Yes, the Hokage

"So, that's how it is." Pakula didn't know why, but his depressed mood suddenly brightened up a lot. Perhaps it was because he and Lady Fenglan were both "outsiders" in Konoha Village.

Soon, the two arrived at the Sarutobi clan's residence. Before they could even announce their arrival, an ANBU member came to welcome Feng Lan inside. It seemed that the Third Hokage had indeed been keeping an eye on them.

“Lord Fenglan, I…” Pakula seemed a little hesitant. The conversation between the chief advisor and the former Kage had already involved the confidential affairs of Konoha Village. After all, he was still a ninja of Sunagakure on the surface. Continuing to follow him might put Lord Fenglan in a difficult position.

"It's alright, just come in." Feng Lan smiled and casually pulled Pakula's hand, and the latter instinctively followed.

At this moment, the initial caution and unease I felt upon arriving in this unfamiliar village, having left my hometown, completely vanished.

Chapter 185 The Secret of the Otsutsuki

Inside the tea room, the third generation leader, unusually, did not smoke; he simply sat there quietly watching Fenglan.

The ANBU who led the two in quickly withdrew, and Feng Lan, without any ceremony, sat down opposite the Third Hokage with an air of nonchalance: "I have brought Orochimaru back."

"Hmm." The Third Hokage showed no surprise at Pakula's presence, clearly aware of everything about Kirigakure. "When do you plan to hand him over to me?"

“There seems to be some time before the three-month period ends,” Feng Lan said with a smile. “Although your disciple’s character is questionable, his research ability is truly outstanding. I would like to keep him for another month and return him to you before the Reincarnation Festival begins.”

Upon hearing this, the Third Hokage's expression visibly relaxed: "Looks like you're also eyeing Oni-Gera?"

"Kiyara was just a condition I used to lure Hiruko. My real goal has always been scientific ninja tools." Fenglan had nothing to hide. "You should know about Kirigakure. A ninja of my level can use ninja tools to perform the Iron Sand Technique, which requires a bloodline limit. Compared to the major clans hoarding their tools... this method is much more beneficial to the village, isn't it?"

"Hmph, you dare to think that way... This kind of thing would definitely be opposed by those secret technique families in any era, but with your control over the village, perhaps you can suppress their dissatisfaction."

The Third Hokage casually pulled out his pipe: "I am also quite interested in that ninja umbrella."

Sure enough, after Orochimaru confirmed that he was safe, he still couldn't suppress his ambition. After all, this kind of ninja tool was equivalent to creating a Kage-level powerhouse out of thin air. Who wouldn't be tempted by that?

Before the Fourth Shinobi World War, when Super Kage were everywhere and Kage-level shinobi were as insignificant as dogs, a Kage-level shinobi still held considerable prestige. Many small countries were hesitant and subservient to others precisely because they lacked such a powerful Kage-level shinobi.

“There’s no rush. When the Samsara Festival comes, Sunagakure will definitely send someone to discuss this. I can’t handle such a large amount of iron sand by myself. How about we join forces to take it and then divide it equally?” Feng Lan had already anticipated this and spoke calmly.

He used the Iron Sand Realm Technique on Maki, partly as a deterrent and partly as a way to showcase his product. Fenglan didn't believe that the old guys in Sunagakure wouldn't have any ideas when they saw that the Iron Sand, which they had long thought was useless, could be given a second life.

"Hmm, so you were prepared all along." The Third Hokage nodded. "Then it's settled."

The relationship between the two is rather delicate, a mix of competition and cooperation. Both sides want to win, but it hasn't reached the point of a true life-or-death struggle. Therefore, when facing the third generation, Feng Lan doesn't need to use too many tricks. Most of the verbal agreements reached can be trusted.

"By the way, when the Anbu were searching the Sky Ninja Base, they found something strange." The Third Hokage said, tossing out an inconspicuous, dark object. "Although the research team didn't come up with any results, this thing is incredibly hard. It can't be cut even with Wind Release, nor can it be penetrated with Lightning Release. And most importantly, it was placed in the main control room's energy supply area with a special seal."

