Yes, the Hokage!

Chapter 108 The Feast at Hongmen?

Inuzuka Tetsu's original plan was to arrive at the banquet venue early to help out or guide the guests, demonstrating his attentiveness and diligence, and also to observe the state of each guest.

Unfortunately, he changed his mind at the last minute before setting off.

"Boom!"

Inuzuka Tetsu kicked open the door to the room where the younger generation lived, and pointed at Inuzuka Tsuyoshi, who had a look of astonishment on his face, and said, "You, come with me."

"What, what are you doing?" Inuzuka instinctively started trembling when he saw his cousin whom he used to bully when he was a child, and his ninja dog Aomaru whimpered and burrowed under the bed.

"You're in luck, kid." Inuzuka Tetsu sneered. "Lord Fenglan is holding a victory banquet tonight, and each invited guest can bring any number of attendants. You're honored to have been chosen by me as an attendant."

"Huh?" Inuzuka Tsuyoshi was slightly taken aback. "Why?"

I used to bully this guy when I was a kid, and the kick he gave me before still hurts. Why... why did he suddenly change his ways and come to take me to the Fourth Hokage's victory celebration?

"Enough with the nonsense!" A fierce glint flashed in Inuzuka Tetsuya's eyes. "Are you coming or not?"

"Come on, come on!"

Inuzuka hurriedly got up, feeling a mix of fear, confusion, and a bit of smugness. Someone like him, who hadn't even passed the Chunin Selection Exams, should theoretically never be able to participate in a banquet of this caliber in his entire life. Even if he didn't get a sip of water today, just sitting there would be something for him to brag about to his friends when he got back.

He embodies the typical Inuzuka clan personality, just like the clan leader, he is not good at scheming and intrigue, which is the only reason Inuzuka Tetsu brought him along.

Although he was once frightened by Feng Lan's reprimand, after careful consideration, Inuzuka Tetsu decided to pretend that nothing was wrong. Since Lord Feng Lan was willing to let him serve as the captain of the Hokage's guard and even arranged for Hizashi to give him a secret technique in advance, it meant that he was still useful!

As long as it still has value, it won't be easily disposed of, and what I need to do is find a scapegoat.

Indeed, no one would consider someone like Takeshi Inuzuka, who lacks intelligence and cunning, to be a traitor who leaked important information. But sometimes, what important figures need is not the truth, but a way out.

Inuzuka Tsuyoshi, this is the perfect opportunity. It would be better if Lord Fenglan didn't bring this up. If he were to pursue the matter... he could then conveniently throw this guy out and express his willingness to be a double agent for the Third Hokage. Although the risks are still considerable, it's better than sitting idly by and waiting to die.

With this in mind, he abandoned his initial plan and brought along the big guy who had bullied him since childhood.

Because they needed to give Inuzuka a heads-up, telling him not to act without thinking and to behave himself when he got there, the four members of the Inuzuka family arrived at the banquet venue just as most of the guests had arrived and were about to get into character.

"Isn't this Chief Inuzuka?"

A voice greeted him from the side. Inuzuka Tetsu glanced over and saw Nara Shikaku striding towards him, followed by Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Choza.

"Mr. Shikaku, Mr. Inoichi, Mr. Choza." Inuzuka Tsuru forced a smile, looking as if he were also preoccupied.

Lu Jiu sighed understandingly, "Since you've already made the decision, don't regret it."

He brought Haiyi and Dingzuo with him, which means that he had already made up his mind after discussing and deliberating.

“Yes, since we have no other choice, let’s just go all the way.” Inuzuka Tsuru nodded and then introduced the people behind him.

Shikaku greeted them one by one, pausing for a moment when he looked at Inuzuka Tetsu.

The latter's cheek twitched slightly as he involuntarily recalled the scene when he went to deliver a message to the Nara clan that afternoon.

After hearing the message, Shikaku did not rush to respond. Instead, he looked at Inuzuka Tetsu with a meaningful expression and said, "Mr. Inuzuka, I heard you just returned from Amegakure? The rain there must have been heavier than in Konoha, right?"

Inuzuka Tetsu: "...much bigger."

Lu Jiu smiled and said, "That's right. In places where it rains heavily, the roads are difficult to walk on. If you take the wrong path, you won't be able to find your footprints if you want to turn back."

She was already worried about what Feng Lan had seen through, and then Lu Jiu poked her in the head, making her as anxious as an ant on a hot pan all afternoon.

Inuzuka Tetsuya took a deep breath, banishing these unpleasant memories. Unlike his mother and Inuzuka Tsuyoshi, he did not bow, but simply nodded slightly: "Mr. Shikaku."

"Yes." Shikaku nodded in acknowledgment. "Please."

The hall was already quite full, with long tables arranged in a U-shape, and warm yellow lights illuminating the entire space. Inuzuka Tetsu's gaze swept quickly around; he had a habit of checking for exits, windows, and hiding places before entering any room, like a rat on the ground—an instinct instilled in him by the organization.

