Let Them Provide Some Entertainment

As he listened to Minato Namikaze, Ling Feng walked over to the window with his hands clasped behind his back.

The gesture made Minato Namikaze's expression stiffen slightly.

It was as though he were watching Lord Third deep in thought. The way Ling Feng carried himself was no different from a wily old fox!

For that brief instant, Minato felt that while he was still himself, Ling Feng had gone straight from being a little brat to being the Hokage!

The thought made the fear in Minato Namikaze's heart grow even stronger.

No way!

Could this brat be the next Hokage?

The thought of serving under this brat made Minato Namikaze feel as sick as if he had swallowed shit.

After all, Minato Namikaze dreamed of becoming Hokage himself.

Before Ling Feng appeared, Minato Namikaze had been the strongest candidate apart from Lord Third's three disciples.

Later, Minato Namikaze had learned that the Konoha Sannin's ambitions had already grown beyond the village. Having lived through the Second Shinobi World War, they yearned more for glory in the outside world.

Whichever way he looked at it, he was the most likely candidate.

But with Ling Feng's arrival, Minato Namikaze was growing less and less certain.

At first, seeing how young Ling Feng was, Minato Namikaze had thought little of him.

Yet every time they met, Ling Feng managed to surprise him beyond anything he could imagine.

Stronger and stronger, harder and harder to read.

It was truly chilling!

Ling Feng said nothing, and Minato Namikaze did not speak again either. The atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

Minato Namikaze actually began to regret coming here.

After all, this was not merely part of Konoha. It was Ling Feng's private residence!

And he had come here on his own, without permission.

Just as Minato Namikaze's thoughts were running wild, Ling Feng finally spoke.

"Minato-sensei, you do have a point, but I really wasn't thinking that far ahead. I simply wanted to repay my classmates."

Minato Namikaze froze, unsure what Ling Feng was up to this time.

Judging by past experience, whenever Ling Feng offered a reason or an explanation, it was always nearly impossible to refute.

"Repay them?"

Minato Namikaze could not make sense of it, and his heart sank. It seemed history was about to repeat itself.

Still, no matter what, he had to grit his teeth and hear the whole explanation.

After all, he had to report back to Lord Third!

"That's right. As you know, I'm an orphan, so I've always lived alone. My classmates have looked after me quite a bit. Now that I have this big residence, even if I won't invite them to move in, I should at least let them have a look around."

"Otherwise, wouldn't everyone say that I, Ling Feng, was stingy and didn't care about my old classmates anymore?"

Ling Feng spoke with righteous conviction, his face completely earnest.

But listening to him made Minato Namikaze's scalp prickle. Of course he had investigated Ling Feng's background, and he knew perfectly well that Ling Feng kept to himself at school, even more aloof than Kakashi.

And he calls that friendship with his classmates?

Like hell I'd believe you! You little brat, you're rotten to the core!

Whatever the case, Ling Feng was determined to go ahead. Minato could not stop him, and nothing he said would make Ling Feng back down.

Minato Namikaze could only give up and report everything to Lord Third exactly as it had happened.

"Then be careful. The higher-ups of the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan may not act, but both clans have plenty of capable mainstays, as well as quite a few young people. They won't have any such reservations. Watch yourself."

With that, Minato Namikaze turned to leave.

Ling Feng smiled and said, "Minato-sensei, I've sent out plenty of invitations. Why don't you and Lord Third come along too?"

As he spoke, Ling Feng flicked two invitations toward Minato Namikaze.

Looking at the invitations in his hands, Minato Namikaze paused. "I'm sorry, Ling Feng, but we probably won't be able to come. There are still many matters to handle in the village."

Ling Feng was not upset. He laughed and said, "That's fine. Go about your business. It's just a meal, isn't it? Don't be so nervous."

Minato Namikaze left.

But in those few short minutes, his mood had undergone a tremendous change.

Coming on Lord Third's orders, Minato Namikaze had expected everything to go smoothly. Instead, he left sweating and deeply uneasy, enough to make him question his life.

Even when accepting the invitations at the end, Minato Namikaze had found himself unbearably nervous, his mind racing as he wondered whether taking them or refusing them might cause trouble.

Only when he saw Ling Feng's smile did he realize that Ling Feng really had just been asking casually.

This brat is far too difficult to deal with!

No, I have to go back and discuss this properly with Lord Third!

After seeing Minato Namikaze off, Ling Feng sat back down and leisurely continued reading his magazine.

By his reckoning, the Third Shinobi World War might break out within the next two or three years.

Given his age, Lord Third would generally stay out of the fighting, except under certain special circumstances.

That meant the Konoha Sannin and the new generation of fighters would inevitably take the field.

Ling Feng would undoubtedly be at the forefront.

He would be the face of Konoha's new generation.

With enough strength to back him up, Ling Feng never worried about his words or actions getting him into trouble.

Especially with a great war approaching, Lord Third would only indulge him, never punish him.

And that was exactly what happened. In the two days after Minato Namikaze returned to report, everything remained perfectly quiet. No trouble arose, as though nothing had happened at all.

"Heh, you may be a wily old fox, but I've seen right through you."

Ling Feng smiled smugly.

Two days later, the day of the banquet arrived.

The servants had finished preparing to welcome the guests. This sort of thing was routine for them and presented no difficulty.

Ling Feng only had to fulfill his duties as host.

Kakashi and the others arrived.

Seeing Ling Feng greeting guests at the entrance, they all offered their congratulations.

"Ling Feng, you're really something. With Lord Yuguang so fond of you, you've got a bright future ahead."

Kakashi had already graduated from the Ninja Academy and taken part in a few missions, so he had some understanding of what Ling Feng's reward meant.

Ling Feng smiled faintly. "It's nothing special. I just did my best to complete the mission."

Then Kurenai Yuhi and Rin Nohara came forward, their faces full of envy and admiration. "Ling Feng-kun, you're amazing! This residence is so beautiful!"

"Haha, if you like it, come over whenever you want. You're always welcome!" Ling Feng said with a hearty laugh.

More guests arrived one after another.

Then Ling Feng noticed two groups approaching the entrance with an aggressive air. There was no need to guess. They had to be members of the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan, here to stir up trouble.

"Lord Ling Feng, these guests have invitations too. What should we do?" asked the servant collecting invitations, looking troubled.

Ling Feng narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "Let them in. I haven't prepared any entertainment, so we'll let them provide some!"