Yes—**Minato was furious.**
With that thought, the newly appointed **Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato**, suddenly had a **kunai** in his hand.
At first glance, Minato holding a simple kunai didn't look particularly threatening.
Yet the moment he took that stance, the members of the **Sarutobi clan and the Ino–Shika–Chō clans** present were instantly terrified.
Cold sweat began pouring down their faces.
Even **Hiruzen Sarutobi**, the Third Hokage, felt beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
"Ahem… Minato, perhaps there's been some misunderstanding."
"I invited Uchiha Feng here today because I wanted him to become the **Nine-Tails Jinchūriki**. It was for Konoha's sake."
"And compared to your wife, Uzumaki Kushina, Uchiha Feng would clearly be a more suitable Jinchūriki."
Hiruzen hurriedly explained, looking as if he was afraid the situation might escalate.
But the moment he finished speaking, a trace of **disdain** appeared on Minato's lips.
Did Hiruzen really think he couldn't see through this trick?
Hiruzen was clearly trying to use the Nine-Tails to **bind Uchiha Feng to his side**.
Moreover, becoming the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki was extremely dangerous.
No one could guarantee that Hiruzen wouldn't **tamper with something behind the scenes**.
And more importantly—
Since when could someone else decide to **give the Nine-Tails away** without the Hokage's approval?
It wasn't that Minato didn't want Ning Feng to become a Jinchūriki.
But Hiruzen's move of **using someone else's gift to gain favor** was simply too clever.
"Lord Hiruzen… there's no need to explain."
"I heard everything you said to Uchiha Feng just now."
"If he refuses to become the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, then the Four-Tails and Five-Tails must remain here."
"Those were your exact words, weren't they?"
Minato took a deep breath.
Truthfully, he didn't want to oppose Hiruzen directly.
After all, Hiruzen had once been his predecessor—and even someone who had helped him in the past.
"Minato, Feng may be your student, but for the sake of Konoha's interests…"
"He must either become the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki and **never leave Konoha**—"
"Or leave behind the **Four-Tails and Five-Tails** to strengthen the village."
"If that happens, the balance among the Five Great Nations will collapse."
"And the **Will of Fire of Konoha** could spread to the rest of the world."
Hiruzen attempted to persuade him.
Minato and the surrounding ANBU elites all frowned.
At first glance, Hiruzen's words sounded noble.
Everything seemed to be for Konoha's future.
But in reality—
He was using Konoha's interests as an excuse to **suppress Uchiha Feng**, weaken him, and indirectly weaken the **Uchiha clan**.
Considering how many times Ning Feng had saved Konoha—
The village had **no right** to treat him this way.
"Minato, as the Fourth Hokage, you must prioritize Konoha's interests."
"Uchiha Feng may be your student, but his wings have already grown strong."
"He is becoming a **double-edged sword**."
"If used well, Konoha will become stronger."
"But if used poorly…"
"That's why I'm doing this—to help you deal with that sword."
Hiruzen kept repeating the phrase:
"For Konoha's sake."
Truthfully, Ning Feng could understand Hiruzen to some extent.
Everything he did was indeed from the perspective of **Konoha's interests**.
But many of his methods were **short-sighted and stubborn**.
There were always other solutions.
Minato frowned again.
For the first time, he realized something.
The former Hokage standing before him was **no longer the teacher he once admired**.
"But Uchiha Feng has saved Konoha many times."
"If we treat him like this, what will other ninja think when they hear about it?"
"I always believed Konoha was different from other villages."
"Because here, ninja share bonds and emotions."
"That's why we trust each other."
"That's why we can safely entrust our backs to one another."
"But Lord Hiruzen…"
"With actions like yours, how can anyone trust their back to you?"
Minato took a deep breath.
Then he said something shocking.
"If this is what Konoha stands for…"
"I would rather take my wife, my child, and my student Uchiha Feng—"
"And **defect from Konoha**."
By the time he finished speaking, Minato's eyes had turned completely red.
Hearing this, Ning Feng smiled faintly.
In the original Naruto story, many of Konoha's higher-ups—including Hiruzen—were masters of **double standards**.
Take **Hatake Sakumo**, the legendary White Fang.
He abandoned a mission to save his comrades.
When he returned to the village, he was condemned for prioritizing personal feelings over duty.
Eventually, Sakumo fell into despair and **committed suicide**.
Behind that tragedy, the manipulation of Konoha's higher-ups could not be ruled out.
Yet at the same time—
The **Ninja Academy**, established by those same leaders, constantly taught children to **trust their comrades** and protect one another.
How could someone trust their life to a comrade who would **ignore their suffering just to complete a mission**?
In many matters, Konoha's leadership played a very obvious game of **double standards**.
Whenever it suited them, they would stand on the moral high ground and change the narrative.
That was also why Ning Feng disliked figures like **Hiruzen Sarutobi**.
"Minato… you!"
Hiruzen frowned deeply.
He hadn't expected Minato to care so deeply about his student.
After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"Minato, don't worry."
"I won't dirty your hands."
"As long as we can keep the Four-Tails and Five-Tails in Konoha, even if I must bear the blame, it will be worth it."
"What devotion—sacrificing everything for Konoha."
Finally, Ning Feng—who had been silent—spoke.
"Lord Hiruzen… have you never considered the consequences?"
"If people learn that Konoha treated me like this just to keep me here…"
"How many ninja will lose faith in the village?"
"And weren't you the one who always preached **love and trust**?"
"That comrades are people you can safely entrust your back to?"
"I, Uchiha Feng, believed I was Konoha's friend."
"On the Night of the Nine-Tails, I exposed my back while fighting alongside Konoha."
"And the result?"
"I get stabbed in the back by the former Hokage?"
"Is that the **love and trust** you preach?"
"And what about the former ANBU captain **Hatake Sakumo**, Kakashi's father?"
"He believed in that same love and trust."
"When his comrades were in danger, he abandoned the mission to save them."
"And what happened?"
"When he returned to Konoha, he was slandered by everyone."
"He was driven to suicide."
"And left Kakashi—a child at the time—to live with that trauma forever."
"So tell me, Lord Hiruzen."
"Is this really the love and trust you speak of?"
"No."
"It's just that you Konoha leaders treat ninja as **tools**."
"Your double standards… are truly impressive."
Ning Feng finished speaking slowly.