Then he saw the seating arrangement.

While the Naruto world may not have the complicated concept of who the fish head should be pointed at at a banquet, there is still the concept of the head seat. Obviously, the person sitting in the head seat at a banquet is the one with the highest status.

But the moment they entered, the group clearly saw Minato forcefully press Fenglan down and push him into the main seat. The latter rolled his eyes, laughed and cursed a few times, and sat there calmly!

Seeing this scene, countless people had their own thoughts running through their minds, and Inuzuka Tetsu was no exception.

His gaze swept over the guests again, and he saw Hizashi inside. This meant that Lord Fenglan already knew about what happened to him at the Hyuga clan that afternoon.

Although he had mentally prepared himself, Inuzuka Tetsu couldn't help but stiffen slightly, and his hands involuntarily clenched.

Then something soft enveloped his fist. Turning around, he saw his mother holding his fists with both hands, her eyes filled with worry.

Inuzuka Tetsu forced himself to shake off his unease, gave his mother a weak smile, and prepared to go up and greet Fenglan.

However, before he could move, Feng Lan's gaze swept over at just the right moment, and she waved with a smile, gesturing to the seat next to her.

Upon seeing Feng Lan's smiling face, Inuzuka Tesshin was initially relieved, but then began to tremble, because the position Feng Lan was pointing to was actually to his left!

Keep in mind that the other party is currently sitting in the main seat, with Minato sitting to Feng Lan's right, while there are two empty seats to his left, which are actually reserved for him and his mother!

Inuzuka Tetsuya swallowed hard, instinctively glancing at the reactions of those around him.

Fugaku Uchiha's gaze swept over him, lingered briefly, and then looked away; Hizashi nodded slightly to him; Shiki Aburame was wearing sunglasses, so no one could tell what he was thinking... The voices that were originally talking did not stop because of his arrival, but Tetsuka Inuzuka could feel that several gazes fell on him for a moment.

But no one showed hostility, nor did anyone express doubt or resentment.

He took a deep breath, took his mother's hand, and walked with his head held high to the seat next to Feng Lan. Behind him, Shikaku shook his head with a profound expression, and simply gestured for Inuzuka Tsuru and the others to sit down.

Inuzuka Tetsu sat down in his seat. He suddenly remembered what the two guards had said to him when he was at the entrance of the Uchiha compound: "They are Lord Fenglan's subordinates."

He was feeling uneasy and dizzy at the time, and he felt that the gatekeeper's attitude changed very quickly. But now, sitting here and looking at the gazes of the people around him, he suddenly understood the true weight of those words.

"This must be your mother," Feng Lan said with a smile.

"Fourth Hokage, Lord Fenglan, I, I am Inuzuka Aoi." Inuzuka Aoi, who was just a Chunin, couldn't help but stammer nervously when she saw so many important figures.

“You don’t need to feel so much pressure,” Minato said with a gentle smile. “Your son will be my captain of the guard from now on, and I’ll have to rely on him for many things.”

"Really?" Upon hearing this, Inuzuka Aoi's eyes lit up instantly, and she smiled brightly, just like any mother who hopes for her son's success. She had never seen Inuzuka Tetsu smile like this since he had any memories.

For no apparent reason, a strong warm current surged through his limbs and bones. It was pride, glory, and the joy of making his mother happy and satisfied... This feeling was so wonderful and so captivating that he could ignore everything, including danger, just for a moment with his pursuer.

But soon, that feeling disappeared because Feng Lan spoke.

“Your child is indeed very talented, but he has been somewhat tarnished by Danzo.” He adopted his standard smiling tiger persona. “But it doesn’t matter, I will polish him properly in the future.”

Inuzuka Aoi, naturally oblivious to the hidden meaning, gratefully replied, "Yes, yes, thank you for your help, Advisor!"

Inuzuka Tetsuya's body stiffened, as if he were completely under the other's control.

"That's what your mother said." At this moment, Feng Lan looked over with a smile. "If I'm a little stricter later, you won't blame me, will you?"

"How could that be?" Inuzuka Tetsu tried his best to imitate Feng Lan, trying to replicate the other's smile. "I couldn't be happier."

[Hmm, that's about right. At least when I'm away at the Five Kage Summit, this kid won't dare to make any big moves.]

After using both kindness and firmness, Feng Lan withdrew her gaze and continued to praise Inuzuka Aoi's child, making the mother laugh heartily, and even her crow's feet wrinkles smoothed out.

Then came the real banquet. Feng Lan didn't look over here again, which made Inuzuka and her son much more relaxed. Perhaps because her son was so happy to have achieved success, Inuzuka Aoi was no longer as nervous as before. She ate a lot of food and even had a small drink, which made half of her face flushed.

