Who the Hell Do You Think You Are?

The meeting venue was in the heart of Konoha. Aside from the Hokage Building, the area housed the residences of several senior officials and was likewise off-limits to unauthorized visitors.

At the entrance, Ling Feng sat on a rooftop, enjoying the breeze.

The Konoha Sannin arrived.

"This is the list of key people we need to protect during this operation. There are five in total, and the most important is the head of the cabinet, Kawajiro."

"You'll guard the main entrance. Leave the other areas to us, since you're not very familiar with this place."

Orochimaru handed him the list as he spoke.

Ling Feng nodded and took it. "Understood."

"The meeting starts in two hours. People will begin arriving half an hour before that. Remember, no one gets in without an admission ticket. If anything goes wrong, activate the Blue Seal at once. The others will be alerted immediately and come to support you."

Ling Feng then received a small scroll. When he unrolled it, he found another Sealing Jutsu. It seemed to be some kind of mental ninjutsu used to alert others.

Needless to say, this had to be something Hiruzen Sarutobi had prepared, which showed just how seriously he took this meeting.

Ling Feng understood that as long as the meeting ended smoothly, Konoha's prestige would rise, which would have a significant impact on increasing the funding allocated by the Land of Fire.

In other words, the success or failure of this meeting would affect Konoha's welfare benefits. As an orphan, Ling Feng would undoubtedly see one of the biggest changes in what he received.

So ensuring that everything went smoothly was all gain and no loss for Ling Feng.

According to the plan, before entering the meeting venue through the main road, Ling Feng had to keep his identity concealed to avoid attracting the attention of anyone with ill intentions.

But Ling Feng hadn't expected to run into Kurenai Yuhi and the others.

"Hey! Ling Feng!"

"Huh? Really? It's Ling Feng!"

Rin Nohara spotted Ling Feng first and excitedly waved and called out to him.

Hearing her, Kurenai Yuhi hurriedly searched for Ling Feng as well. Once she spotted him, she jumped with excitement.

Ling Feng froze as two figures came rushing toward him. Once he recognized their faces, he had to abandon his plan to send them flying with a punch and a kick.

Thump!

The two girls hurled themselves straight into Ling Feng's arms.

Fortunately, Ling Feng was strong and sturdy. Otherwise, they would have knocked him over.

Not far away, Guy, Kakashi, Obito, and Asuma watched the scene unfold. Obito and Asuma, in particular, felt like crying.

"Aaargh! That bastard Ling Feng!"

"He's so greedy, going after both of them at once! Obito! Doesn't that make you mad?"

Asuma couldn't help clenching his fists and shouting.

Of course Obito was angry, but the moment he remembered what had happened the last time he targeted Ling Feng, his courage evaporated.

"Asuma, just forget it. Ling Feng is too strong now."

Asuma had been about to go over and start a fight, but those words took the wind out of his sails.

That was right. They had all seen Ling Feng's strength. Even the academy teachers couldn't do anything to him, so what could Asuma possibly do?

"How long are you two going to keep clinging to me?"

Ling Feng supported one girl with each hand, catching their two distinct scents. Honestly, it felt pretty nice.

But this wasn't the right place. Acting like this in the middle of the street was bound to get people talking, wasn't it?

Ling Feng was going to become the man who stood at the pinnacle of the Shinobi World. How could he leave such embarrassing stains on his record?

At Ling Feng's words, Kurenai Yuhi and Rin Nohara grew embarrassed and quickly got back on their feet.

"Ling Feng, have you been doing well lately?"

"Yeah, Ling Feng, it's been over two months. It feels like we haven't seen you in forever."

Ling Feng scratched his head, wondering how he should explain.

Was he supposed to tell them he had already joined the ANBU?

"Well, after graduating early from the Ninja Academy, I became a qualified Genin. Naturally, that means contributing to the village, so I've spent the past two months doing missions."

Ling Feng spoke with a perfectly straight face.

"Wow! You're amazing, Ling Feng!"

Kurenai Yuhi and Rin Nohara immediately clapped their little hands.

Sure enough, girls were always sweet and adorable in front of someone they liked.

Like Sakura with Sasuke, or Hinata with Naruto.

Otherwise, it was violence and indifference.

Like Rin Nohara with Obito, or Kurenai Yuhi with Asuma.

"Ling Feng."

Kakashi walked over.

"Kakashi, long time no see," Ling Feng said with a smile.

"My application for early graduation was approved too. In another week, I'll officially graduate and become a Genin."

Kakashi looked at Ling Feng as he spoke.

Ling Feng narrowed his eyes slightly. He caught the glimmer of unyielding fighting spirit in Kakashi's eyes. Clearly, he had become the goal Kakashi was striving toward.

"Hahaha... That's great news. I'm looking forward to your graduation. Maybe we'll be able to go on missions together."

Smiling, Ling Feng patted Kakashi on the shoulder.

Behind him, Guy clenched his fists as well. "I'll hurry up and graduate too!"

"So will we!"

Rin Nohara and Kurenai Yuhi raised their little fists as they spoke.

For a while, the atmosphere was cheerful and harmonious.

That was, of course, excluding Asuma and Obito, who stood off to the side, too resentful and wary to approach.

Obito, in particular, stared at Ling Feng as though he wanted to devour him alive.

So Ling Feng could more or less guess how the story would unfold next.

Because he had won Rin over, Obito's resentment would surge, eventually driving him down the path of revenge as he tried to create a world with only himself and Rin.

But Ling Feng would never let such a ridiculous dream come true.

Infinite Tsukuyomi, huh?

Heh. Interesting!

Just then, the sudden sound of hoofbeats rang out.

A horse sped past, kicking up clouds of dust that left the villagers along the road coughing.

Ling Feng had just said goodbye to everyone and was about to head to the meeting venue. He had barely taken a few steps when he noticed something wrong behind him.

Turning around, he saw the horse about to crash into Rin Nohara in the middle of the road.

By the time Rin reacted, all she could see was the horse's head growing larger and larger in her vision.

"Aah!!"

A scream rang out.

Then came a muffled bang.

Passersby stopped in their tracks, gasping in shock.

"Oh no! That little girl must be badly hurt!"

"Where did that horse come from? Why isn't the rider watching out for pedestrians?"

"That child is only five or six, isn't she? Poor thing!"

Obito was stunned too. By the time he snapped out of it, all he could do was scream into the dust stirred up by the violent collision, "Rin!!"

But when the dust cleared, everyone was dumbfounded.

A boy stood in front of the girl, his hand outstretched.

The horse, meanwhile, lay on the ground, apparently knocked unconscious.

Its rider had also tumbled to the ground in a miserable heap. His face covered in dirt and dust, he glared furiously at Ling Feng.

"You damned brat! Do you know who I am? How dare you lay a hand on me! You're asking to die!"

His words made everyone shudder in fear.

But Ling Feng's face remained expressionless as he said coldly, "So what if I hit you? Who the hell do you think you are?"