Yes, the Hokage!

"Yes."

Are you worried that someone might abuse power to exclude dissidents?

"Yes."

Are you worried that a large number of ninjas losing their jobs will cause widespread panic among the people?

"Yes."

Are you worried that malicious people from other villages might take this opportunity to stir up trouble?

"Yes."

"Do you oppose cutting off the middle ranks of Konoha?"

"Um...I think this should be..."

"Simply answer yes or no."

"……Yes."

“This is it.” Feng Lan casually tossed the paper onto the table. “It’s a very simple questioning technique. Since someone wants to use those troublemakers… cough cough, those Konoha villagers to pressure me to speed things up, I can naturally use the villagers’ attitude to tell them that haste makes waste.”

Sure enough, only a morning had passed when Shuimen received news that made his vision go black: "What? More than 70 percent of the villagers actually oppose reducing the number of middle-level cadres?!"

"Over seventy percent? My God!" The instigator, Feng Lan, feigned surprise, saying, "Let me see."

He looked at the survey data, his expression gradually becoming serious: "Minato, these street survey questionnaires are not entirely reliable, but we do need to use them as a reference. After all, the Hokage is there to protect the village and its people."

“In my opinion…” Feng Lan cleared her throat, “It is obvious that my plan has been unanimously approved in the council, which proves its feasibility. However, based on the villagers’ concerns, I think we can express to the public that after careful consideration, although the plan has been widely recognized, some principles are theoretically feasible while others are too complex and require a delicate balance in practice. Therefore, in principle, a wise and prudent plan is to put the proposal into more detailed consideration, strengthen the continuity between the new proposal and the existing principles, and allow the proposer to suggest approval in the proposal regarding the principle-based debate. In principle, it can still be gradually implemented.”

Minato: "...Huh?"

Honestly, not only him, but also Shisui and Itachi, who were in charge of organizing the documents, were dumbfounded. Fenglan was undoubtedly demonstrating the ultimate skill of talking non-stop for thirty seconds without saying anything. This is also an essential word count ability for every college student in China when writing a thesis.

"Simply put, it means not going against the villagers and temporarily suspending the work of eliminating redundant middle-level staff." The series of long and complicated sentences above were undoubtedly a prelude to this statement.

"You're not backing out, are you?" Minato frowned.

“Of course not. I wrote the proposal. I want to see the project implemented more than anyone else, don’t I? What I mean is we can…” Feng Lan made a reassuring gesture, “take it slow.”

"It seems that's the only way." Minato sighed. "Fenglan, you've really had a hard time."

"It's not hard work at all, not hard work at all." Feng Lan resumed her usual squinty-eyed smile. "Compared to me, you are the one who..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a series of "gurgling" sounds. When he looked up, he saw Minato turning his head away with a slightly embarrassed expression.

"Uh, Minato." This time, even Feng Lan couldn't hold back anymore. "If I heard correctly, it was your... stomach growling just now?"

Chapter 14 The Intimidation of Jinchūriki

"Uh, it was because of a little accident." Minato looked out the window sheepishly. "Kushina has been under enhanced sealing lately and hasn't had time to cook for me..."

"Besides scrambled eggs, you're probably the only one who can stomach Kushina's lunch."

Feng Lan's eyelids twitched. He had been invited to Minato's home several times and knew very well that Minato usually cooked there. As for Kushina's cooking... to be honest, apart from scrambled eggs, it was all terrible. Only Minato liked to eat it. It just goes to show how great the power of love is.

"I, I've been doing this recently because..."

"It's probably because the Hokage has too many affairs to handle, and doesn't even have time to cook for himself," Feng Lan sighed. "Shisui, could you please go buy a bowl of Ichiraku Ramen?"

"Yes!" Feng Lan is probably the number one person in the ninja world who can make Shisui of the Body Flicker run away to deliver takeout.

Itachi couldn't help but ask, "Fourth Hokage, even we can eat in the staff cafeteria with Lord Fenglan, but you..."

