After returning home, Feng Zheng began writing his mission report.
He finished it before dinner and meditated for a while before sleeping.
The next day, Feng Zheng submitted his report and returned to training.
He started practicing Vacuum Bullet Technique.
He had two goals: the first was to reduce the time required to form and fire the Vacuum Bullet, and the second was to create two Vacuum Bullets simultaneously.
Just as Feng Zheng was training, his report, along with several others, was delivered to Hiruzen's desk.
Hiruzen's expression was not good.
There were quite a few people in his Hokage Office.
Most were waiting for one person's opinion.
Nara Shikaku said, "It seems someone is unhappy with our recent trade boom.
And judging by the Ninjutsu used, these Ninja are very likely from Kumogakure.
I believe Kumogakure is using prisoners for these suicidal missions.
They probably don't know they have Sealing Jutsu on them."
Hiruzen nodded.
He had reached the same conclusion.
He asked, "What do you suggest we do?"
Shikaku said, "It's simple: we'll analyze the data on bandit groups and see which ones have suddenly risen.
We'll send Anbu squads to crush those bandit groups.
Jonin squads on Rank A Mission and S-rank missions should also be assigned to clear out any such bandit groups they find along their routes."
Hiruzen nodded and said, "Alright, Shikaku, I'm giving you command of this mission.
Clean them out."
Shikaku thought, "I analyzed the information and formulated the strategy; you can assign the missions.
Why give me command?"
Unfortunately, complaining in front of so many people wouldn't look good, so he agreed.
Over the next week, with the help of the Anbu, Root, and Jonin, all these bandit groups were quickly eliminated.
Although Ai's objective was initially successful, it didn't have much overall impact on Konoha.
After a week of training, Feng Zheng analyzed, "I've successfully improved my control over the Vacuum Bullet and greatly reduced the time needed to use it.
However, I've had no success at all in creating a second Vacuum Bullet simultaneously.
It seems Hiruzen was right."
Since he couldn't create another Vacuum Bullet at the same time, he decided, "Sigh.
From now on, I'll focus entirely on Sealing Technique!"
He created a Shadow Clone with ten percent of his Chakra.
The Shadow Clone flickered to the Library.
Feng Zheng created another batch of Shadow Clones.
Four of them dispersed in four different directions, activating their Chakra Fields.
Feng Zheng sensed the Chakra Field and thought, "I'd love to practice Sealing Technique at home, but my current house doesn't have enough space for my Clones.
There's no way my house would allow me to evade the Byakugan or that perverted crystal ball."
"Besides, few people come to the Training Grounds.
So far, the only ones who have come to see me here are Renjiro and Tadao.
So it should be safe here.
Anyway, if anyone sees me, I'll just say my grandfather told me to learn it to prepare for Flying Thunder God Technique, haha.
My Sealing Technique skills being public shouldn't affect me much.
It'll just lose a bit of its surprise effect."
While the Clones went to the Library, Feng Zheng began Finger Carving Sealing.
It was very simple, and he mastered it within minutes.
He opened a scroll, summoned the items needed for practice, and waited while meditating.
Library --
Feng Zheng's Shadow Clone entered Section B of the Library.
He picked up 'Advanced Sealing Technique Theory' and the 'Sealing Talisman' scroll.
He sat down to read how to make Sealing Talismans.
He also checked the new symbols he needed to learn to create Sealing Talismans.
After reading carefully for 15 minutes, he made a Hand Seals gesture and performed Shadow Clone Technique.
A Shadow Clone appeared beside him.
As soon as the new Shadow Clone appeared, the old one dispelled itself.
As soon as the Shadow Clone dissipated, Feng Zheng received its memories.
Knowing all the information needed to learn Sealing Talismans, Feng Zheng made a Hand Seals gesture.
He repeatedly used Shadow Clone Technique until he had created ten Shadow Clones.
He thought, "This is my first time, so I'll limit it to ten Clones.
If my head is fine, I'll create more Shadow Clones."
Feng Zheng and his ten Shadow Clones began creating Sealing Talismans separately.
Four Perception Shadow Clones closely monitored for any intruders, while the Shadow Clone in the Library began reading other Sealing Jutsu information.
Feng Zheng and his ten Clones practiced for half an hour.
Then Feng Zheng dispelled his Clones.
The Shadow Clones' memories flooded his mind, giving him a headache.
Feng Zheng thought, "This isn't bad.
Doing the same thing reduced the impact of the memory influx.
This time I can try fifteen."
Feng Zheng meditated for a few minutes, fully comprehending the knowledge from the ten Shadow Clones and integrating all the information.
Five minutes later, he started using Shadow Clone Technique again.
While creating Shadow Clones, he thought, "I need to learn Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.
Creating Clones one by one is a bit tedious.
