Yes, the Hokage!

Footsteps echoed in the corridor, and Minato instantly sat up straight, his face expertly adopting the "I'm Hokage, I'm busy" expression. However, Shizune pushed open the door and entered, carrying a tray with a bowl of miso soup, a dish of natto, a fish, and a serving of rice.

"Fourth Hokage, you haven't had breakfast yet."

Minato glanced at the breakfast, shook his head, and asked from the bottom of his heart, "What day is it today?"

Shizune paused for a moment, then said, "...Thursday, I guess."

"Oh." Minato took the soup bowl, paused for two seconds, "I don't think I ate anything last Thursday either."

Jingyin didn't reply, but simply pushed the breakfast in front of him, and then expertly started cleaning the office.

Before Fenglan left, she was given many instructions, one of which was: "If Shuimen starts asking what day of the week it is, it means he hasn't eaten properly for three days. Don't let him starve to death."

But she still has hospital duties to perform and can't take care of Minato all the time. Right now, our young and handsome Fourth Hokage has already grown a mustache.

Minato took a bite of rice, chewed for a moment, and then suddenly asked, "Has Mr. Shikaku come by today?"

“He came by.” Shizune nodded. “He said that the border patrol report you approved this morning had a revised version sent over from the Third Generation. He looked at it for you. The content is almost the same, only the wording has changed. You can just sign it directly. You don’t need to read it again.”

Minato was silent for a moment: "...Is the Third Hokage testing whether I've been reading the documents carefully?"

Silent did not respond.

Minato didn't press the matter. He pushed away the rice he had only eaten two bites of, rubbed his temples, and suddenly exclaimed, "How did Fenglan manage to do that before?"

"What should be done?"

"He finished all the documents in half a day, still had time to go for a run with Dai, and even had the energy to argue with me when he got home at night." Minato's tone was filled with awe. "Is he even human?"

Shizune pursed her lips: "Because when I'm here, they don't dare send this kind of meaningless garbage over."

Without a doubt, this was another message that Feng Lan had asked her to relay. Minato sighed and subconsciously touched the scroll.

"Mute".

"exist."

"Do you think Feng Lan left this for me because she thought I would definitely open it prematurely?"

Shizune glanced at the scroll: "Your greatest strength is your persistence, and your greatest weakness is also your persistence."

Minato paused for a moment, and the image of Feng Lan's helpless expression with his hands outstretched seemed to appear in his mind. He couldn't help but laugh: "You really know me."

He casually tossed the scroll back onto the corner of the table, patted his cheeks to encourage himself, and said, "Alright, let's get to work!"

But just then, a series of hurried footsteps sounded, and the Konoha gatekeeper pushed open the door and entered: "Excuse me! Fourth Hokage! We have brought a messenger from Lord Fenglan!"

"Feng Lan?!"

Minato suddenly perked up and stood up abruptly.

When he saw Inuzuka Tetsu behind the gatekeeper, he was taken aback for a moment, then immediately ordered, "Shizune, quickly treat his wounds!"

"Yes!"

Inuzuka Tetsuya tremblingly took out the secret letter scroll: "Fourth Hokage... I have not failed you..."

"Thanks a lot."

Minato first looked at Inuzuka Tetsu with concern for a while, and finding that he was not in any danger, he then eagerly tore open the scroll and took out the secret letter.

Then... there were only four words above: This person is available.

What... what's going on here?!

Minato was Spartan at heart. Although he was manipulated by F3, he had already built up a certain amount of power before Fenglan left. Therefore, Minato still learned some of the situation from the secret letter sent by Ninja Hawk.

He knew that Fenglan had defeated Hanzo, killed Danzo, and was supporting the rise of Akatsuki, a new force in Amegakure. There was a young man in Akatsuki who possessed the legendary Rinnegan, which would surely become a powerful weapon against Kumogakure.

Minato originally thought that Fenglan's letter must have told him more, or even asked him to go to Amegakure for an alliance ceremony. However, it ended with just one short sentence.

"What the hell do you mean? Is it usable? Where am I supposed to use it?!" Minato grimaced, already putting on a mask of pain.

"Um... Fourth Hokage?"

Having received some treatment, Inuzuka Tetsu timidly raised his hand: "Does Lady Fenglan still stand by what she promised me?"

