Yes, the Hokage

Of course, the price is that he will be hated to death by Madara and his army of White Zetsu, since Nagato's Rinnegan belonged to Madara himself.

Although Konoha F3 and Minato were unaware of Feng Lan's thoughts, they also felt that this visit to Amegakure was very important. Firstly, it was to capture Danzo so that he wouldn't leak Konoha's confidential information; secondly, if they could really establish an alliance with Hanzo of the Salamander, they could get good assistance in the upcoming war.

After all, he was a man hailed as a demigod during World War II, and Jiraiya still held his name in considerable fear until the Shippuden era.

"Kumakumo Village also suffered considerable losses in the Third Shinobi World War, and even the Third Raikage was killed in battle." The Third Hokage pondered for a moment, "Even if they really want to start a war, they will need a lot of time to gather troops and prepare supplies, so if you want to go to Amegakure now, you can take a group of skilled fighters with you. There is still enough time."

His words clearly meant that he was opening up the Anbu to Feng Lan, letting him choose whatever he wanted, since it was too dangerous for that old bastard Danzo to be out there.

“I will naturally choose the people from my own ranks.” Feng Lan shook his head, declining the Third Hokage’s offer. “I only ask that you all help Minato well while I am away.”

Minato is good in every way, except that he's too trusting of his own people and always thinks the best of them. Fenglan is really worried that Minato will be sidelined during the time she's away.

"The affairs of the village are of utmost importance," the third generation replied simply.

"With the Third Hokage's words, I am relieved." Feng Lan bowed slightly. The Third Hokage was not Danzo; at least he wouldn't do something like Pain using his ultimate attack to destroy the entire Hidden Leaf Village while hiding underground.

With a major war looming and the situation turbulent, even if Konoha's F3 cause trouble, they will exercise restraint. After all, if the Fourth Shinobi World War really breaks out, they will still need Minato to fight on the front lines.

……

"Fenglan".

After leaving the conference room, Shuimen couldn't help but call out to Fenglan, "I'm not here for this operation... you have to be careful in everything you do."

Since their "chance encounter" behind enemy lines during the Third World War, the two have almost never been apart. Whether during or after the war, Minato always charged ahead while Fenglan stayed behind to offer advice and strategies.

Minato really liked this tacit partnership, and he felt that the Cloud Village AB brothers he had encountered in the Third Shinobi World War were nothing special, but now the two of them had to be separated for the time being.

As the Fourth Hokage, and at this crucial time, Minato had to stay in the village. Meanwhile, Feng Lan was determined to ally with the Akatsuki and take down Nagato, so this trip to Amegakure was a must.

Feng Lan was somewhat touched, but chuckled softly, "Take care of yourself first, don't be so easily fooled."

"Don't worry, I absolutely won't," Minato assured him confidently.

[She was completely fooled by me.]

Feng Lan mentally scoffed, then waved her hand and said, "Don't worry, the people I brought this time are all top-notch experts, nothing will happen."

"Who are you taking with you?" Minato walked alongside him, his gaze intense.

Even if you give me a pleading look, I still won't take you.

"I'm talking to you about something important!"

"..."

On the other side, standing beneath the Hokage Rock, the Third Hokage watched Minato and Fuyuki walk away side by side, took a deep drag on his pipe, and sighed deeply.

During the meeting just now, he held back, not revealing a crucial piece of information—that Orochimaru might be involved with Danzo. Although Feng Lan had manipulated them, the two were ultimately united by mutual interests, and as long as the chain of interests remained intact, they could temporarily set aside their minor conflicts.

If Fenglan misjudged this point, and Danzo had an additional Kage-level powerhouse when facing him, the situation could be reversed in an instant.

He was feeling conflicted; he both hoped that Feng Lan wouldn't come back and also hoped that she would.

It's understandable that Minato hopes Fenglan won't come back. Without that kid constantly bombarding him with all sorts of dark knowledge, Minato will once again be bathed in the Will of Fire, and Konoha will still be under his control.

The hope for Fenglan's return is naturally that his success could provide Konoha with a trump card to counter Kumogakure... no, it's not just that.