"Orochimaru and Hiruko are both with you now; they might be able to research something."

This is the difference between the Third Hokage and Danzo. Compared to Danzo, who always claimed to be doing it for Konoha but was actually only doing it for "my Konoha," the Third Hokage was genuinely willing to compromise as long as it was for the good of the village.

"An extremely hard black fragment..."

Feng Lan's eyes narrowed slightly: [Could it be a Truth-Seeking Jade?]

He tentatively stroked the object gently, knowing that Truth-Seeking Balls could explode. Even though it was so small, if it exploded, the entire Hidden Leaf Village would be doomed.

"No need to worry." Seeing Fenglan's caution, the Third Hokage said calmly, "I have already used many destructive ninjutsu on it, but none of them have been able to harm it in the slightest."

"You're really reckless, old man." Feng Lan wiped away his cold sweat, not knowing what to say. After all, the Third Hokage had no idea about the existence of the Truth-Seeking Balls, so it was unrealistic to expect him to have thought of a fragment exploding in advance.

However, this also suggests that this thing is most likely not a Seeking the Dao Jade, since it's unheard of for anyone to have a Seeking the Dao Jade with fragments left behind.

"Well, I'll show it to those two guys." Even so, Feng Lan didn't let her guard down. Unlike the Third Generation who casually tossed it into his clothes, she asked for a small box, carefully put it inside, and then carried it with her.

After leaving Sarutobi's base, he didn't dare to linger and immediately ran all the way to the guard's prison.

At this moment, Hiruko's five senses were no longer restricted, but he was still bound by restraint and chakra. Orochimaru was originally supposed to enjoy the same treatment as him, but Fenglan's words "Wait a minute" made Inaho and Tetsuka stop their actions, and Shisui, who was preparing to leave after the handover, also temporarily stayed.

"Come on, let's take a look at this."

Fenglan casually tossed the box to Orochimaru, while Hiruko curiously peered over, asking, "What's this? Let me see it too?"

"Get out of my way." Feng Lan then seized the opportunity to manipulate him, "This thing is extremely precious. I spent a great deal of money to get it from the Third Hokage."

When Orochimaru heard the name of the Third Hokage, he tightened his grip slightly when catching the box, but quickly returned to normal, and no one noticed.

"You're just looking down on me!" Hiruko, the naive and innocent girl, had indeed fallen for it and shouted angrily, "Orochimaru can touch it, but I can't?"

"Orochimaru is widely recognized as Konoha's top scientific researcher. Who do you think you are?" Feng Lan cast a disdainful glance at him.

"You blind fool!" Hiruko, in his excitement, actually tumbled off the bed, wriggling like a caterpillar in his straitjacket. "My research abilities are definitely no less than Orochimaru's!"

His biggest weakness is his pride. Unlike Orochimaru, who pursues immortality, Hiruko's lifelong pursuit is to prevent others from saying he is incompetent and to prove himself superior to others in every way. Now that Fenglan has said to him in front of his face that his best research ability is inferior to others, how can he tolerate it?

However, the more he acted this way, the less Feng Lan paid attention to him, until finally she wouldn't even give him a glance, which almost drove Bei Liu Hu crazy.

Orochimaru quickly responded: "This is a very peculiar substance. It must have come into contact with something from outer space. However, I have never seen a similar object before, so it is difficult to make a further judgment."

"Hmph!" Upon hearing this, Hiruko immediately perked up. "You found this thing in the ruins of the Sky Ninja Fortress, right? Orochimaru may not know, but I know what it is."

His unbandaged mummy face wore a proud and smug expression, as if he were about to say, "Beg me."

Logically, the tables should have turned at this point, and it was time for Hiruko, who possessed the core intelligence, to make his demands. Feng Lan should have been trying to appease him, but he scoffed, "You? Give me a break. Do you think you can get anything from me just by being a silver-tongued smooth talker? How could you possibly know something that even Orochimaru wouldn't?"

