System Mission

The group arrived at the Hot Spring Inn and was about to head inside.

Suddenly, Ling Feng stopped in his tracks.

Everyone else froze in surprise.

"What's wrong, Ling Feng?"

Kurenai Yuhi asked with concern.

Ling Feng frowned slightly. "Nothing."

Just as he finished speaking, three figures flashed past at high speed, whipping up a gust of wind that startled everyone.

Immediately afterward, elite ANBU members raced after them.

Clearly, enemies had infiltrated the village!

"What's going on? There are actually enemies here!"

Everyone was stunned. They were still students, and this was their first time facing anything like this. They were all nervous.

"Hey! Get back to the village, now!"

An ANBU operative wearing a mask appeared and shouted at them.

They had no choice but to return to the village. They couldn't refuse an ANBU order.

But a system notification sounded in Ling Feng's mind.

Ding! System mission issued: eliminate the Konoha spies. Reward: 100 Points. Time limit: one hour!

Oh?

I'd actually triggered a system mission!

But only 100 Points? That seemed a little stingy.

After all, I'd just earned 80 Points from a single meal.

Still, there was no reason to pass up those 100 Points!

So Ling Feng stopped again.

"What's wrong, Ling Feng? Did you forget something?"

Rin Nohara was the first to notice something was amiss and asked with concern.

Kurenai Yuhi stopped as well.

It seemed both girls had their attention fixed on Ling Feng.

"Yeah, I left something behind. You go on ahead. I'll get it myself."

Ling Feng nodded, then turned around.

"Let's go together. Those enemies went up the mountain too. It'll be dangerous for you to go alone."

Kurenai Yuhi spoke up.

The others nodded in agreement.

"It's fine. I'm just picking something up."

Ling Feng was taken aback. He wasn't actually going to retrieve anything, so how would he explain himself once they got there?

But his classmates were adamant. Touched though he was, Ling Feng felt a headache coming on. In the end, he reluctantly nodded.

"They're not even Jonin-level enemies. I could take care of them without breaking a sweat..."

Walking ahead, Ling Feng couldn't help muttering to himself.

"What?" Everyone looked puzzled.

"Uh, nothing. Let's go. Pick up the pace so we can get back sooner."

With that, Ling Feng broke into a run.

Everyone followed close behind.

Soon, they returned to the place where they had eaten lunch.

Ling Feng made a show of searching, but inwardly, he was getting anxious.

How was I supposed to pull this off?

To avoid arousing suspicion, Ling Feng had been forced to retrace their steps.

Although the system had already shown him the route, he couldn't take a detour. How would he explain that?

Just as Ling Feng was struggling with this problem, he noticed the location indicated by the system drawing closer and closer.

That meant the enemies were approaching them!

Well, well. You ignored the road to heaven and barged straight into hell!

Ling Feng pretended not to notice and kept searching the area, but his attention was already fixed on the rapidly approaching enemies.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Suddenly, three figures flashed into view and stopped in front of the group.

Everyone took a closer look and froze in terror.

The three figures were Konoha ANBU members, but they were covered in blood. They had clearly suffered serious injuries.

Immediately afterward, the three enemies appeared as well.

The Forehead Protectors they wore revealed their identities: they were ninja from the Hidden Mist Ninja Village.

The Konoha ANBU had been pursuing the enemies, so how had they ended up being beaten back instead?

"How could... this happen?"

None of them could understand it, but Ling Feng knew why.

Kirigakure was actually an underestimated village, home to many powerful ninja.

These three Konoha ANBU members were probably lower-ranking operatives. Their superiors had assumed the enemies weren't strong, so they had let their guard down.

But no matter. With me here, you lot had better sit down and behave!

"They're all Chunin-level experts! Damn it!"

One of the Konoha ANBU members growled.

"Hmph. Konoha ninja are nothing special. I thought you'd be stronger."

One of the enemies sneered.

The three Konoha ANBU members huddled together nervously, gripping their Kunai. Blood kept streaming down their arms. Their injuries were indeed severe.

"Well, well, look at all these brats. How interesting!"

"It'd be a shame to kill them so young. Why not take them back for the village to train? We're short on people anyway."

"Right. We can take these brats back. They all look like promising prospects."

"As for these three pieces of Konoha trash, let's just kill them."

Seeing that they held the advantage, the three Kirigakure ninja casually decided everyone's fate among themselves.

But the ANBU ninja weren't cowards. While the enemies were talking, they decided to launch a surprise attack, hoping to turn the situation around.

Unfortunately, there was a genuine gap in strength between the two sides.

The moment the three launched their surprise attack, the enemies moved too.

Bam!

The three ANBU members crashed to the ground in a heap, each crying out in pain.

Their injuries had grown even worse!

"Tch! You're about to die, and you still won't behave!"

A Kirigakure ninja stepped forward, raising a Kunai with a vicious look on his face.

"Die!"

But a moment later, a pebble struck him squarely in the palm.

"Aah!"

His Kunai fell with his scream, clattering to the ground.

"Who was that?"

"So it was you, brat!"

At last, everyone's eyes focused on Ling Feng.

"Ling Feng! Have you lost your mind?"

Might Guy shouted in horror at the sight.

They were only five-year-old children. How could they dare challenge Chunin-level experts?

The Kirigakure ninja Ling Feng had struck looked especially astonished.

"Brat, looks like you have a death wish!"

With that, he drew another Kunai and charged straight at Ling Feng.

"Ling Feng!"

Kurenai Yuhi and Rin Nohara cried out together.

But a moment later, a low shout rang out, and the earth began to tremble.

"Earth Release: Fish Reflected in Earth!"

As Ling Feng finished speaking, earth surged up from the ground. Then, a multitude of humanoid mud figures appeared!

"What is this?"

The enemy was startled, but his Kunai never stopped, driving straight toward Ling Feng.

Yet the instant it struck, Ling Feng's body turned to earth, and he appeared in another clone.

This Earth Release technique was something like a combination of the Shadow Clone Technique and the Substitution Technique. Ling Feng could switch freely between these earthen clones with a thought.

It let him move as freely as a fish in water, which was why it was called Fish Reflected in Earth!

Bam!

Without hesitation, Ling Feng lashed out with a kick, slamming it into the enemy's waist.

A sharp crack rang out-the unmistakable sound of a bone breaking.

The enemy screamed and lay on the ground, not daring to move.

That kick had been infused with chakra!