“Unfortunately, the Hokage position is not suitable.” Feng Lan shrugged. “The previous Hokage all had their own private chefs and did not need to eat in the cafeteria. Minato abolished the position after taking office, not only because he did not want to occupy too many public resources, but also because he did not have the money.”

The first three Hokage were all clan leaders, while Minato was a commoner Hokage who didn't have much money. This can be seen from their living conditions. Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, and even Fugaku Uchiha all lived in detached houses, while Minato lived in an apartment on the same floor. That's why Fenglan said earlier that he lived next door to Minato.

As mentioned earlier, before Feng Lan made his move, the Hokage's office did not have independent funds. Every financial transaction had to be approved by the elders. Minato himself was not like those old hands. Apart from his mission income before becoming Hokage, he was truly penniless.

Shisui returned quickly, and the expressions of the two Uchiha changed to varying degrees as they watched Minato wolfing down Ichiraku Ramen.

"Isn't it ironic?" Feng Lan chuckled. "The mighty Yellow Flash, the Fourth Hokage who reigns supreme over all ninjas, can't even afford a plate of scrambled eggs."

“Go away, don’t set a bad example for the kids.” Minato rolled his eyes at him. “This is the path I chose, it’s just that Kushina isn’t home right now…”

“You can’t even get a decent meal when your wife’s not home, and you’re still here being the Hokage.” Feng Lan rolled his eyes. “Luckily, I recently managed to poach some funds from the Elders’ Council, which is more than enough to find you a chef.”

"Hey, do you want all the villagers to think that the first thing I did after taking office was to find myself a cook?" Minato was a little annoyed.

“We can keep it a secret from them.” Feng Lan smiled slightly. “The Hokage’s income must be made public, but the Hokage’s office does not, and neither do the advisors. Just think of it as someone I hired to cook for me, and I’ll let you have a bite to eat while I’m at it.”

"Anyway..." Before Minato's mouth could be stuffed full of noodles, he changed the subject in time, "The first decision you will have to make after becoming Hokage is undoubtedly this."

Fenglan slammed a document on the table: "Determine whether to spend a large sum of money to rent Shukaku's jinchūriki, Bunfuku, from Sunagakure..."

His expression turned extremely sarcastic: "Strengthen the defenses?"

"It's mainly because of Kushina..." Minato sighed. Although he didn't say it outright in front of Shisui and Itachi, Fenglan naturally knew that because Kushina was about to give birth, the Nine-Tails seal had become extremely unstable. Now she was busy reinforcing it day and night and didn't even have time to cook for her husband, let alone go to the battlefield.

The problem is... she didn't go during the Third Shinobi World War either? Looking at the four Shinobi World Wars in Naruto, apart from the fourth one where the power of Jinchuriki was used extensively because of the protagonist Naruto, in which of the other wars didn't the Jinchuriki be hidden away as soon as the war started?

Even at the very beginning of the Fourth Shinobi World War, the Five Kage held the same view: to keep the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails hidden and let the regular army fight them.

The Jinchuriki of this world are roughly equivalent to the nuclear bombs before Feng Lan's transmigration; they serve a deterrent purpose and rarely appear on the front lines. Clearly, the purpose of the person who initiated this document could not have been to truly consolidate the defenses.

"Who initiated this plan?" Feng Lan flipped to the end to see the signature. As expected, it was blank, but often the absence of any signature already speaks volumes.

He glanced at Minato, who guiltily turned his head away, which only solidified his belief: "Let me guess... it's the Third Hokage, isn't it?"

“The Third Hokage was doing this for my own good,” Minato said softly. “If war breaks out again, as a husband, I can’t let my wife go to the battlefield. But as the Fourth Hokage, I have to protect the village and its people by using Jinchuriki. If we could rent Shukaku from Sunagakure, we could…”

“Who said that protecting the village necessarily requires using a Jinchuriki?” Feng Lan scoffed. “During the recent Third Shinobi World War, many people suggested using the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, but the Third Hokage forcefully suppressed them.”