With that, he shook his head dismissively, closed the box again, and made as if to leave: "I think it's better to let those people in Takumi Ninja Village study it. Maybe it can be used to improve ninja tools."

"You idiot!" As expected, Hiruko roared in fury. "How dare you doubt the scientific capabilities of someone as great as me? Let me tell you, this is the wreckage of a spaceship, something you bunch of idiots on Earth could never comprehend in your entire lives—advanced alien technology!"

Upon hearing the words "foreign technology," Feng Lan's heart skipped a beat. If we're talking about alien civilizations in the Naruto world, the Otsutsuki are undoubtedly the most prominent. During the Shippuden era, they were alright, but by the Boruto era, the Otsutsuki had become almost like the Saiyans, an evil entity that roamed the universe, sending people everywhere to plant trees, exterminate clans, and rule.

If it's spaceship debris and wreckage, then wouldn't that be...?

His heart was filled with turmoil, but his face still showed that disdainful look: "Alien spaceship? I'm not well-educated, don't try to fool me. What does this thing have to do with spaceships? At most, it's just a meteorite fragment or something."

“I’m well-read, I wouldn’t lie to you.” Hiruko sat up, twisting his body, his face full of smugness. “You know I used to work with Black Zetsu, right?”

"I know."

"You know that Black Zetsu is cooperating with the Sky Ninja again. Although the Sky Ninja are very wary of us, out of curiosity, I still secretly sneaked into their secret base."

Hiruko began to explain like a teacher: "By eavesdropping on those guys' conversation, I learned that all of the Sky Ninja Village's technology originated from alien spaceships that crashed in space in ancient times, as did their far-ahead flying ninja tools and their huge, mysterious base that could float on water."

“This doesn’t seem to have anything to do with your research ability,” Feng Lan said, seizing the opportunity to continue her manipulative tactics. “It was all overheard. I was there at the time, and I knew all this too.”

"You bastard! Let me tell you, the water base you captured is just the tip of the iceberg of Sky Ninja Village's technology. Their real headquarters, Anker Bandian, was modified from a man-made spaceship that crashed years ago. It usually lies underground, but when activated by Zero-Tails' chakra, it can even transform into a giant sky city, using technology to launch attacks from the air comparable to Tailed Beast Balls!"

"Hmm, this part does align with the movie's plot." Feng Lan's eyes flickered slightly. "So... the Sky Ninja Village's advanced technology actually originated from the Otsutsuki clan?"

Theoretically, Kaguya and Isshiki arrived on Earth in a spaceship. Although this part was original to the anime, it was later used in the Boruto manga. Momoshiki and his trio arrived directly using the Yomotsu Hirasaka teleportation device. Logically, Isshiki and his group's spaceship should have been taken over by the Kara organization. So where did the spaceship from the Sky Ninja Village come from?

These thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, and Feng Lan then held up three fingers: "First, this is still intelligence you gathered, and it has nothing to do with your own research capabilities; second, putting aside whether this intelligence is true or reliable, do you know where the real headquarters of the Sky Ninja is? If you do, I might consider making a deal with you; third, and most importantly, if you want to cooperate with me, you have to produce concrete results, and stop trying to fool people with this kind of empty talk."

Although Orochimaru will be returned to the Third Hokage in a month, it doesn't stop Feng Lan from continuing to use him to exploit Hiruko: "As you can see, with Orochimaru around, I don't really need your research abilities."

"Ignorant fool!" Hiru's Sharingan spun with rage. "How can Orochimaru possibly compare to my abilities! Make your demands, and I'll prove you wrong with tangible results!"

"Oh? Is that so?" Feng Lan was secretly overjoyed, but her expression remained one of indifferent disdain. "In that case, I'll test you."

He took out the Earth Grudge Scroll from his pocket: "Orochimaru has been studying this thing these days and has made some progress. I'll give you a week. If you can't come up with a specific research direction and concept, then you're just a weakling who doesn't understand science at all. You'll be eating fleas in this dark room then."

