Yes, the Hokage!

"Lord Fenglan!"

Hizashi, standing behind the Third Hokage, felt a sudden tightness in his chest and instinctively gasped in surprise. He then realized what he had done, glanced awkwardly at the Third Hokage, and lowered his head.

"Don't worry, I'm not that easy to kill." In this situation, Feng Lan still had time to smile at Hizashi before slumping in his chair and saying to the Third Hokage, "Third Hokage, these injuries I sustained while chasing Orochimaru should at least be considered work-related injuries, right? Could you please ask two Anbu to treat me?"

This obnoxious behavior really angered even the Third Hokage, but with his composure, he could remain calm no matter how angry he was, and quickly summoned a medical ninja from the Anbu to treat Feng Lan.

Unlike Minato, who was practically a lone commander, the Third Hokage had a wealth of talent under his command. Take this medical ninja from the Anbu, for example; her abilities were in no way inferior to Shizune, the current top medical ninja of Konoha.

Soon, Feng Lan felt as if the heavy stone pressing on his chest had disappeared, and his internal organs, which had been clenched together, gradually returned to their original positions. When the dark officer removed his hand, he felt no pain other than weakness.

"Please take good care of yourself for the next period of time and do not use ninjutsu again." Before leaving, the ANBU member, out of habit as a medical professional, still reminded him, "Not for at least three months."

Feng Lan's face immediately fell like a cat's tail. He couldn't use ninjutsu for three months? What about his great training?

However, he quickly composed himself and smiled at the Third Hokage across the table: "Oh dear, thank you so much for your consideration, Third Hokage. I am deeply moved and even feel like reciting a poem..."

"Stop with your act." During this process, the Third Hokage also composed himself and looked at Feng Lan with the same kind smile, but his words were not so friendly. "This little trick of deliberately provoking people's anger to disrupt their judgment only works on Danzo."

"Alright, let's be honest then." Feng Lan stopped being cheeky, but still maintained a smiling expression. "How do you plan to divide tonight's spoils?"

"Dividing the spoils?" The Third Generation raised an eyebrow, looking at Feng Lan with a hint of amusement.

"Yes, you see, I've done such a great service, I should get some benefits, right?" Feng Lan shrugged.

The Third Hokage remained silent, only puffing on his pipe, clearly implying that it would have been beneficial for him to give Orochimaru to me back then, and now that he's been paraded through the streets, what more could he possibly want?

However, his method of applying pressure was also ineffective on Feng Lan. The other party remained silent, and he was not in a hurry to press her for answers, still responding with a squinting smile.

Both of them were smiling, but Hizashi couldn't help but shudder when he saw this scene. In his mind, the Third Hokage who had made a secret agreement with Hyuga was already very unfathomable, but he didn't expect that Fenglan was also someone of this level.

At that moment, he was like a hamster trembling between a dragon and a tiger, pitiful, weak, and helpless.

The standoff lasted for quite some time, until finally the Third Hokage relented. After all, Orochimaru was still a threat to Feng Lan, and if they really turned against each other, they would be the ones who would suffer. Don't forget that the way out they were given tonight was the one who offered them the concession.

"I can make some concessions on the matter of the standing new army. You can form it, but it cannot exceed four squads."

A ninja squad consists of three people, which means that the first standing new army only has twelve people. However, Feng Lan originally wanted these people to be his private army, so this number was barely enough.

The third generation astutely saw through this, which is why they proposed that there could only be four squads; they really didn't want to give any more.

However, Feng Lan's original intention was not here, so she directly asked, "What about Obito?"

Clearly, the most valuable treasure tonight is undoubtedly Obito Uchiha. Now that Orochimaru is in prison, the Third Hokage is even less likely to let go of this young talent.

The three generations pondered for a moment: "Each relies on their own abilities."

The idea is that I won't force him to join the Anbu. Obito will remain an ordinary ninja, and both sides will try to recruit him based on their own abilities, to see if Obito will ultimately side with the Will of Fire or the Uchiha.

Because Feng Lan had done Obito a favor, he was in a better position to make the suggestion. In the Third Hokage's view, he had already made a concession. However, the other party shook his head vigorously: "Not enough."

"Not enough?" The Third Hokage narrowed his eyes. "You should know that I can't give up on competing for Obito. This kid is too amazing. He can be groomed to be the Fifth Hokage! When he becomes Hokage, won't you still be the chief advisor?"

However, Feng Lan was completely unmoved: "Forget it, Third Hokage, how could the Uchiha possibly become the Hokage of Konoha? You and I are the same, we just want to use him as a pawn."