"Hmm?" Minato's eyes lit up. "What did he promise you?"

"It's about... asking me to go to the Inuzuka clan to ask for a ninja dog." Inuzuka Tetsuya knew that Furan had only given a verbal promise, so he wanted to get some real assurance from Minato to back him up.

"Oh, okay, let's go then." Minato waved his hand. "But no rush, tell me what exactly happened in Amegakure?"

"I am just a prisoner of war of the Root Organization. I was fortunate enough to be chosen by Lord Fenglan to deliver a message, so I don't know much." Inuzuka Tetsuya, on the other hand, selectively revealed information, especially the most crucial Edo Tensei Twin Shadows, which he planned to sell for a good price.

"Is that so...?"

Minato didn't get much useful information either, and couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. He pressed on, "How is Fenglan?"

“Lord Fenglan…” Inuzuka Tetsu hesitated for a moment, “He looks very tired, and there is blood at the corner of his mouth.”

Minato suddenly tightened his grip, releasing it only after a few seconds: "I understand."

He wrote out the order and handed it over: "You've worked hard too, go and get some rest."

"Yes, thank you, Fourth Hokage."

Inuzuka Tetsu left the Hokage's office, but as soon as he went downstairs, he was stopped by an Anbu member wearing a mask: "The Third Hokage has something to discuss with you."

"Okay." Inuzuka Tetsu's lips curled up slightly. The information he had been hiding was finally coming in handy.

He pretended to be honest and simple, obediently following behind the other person, passing through several alleys, bypassing the patrol routes of the guard team, and entering the Sarutobi clan's mansion through the back door.

Inside the tea room, the third generation was sitting behind a low table, puffing on his pipe, as if he had been waiting for a while.

"Sandaime-sama."

Inuzuka Tetsu knelt on one knee, his posture very humble.

"Get up." The Third Hokage waved his pipe, his tone as gentle as if he were entertaining a guest. "I heard you just returned from Amegakure. How's the situation with MapleStory?"

Inuzuka Tetsu raised his head, met the Third Hokage's gaze for a moment, and then looked down again. Having been in Root for so many years, he knew very well what to say and when to say it.

"Reporting to the Third Hokage, Lord Fenglan has already formed an alliance with the Akatsuki organization in Amegakure."

"I've already told you about the secret messages these ninja hawks brought back," the Third Hokage said calmly, waving his hand. "Get to the point."

With just a few words, the sense of pressure he exerted on Inuzuka Tetsuya was completely different from that of the Fourth Hokage. The latter thought to himself that his decision to keep the information to himself was indeed the right one; this was the place where he could gain more benefits.

"Lord Fenglan has taken control of the rogue ninja Orochimaru, and..." he lowered his voice, "...he somehow summoned the spirits of the First and Second Hokage."

The Third Hokage's hand froze in mid-air, the ash from his pipe falling silently onto the table. He didn't speak immediately, but Inuzuka Tetsu could sense a sharp glint in his old eyes.

If Inuzuka Tetsuya didn't know this secret technique, there's no reason why the Third Hokage wouldn't know. It wasn't some kind of dead soul; it was an impure world resurrection technique.

He remained silent for a long time, so long that the tobacco had completely burned away without him taking another puff. Inuzuka Tetsu didn't look up either, but simply remained kneeling on one knee, waiting for the Third Hokage's next words.

After a long pause, the Third Hokage slowly spoke: "Have you told Minato about this information?"

“Absolutely not.” Inuzuka Tetsu immediately began to pledge his loyalty. “I believe that the fewer people who should know these most confidential information, the better. It is enough to let only those who have the ability to control it know.”

“Hmm, you’re a smart man.” The Third Hokage glanced at Inuzuka Tetsu. “The fact that Fenglan is willing to use you as a messenger shows that he has already pardoned your crimes in the Root organization.”

Clearly, the Third Hokage had known about the child's existence for a long time, but he turned a blind eye to Danzo. This satisfied the old man and prevented him from targeting the Hyuga clan again, so why not?

"So, do you want to continue working for him, or come and work for me?" He knocked off the ash from his cigarette and continued to refill the tobacco at a leisurely pace.