There was also a strange feeling that made the Third Hokage hope to see the other party return. He looked at the departing figures of Minato and Furan, his eyes filled with images of himself and Danzo in their youth...

"Ugh!"

After a long pause, another sigh followed, and a muffled murmur: "I'm old, I'm so old..."

On the other hand, although the Third Hokage did not reveal that crucial information, Feng Lan had already predicted that Orochimaru might join forces with Danzo, and he had also left a backup plan for Orochimaru before, otherwise how could he have dared to boast to Shisui that he would not give the other party another chance to do evil?

Therefore, for this operation, he directly mobilized an all-star lineup, bringing along all the capable men under his command.

First of all, Shisui and Obito, the shining twin stars of the Uchiha clan, are bound to go. As for Itachi, Fenglan and Fugaku talked for a long time, and in the end, Fugaku took the initiative to beg the other party to take Itachi with him, on the grounds that even a rough gem needs to be polished before it can shine.

Fenglan sighed, "After all, this is the world of ninjas. No matter how ruthless I am, I'd feel bad letting a child participate in such a dangerous mission. But Fugaku, as the father, just threw his son over here."

However, what the other party said also makes some sense. Shisui is now his bodyguard, and Itachi's Mangekyou Sharingan is still nowhere to be found. It would be good to take him out for some training and to let him see some blood.

If Itachi wanted to go, Kabuto would definitely be crying and begging to go too. Feng Lan felt like he had a splitting headache, but in the end, considering that Itachi's talent in medical ninjutsu might pique Tsunade's interest, he could only agree.

Speaking of Tsunade, this undisputed Kage-level powerhouse will definitely be going. Putting aside everything else, the fact that Orochimaru might be with Danzo is enough reason for her to go. Furthermore, Fenglan also entrusted her to leave a letter for Shizune, asking Shizune to give it to Jiraiya and tell him to hurry to Amegakure.

After all, the three members of Akatsuki were all Jiraiya's disciples, and they could gain a lot of goodwill by virtue of that.

In addition, skilled fighters like Dai and Hizashi will definitely follow. Fenglan also selected elite squads from the Uchiha, Hyuga branch families, and Aburame clan to deal with Danzo's loyal Root organization.

In addition, he also took a large number of gas masks from the warehouse. After all, what Hanzo feared most was his summoning beast, the Salamander, which could spew out a large amount of highly poisonous mist, making gas mask protection essential.

On the contrary, Kakashi and Rin were the two people that Feng Lan originally wanted to keep in the village, because if something happened to them, Obito would likely go berserk. However, Tsunade stopped him.

“Take them both with you. Just like that child named Itachi, rough gems need to be polished before they can shine.”

“But…” Feng Lan frowned and looked towards Obito.

“I know your concerns, but rather than raising that child named Lin in the village’s greenhouse, it would be better to let her quickly grasp what I teach her through actual combat, until she finally masters the Yin Seal and Creation Regeneration. At that time, it would be difficult for her to die even if she wanted to.”

Tsunade said in a deep voice, "As for Kakashi, his talent is also quite good. If there is an opportunity, I will have Jiraiya teach him."

"Shall we have Jiraiya-sama take on a disciple?"

Feng Lan's eyes suddenly lit up. Kakashi, like himself, was a rare ninja proficient in all five elements. Even without the Sharingan, he wouldn't be as weak as he was in the main story, running out of chakra after just a few Lightning Blades.

Logically speaking, the most suitable teacher for him should be the Third Hokage, but unfortunately he has already retired. Therefore, Jiraiya, who is also proficient in various ninjutsu, is undoubtedly a perfect fit. If Kakashi could learn Sage Mode, he would become another Kage-level fighter.

"The era of the Three Legendary Sannin is over, but..." Tsunade said, glancing at Obito, "wouldn't it be nice to have the new Three Legendary Sannin carry on our abilities and will?"

"That's absolutely true."

Feng Lan squinted and looked over. Obito's advanced technology was all given to him by Orochimaru. Rin was Tsunade's disciple. If Kakashi could also become Jiraiya's disciple, he would indeed be considered a new generation of the Legendary Sannin.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura haven't even been born yet, but the new Sannin have already been born before their teachers and elders... That's quite interesting, isn't it?

