Yes, the Hokage!

“Mr. Dai, you’ve exhausted yourself today and it’s not suitable for you to lead the team in training anymore. Go to the infirmary and then go back to rest,” Feng Lan said with concern. “And Mr. Rizashi, I’m sorry you got injured on your very first day here, but I personally think it’s a very meaningful thing.”

“It is indeed a very meaningful thing.” Hizashi bowed slightly. “I will go to the infirmary with Mr. Dai, and then go back to rest properly. I will also join the training tomorrow.”

"That's for the best." Feng Lan smiled slightly, watching the two leave. "Then, let's go too."

"Lord Fenglan!"

Tiehuo and Daohuo exclaimed excitedly, "Even though Mr. Dai has gone to rest, we will still run all 100 laps even without anyone to lead us!"

They were clearly spurred on by Dai's immense strength and yearned for the powerful Eight Gates Formation, which is why they went from initial disdain to now actively requesting it.

"No problem, I was planning to send a clone along too. Besides, we're not without a guide." Feng Lan patted Kai on the shoulder. "There's a little mentor here!"

"Please, Coach Kai!" This time, Daohuo and Tiehuo had completely abandoned their arrogance and knelt down in front of Kai in a posture that said, "Coach, I want to play basketball." "We want to learn the Eight Gates!"

"Then let's run!" Kai, still a child, burst into laughter, spurred on. "You need to be able to run a hundred laps around the village, do five hundred push-ups, five hundred sit-ups, and five hundred frog jumps before you can start learning the Eight Gates!"

"Oh, oh, oh, youth!"

At this moment, the two Uchiha boys also seemed to have become youthful.

Just as the group was about to set off, a small hand was raised, and Itachi, his face flushed, said, "Lord Fenglan, I... I want to learn too..."

“Then let’s do it together.” Feng Lan smiled. “You also know the Shadow Clone Technique, right? The clone can come to the office with me, and the main body can stay and train together. But I have to remind you that this training is very strict. Dao Huo Tie Huo is practically dying every day.”

"I will persevere." Itachi nodded earnestly.

"Then..." Feng Lan had already joined the group, and Kai shouted excitedly, "Let's go!"

"youth!"

"No, no, this is where I must use my slogan!"

"Um, okay..."

The whole team started running quickly, and Fenglan's slogan rang out again: "Work yourself to death like a dog, but don't bark when people scold you!"

Chapter 23 My Fate is in My Own Hands, Not in the Heavens

In the Hyuga clan's residence.

"Hizashi!"

Upon seeing their younger brother return home in such a disheveled state, Hiashi and several elders of the main family were immediately stunned: "What happened to you? Did that Fenglan bully you?"

He left home as a dashing young nobleman, but returned with a bruised and swollen face. Anyone would be unable to bear this. Several elders angrily struck him with their canes: "This is outrageous! The Hyuga is a prestigious clan in Konoha. If it weren't for Lord Hiruzen's intervention, does he think he has the right to order people around? Even if he's a member of the branch family, beating him like this is still a slap in the face to the Hyuga clan!"

"We need an explanation from him!"

"That's right, they actually dared to bully Hyuga! We won't stand for that!"

"Go ask the Fourth Hokage what this means!"

"..."

Looking at the excited elders, Hizashi couldn't help but smile bitterly. This was the first time he had ever received such care since he was born, but unfortunately, this care was not for him personally but for Hyuga's sake.

"That's not how it is," he hurriedly explained. "Mr. Fenglan said he wanted to see my skills, so he arranged for someone to fight me. The other party defeated me fair and square; there was no personal grudge or intention to suppress me."

"Hmm?" The elders frowned. "Tell me what happened."

Hishi explained the whole story in detail, but even though he repeatedly emphasized how strong Dai was, described the destructive power of the Morning Peacock in its entirety, and pointed out the traces of the training ground as evidence, he was still met with the elders' contemptuous gazes.

"Even though he's from a branch family, I never expected he couldn't even beat that perennial genin."

"No, Mr. Dai..."

"Shut up! You've completely disgraced the Hyuga clan!" The elders snorted and left one by one, leaving only the last elder, the father of Hizashi and Hiashi, standing there, looking down at him with a disappointed gaze.

"Hizashi."

Riji still felt sorry for his younger brother: "If you think Fenglan is too difficult to deal with, then don't go. I'll arrange someone else for him."

“No, brother,” Hizashi said earnestly, “I want to continue to Mr. Fenglan’s place. I want to learn the Eight Gates Formation from Mr. Dai! He is really amazing. Even with my Byakugan, I can’t completely catch his movements. His techniques after opening the Gate of View are completely different from our Gentle Fist, pure speed and power!”

"If we can learn his Eight Gates Formation, we can combine Mr. Dai's strengths in taijutsu with our own techniques, achieving a balance of strength and flexibility... Hyuga will definitely become stronger!"