“I…” Inuzuka Tetsuya tentatively said, “I want to follow Lord Furan, but at the same time… to do things for you.”

Upon hearing this, the Third Hokage's lips curled into a strange smile: "Interesting, very interesting..."

He didn't say anything more, but he also wrote down a warrant: "Aren't you going to the Inuzuka clan? Take this."

"My lord..." Inuzuka Tetsuya was still young and, not receiving a clear reply, he couldn't help but feel a little flustered.

"Go down. I'll have the Anbu contact you when I need you," the Third Hokage waved his hand.

"Yes."

Inuzuka Tetsu accepted the order with both hands and bowed his head in thanks.

He didn't ask what would happen if I were discovered, because he already knew the answer. The Third Hokage didn't say that I should take responsibility if I was exposed, because there was no need to say it.

By the time he stepped out of Sarutobi's residence, it was already broad daylight. Inuzuka Tetsuya stood in the sunlight, tucked the two sealed warrants into his robes, and then strode towards the Inuzuka clan's encampment, his face displaying a wolf-like ferocity.

In the tea room, the third generation was still smoking leisurely. After a while, he chuckled and said, "Heh, that kid Fenglan, he's really good at scheming."

He beckoned to an ANBU member: "Catch up with Yuichi and tell him that the strategy has changed. Once in Amegakure, he must follow Fenglan's orders and never mention the Rinnegan again."

After receiving news of Amegakure's situation from the Ninja Hawk, the Third Hokage ordered Sarutobi Yuichi of his clan to lead a team to transport supplies. However, he also told Yuichi that once they arrived in Amegakure, they must be firm and bring Nagato back to Konoha.

Even though Fenglan didn't mention it in the secret letter, and even before Tobirama's threats had happened and Nagato hadn't signed that "contract of servitude," the Third Hokage had already guessed that Fenglan would eventually take this step.

He only promised him that the village would come first, and that he would give him the supplies, but the Rinnegan could no longer be his, since he had already given up on Obito.

If Fenglan doesn't agree, Sarutobi Yuichi will absolutely not hand over the supplies. Would he dare to forcibly seize them? That would make him a rogue ninja.

However, Fenglan had anticipated the Third Hokage's prediction, which is why he specifically sent Inuzuka Tetsuya, a two-faced character, back to deliver a message. Through Inuzuka Tetsuya, he revealed the existence of the two Edo Tensei clones, and the meaning was quite clear: "You little brat, your teacher is on my side. If you don't behave yourself, you'll face the consequences."

Therefore, after weighing the pros and cons, the Third Hokage could only take the initiative to show goodwill and indicate that he was giving up the Rinnegan. He and Feng Lan had a tacit understanding that even if they fought each other, there had to be a limit. Since he gave up the competition for the Rinnegan, he naturally wouldn't bring the Edo Tensei Hashirama and Tobirama back to the village.

Otherwise, Konoha will really be in chaos.

Poor Tetsuka Inuzuka thought he could please everyone, but in reality, neither Kaoru nor the Third Generation took him seriously.

Chapter 96 Revenge

Inuzuka Tetsu stood in front of that familiar wooden door.

He couldn't remember how many times he had walked through this place. Sometimes he would walk quickly with his head down, and sometimes he would be pushed and fall on the threshold. He remembered that there was a crack on the left side of the door, which was left when he was five years old and someone kicked him. It had never been repaired, just like him. He existed, but he was not worth paying attention to.

He took a deep breath, raised his foot, and kicked the door open.

The people training in the yard turned their gazes over, and their expressions changed drastically when they saw him: "Inuzuka Tetsu? How dare you come back!"

This guy was already Danzo's subordinate, but now that Danzo has defected, he's been branded a rogue ninja. Returning to his clan now will only bring him immense trouble.

"Get out of here!"

The group's hostility was no longer concealed, and the ninja dogs around them were baring their teeth, revealing their ferocious nature.

"Oh."

Inuzuka Tetsu gave a cold laugh. He walked into the courtyard step by step, his pace unhurried, the sound of his boots on the stone slabs exceptionally clear. The bandages on his body were still soaked with blood; the wounds were real, and so were his eyes.

That wasn't the look of a dog, it was the look of a wolf.