"Since you've put it that way, teacher, I'll take the risk."

Chapter 56 To defeat magic with magic

After the morning meeting ended, Fenglan spent the entire morning finalizing his manpower and equipment: Shisui's guard list, Obito's combat positions, Tsunade's medical and logistical support, Dai and Hizashi's assault teams, the organization of the three clans' elite squads... Each item had to be repeatedly confirmed to ensure there were no omissions.

He even personally inspected Itachi and Kabuto's equipment.

At this moment, Shisui walked in carrying lunch, hesitating to speak: "Lord Fenglan."

"Just leave it there." Feng Lan thought the other person was calling her to eat, so she didn't look up.

“Lord Fenglan, I didn’t mean to bother you, but…” Shisui quickly said, “Someone is spreading rumors in the village, saying how powerful Kumogakure is, and that once war breaks out, Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure will take the opportunity to gang up on Konoha—Konoha will surely perish.”

Feng Lan raised an eyebrow. This explanation was exactly the same as the worst-case scenario she had previously deduced, as well as what Mitokado Yan had said this morning.

"And then?" he asked, putting down his pen as he spoke, clearly beginning to take the matter seriously.

"Then the villagers seemed a little panicked," Shisui said, frowning. "They kept shouting to hand over Hyuga Hiroshi, saying they were exchanging one person for peace points."

"Interesting." Feng Lan suddenly laughed. He used to think that even a pair of underwear and a piece of toilet paper were useful, but now it seems that these things should indeed be thrown away after use.

"The only one who could think of the same thing as Mitokado Homura is that old man Danzo. It seems that even though he ran away, he still has spies in the village... And the Hyuga main family can't escape responsibility either. Minato and I made the branch family separate, and they are preparing for revenge."

"My lord, what should we do?" Shisui asked in a low voice. Clearly, his long experience as a guard had taught him that Minato was not good at such scheming and intrigue, and they would have to rely on Fenglan. "It would be best to resolve this before we set off for Amegakure."

“That’s simple. These Konoha villagers don’t want to fight simply because they think their interests will be affected if a war breaks out.” Feng Lan shrugged. “Then, let’s give them the illusion that even if a war starts, nothing will happen in the village.”

"An illusion?" Shisui was somewhat taken aback.

"Listen up, Shisui." Feng Lan revealed his usual squinting smile. "My goal is not to protect Konoha, but to make those scoundrels believe that Konoha is protected."

Shisui was taken aback, then realized: "You mean... to make the people of Kumogakure believe it?"

“No.” Feng Lan shook her head. “Let the people of Konoha believe that Kumogakure knows I don’t.”

"Forehead……"

This was clearly beyond Zhi Shui's comprehension, but Feng Lan didn't explain further and simply walked out of the office.

Instead of trying to appease the troublemakers, he brought the regular army and all the reserves to the square for a grand review.

During this period, under Dai's grueling training, everyone's physical skills, appearance, and spirit have improved significantly. Regardless of their actual strength, they at least look very impressive.

Furthermore, Feng Lan's setup was entirely based on the method he used before his transmigration. The Uchiha elites, led by Shisui, stood in neat formation, their Sharingan activated, their blood-red pupils radiating a captivating light in the sunlight; the Aburame clan ninjas were surrounded by black swarms of insects, their buzzing sounds like deep thunder; the Hyuga branch family members formed a square formation, their Byakugan activated, veins bulging on their foreheads, their 360-degree field of vision overlapping to form an invisible reconnaissance net.

The ninjas from other clans also stood tall and proud, full of confidence.

Matt Day stood at the front of the line, wearing his signature green bodysuit, hands on his hips, his bright teeth gleaming in the sunlight.

"Let your youth shine!"

The entire formation suddenly sprang into action, marching in perfect unison while shouting, "1! 2! 3! 4!"

The shouts were deafening, making everyone who heard them feel their blood boil, and the young people couldn't help but wave and shout along.

Those who had originally caused trouble, demanding that the village hand over Hiroshi Hyuga, were also taken aback:

"This, this is the standing new army?"

"Those are Uchiha people? They look even fiercer than the police..."

"The insects of the Aburame clan...how terrifying."

"..."