"That's because of Kushina..."

“Minato, you’re just letting your concern cloud your judgment.” Fenglan interrupted him again. “I admit you’re a good husband, but now you’re the Fourth Hokage. You need to consider things from the Hokage’s perspective. Let me assume that the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki wasn’t Kushina, but just a simple tool of war… Excuse me, let me use another word, just an ordinary member of Konoha.”

"And you, my Hokage, clearly have great faith in the threatening power of Jinchuriki, don't you?"

“Of course.” Minato frowned. “Otherwise, the First Hokage wouldn’t have distributed the Tailed Beasts to the Five Great Nations.”

"Let's set aside whether the First Hokage's method of distributing the Tailed Beasts was right or wrong for now. Who do you think the Jinchuriki can threaten?" Feng Lan continued the topic. "Iwagakure? Kumogakure? Or Sunagakure, which is willing to lend Shukaku to us?"

"Iwagakure has the Four-Tails and Five-Tails, and Kumogakure has the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails. They are clearly more mature, shrewd, and capable than the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. You have actually fought against them, so you should know that their power is not like Kushina's... I mean the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. That power is controllable." (Minato fought the Four-Tails and Five-Tails in Minato Chronicles, and the Abby brothers in the Third Shinobi World War.)

Seeing that Minato was about to say that it wasn't Kushina's fault, Fenglan quickened his pace and continued, "Then let's turn the topic back to this question. As the Fourth Hokage, when would you make up your mind to use the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, a power that is terrifyingly destructive yet extremely uncontrollable, capable of harming both the enemy and yourself?"

"Well, that's when things get really urgent..." Clearly, the newly appointed young Minato hadn't considered these issues.

"So here's the question: what constitutes a critical moment?" Feng Lan guided her gently. "Does it mean the enemy has reached the village's doorstep?"

"Maybe... it will be a little earlier," Minato said uncertainly.

“That’s it.” Feng Lan smiled. “Looking at the three Shinobi World Wars in history, let alone reaching the village gates, the enemy couldn’t even get halfway into the Land of Fire, right?”

"You mean... there's no need to rent the One-Tailed Beast?" Minato frowned. "But the One-Tailed Beast from Sunagakure is more controllable than the Nine-Tailed Beast. If a war really breaks out, perhaps we can activate the One-Tailed Beast sooner." (Bunpuku is one of the few Jinchūriki whom Shukaku acknowledges.)

“If the One-Tailed Beast is really that reliable, why would Sunagakure be willing to rent it? Is it just because they are poor and short of money?” Feng Lan waved his finger. “No, it’s because they already know the rules of the game between villages, and they know that most of the time, the Jinchuriki is just a symbol, and it’s better to keep them locked up in a cell.”

He was absolutely right. If you count the time, Bunpuku, who became a Jinchūriki during the Second Kazekage's time, should be in prison by now.

Although Minato didn't speak, his expression clearly showed that he wasn't convinced.

So Fenglan continued, "Let's not discuss how much of the huge sum of money for renting Shukaku can actually be paid to Sunagakure, or how much ends up in the hands of people inside Konoha. Now, let's assume the following situation."

"If the Hidden Cloud Village announces that thieves have appeared on the border of the Land of Fire, and they openly cross the border under the guise of capturing thieves who have plundered the people of the Land of Lightning, would you directly use the Jinchuriki?"

Minato frowned: "No, that's too much of an exaggeration."

"Next, the Cloud Village's operation to apprehend the thieves caused considerable damage and a large fire. The neighboring Iwagakure also came over under the guise of putting out the fire to 'help.' Will you send out your Jinchuriki?"

"Probably not."

"Then, these two ninja teams stopped leaving and brazenly occupied the Land of Fire's territory. Your choices are: one, send out a ninja squad to drive them away; two, use a Jinchuriki to blast them."

"Of course it's number one. I'm not a person who enjoys killing."