That being said, how should I ask Hiruzen or Renjiro for this forbidden Ninjutsu?"
He thought about it but couldn't come up with a reasonable explanation.
He thought, "Never mind, I'll ask when I have the chance.
Until then, I'll treat this as a way to practice mastering Shadow Clone Technique.
I still can't do without that final Hand Seal."
Feng Zheng continued to study Sealing Technique in this manner.
Eventually, he increased the number of Shadow Clones to twenty.
For three whole months, no one disturbed him!
During these three months, Feng Zheng learned to create Exploding Tags, Sealing Talismans, Chakra Suppression Seals, Barrier Talismans, Five Elements Seal, Binding Cloth Technique, Silence Seal, Anti-Byakugan Seal, Anti-Sharingan Seal, Pressure Seal, Invisibility Seal, Light Absorption Seal, Resistance Seal, Gravity Seal, and a bunch of other Sealing Jutsu.
Although he hadn't learned all Sealing Jutsu, he had learned enough techniques to replicate the Meditation Room in the Forest of Death Tower.
He also successfully created Storage Sealing Jutsu capable of storing living beings and tested them with some mice.
Although he couldn't yet be considered a Sealing Master, he was very close.
During these three months, he also continuously increased the difficulty of his morning exercises.
He raised the pressure of his training Sealing Jutsu to 68%.
In addition, he practiced Ninjutsu once a week.
During this period, Eiji contacted Feng Zheng twice to watch the Sealing Master he invited engrave Sealing Jutsu at his home.
Feng Zheng observed the process carefully.
He didn't know this Sealing Master.
However, this Sealing Master's strength was definitely higher than his.
But, Feng Zheng recognized all the Sealing Jutsu he carved, so there was nothing interesting.
While Feng Zheng made great progress, a thought often crossed his mind:
"Why haven't I been summoned for a mission for so long?
I thought I'd at least be assigned a few Rank B missions.
After all, in a Village primarily focused on Fire Release, shouldn't Wind Release Ninja be needed?"
However, he didn't pay too much attention to this thought; instead, he was very happy with the progress he had made in Sealing Technique.
However, Feng Zheng's isolated training was soon interrupted.
Just as he was practicing a Sealing Jutsu, a Chunin entered Training Grounds 23, and one of Feng Zheng's Shadow Clones sensed him and dispelled itself.
Feng Zheng received the Shadow Clone's memories.
Within seconds, all items were packed and stored in a scroll.
Feng Zheng put away the scroll and dispelled his Shadow Clones.
The Chunin didn't realize he had been sensed.
A few seconds later, he arrived at Feng Zheng's location.
Feng Zheng saw him.
He looked to be only in his teens.
The Chunin said, "Hey, Feng Zheng, I'm Hatake Ryota.
You've been assigned to our squad for a mission.
Come with me."
Feng Zheng nodded and followed him.
He dispelled the sensing Shadow Clones.
Feng Zheng wondered, "Why haven't I received a mission for three whole months?
Is Hiruzen monitoring my Sealing Technique studies and then giving me a break?
But that's not like him at all!"
Feng Zheng's analysis was far from the truth!
Two days ago in the Hokage Office —
Hiruzen asked, "Takao, can you tell me the current status of Renjiro's students?"
Takao said, "I'll have to check, Hokage-sama, and tell you later."
Hiruzen nodded.
A few hours later, Takao entered the Hokage Office.
Hiruzen noticed his rather strange expression.
Takao said, "Hokage-sama, I checked the information on Renjiro's students.
Hyuga Hodaka joined a Chunin squad arranged by his father.
He plays the typical Hyuga role in the squad.
He has led seven Rank C missions and participated in three Rank B missions.
Uchiha Mieko joined the Uchiha Police Force.
Additionally, she has also led three Rank C missions and participated in five Rank B missions.
Both Mieko and Hodaka have shown great potential."
Takao paused.
"As for Feng Zheng..."
Hiruzen was most interested in Feng Zheng's performance.
But he thought, "What exactly did Feng Zheng do to make Takao have such a strange expression?"
Takao said, "About two weeks after that Rank A Mission, Feng Zheng led a Rank C mission, which later escalated to a Rank B mission.
He completed the mission without any casualties.
However, after that, he hasn't taken any missions since."
Hiruzen was surprised.
He didn't understand Feng Zheng's behavior.
He asked, "What has Feng Zheng been doing recently?"
Takao said, "I did some investigation; he booked Training Grounds 23 for nine months.
He goes there every day and spends most of his time there."
Hiruzen said, "I can understand Feng Zheng training, but why isn't he taking missions?"
Takao said, "I don't know either."
Hiruzen pondered for a while.
Suddenly, he had an epiphany and said, "Wait, could it be...!"