Hizashi became more and more excited as he spoke, but suddenly a heavy slap landed on his face: "You not only lost to that ten-thousand-year-old genin, but you also want to train with him? What happened to your Hyuga clan's pride!"

The elder's face was cold and sinister: "It's one thing to be useless yourself, but you even want to incorporate that crude taijutsu into the noble Gentle Fist and talk about the balance of strength and gentleness? What are you trying to do! Pollute the noble traditions of the Hyuga clan? Don't forget your own identity!"

Despite being the biological father of two children, his attitude towards Hizashi was completely different from that of Hiashi: "What right does a mere branch family member have to talk about making the Hyuga stronger? You're nothing but a dog of the main family... Remember that well!"

The humiliated Risa was trampled underfoot by his father and could only numbly say, "I understand, Elder."

"Tomorrow you get over there and make things clear with that Feng Lan. He'll obey orders, but the proud Hyuga will never learn those crude taijutsu techniques from a perennial genin. Do you hear me?!"

"Yes……"

Only after the elder left did Hiashi rush over to help his younger brother up, but Hizashi avoided his brother's hand and silently walked into the room...

The next morning, everyone gathered at the training ground as usual. Compared to the jubilant Might and Might's father and son, the increasingly youthful Uchiha and the smiling Fenglan, Hiashi's worries were almost written all over his face.

"What's wrong, Mr. Hizashi?" Fenglan naturally couldn't help but notice. "Is your body not fully recovered?"

“Mr. Fenglan, I…” Rizashi forced a smile, wanting to say the words of refusal as instructed by the elder, but for some reason his upper and lower teeth seemed to be stuck together, and he just couldn’t open his mouth.

During this moment of hesitation, others cast concerned or curious glances at him, especially those pure eyes of Dai, which made Rizashi not even dare to raise his head.

His mind was in turmoil, filled with the elders' vicious words that showed they didn't treat the branch family like human beings, but at the same time, there was the caring and warm voice of his older brother, Hiashi. All these elements intertwined, making Hiashi's heart a mess.

Just then, Fenglan said something seemingly unrelated but that struck a chord with him: "Mr. Hishashi, your eyes are shining brightly today too."

These words immediately reminded Hizashi of their conversation when they first met yesterday. "I've dealt with the Uchiha clan and your brother Hiashi. In terms of eye power, Mr. Hizashi is much stronger than them."

Yes... I clearly have stronger eyesight, so why should I be criticized by those old guys? Does having stronger eyesight mean I can't control my own destiny?

Although Hiji had never heard the classic saying "My fate is in my own hands, not in the heavens," he felt a similar sentiment at that moment.

"nothing."

At that moment, it seemed as if the heavy burden in Hizashi's heart had been suddenly lifted, and his mouth, which had been stuck together, opened freely: "I feel a little embarrassed to greet everyone because I'm late."

"No, no, we were just warming up!" Dai laughed heartily. "Mr. Hizashi, I learned a lot from our fight yesterday. I didn't know that so-called soft power could be used in this way. I really hope you can teach me more when you have time!"

The elders would never allow something that could reveal the secrets of the Soft Fist, but Rizashi, who had already made up his mind, seemed to have been freed from some kind of shackles, and answered with a smile without hesitation: "Alright, after today's training, let's have a simple spar."

"Hahaha, good!"

Seeing the genuine smiles on their faces, Feng Lan smiled too: "So, the caged bird is finally starting to feel dissatisfied with its situation and taking its first step in rebellion... I'm waiting to see you truly spread your wings and soar."

……

The news that the Hyuga clan had begun to curry favor with Fenglan spread like wildfire. Seeing that even this deeply rooted and ancient noble family had begun to bow its head, the other clans that were still observing could no longer sit still. As if breaking through a critical threshold, they rushed to Fenglan to ask for favors and connections.

Feng Lan knew that her struggle with the Third Hokage had only just begun. With such a large number of people coming, she wondered who she could control, who she couldn't handle, and whose benefits she had accepted. All these things posed potential risks. Although the Japanese scouts sent to monitor her had been assigned to special training with Dai, the Third Hokage could still keep a clear understanding of her situation if he wanted to.

Therefore, he became even more cautious and refused to reveal any flaws.

He refuses all gifts, whether they are money or ninja tools. He won't even glance at the most irresistible secret techniques, because just one glance would really cause an explosion... no, it would really leave him with something to hold against him.

On the contrary, Feng Lan, who was gradually taking control of the situation, stopped going to izakayas and barbecue restaurants. For dinner, she would eat noodles and garlic, seemingly imitating Zhao Dehan, who hadn't spent a penny.