“That’s it.” Feng Lan spread his hands. “The sausage tactic. They will never push you to the brink of desperation, where you have to use a Jinchuriki. Instead, they will slowly erode the Land of Fire, one small piece at a time. They will make you feel pain but not break your bones. The day when you are supposed to use a Jinchuriki will probably never come.”

"Hearing you say that, it seems that the concept of a Jinchūriki is meaningless."

"No, of course there is. The Jinchūriki give the Five Great Nations the power of 'Today, I am sure to die, but you will not live either,' so they will not really go all out to start a war."

"It's either a tug-of-war along the border, or it's a war fought on the territory of a small country like Amegakure... That's the rule of the game between the five great ninja villages. There's no need to risk your life; it's all about interests."

"Having a Jinchuriki grants one the right to gamble and to sit at the table for a meal, that's all. Sunagakure knows this, so they'd love to rent Shukaku for money."

"So what's your suggestion..." Minato finally got to the point.

Feng Lan said seriously, "Cancel the lease order and use the remaining money to train the standing army. Now that the Third World War has just ended, every village is severely weakened, so even if Kushina has no deterrent power, there will not really be another war."

"Everyone is taking this opportunity to strengthen their military, but if we waste our money and resources on the pointless rental of Jinchūriki... well, who knows what the next war will look like?"

“Standing army, intelligence system, scientific ninja tools… I personally believe these are what we should pursue. Of course…” Feng Lan made a gesture, “You are the Hokage, and the one who ultimately decides this matter is you.”

"I..." Although Minato was already tempted by what Feng Lan said, he still took a deep breath and tried to keep himself calm. "I need to think about it carefully."

Feng Lan smiled with satisfaction: "Yes, Hokage."

Chapter 15: Fainted from the shock of Konoha's friendship

The atmosphere in the office became heavy for a moment. Minato was thinking, and the two Uchiha were thinking even more. Feng Lan's series of insights today were really unconventional, and were blind spots that were hard for people like them who liked to think the best of others to reach.

Feng Lan wasn't in a hurry at all. Minato was indeed a staunch believer in the Will of Fire, so there were many things he didn't say clearly: for example, the Third Hokage's intention in producing this document was ill-intentioned, and how much of the money involved in renting the One-Tailed Beast would end up in his own pocket...

Given Minato's current personality, even if Fenglan lays the evidence on his face, he'll still just say, "The Third Hokage meant well."

However, he genuinely cared for Konoha and wanted to make changes. His suggestion was clearly better than renting the One-Tailed Beast. Minato just needed some time to figure things out.

After a long silence, Minato slowly spoke: "Feng Lan, have you been trying to win over the Uchiha clan in preparation for building a standing army?"

Feng Lan: "..."

To be honest, his aim in winning over the Uchiha clan was entirely to cultivate a private army. However, since Minato was somewhat influenced by this, Feng Lan continued along this line of thought: "Indeed, the redundant middle-level personnel cut from the garrison forces can be directly incorporated into the training of the standing army. With the Uchiha taking the lead, other clans won't have so many complaints."

“I see…” Shisui’s eyes lit up as well. “This is indeed a win-win solution. Lord Fenglan, you kept saying you weren’t in a hurry. So you were waiting for the proposal to establish a standing army?”

Although Itachi didn't speak, his writing speed noticeably increased, clearly indicating that he was recording something.

"This is just the ideal scenario; in reality, it will be extremely difficult to get through." Feng Lan shrugged. "Especially regarding scientific ninja tools, countless ninja clans will feel their interests are being infringed upon and will vehemently oppose it until we withdraw the entire plan."

Scientific ninja tools would be like upgrading ninjas from fighting with cold weapons in ancient times to fighting with firearms on the battlefield. Everyone knows how satisfying it is to sweep away swordsmen with a gun. So why is the promotion of scientific ninja tools still so difficult even in the Boruto era? Boruto, the protagonist, was even disqualified from the Chunin Exams because he used scientific ninja tools.