Meanwhile, Inuzuka Tetsu quietly lay low, serving his mother food while taking the opportunity to observe the people at the banquet.

He noticed that Fenglan was very casual when picking up food, and didn't pay special attention to Shuimen's condition. However, when others wanted to pick up their chopsticks, they would wait until these two had picked up their food before they started eating. It wasn't intentional or deliberate, but rather a natural habit.

He saw Shikaku talking quietly with Choza and Inoichi, his expression quite somber, unlike his usual lazy demeanor. Even Choza, who was known for his love of food, didn't give the dishes on the table a second glance.

He saw Itachi, the eldest son of the Uchiha clan, sitting there carefree, and felt a sudden pang of envy for no reason. But the boy next to Itachi, named Kabuto, was very nervous and awkward, and even needed Itachi's help to pick up food.

……

He looked down at the bowl in front of him.

If someone had told Inuzuka Tetsu a few months ago that he would be sitting next to the Fourth Hokage and the chief advisor at a banquet hosted by the village's high-ranking officials, with the head of the Hyuga clan sitting across the table and the son of the Uchiha clan head sitting diagonally across from him, he would have thought it was a dream, but it all actually happened.

He also remembered the headband, which was in the inner pocket, close to his chest.

He suddenly wondered if his father, back then, had ever sat by a campfire on the battlefield, just like him, looking at those stronger than him, thinking that one day he too would reach that level.

Inuzuka Tetsu didn't know the exact answer, but he felt that his father at that moment wasn't thinking about power and status, but about his mother, about the woman who was raising the child alone and never saw him return.

Leaving aside Inuzuka Tetsuya's inner turmoil, Uchiha Fugaku downed several cups of sake, then, emboldened by the alcohol, stood up and bowed deeply: "Lord Fenglan, I have a favor to ask!"

"Hmm?" This time, even Feng Lan really didn't know what he wanted to say.

“My youngest son… is two months old now. We named him Sasuke, Uchiha Sasuke.” Fugaku took a deep breath. “Lord Fenglan, if you don’t mind, would you be his adoptive father?”

Upon hearing this, everyone at the banquet displayed different expressions. They hadn't expected that Uchiha Fugaku would actually take such a gamble. Not only had he sent his eldest son as a hostage, but now he had even offered up his youngest son as well. He was determined to form a deep bond with Fugaku.

However, upon closer reflection, this move was truly brilliant, because apart from Feng Lan, no other high-ranking member would favor or promote the Uchiha clan; they were all in the same boat at the moment.

By offering his youngest son, Fugaku could not only gain further trust from Fenglan, but also protect himself in critical moments. In case the Fourth Hokage consolidated his power and decided to discard him after using him, he could at least be treated leniently because of Fenglan's adopted son.

However, before Feng Lan could even speak, Shui Men slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly: "No way!"

"What?!"

Everyone was stunned, wondering if the Fourth Hokage, who usually struggled to even handle a simple document, also had a sense of justice and couldn't bear to see Fenglan and the Uchiha clan so closely bound together, lest they become too powerful and threaten his position as Hokage.

Could it be that today, this pair of "AB" partners from Konoha Village will turn against each other because of power and interests?

Recall that at the beginning, Minato insisted that Fenglan sit in the main seat. Could this banquet be a trap? If the Yellow Flash really intended to kill, Fenglan would be completely powerless to resist!

Minato, already somewhat drunk, let out a hiccup: "Mr. Fugaku! Fenglan can adopt Sasuke as his godson, but before that... he must first become our Naruto's godfather! I'll be number one!"

Chapter 109 Assassination of the Tsuchikage

After hearing Shuimen's words, the banquet hall fell silent for a moment, and everyone wore expressions that suggested they wanted to laugh but dared not.

"puff!"

It wasn't until Feng Lan started laughing that the others joined in, laughing: "Hahahaha..."

Feng Lan laughed as she pulled Shui Men down to sit: "Look at Shui Men, he's already drunk after just a few drinks, he's such a loser."

At this point, naturally no one dared to agree that "Minato is a loser," only he himself was still muttering things like "Naruto's adoptive father" and "number one."

"Alright, alright, alright, I'll definitely be Naruto's adoptive father first." Feng Lan casually reassured him, and Minato actually quieted down, sitting there like a big blondie. "Don't try to fool me anymore."

"When have I ever fooled you?"

"It's always been there! Mmm..."

Before Shuimen could settle old scores, Fenglan swiftly downed a glass of wine, causing him to pass out drunk on the table. His practiced movements made one wonder if he had done this many times before.

Having dealt with Minato, Fenglan shrugged at Fugaku: "You saw the Fugaku clan leader too. Although he probably won't remember what he said after waking up, Sasuke will probably be ranked after Naruto."

"Of course, of course." Seeing that Feng Lan did not refuse, Fu Yue felt relieved and sat down with a big laugh.