Under his unyielding attitude, some families eventually began to give in. As long as they sent people to him, Feng Lan would send them all to run laps with Dai. Now he no longer hid anything and openly told these people that they would be the first batch of veterans of the standing new army.

Even if the title of "elder" is not the best, it is still a symbol of status and position. Therefore, no matter what purpose the young people who were sent here came with, they were at least quite excited. After receiving Dai's devilish training, they were exhausted every day and had no energy to make any big news.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and tomorrow is the day Obito will be removed from the culture tank.

Orochimaru has learned through various channels that the truth about A has finally been exposed, and A is now under the command of the Third Hokage.

While cursing Danzo for being a traitor in his heart, he also sped up his transfer, preparing to flee tonight.

Unfortunately, there was no chance to take this precious experimental subject with us.

Orochimaru felt a deep sense of regret. Although Shizune, being of ordinary physical constitution, had been unable to hold on and had to return home, Shisui had stayed by the culture tank without leaving for a moment. Kakashi and Rin had taken turns eating and resting countless times, but he remained like a wooden puppet, not even blinking.

[Even if he's the strongest Uchiha, so what? If I suddenly launch a surprise attack, I can at least take the incubation tank and escape, if not capture him.] Orochimaru pondered, unwilling to give up on Obito just like that, because in his view, Obito had already perfectly fused with Hashirama's cells and now just needed time to awaken.

Such high-quality experimental material is unprecedented in his life. If it weren't for the fact that the Reincarnation Ninjutsu was not yet completed, he would have wanted to take over Obito's body immediately. The Sharingan cannot be fully utilized by non-Uchiha clan members, and this body is not only from the Uchiha clan, but can also perfectly fuse with Hashirama's cells. Taking over this body would be equivalent to possessing the power of both the Uchiha and Senju clans at the same time!

"You can give it a try."

However, just as he was wavering in his mind, Shisui spoke coldly.

"What?" Orochimaru's eyes narrowed.

"I know you've been looking for an opportunity to strike. Why not try now?" At this moment, Uchiha Shisui crossed his arms, his body facing the culture tank, but his head was turned to the side, his crimson Sharingan fixed on Orochimaru. "Whether it's a sneak attack or a frontal assault, a secret technique or a forbidden technique, everything you have is in front of these eyes..."

"It's all in vain!"

Chapter 24 Catching Snakes

As the sun set, the Hokage's office was bathed in a golden glow.

Shuimen rubbed his slightly sore eyes and saw Fenglan come in carrying a large food box. He couldn't help but chuckle and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Kushina needs to reinforce the seal tonight. I know you haven't eaten yet, but the chef I hired has arrived. I won't let you go hungry." Feng Lan said as he took out several exquisite dishes from the food box. Clearly, the chef he hired was quite skilled.

Finally, he even pulled out a few bottles of fine wine: "These are my treasures, you're lucky to get them."

"Drinking alcohol is not allowed during work hours..."

Minato was interrupted before he could finish speaking: "It's already after get off work, my Fourth Hokage. The project has been progressing so smoothly these past two days. Shikaku's list is ready, the Hyuga has bowed down, and even the Root organization has been wiped out. Such a great achievement deserves a celebration, doesn't it?"

"This credit all belongs to you. I'm just basking in your glory." Upon hearing this, Minato couldn't refuse any longer and could only smile and sit down, watching Fenglan pour the wine.

The two chatted as they ate. Because things had gone very smoothly these past two days, Minato's mood had improved considerably. Under the influence of alcohol, he gradually opened up, talking about Obito's recovery, Kushina's unborn child, and his hopes for Konoha's future...

"Sigh, I'm not a good teacher, nor a good husband or father." He couldn't help but sigh as he spoke. "Obito was injured so badly, and after I became Hokage, I didn't visit him even once, nor did I have time to be by Kushina's side when she was pregnant..."

"This is what it means to be the Hokage. As the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. Now that you've taken this position, you naturally have to bear the fate of the entire village." Feng Lan could see that he was under a lot of pressure, so she went along with the topic to comfort him.

"Ugh……"

Minato remained silent, but drank a few more cups. His face was flushed, and his eyes showed signs of drunkenness: "Fenglan, I'm really glad I saved you back then."

"Without you, so many more people would have died during the Third Shinobi World War... Even after I became Hokage, I couldn't change anything. The changes we've seen now are truly heartening..."

"Why say such mushy things? You are the Fourth Hokage, and I am your subordinate. Naturally, I will do my best to help you." Feng Lan said as she poured him more wine.

“No, it’s not just that…” Minato laughed drunkenly, “I know you’re helping me as a friend, even protecting me. You don’t let me touch many places you consider dark and dirty…”

“But Fenglan, I am different from the Third Hokage…” He seemed to have made a great decision before saying this, “I will not let you become like Lord Danzo, I will…”