The entire procession circled the village once, finally stopping beneath the Hokage Rock. Feng Lan stood on the high platform, his usual smiling demeanor gone. He took a deep breath and pulled out a large megaphone: "Everyone, are you afraid of war? Are you afraid of the Cloud Village's iron hooves trampling into the Land of Fire? Are you afraid that war will take away your loved ones, your friends, and your homes?"

A commotion arose in the crowd; even if someone was truly afraid, no one would dare to say so at a time like this.

"Fear is good!" Feng Lan changed the subject. "Because we are human, we have flesh and blood, and we have things we cherish! But—"

His voice rose again: "Fear doesn't mean kneeling! Fear doesn't mean surrendering your heroism for a worthless life!"

He suddenly waved his hand, pointing to the standing new army under the Fire Shadow Rock.

"Look at these young people! They didn't spring from stones, they are your sons, husbands, best friends, brothers! They stand here not for show... They are Konoha's shield! They are the kunai that pierce the enemy! They are the last wall between you and the flames of war!"

The Uchiha elites simultaneously activated their Sharingan, their blood-red pupils glowing like burning fire.

"They train day and night, their skin worn out and their bones broken, all for what? So that when the big, dark-skinned guy from Cloud Village roars and charges at you, someone can stand at the front and take that punch for you!"

The insect cloud of the Oil Maidens rose up in response, its buzzing sound like war drums.

"As for those who shout 'Konoha will perish,' 'Hand over the murderer for peace'..." Feng Lan's voice suddenly turned cold, his gaze like a knife as he swept over the crowd, "Let me ask you, are you ninjas? Have you ever been on a battlefield? Have you ever seen blood? Have you ever killed an enemy?"

The Byakugan of the Hyuga clan bulged with veins, sweeping past the crowd behind them without even turning around.

No one dared to answer; several people involuntarily shrank back.

Just then, Minato appeared at the perfect moment: "In the name of Hokage, I swear that I will absolutely not allow anyone to harm the village!"

As he stepped onto the stage, all the regular new soldiers raised their arms and shouted, "Defend Konoha!"

"Defend Konoha!"

"Defend Konoha!"

The sound was as loud as thunder, even causing the Hokage Rock to tremble slightly.

After three shouts, someone in the crowd threw the first punch and yelled, "Defend Konoha!"

Then, the second, the third... the voices merged into a torrent, washing away all fear and hesitation.

"Defend Konoha!"

Only after the voices faded away did Feng Lan calmly announce something: "Starting today, Konoha Village is establishing the [Village Self-Defense Supervision Committee] to recruit ambitious young people to assist the guard in maintaining village security. The benefits are excellent, with a monthly stipend. The registration location is right outside the Uchiha's residence."

Hiring online trolls, huh? Let me show you the power of the Konoha scoundrels' will of might!

As soon as the news spread, long queues formed at the registration desk.

Who were these people? Mostly young, hot-blooded villagers. They had always disliked those spineless cowards who demanded peace by surrendering heroes, but they had never had a voice. Now, with official status, they could legitimately supervise (bully) those who wanted to surrender, and they could even get money from them.

This is equivalent to making you a dog administrator on Tieba, where you can criticize and ban anyone you don't like while still getting paid. Who wouldn't be happy with such a good deal?

By dusk, the committee had recruited more than fifty people.

These people, wearing matching armbands, patrolled the streets and alleys of the village, specifically targeting those who spread rumors and incite panic.

Feng Lan also personally equipped everyone with rubber batons, telling them to remember the principle of "persuasion with warmth, baton with force." If they were caught, they would first be given a verbal warning, and if they committed the offense again, they would be beaten up and handed over to the police force. After all, if any problems arose, it would be a conflict between troublemakers, and it would have nothing to do with the police force.

Soon, those surrender rhetoric disappeared from the village.

Before Feng Lan could even investigate those Root organization informants spreading rumors, they were reported by "enthusiastic villagers." Fu Yue personally led the arrests, and without even a trial, they were thrown directly into the garrison's dungeon.

As for the Hyuga main family, they dared not make any further moves. When the Grand Elder heard that the situation had been brought under control so quickly, he was so angry that he smashed his teacup on the spot, but that was all he could do.