Yes, the Hokage!

Chapter 59 Fenglan's Battle

Admittedly, Feng Lan's high-profile march towards Amegakure was intended to lure out ninjas from other factions who were there to gather intelligence. He could then seize them and use them to gather information about the enemy. Encountering Iwagakure was to be expected, given their location in that direction. However, Kirigakure was completely unprepared, as both the direction and timing were off. (Refer to the map I provided earlier; Kirigakure is located in the exact opposite direction from Iwagakure.)

However, he only paused for a moment before issuing the order: "Obito, go and capture the Kirigakure members who are running away ahead, alive!"

"Yes!"

Obito immediately leaped away. Feng Lan wasn't worried about him at all. With his dual Kamui abilities, Obito could easily catch Kisame without Samehada.

“Then I’ll take care of these five people…” Shisui reached out and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword behind him.

"No." Unexpectedly, Feng Lan shook her head. "Leave these five people to me."

"This!" Shisui and Hizashi were immediately shocked. "Lord Fenglan, how could you..."

"I'm a ninja, after all, so why can't I?" Feng Lan smiled. "Don't worry, I did participate in actual combat during the Third Shinobi World War. I'm not a complete newbie."

“But…” Shisui said worriedly, “These Iwagakure people are no ordinary ones. Their strength is at least at the level of elite Chunin, and the one leading them is a standard Jonin. Lord Fenglan, you…”

"Only someone of this caliber can be used as my whetstone." Feng Lan's words sounded pretty cool, but his next sentence was, "But Zhi Shui, you'd better keep an eye on me. If things go wrong, you'd better teleport over to my rescue."

Hearing this, Zhishui couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time, feeling a little proud. Fenglan dared to entrust his life to him at a time like this, which at least proved that he considered himself reliable, and...

Although Lord Fenglan says he doesn't trust anyone, he still trusts me to some extent, doesn't he?

Thinking this through, Shisui said earnestly, "Lord Fenglan, please rest assured, I will definitely ensure that nothing happens to you."

"Okay, I'll leave it to you." Feng Lan was already eager to try, but she didn't forget to give an order, "Hijiri, keep a close watch on the surroundings."

"Yes!"

Almost at the same time that Hizashi made his promise, Fenglan leaped up from his hiding place and pounced on several Iwagakure members.

Rainy days are considered Kirigakure's home ground, so the Iwagakure ninjas, who were kept at a certain distance by Kisame and had no sensory ninjas, caught up just in time. They saw Kisame already fighting someone from afar and immediately became wary.

At this moment, they saw someone suddenly jump over, and the five of them immediately stopped and became alert.

However, at this moment, Feng Lan's hands were already rapidly forming hand seals. Seeing his actions, the leading Jonin from Iwagakure immediately began forming hand seals as well. No matter what technique the opponent used, it was always right to use Earth Wall for defense first.

However, Feng Lan had already started forming hand seals before jumping out, so naturally he finished first.

"Lightning Release: Lightning Pillar!"

This move was naturally a low-level C-rank ninjutsu that Feng Lan learned from Orochimaru's scroll. However, low-rank does not mean it is not useful. A dazzling light suddenly burst forth from his body, causing the five Iwagakure members who were staring intently at him to suffer a loss.

An advanced version of this technique is the Lightning Illusion Lightning Pillar used by Raikage's bodyguard, Hii, against Sasuke during the Five Kage Summit. That technique combines Lightning Release with genjutsu, turning the entire body into lightning. By generating intense light, it temporarily deprives the target of their vision and induces the enemy to misjudge and fall into a genjutsu trap.

Feng Lan's attack, on the other hand, is simply a lightning pillar of lightning, without any genjutsu enhancement; its effect is to blind the opponent.

The five Iwagakure members who dared to pursue them into the Land of Fire must have some skill. Even though they were caught off guard by the high-level flash attack, they remained calm despite the shock. The other four immediately moved behind their captain, while the leading Jonin, despite being blinded, finished his hand seals and slammed his hands on the ground.

"Escape Earth Current Wall!"

A massive earthen wall rose up from the ground, shielding him and his companions behind it. With his vision temporarily impaired, his hearing became exceptionally sharp. He could clearly hear a series of "thud" sounds as kunai were nailed to the earthen wall, but they could not penetrate through.

"Hmph, a mere trifle."

After all, it was just a low-level ninjutsu. In a short while, the Jonin in the lead had a clearer vision: "This level of surprise attack can't possibly penetrate Iwagakure's ironclad defenses!"

But the moment his vision returned, he was horrified to find a dark figure right in front of him. The young face had a faint smile on it, and in his right palm was a bright blue chakra sphere. The rapidly spinning sphere emitted a piercing buzzing sound, even distorting the surrounding air.

"This is impossible!"

He roared, and rocks suddenly appeared on his right hand as he tried to retaliate with a rock fist technique. However, Feng Lan ultimately gained the upper hand and directly imprinted his full hand of chakra onto the opponent's chest.