"Earthly Grudge?" Hiruko's gaze sharpened, and he sneered, "Who do you think you are? Do you think I can't improve a technique of this level? I can come up with a concrete plan in three days, not a week!"

"But you do have some insight, kid. Combining the Earth Grudge Fear and the Demon Sprout Technique can indeed create a more versatile technique... Hey, I haven't finished yet!"

"If you have anything to say, just say it all in three days. That will be your last chance." Feng Lan yawned widely. "I'm very busy. I don't have time to waste with worthless people. Instead of spouting nonsense, you should study and seize the opportunity."

As soon as he finished speaking, he could hear heavy breathing behind him. Without turning around, he could see that Hiruko was flipping open the scroll with his chin and had entered study mode.

"Alright, continue equipping Orochimaru with restraint tools. We'll talk about it in three days." If everything goes smoothly, Orochimaru and Hiruko can start their joint research in three days. This is his last chance to use Orochimaru, so he must make the most of it.

……

After leaving the cell, Feng Lan couldn't help but stretch and yawn: "Phew, I'm exhausted. I have to use my brain against these precious creatures every day."

“Lord Fenglan.” Pakula followed behind, hesitated for a moment, but still spoke up, “If you don’t mind, I can give you a shoulder massage or something…”

These were words she could never utter in Sunagakure. Subordinates should act like subordinates and should not offer any suggestions before their master has spoken. For example, when Fenglan was negotiating with Rasa with the reanimated Third Kazekage, she stood guard by without saying a word.

But after experiencing many things and being comforted by Feng Lan, Pakula was no longer limited to being his subordinate. Even the girl herself did not realize that when she said this, she was no longer following behind Feng Lan, but walking backward with her hands behind her back, so that she could be next to Feng Lan and look him directly in the eye.

"No need for that. Let me take you out for a meal first, and then I'll arrange your accommodations..."

Before Feng Lan could finish speaking, an excited and charming voice rang out from not far away: "Lord Feng Lan, you're finally back!"

"Holy crap?!"

At this moment, even Feng Lan, who was known for remaining calm even if Mount Tai collapsed in front of him, couldn't help but shudder and feel a tightness in his anus.

The landmine girl is coming! Everyone run!

Chapter 186 Fenglan, in danger!

"Lord Fenglan~~"

Upon hearing Uchiha Momo's voice, Feng Lan was filled with helplessness. He wished he could just run away with a Flying Thunder God Technique, but considering the girl's pride, he stopped in his tracks.

"Wow~"

Seeing that the other person had stopped and was waiting for her, Uchiha Momo's face lit up with a bright smile. She didn't even see anyone else and opened her arms as if to hug him.

Unfortunately, before they could embrace, a figure appeared between them. It was Pakula who stepped forward after seeing Feng Lan's troubled expression.

[Nice, good for saving my brother, good for saving him.]

Seeing that Pakula had come to act as a shield without him having to ask, Feng Lan couldn't help but give her a thumbs up in his heart.

"Um?!"

It was only then that Uchiha Momo realized that there was actually a female ninja accompanying Lord Fenglan. She first took a closer look and thankfully, it wasn't the fiancée in the photo. Then she realized... wait a minute? Doesn't this mean that she has more than one rival?

Who are you?

She couldn't help but show hostility, not only because this was a rival in love, but also because the ninja in front of her was someone she had never seen in Konoha before, and must be from another village.

“I am Lord Fenglan’s subordinate,” Pakula replied calmly, still standing between the two as a shield.

“Pakula is a subordinate I rely on very much,” Feng Lan emphasized his position. “Aside from that… how did you end up here?”

"Uh, I'm here to deliver some documents to the security team." Reminded by Feng Lan, Uchiha Momo finally remembered her purpose. "Oh no, this is terrible!"

She quickly turned around and picked up the documents she had carelessly tossed aside when she saw Feng Lan, which were now scattered all over the floor: "I'm so sorry, Lord Feng Lan, I was just too, too excited to see you... Haha, haha..."

