A Private Training Ground

The next day.

Ling Feng completed his daily training routine as usual, then had a simple bowl of ramen before heading to the Hokage's office to report in.

By the time he arrived, the other three were already there.

Minato Namikaze looked at Ling Feng with a rather grim expression.

Ling Feng was late for the second time.

"Hm? We were supposed to meet at one. I cut it close, but I'm not late, am I?"

Ling Feng glanced at the clock on the wall, then looked at Lord Third.

Lord Third frowned at that and actually looked up at the clock himself.

Cold sweat broke out on Minato Namikaze's forehead.

"Well... uh, Ling Feng, that clock is broken. It's showing the wrong time."

Ling Feng understood. So the clock was broken, which meant he really was late.

But how could he possibly admit that?

So Ling Feng said with a perfectly straight face, "No. If this clock is hanging in Lord Hokage's office, then it must be working."

Everyone was stunned.

Gasp!

Sharp intakes of breath sounded around the room.

This kid had some serious nerve!

He sounded so earnest that they had no idea how to argue with him.

Even Hiruzen Sarutobi was momentarily speechless.

True enough. Why leave a broken clock hanging there?

This was the Hokage's office. How could they make such a basic mistake?

Unable to help pressing a hand to his forehead, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally let out a breath and said, "Ling Feng, this is hardly a major issue. As for this operation, the leadership of the Land of Fire was very pleased, especially with you. They said you deserved a proper reward."

"Fox has already given me the mission report and everything else. Is there anything you want?"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone looked at Ling Feng with envy.

They had never expected Lord Third to personally ask Ling Feng what reward he wanted. If word got out, countless people would be green with envy.

Ling Feng tilted his head slightly. That really was a difficult question.

What am I missing?

He had always lived alone, and he did not have much need for material things in this world.

"Not really, but if I have to name something, I'd like a training ground of my own."

After giving it some careful thought, Ling Feng spoke.

Hiruzen Sarutobi raised an eyebrow. "A training ground? Are you serious?"

"Yes." Ling Feng nodded.

Every time he went out to train, Ling Feng had to walk a long way to find somewhere deserted. Having a private training ground would save him a great deal of travel time.

Hiruzen Sarutobi kept tapping his fingers against the desk, seemingly considering something.

After a while, he nodded. "All right. Here's a map, with the locations marked. Pick any plot that meets the requirements."

"Oh, and the Head of the Cabinet, Kimura Bunshu, the official personally appointed by the Daimyo, is coming to inspect our village. He has also arranged to meet other political dignitaries here. He specifically requested Ling Feng to handle security. Fox will arrange everything else."

"That's all. You're dismissed."

Everyone acknowledged the order and turned to leave.

"Ling Feng, wait a moment."

After he left the Hokage's office building, Minato Namikaze's voice came from behind him.

Ling Feng turned around and instantly pinpointed Minato Namikaze's position.

Meeting Ling Feng's gaze, Minato Namikaze felt his heart sink. Good grief, the boy had grown considerably stronger after just one mission.

This child's rate of improvement was terrifying!

Ling Feng, meanwhile, felt that Minato Namikaze's Body Flicker Technique really was impressive. He would still need some time to surpass him.

Still, the man was going to become the Fourth Hokage, after all. His strength was beyond question.

"What is it, Lord Minato?"

"I don't know whether you've heard of the Konoha Sannin. They're my students, and they'll be returning soon. After that, though, they'll investigate a force secretly deployed outside Kirigakure, codenamed Mist. It's a Rogue Ninja Organization made up of defectors from all the major ninja villages, and its overall strength is formidable. Kirigakure organizing a force of rogue ninja is itself a violation of the Shinobi World Convention, but they've kept the group hidden outside the village. We have no evidence, so we can't expose Kirigakure's crimes."

"Originally, I intended to send the three of them. But considering how strong you are, I thought I'd have you accompany them as an extra precaution."

"Of course, whether you go is entirely your choice. You have a day to think it over, so there's no need to answer right away. This mission is classified as SSS Rank and top secret. Apart from me, Lord Third, and those of you participating, no one else will know about it."

"That means this mission carries a very high risk. If anything goes wrong and you die, no accurate information about the cause of your death will be made public. Even your whereabouts in the days before your death will be erased."

After finishing, Minato Namikaze looked at Ling Feng uneasily.

Although he very much wanted Ling Feng to participate, the boy really was far too young.

This mission was extremely dangerous. Even sending the Sannin did not put him at ease. But he could not find anyone else suitable to reinforce the team on such short notice, so he had thought of Ling Feng.

Ling Feng raised his eyebrows and agreed with a nod, without giving it much thought.

"All right, I'm in. When exactly do we leave?"

The harder the mission, the faster I can earn points, right?

Why turn down something this good?

Minato Namikaze froze. "You really want to go?"

"Yes." Ling Feng nodded.

"This is very dangerous. I'm only making a suggestion, not forcing you..."

Minato Namikaze explained himself again.

But Ling Feng waved a hand impatiently, then turned and left.

"Just call me when it's time. I still have training to finish this afternoon."

Watching Ling Feng walk away, Minato Namikaze fell into deep thought.

He began to wonder whether he had made the wrong decision.

The more missions Ling Feng was sent on, the more he would encounter the true face of this world.

The so-called peace was only a facade.

To ordinary people, as long as there was no war, there was peace.

Little did they know that the death toll in places hidden from public view was equally horrifying.

Minato Namikaze was deeply worried. What would Ling Feng think after encountering those unbelievable truths?

He was only a five-year-old child.

But... was he really just a five-year-old child...?

With kindness occupying most of his heart, Minato Namikaze rubbed his temples wearily, filled with anxiety.

It had to be said that Lord Third was quite efficient.

After Ling Feng chose his private training ground, it took only half a day to get everything laid out.

The entire site was enclosed with wire fencing and marked as private property.

And Ling Feng was the only person entitled to use it.

With that, Ling Feng began his frenzied training.

Although he looked forward to the operation with the Sannin, he needed to become even stronger first.