Faced with the Third Hokage's slightly angry expression, Ling Feng answered with complete seriousness.
"Yes, I have a lot of training to do, so I hope the next time you summon me, Lord Third, you can schedule it for the afternoon."
"Or you could make an appointment in advance. Since it's a summons from you, Lord Third, I'd certainly give it priority."
At those words, Minato Namikaze grew so nervous that cold sweat poured down his forehead.
This was probably the first time since Konoha's founding that anyone had dared speak to the Hokage like that!
He had no idea what was going on. They had summoned Ling Feng for a talk, so why was he the one getting so nervous?
Hiruzen Sarutobi's chest heaved with anger as well.
He took a long, hard drag on his pipe before finally managing to suppress his anger.
This brat was far too brazen!
"Ling Feng, I think that's a good suggestion."
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke.
Beside him, Minato Namikaze froze. This wasn't right. Why was Lord Third going along with Ling Feng?
Ling Feng raised an eyebrow too. What was this old fox plotting now?
After two dry coughs, Hiruzen Sarutobi continued, "Ling Feng, how would you rate your strength?"
Ling Feng thought for a moment and said, "It's all right, I suppose. Still a long way from what I expected."
"Mm. That's why I'd like to give you a chance to really hone your skills."
With that, Hiruzen Sarutobi took out a scroll and handed it to Ling Feng.
Ling Feng opened it, and his pupils contracted.
It was an agreement for joining ANBU, much like the life-and-death waivers people signed in ancient times. Putting his handprint on it would mean accepting every clause and provision it contained.
Although Ling Feng knew the plot of Naruto, this was his first time seeing this top-secret agreement.
Watching Ling Feng carefully read through the clauses, even Hiruzen Sarutobi grew a little nervous.
Why was this child so mature, just like an adult?
Wasn't he being a little too cautious in how he handled things?
This wasn't how someone his age should act at all.
Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at Minato Namikaze, who shook his head, as if to say, I'm even more baffled than you are. I can't read him at all.
After a while, Ling Feng finally finished reading.
There was nothing much to it, really. Most of it consisted of confidentiality clauses. Anyone who violated them would be listed as a fugitive rogue ninja, an extremely serious charge that amounted to becoming a public enemy of everyone in Konoha.
But that was only a threat to ordinary ANBU ninja. Against the truly elite fighters, it was practically useless.
Orochimaru, for instance, would choose to defect before long. But what did it matter if he became a wanted man?
Strength was what mattered most. Ordinary people couldn't catch him at all. Anyone who tried would just be cannon fodder, throwing their life away.
So Ling Feng set down the scroll and pressed his handprint onto it without giving it much further thought.
Joining ANBU was one of the options Ling Feng had already considered.
It meant he would constantly be taking on difficult missions and facing powerful enemies, which would be a great help in farming points.
He set down the scroll and handed it back to Hiruzen Sarutobi, completing the whole sequence in one smooth motion.
Both Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze were stunned.
Was this really how a five-year-old behaved?
He raised no objections and asked no questions. After reading the contents, he simply pressed down his handprint, as though they hadn't summoned him at all-he had come to them himself.
"You... don't have any questions at all?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's stiff expression finally shifted into a strained, ugly smile.
Ling Feng shook his head. "It's just ANBU, isn't it? I happen to be interested, and you happen to need me, Lord Third. It's a win-win."
Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent.
Talking to Ling Feng was truly stressful.
He held the highest position in Konoha, yet facing a five-year-old child, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't dare speak carelessly, afraid Ling Feng would see right through him.
Everything Ling Feng displayed was just like a thoroughly mature man.
It couldn't help reminding Hiruzen Sarutobi of his old rival and friend, Shimura Danzō.
"To be honest, for a moment I thought I was talking to an old acquaintance."
After a long while, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed out those words.
But Ling Feng raised an eyebrow and said, "Then that old acquaintance of yours must be awfully young."
Those words nearly made Hiruzen Sarutobi cough up blood in anger.
"Lord Third, if there's nothing else, I'll be going."
With that, Ling Feng turned to leave.
Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi sprang out of his chair. "There is something else!"
"What?" Ling Feng looked back.
"Since you've agreed to join ANBU, shouldn't you go and report in? Get to know your comrades."
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke.
Ling Feng thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Fair point. I'll stop by, then."
After finally seeing Ling Feng off, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat down wearily, holding his forehead with a troubled expression.
"Minato, do you think letting Ling Feng join ANBU was the right decision?"
At that, Minato Namikaze thought for a long time before answering hesitantly, "I'm not sure either, but it should be much better than letting him act on his own. At least it'll help him understand where his loyalties lie."
With a long sigh, Hiruzen Sarutobi rose and walked to the window, suddenly looking much older. "Let's hope so. Konoha has produced so many geniuses, yet so many of them have fallen."
"I feel as though I can smell war in the air. I hope Konoha can make it through the coming crisis this time!"
Minato Namikaze opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.
War?
Who would stop it this time?
Ling Feng followed an ANBU member to the base.
It was an underground organization that never saw sunlight year-round. The surroundings were incredibly dim, creating a gloomy, terrifying atmosphere.
ANBU had begun as an assassination unit founded by the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju. After the war ended, it gradually evolved into an intelligence agency reporting directly to the Hokage, known simply as ANBU.
This organization, nurtured by countless rivers of blood, possessed a strength ordinary people could never imagine.
Here, killing was commonplace.
The ANBU base was spacious and empty around him. As he walked along the hard stone paving, every footstep rang clearly in his ears.
Once they reached the interior, his guide suddenly stopped.
Ling Feng stopped as well, raising an eyebrow slightly.
"I hear you're pretty capable. Turned the whole Ninja Academy upside down all by yourself."
The guide turned, facing Ling Feng with a mask that concealed every feature and expression beneath it.
Ling Feng knew this was yet another troublemaker looking to show off.
"I thought you ANBU people were busy. Who knew you had time to watch all the commotion outside?"
Ling Feng gave a cold laugh, his eyes and expression full of mockery.
Although he couldn't see the person's face, he could clearly sense the furious expression beneath that mask.
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