"Spiral pills!"

Seeing that retaliating was impossible, the Iwagakure Jonin roared, his chest turning completely black, looking as hard as iron.

This is a B-rank ninjutsu, Earth Release: Earth Spear Technique, which can greatly harden the body and increase defense. Although this Jonin from Iwagakure doesn't have the strength of Kakuzu to harden his entire body, he at least protected his vital chest. Combined with his muscular physique, he looked like an indestructible shield.

But Fenglan pushed the Rasengan forward with all her might!

"boom!"

The Rasengan slammed into the hardened chest, the spinning power of the chakra tearing at the rock armor like a drill, sending fragments flying. The Iwagakure Jonin's feet carved two deep furrows in the ground, his body sliding backward involuntarily.

"It...it blocked!" He gritted his teeth, feeling that the damage he had suffered was not significant.

However, the next second, his expression changed drastically.

The impact of the Rasengan was far more terrifying than imagined. It didn't cause external injuries by penetrating like a blade, but rather crushed and attacked his internal organs like a landslide. That power penetrated through the cracked rock armor and poured into his internal organs without reservation.

"puff!"

He coughed up a mouthful of blood, but his resilient nature still spurred him on, and the Iwagakure Jonin roared as he swung his boulder-like arm down. At the same time, the elite Chunin behind him regained their sight and, seeing their captain attacked, shouted angrily and unleashed their respective techniques.

But before these attacks could land on him, Feng Lan had already vanished into thin air.

The Flying Thunder God technique, this bug-like ability, once again shines. After using the Lightning Pillar to seize the opponent's vision, Feng Lan throws out a kunai bearing the Flying Thunder God mark, while leaving another kunai in place. After the Earth Flow Wall blocks the kunai, he directly uses Flying Thunder God to rush over and unleashes a Rasengan in the opponent's face. When the opponent retaliates, he uses Flying Thunder God to return to his original position.

It's fair to say that the ability to teleport infinitely, which is practically a bug in games, is still way too overpowered.

"Wow!"

At the same time, the Rasengan power within the Iwagakure Jonin finally erupted in full. He was thrown backward as if he had been hit by a bull, crashing into two trees as thick as bowls behind him before falling heavily to the ground.

As blood gushed out, the earth spear technique was also dispelled, revealing his shattered chest and bare bones. Although he survived, he had clearly lost the ability to fight again.

"team leader!"

One of them rushed over, a green glow appearing in his hand; he was clearly a medical ninja.

Feng Lan's target immediately focused on him; in team battles, killing the healer first is common sense in all planes!

"Shh!"

Just as the medical ninja's Healing Palm Technique was covering the Iwagakure Jonin's chest, Feng Lan appeared directly in front of him, his incredibly sharp kunai mercilessly slicing across the other's neck.

"Crack... Ah..."

The medical ninja's eyes were filled with disbelief; he hadn't even seen how the other person had gotten there.

The principle is actually quite simple: when Fenglan imprints the Rasengan on the opponent's chest, he also leaves the Flying Thunder God mark at the same time. Minato used this move when he fought Obito, and there's no reason why Fenglan, who has seen that famous scene countless times, wouldn't be able to learn it.

"This is!" The Iwagakure Jonin spat out a mouthful of blood. "Flying Thunder God... it's the Flying Thunder God! Run! Spread out and run!"

Because of the immense fame of the Yellow Flash, he made a misjudgment. Although the opponent did not appear to be Minato Namikaze, a ninja who could master the Flying Thunder God Technique was someone his group could not possibly contend with. Therefore, in the eyes of this Jonin from Iwagakure, the best option was to split up and run away, perhaps one of them could escape.

In fact, if the remaining three elites stood back to back and remained vigilant, Feng Lan would really be at a loss, like a mouse dragging a tortoise. After all, all his efforts over the years had been focused on the Flying Thunder God Technique and sensory abilities. Apart from the Rasengan, he had no other offensive ninjutsu and lacked the ability to open a breakthrough from a distance.

But if they scatter and run away... wouldn't that play right into their hands? Can you be faster than teleportation?

"Shisui, Hizashi!"

He gave the order and then took the lead in chasing after them in one direction. He had achieved his goal of honing his skills, and it was time for his subordinates to join forces to stop everyone from leaving.

The Iwagakure Jonin's expression immediately turned to despair. The enemy wasn't alone! This group of ninjas who had come on a mission... were likely to be wiped out.

Nothing much happened after that. All three of them successfully defeated their respective opponents, and Obito used Wood Release to bind Kisame tightly.

"Take him back inside and interrogate him slowly."

Fenglan had Obito make a small cart using Wood Release, and asked Shisui to use genjutsu to control everyone. After searching the slain medical ninja, he buried them on the spot, and then dragged Kisame, who was trapped like a dumpling, back to the cabin.