"You can say whatever you want, but don't overdo it." Feng Lan admitted that this was another person besides Killer Bee who put pressure on him. The biggest characteristic of this type of person is that they don't listen to him at all, and his proud rhetoric and cost-benefit analysis skills are completely useless.

"Hiss-ha—! Hiss-ha—!"

Uchiha Momo took a few deep breaths, finally regaining her dignified and virtuous demeanor, and bowed deeply: "I'm very sorry, I'll go and finish my work right away, and... thank you for your hard work for the village!"

"No problem, no problem." Feng Lan subtly moved two steps behind Pakula. As long as the other party wasn't a pervert, everything was negotiable. "Keep up the good work."

After saying that, he quickly took Pakura and ran away, while Uchiha Momo stood there waving her hands vigorously until Feng Lan's figure disappeared from sight. Only then did she reveal her signature Yuno Gasai face-holding expression again: "As expected, Lord Feng Lan's charm is too high. It's inevitable that some strange women will come to him, but it's okay~ I'll soon let you know that I'm the best~"

……

Meanwhile, Feng Lan hurriedly led Pakula away from the Uchiha's stronghold before finally daring to breathe a sigh of relief.

"My lord, was that one of your admirers just now?" Pakula finally found an opportunity to ask.

"Well, I'd say she's more of a stalker than an admirer," Feng Lan said with a wry smile. "Of course, what I admire most is that, as a sensory ninja, I didn't even realize she was following me... Although my sensory abilities aren't always active in the village, and my vigilance decreases, and she probably didn't follow me that often, I still have to say, her stealth and observation skills are quite outstanding."

“That girl is from the Uchiha clan, right?” Pakula replied. “During the confrontation just now, she activated her Sharingan for a brief moment, and it was the three-tomoe Sharingan.”

"What?!"

Upon hearing this, Feng Lan's anus tightened, and she swallowed hard like Tom the cat: "Gulp—!"

"W-what's wrong?" Pakula was startled.

"Are you sure it's a three-tomoe jade?" Feng Lan began to speak cautiously.

Pakula thought carefully for a moment, then said seriously, taking responsibility for every word, "Although it was only for a moment, my eyes should not have been wrong."

"Haha, the Uchiha are truly a peculiar race." Feng Lan's expression right now can be described in two words—utterly exasperated.

"Lord Fenglan, has that guy caused you any trouble?" Pakula's gaze sharpened, and a trace of killing intent emanated from his body.

"It's not exactly a problem, it's just that I'm not very good at dealing with her." Feng Lan sighed. "Anyway, let's not talk about this for now, let's go eat."

Soon, the two sat on high stools at Ichiraku Ramen. Feng Lan smiled and said, "I didn't know what you liked to eat in Sunagakure, so I brought it here. Before Minato became Hokage, we often came here to eat ramen. Although the place is a bit small, the taste is really good."

“Lord Fenglan, that statement about the place being a bit small was unnecessary.” Uncle Hand-Beating chuckled as he brought over two bowls of noodles. “Actually, we could have expanded the shop a long time ago, but as an established business with many years of history, I just didn’t want to go through the hassle.”

"Come, come, since this is the young lady's first time at our shop, we'll give you a complimentary Naruto roll." The young man's daughter, Ayame, was only five or six years old at the time, but she was already working as a waitress, carrying over the side dishes.

"Well, everyone has different pursuits." Feng Lan shrugged. If it were him, he would definitely want to expand and strengthen the business, but he would also respect people who are content to stay in their old shops and live a peaceful life.

“It’s incredibly delicious.” Pakula murmured after taking a small sip of the soup. “In Sunagakure, where resources are scarce, ramen usually doesn’t have this many toppings.”

"There are still many delicious things to eat in Konoha, so take your time enjoying them." Feng Lan smiled. "After we finish eating, I'll arrange a room for you. Consider it a gift for your subordinate. A big villa would be a bit too spacious for one person, so how about an apartment for now?"