"Then what else do you want?" Even though his bluff failed, the Third Hokage refused to back down an inch. "If the Uchiha could possess the Will of Fire, he might very well become Hokage."

The translation is that even if they are used as chess pieces, they must be chess pieces that believe in the Will of Fire.

"If Obito relies on his own abilities, then you'll have to provide some compensation in other areas." Feng Lan finally revealed his true demands.

The Third Hokage immediately realized that Obito was just an excuse, and that what the kid really wanted was what he was after hearing the following words. He immediately became wary: "What do you want?"

“I want…” Feng Lan raised his head, but said something that no one expected at all, “The branch family of the Hyuga clan!”

Chapter 29 The Light of the Caged Bird

Upon hearing Fenglan's words, Hizashi felt his mind go blank, and the Third Generation knew things were going badly and immediately tried to stop him.

But Feng Lan had already planned for this moment, and immediately quickened her pace: "I want the Hyuga branch family to separate from the main family, to no longer be the main family's tool and shield, no longer the main family's dog!"

[Oh no!] The Third Generation finally understood why Feng Lan insisted on having Hizashi participate in the "division of spoils" between the two of them—it was all for his final request.

Whether Fenglan agrees with this demand or not is completely irrelevant; she has already won simply by speaking it out!

"Feng, Lord Fenglan!"

Sure enough, upon hearing this, the sir was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes, and he couldn't help but kneel down on the ground: "I... I'm so sorry, I am..."

“I know you told the Third Hokage about tonight’s operation.” Feng Lan smiled. “But I also know that you are in a lot of pain and struggling, so I don’t blame you. Hold your head high, because what I hope for now is that the Hyuga branch family can live as human beings, not as slaves.”

"Lord Fenglan..."

After hearing these words, Hizashi didn't even care that the Third Generation was still there. He hugged his leg and started crying like a child.

"Ugh!"

The third generation sighed deeply: "I am truly getting old... The younger generation is indeed formidable, truly formidable."

It wasn't until Fenglan said, "I know you told the Third Hokage about tonight's actions," that he belatedly realized that all his actions tonight were within the other party's expectations, and that the other party even knew about the relationship between Hyuga and him all along, otherwise he wouldn't have asked him for the branch family.

Knowing that he had planted a spy by Hyuga's side, Fenglan subtly took advantage of this, realizing that tonight he was not the oriole stalking the cicada, but the self-righteous mantis. Fenglan even used Hyuga's guilt and self-loathing stemming from his espionage to show him kindness again—a move clearly aimed at robbing Hyuga of a piece of his flesh!

Right now, it seems that Rizashi's heart has been completely captured by Fenglan.

"Not at all, I only managed to catch you off guard by using the Flying Thunder God Technique." Feng Lan became modest at this moment. "This is my trump card that I've been keeping hidden for several years. Using it to exchange for a branch family member of the Hyuga clan isn't too bad, is it?"

“Changing the branch family is impossible,” the Third Hokage said coldly. “The ironclad rule of the Hyuga main family and branch family has been in place since they joined Konoha. Even the First Hokage couldn’t persuade them. The old stubborn ones in the main family will absolutely not agree.”

"That's because the First Hokage was too merciful," Feng Lan said calmly. "If it were me, I would never have distributed the nine tailed beasts to other villages. Instead, I would have kept them all under Konoha's control, so that the world would naturally be under my command and none would dare to disobey."

If I were the First Hokage, I would have simply used the Wood Release: Wood Release Technique to stand in front of the Hyuga clan's door and see if they dared to refuse.

It's a pity that he, a transmigrator without any special abilities, can hardly reach the level of getting whatever he wants with a simple clap of his hands.

"You want me to use force to coerce the Hyuga? That's even more impossible." Zuo Youfenglan already knew, so the Third Hokage stopped pretending. "They might be willing to sacrifice one or two branch family members for me, but that would come at a huge cost."

“Then two,” Feng Lan said decisively. “I want Hizashi and his son to leave the Hyuga branch family (Hizashi’s wife is not a member of the Hyuga clan) and become my direct subordinates. Is that alright?”

Seeing the Third Hokage frown and look troubled, Feng Lan coughed twice: "As you know, the news that Orochimaru covets the Sharingan has already spread within the Uchiha clan. He is currently imprisoned in the security team's jail. If some hot-blooded Uchiha lad were to run over there... hehe."

"If you are willing to pay this huge price, I can appease them and at least ensure that your beloved disciple has good food and drink every day and is not tortured. How about that?"

