I Choose You. Dare to Accept?

The moment the Practical Training Teacher finished speaking, the whole class erupted.

"What? The results of these matches count toward our grades too? That's way too hard!"

"What are we supposed to do? We'll have to find someone weak to fight!"

"But what if they don't agree?"

While the students were clamoring, the Practical Training Teacher spoke again.

"You have three minutes to find an opponent. If you haven't picked one by then, I'll assign you one at random!"

The students grew even louder.

Just then, Ling Feng noticed that the looks on Asuma's and Obito's faces had grown even uglier.

It seemed they really were planning something.

In that case, I won't hold back!

Ling Feng stepped forward and said to Asuma, "I choose you. Dare to accept?"

He deliberately raised his voice so that the students around them could all hear him.

Asuma was dumbfounded. He clearly hadn't expected Ling Feng to provoke him first.

"Well..."

Feeling everyone's eyes on him, Asuma hesitated, his nerves tightening.

It would have been one thing if he had never seen Ling Feng in action, but yesterday's massive fireball was still seared into his mind, roaring away.

What should I do?

Just then, time ran out.

"I'll assign opponents to anyone who hasn't found one!"

The first person the Practical Training Teacher spotted was Asuma, standing opposite Ling Feng, and the two were successfully paired up.

Ling Feng smiled at Asuma, then turned and walked back into the crowd.

Next came the team selection for the Team Battle Royale.

Naturally, everyone who usually had friends to play with found a team, leaving only a few students who rarely talked to others.

Among them were quiet, reserved students like Kakashi and Ling Feng.

But Ling Feng's situation was clearly different from Kakashi's.

Although Ling Feng hadn't taken his place yet, neither had any of the girls in the class!

What were they waiting for?

Asuma, Obito, and the other boys who had already chosen their teams turned their eyes toward Ling Feng.

From that moment on, Ling Feng became the sworn enemy of every boy in the class.

"Ling Feng, ever since I went home yesterday, I've wanted to test your strength. That's why I'm choosing the opposing side," Kakashi suddenly said.

"But believe me, I'm not siding with Asuma and Obito. I just want to fight you."

Ling Feng nodded. "Sure, I understand."

Kakashi would one day be known as Konoha's genius. Of course he wouldn't lower himself to associating with dead weight like Asuma and Obito.

Might Guy, standing nearby, was also eager to try, but he likewise explained himself to Ling Feng before choosing a side.

Ling Feng merely waved him off, showing that he didn't need to worry about it so much.

Soon, Asuma's team was full.

That left everyone else on the other team.

Looking at the members of Ling Feng's team, the Practical Training Teacher couldn't help scratching his head, looking thoroughly troubled.

Yes, troubled.

Because apart from Ling Feng himself, everyone on his team was a girl!

Ling Feng felt the envious, jealous stares of every boy in the class.

He could only shrug helplessly.

Come on!

I stood here until the very end and got stuck on this team!

I'm just this charming and this lucky. You're blaming me for that too?

Still, Ling Feng couldn't control what other people said. He couldn't exactly go up and slap each of them across the face, could he?

That would be far too brazen. At the very least, he ought to wait until the teacher was gone before making a move.

As someone who had completed his compulsory education, Ling Feng took respecting teachers very seriously.

Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office.

Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi was signing and stamping documents with sweeping flourishes, while Minato Namikaze watched quietly beside him. Ostensibly, he was learning; in reality, he was merely going through the motions.

Although the Third Hokage had made it clear that he would arrange for Minato Namikaze to succeed him, no one knew how long that would take.

For now, Minato Namikaze was nothing more than an errand runner at the Third Hokage's side.

"Minato, what do you think about the spy's capture yesterday?"

Having finished the work in his hands, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up and asked.

Minato Namikaze considered the question, then said, "I don't think this was a simple matter. Someone at the scene must have intervened."

"Oh? You mean those five-year-old children who were there were the key to defeating the enemy?" Sarutobi Hiruzen raised an eyebrow.

Minato Namikaze nodded. "Yes."

Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed, then closed the file in his hands.

"Good! Then let's go to the Ninja Academy and have a look at those children!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's sudden decision left Minato Namikaze stunned.

"Lord Third Hokage, are we going just like that? Shouldn't we at least notify them?"

Considering their positions, along with the recent spy incident, Minato Namikaze was somewhat worried.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi said casually, "What do the two of us have to fear?"

Left with no choice, Minato Namikaze followed him out.

Still, Hiruzen Sarutobi was right. Both of them possessed Kage Level strength. Even if someone tried to assassinate them, success would be impossible.

Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze were preparing to head to the Ninja Academy.

The matches officially began on the Ninja Academy's training grounds.

Naturally, they proceeded in order, and Ling Feng and Asuma were among the last few pairs.

Ling Feng yawned in boredom, since these classmates were still playing around with the most basic ninjutsu and fighting methods.

Things like the Shadow Clone Technique and the Substitution Technique.

All that happened on the field was one puff of white smoke after another, with the same ninjutsu being used over and over.

He didn't know whether the Practical Training Teacher was tired of watching, but Ling Feng was certainly ready to fall asleep.

At last, it was Kakashi's pair's turn.

His opponent was one of the top students in the class. Clearly, he resented Kakashi's reputation as a little genius and wanted to prove himself by challenging him.

Ling Feng was firmly on Kakashi's side, because he knew Kakashi was a genuine genius.

As for his opponent, although he ranked near the top of the class, all he knew were those same basic techniques.

The fight began. Ling Feng counted the seconds in his head, and it was over in less than twenty.

Kakashi used Earth Release just once, sending the crowd's excitement straight to its peak.

It couldn't be helped. These students hardly ever got to see real ninjutsu!

While everyone cheered, Ling Feng raised an eyebrow slightly, then turned his head and saw two people approaching from a short distance away, one behind the other.

Although they were still some distance away, Ling Feng recognized the leading man's attire.

It was none other than the Hokage's hat and cloak, the symbols of Konoha's leader.

And the current leader was the Third, Hiruzen Sarutobi!

As for the blond man beside him, there was no question: he was definitely Minato Namikaze.

Strange. Why did the two of them suddenly come here?

And it looks like the school didn't know anything about it!

Could they be here because of what happened yesterday?

As Ling Feng thought about it, he couldn't help scratching his head.