He didn't rest along the way, and began to ask Shisui, who had extensive combat experience, for his evaluation of this battle.

Upon hearing Feng Lan's words, Shisui briefly recalled the entire battle and slowly said, "Lord Feng Lan's strategy was outstanding. He first used the Lightning Pillar to gain vision, then used the Flying Thunder God Technique to create a time difference, and then used the Rasengan to strike the core. This combo was tightly linked, leaving the opponent almost no chance to react."

Feng Lan nodded slightly, waiting for what was to come.

“However,” Shisui changed the subject, “it seems that your self-positioning is a bit too risky.”

"Oh?" Feng Lan was not angry at all. Instead, she showed a focused and serious expression. "I would like to hear more details."

“You’re not a striker,” Shisui said with restraint. “You’re the brain of the entire team, the commander. If that attack today hadn’t taken them down, if their counterattack had been any faster, and if I hadn’t been there in time…”

"No, you won't," Feng Lan smiled. "You'll definitely arrive in time."

Shisui didn't take the joke seriously, but said seriously, "If it's because I'm here that you can act recklessly, then I'd rather not have any guards by your side."

“Is that so…” Feng Lan’s gaze sharpened. “Minato seems to have said something similar.”

“Yes, sir. The battlefield is ever-changing, and anything can happen. Many accidents mean death.” Shisui said with an unprecedentedly serious expression. “In this team, anyone can die. I can die, Obito can die, even Tsunade can die, but you can’t. You are the core of the team, the hope of the village… So next time you want to hone your skills, I hope you can learn a few more ranged ninjutsu first.”

He paused, trying to be more careful with his words: "Both you and I are speed-type ninjas. But my speed is for reaping, while your speed is for... living longer."

"You mean, using the Flying Thunder God Technique to adjust position and then attacking the opponent from a distance is a more suitable fighting style for a commander like me?" Feng Lan was a smart person after all, and she understood immediately.

“That’s right.” Shisui lowered his head. “I don’t mean to offend you, but you seem to be imitating the Fourth Hokage’s fighting style. But… the Fourth Hokage had a surging chakra that ordinary ninjas could hardly match, a reaction speed that was beyond human capabilities, and instincts honed from mountains of corpses and seas of blood. As for you, sir… there is still room for improvement in these aspects.”

"The Fourth Hokage can often make the best judgment in battle based on instinct, while you fight with your mind. It would be best to keep your distance and give yourself enough space to think."

He glanced at Feng Lan, afraid that she would be angry, but Feng Lan nodded and said seriously, "I understand, thank you, Zhi Shui."

Shisui was right. He was indeed imitating Minato's fighting style. After all, the two had been fighting side by side for the longest time during the Third Shinobi World War. Fenglan had watched Minato's dominance countless times, so he would naturally learn from him subconsciously. Minato was the best role model he could find.

But after being enlightened by Shisui today, he realized that although the Flying Thunder God Technique and Rasengan are top-tier equipment for ordinary people, Minato's equipment is not that of an ordinary person. He is an undisputed genius. Jiraiya once said that compared to Minato Namikaze, everyone else is not good enough.

I'm just an ordinary person. What I should learn is not Minato's fighting style of moving freely across the battlefield, but Shisui's recommended hit-and-run tactics of kiting.

"No, it's nothing."

Seeing that Feng Lan was not angry at all, but instead sincerely thanked him, Zhi Shui couldn't help but feel a little shy: "I'm glad you're not angry, sir."

“Of course I’m not angry. In the battles to come…” A sharp glint flashed in Feng Lan’s eyes, “I’ll need your feedback.”

Chapter 60 The Ambition of the Ninja Village

Inside the wooden house, Fenglan first made a fire to dry his clothes, and then began to eat. He did not directly participate in the interrogation because his perception ability was different from that of the all-rounders of the mountain clan, and could not be used in the interrogation. Instead, it was closer to Xiang's Kagura Mind's Eye, which only served the purpose of investigation.

Of course, in terms of perception range, he can't compare to Kagura's Mind's Eye, which spans tens of kilometers. In terms of versatility, he can't compare to the Yamanaka clan's ability to control other people's minds. But Fenglan's perception ability is mainly to pave the way for the Flying Thunder God Technique, so it's not a big deal if he's not as good as Kagura. It's enough for him.

Therefore, Fenglan, who was self-aware, directly handed over the interrogation to Zhishui. With his illusionary hypnosis, he was not afraid that these people would not tell the truth.

"grown ups!"

However, before he could finish his meal, Shisui rushed over in a panic: "That Hidden Mist ninja... bit off his own tongue to avoid revealing information!"

Wow, that's a real man!

Feng Lan frowned and looked at Tsunade beside her.

"I just finished treating the patients at Iwagakure and figured out that I'm not your subordinate, Fenglan," Tsunade complained as she stood up.