In truth, within Konoha, it wasn't just a matter of clans—Sarutobi, Senju, Uchiha—or political factions.
There was also a divide between hawks and doves within the leadership.
The representative of the hawks was naturally someone like Danzō, known for striking hard against external enemies.
As for the most famous doves within Konoha, they were none other than Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.
Of course, Homura and Koharu were only doves when it came to outsiders.
Internally, they were every bit as hawkish as anyone else.
Back in the original story, Ning Feng had never liked these two.
Now that they dared to trample directly on his head, there was no way he would tolerate it.
"Y-you—you—you!"
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu were instantly so furious that they couldn't speak for a long while.
Since becoming Konoha's senior advisors, this was the first time anyone had dared to provoke them so openly.
"What are you standing around for!? Hurry up and attack!"
Homura barked at the ANBU beside him.
But that ANBU frowned, subconsciously took a step back—and did not move to carry out the order.
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—whoosh!
Another series of sharp sounds rang out.
Behind every ANBU who had surrounded the Uchiha, several members of the Uchiha Police Force appeared, counter-surrounding them instead.
Seeing this, both Homura and Koharu's expressions changed.
They hadn't expected the situation to flip so quickly.
"Ahem… Young Clan Head Uchiha Feng," Homura said, still trying to salvage the situation,
"We're actually doing this for your own good. After all, if the Fourth Great Ninja War really breaks out, the civilian casualties will all be blamed on your Uchiha clan!"
"Yes, yes," Koharu quickly added with a forced smile.
"If a Fourth Great Ninja War erupts, you wouldn't want your brothers and sisters to die on the battlefield, would you?"
Sure enough, once the two raised the banner of "morality,"
some of the surrounding ANBU frowned, their resolve wavering.
Even a few less-informed Uchiha clan members felt their hearts shake slightly.
"Hmph. You really are masters at rhetoric—trying to dump all responsibility onto me, Uchiha Feng," Ning Feng sneered.
"Quite impressive."
"But tell me this: even if I go to Kumogakure as a hostage and they get a taste of the benefits, do you really think they won't still attack Konoha and start the Fourth Great Ninja War?"
"Moreover, if I hadn't struck first—if I hadn't slaughtered those Kumogakure jōnin and dealt them such a devastating blow—they wouldn't hate me this much or demand that I be handed over as a hostage."
"After suffering such a heavy loss, Kumogakure can barely protect itself, and you think it still has the strength to start a Fourth Great Ninja War against Konoha?"
Ning Feng's words came like a rapid-fire barrage, leaving Homura and Koharu speechless.
"And besides," Ning Feng continued coldly,
"with my combat strength alone, once I'm on the battlefield, turning the Land of Lightning into the Land of Fire wouldn't be impossible. Isn't that right?"
"One more thing," he added, eyes sharp.
"Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu—two respected elders—since the Second Great Ninja War, you've sat safely in Konoha, issuing remote commands, rarely setting foot on an actual battlefield."
"If you want to live longer, that's fine. No one objects."
"But using others as human shields for your own safety? That's crossing the line."
"You—!"
Homura managed to spit out only a single word. Koharu wasn't any better.
Only now did they realize that this Uchiha Feng was even more terrifying with his tongue than with his strength.
In just a few sentences, he had completely dismantled the moral cudgel they'd tried to smash down on him.
As expected, after hearing Ning Feng's words, the ANBU who had followed Homura and Koharu finally came to their senses, their eyes dimming with doubt.
Meanwhile, the Uchiha clan members looked at Ning Feng with even greater admiration and reverence.
After all, in Konoha, there were very few who could verbally overpower these two.
Their personal strength might not be great, but their words were like blades—each sentence cutting deep.
The Uchiha clan's long years of suppression had much to do with these very people.
"Hmph! We are Konoha's senior advisors—we have the authority to command you!"
Homura panicked and shouted.
But just then, a cold voice sounded from afar:
"Mitokado Homura. Utatane Koharu. You are no longer Konoha's senior advisors."
"And furthermore," the voice continued calmly,
"due to your actions bearing suspicion of treason, please accompany the ANBU for an investigation."
As the words fell, a large number of ANBU descended once more, and the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, slowly appeared.
"W-what!?"
Homura and Koharu stood frozen, never imagining that their positions would be stripped away just like that.
"Additionally," Minato continued,
"in recognition of Uchiha Feng's outstanding performance in slaying Kumogakure jōnin and capturing the Raikage's secretary Mabui, from this day forward—Uchiha Feng is appointed as a Konoha senior advisor."
Even now, Minato was suppressing his fury.
He had only just praised Ning Feng yesterday—
and today he learned that Homura and Koharu had dared to misuse his authority to send Ning Feng off as a hostage.
The moment Minato received the news, he went straight to the daimyo, had the two removed from office, and transferred their positions to Uchiha Feng.
Minato knew full well this was Sarutobi Hiruzen trying to cripple his left and right arms.
But he also knew that Uchiha Feng was Konoha's rising star, someone he had to protect with everything he had.
"A five-year-old becoming a Konoha senior advisor? Isn't that a bit too rash!?"
Koharu protested unwillingly.
Before Minato could speak, Ning Feng let out a cold laugh.
"Letting two appeasers serve as Konoha's senior advisors—that's the real rash decision."
"You—!"
Once again, Koharu and Homura were rendered speechless.
Very soon, both were escorted away by ANBU.
Minato was about to speak again when he suddenly noticed something—and his eyes widened.
The Sharingan of Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui had both evolved.
They had become—Mangekyō Sharingan.
Yes.
Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Big brothers… you…"
A warm current surged through Ning Feng's heart.
How could he not understand why they awakened their eyes at this very moment?
It was all because of him.
"Feng," Itachi said honestly,
"just now, I even thought—if the senior advisors dared to make a move, we'd rebel as a clan… all for you alone."
Shisui nodded heavily beside him.
"You two better not rebel," Minato said solemnly.
"Feng, don't worry. Before you become Hokage, your teacher will clear out every internal enemy in Konoha and support you all the way to becoming the Fifth Hokage."
"Only you can truly lead Konoha to strength and prosperity."
Minato took a deep breath and spoke quietly, making sure no outsiders were listening.
Uchiha Fugaku, Itachi, and Shisui were all stunned.
They had never expected the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, to say something like this.
What they didn't know was that after what Uchiha Feng had gone through today,
the once sunny and cheerful Minato Namikaze had begun to grow darker.
Yes.
Darken.
To hell with the Will of Fire.
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