Orochimaru was the Third Hokage's biggest weakness, not only because of the impact on his reputation, but also because of his emotional investment in Orochimaru. At least when facing Orochimaru, he was just a teacher who doted on his disciple, which is why he couldn't see the various underhanded tricks Orochimaru was up to.

"it is good!"

The fact that the third generation practically squeezed out that word from between their teeth shows just how much pain he was in.

"Lord Fenglan..."

At this moment, Rizashi was so angry he wanted to prostrate himself in despair. He never expected that the caged bird that had imprisoned him for his entire life and was about to imprison his child's entire life would be freed by someone he had betrayed!

"Alright, get up." Feng Lan reached out to help Hizashi up. "Go back immediately and move out with your wife and children. I'm not feeling well right now, and I estimate I'll need to rest for a day before I can go to Hyuga's place. With me and the Third Hokage there, those old fogies will have no choice but to release you from your caged bird state, no matter how unwilling they are... Don't go back during this time, so you don't get hurt by those radicals."

"Yes!"

Seeing that Fenglan was still thinking of him, Rizashi didn't know what to say. He bowed deeply, trembling, and ran outside.

Only after the door was closed again did the Third Hokage say calmly, "You certainly know how to win people's hearts."

"Third Hokage," Feng Lan suddenly challenged, "didn't you have any ambitions when you first took over as Hokage, such as wanting to unify the five great nations, save the Hyuga branch family from its tragic fate, and make Konoha a better place?"

This was clearly a question the Third Hokage hadn't anticipated. He paused for a moment, then turned and left, saying, "Put away your act. I'm not a fool like Danzo who would be provoked."

Although he said that, the moment he closed the door, the Third Generation's hand still trembled involuntarily... He had thought about it, he had thought about everything Feng Lan said.

When exactly did I... stray from my original ideals?

Behind the door, Feng Lan's lips gradually curled upwards, finally forming a mocking smile: "It's best if you haven't thought about it, because... I haven't either!"

Unfortunately, that villainous smile only lasted a second before the door was violently kicked open, and Minato rushed in: "Feng Lan!"

Feng Lan couldn't hold back any longer: "Holy crap, what are you doing here?"

"Of course it's because of you! Are you...are you alright?"

Minato had come all this way to confront Feng Lan, but when he saw the large patches of blood on Feng Lan's body and his weak, slumped-in-a-chair appearance, seventy percent of his anger subsided, and he couldn't help but feel concerned for him.

"I was treated by the Anbu, so I won't die for now." Feng Lan coughed twice. "Okay, I admit it, I did something very Danzo-like last night..."

He recounted the entire night's events in detail. After listening, Minato jumped up in anger and grabbed Fenglan by the collar: "You promised me you wouldn't hurt innocent people!"

"So I tried everything I could to protect Rin and Kakashi."

Feng Lan originally wanted to explain properly, but for some reason, seeing Shui Men like this, he also felt a nameless anger rise up. "Who the hell did I work so hard all night, only to end up like this?!"

However, when Feng Lan gets angry, she usually doesn't yell or shout, but instead says sarcastically: "On the contrary, Fourth Hokage, didn't you say you would stop me when I cross the line? Where were you last night?"

"That's what makes me angrier!" Minato angrily lifted Fenglan even higher. "You could have told me, you could have asked me to join you, why, why do you always... Sigh!"

He looked at Feng Lan's dark, deep pupils and his expression with a hint of mockery, as well as the blood welling up from the corner of his mouth due to his excitement. In the end, he sighed and gently put him down.

The two sat facing each other in silence for a long time. Feng Lan didn't use his usual squinty-eyed smile; instead, he slumped in his chair looking half-dead.

After a long pause, Minato slowly spoke: "Fenglan, if anything similar happens again in the future, you must tell me, and you must take me with you. It's not just because I want to stop you from crossing the line, but also because... I want to protect you."

"I don't want to see my best friend turn into Danzo, and I'm even more afraid... of something happening to you."

The sarcastic expression on Feng Lan's face gradually disappeared. She slowly closed her eyes and replied with a single word: "Mm."

"I'll take you to the hospital. You'll need to rest and recuperate there for the next few days."

"I can't do it."

"you!"

"Tomorrow I'm going to the Hyuga clan to pick up Hizashi and his son."

"..."

"Is it alright if I take you with me?"

"That's right, it's a promise, there will absolutely be no second time!"

That's highly likely.

Feng Lan thought to herself, "This isn't just the second time; there will be a third, fourth, and fifth time..."

After all, even if they temporarily gain a slight advantage and reap some benefits, it will not affect the overall power of the third generation, not to mention the other four major countries outside.

The darkness I have to bear will only increase.

"Hey, what's your answer?"

"understood!"