namikaze felt a slight sense of shame; he really wanted to tell this brat loudly: I am also being very serious—this is absolutely an age issue!

"Teacher Minato, I really don't understand how you stay so calm when so many beauties look at you and wink. If it were me, I don't think I could do it. Teacher Minato..."

"Hahaha, I just remembered I have something to do, I'll be going now." Minato Namikaze turned around and slipped away without a second thought. As he walked off, he didn't forget to wave his hand. "Well, Yang Xing, do consider what I said earlier."

Yang Xing was simply endless once he started talking about girls.

This was near the Hokage Building, the center of Konoha, and he was the Fourth Hokage.

If some people saw him chatting about women with a little brat, who knew what the people of Konoha would think? Even if the villagers didn't say anything.

He was certain one person would chop him to pieces. Kushina Uzumaki wouldn't just chop him; she might even bury him alive.

So, even if it looked pathetic, Minato Namikaze hurried away. As far as Yang Xing was concerned, he was perhaps the most headache-inducing student—or opponent—of his life.

Watching Minato Namikaze dash away like a blur, a smug smile curled at the corner of Yang Xing's mouth. As he turned to leave, he began to hum softly.

"To hell with Konoha, to hell with being Hokage. I want the whole world! The beauties of the entire world are waiting for me. I don't want to be the boss of this tiny place; my goal is the world!"

Humming his ideals, Yang Xing intended to go home.

He really just wanted to go home, get a good night's sleep, have a hearty meal, test the strength of his Earth Style, and then carefully consider what kind of bonus ninjutsu he should choose for his next achievement.

These were the things he wanted to do right now, but they couldn't be realized immediately.

Because as soon as he parted ways with Minato Namikaze, Yang Xing realized he was being followed.

The person must have started tailing him the moment Minato Namikaze left and he emerged from the back of the Hokage Building. It was highly likely that this person worked in the Hokage Building.

As for who it was, Yang Xing didn't know.

At the very least, this sneaky person following him was not among those he knew.

Not wanting the person to know where he lived, Yang Xing began to take detours through the bustling streets.

Not far behind him, a man with his face obscured by a hood kept his eyes locked on the child ahead. Seeing the boy weaving through the crowd with such agility, the man grew tense and immediately quickened his pace.

"No, this guy is too fast. I have to catch up."

Yang Xing's speed was too great, which made the hooded man anxious. Losing control of his pace, he lunged forward, following Yang Xing's footsteps directly into a deserted alleyway.

The narrow alley could only accommodate one person, and the moment he entered, he realized something was wrong.

Clearly, Yang Xing had already been standing there, facing his direction, watching him quietly.

"Alright, speak up. Why are you following me? Who are you?" Seeing the man freeze in place without daring to attack, Yang Xing crossed his arms and watched him with a calm expression. "If you don't want me to ensure you never learn ninjutsu again, you'd better explain yourself quickly."

Although it sounded arrogant for an 11-year-old to threaten someone with never being able to learn ninjutsu again, the man did not doubt for a second that the child before him had the ability to do so.

Upon hearing Yang Xing's words, he didn't even think before dropping to one knee.

Under Yang Xing's puzzled gaze, the hooded man pulled down his hood. The cat-mask and the distinct insignia of an Anbu captain made Yang Xing frown.

The insignia of a high-ranking Anbu officer was not something an ordinary person could possess, nor was this an ordinary ninja. The strength of the ninja before him was at least at the Jonin level.