The Third's Plans

While Ling Feng and his guests laughed, chatted, and stuffed themselves with food,

Uchiha Toyoki and Hyuga Hyakutomi, who had been left at the entrance, were taken home by their respective clansmen.

Unsurprisingly, both clan heads were furious when they learned that Ling Feng had beaten and humiliated their men.

The two then met to discuss the matter, and both declared that they absolutely could not let it slide.

They prepared to take their men to Ling Feng's house to restore their clans' honor.

But as soon as they set out, they found Minato Namikaze blocking their path.

"Minato Namikaze? Lord Third's aide? What do you want?"

Both clan heads immediately recognized the blond man before them, and they knew his presence represented Lord Third's wishes.

"Clan heads, Lord Third asked me to deliver a message. Please go back."

Minato Namikaze spoke calmly.

Both clan heads looked furious at his words.

"Go back? Do you have any idea how hard Ling Feng hit him? He seriously injured one of my clan's elite! He'll probably need two or three months of rest before he can even get out of bed, and we don't know whether he'll suffer any lasting damage. Shouldn't Ling Feng be made to take responsibility?"

Minato Namikaze remained expressionless in the face of their anger. He was only there to deliver a message. If they were truly dissatisfied, they could take it up with the Third himself.

"Clan heads, I have delivered the message. Lord Third also said that if you insist on proceeding, he will come in person. When that happens, he will handle this matter fairly and impartially. As for the consequences, you will have to bear them yourselves."

Minato Namikaze continued.

Only then did the two clan heads' expressions turn grave.

They exchanged a glance and saw the concern in each other's eyes.

They had become clan heads, after all, and possessed their own keen judgment.

They knew exactly where they stood in this conflict. If the matter were handled fairly and impartially, they would definitely be the ones to suffer.

The reason was simple. Those who had accompanied their men had clearly explained everything from beginning to end: their men had been the ones to stir up trouble first.

Then, because they lacked the strength, Ling Feng had beaten them down in a one-sided lesson.

The two clan heads had only planned to take their men to settle the score with Ling Feng for the sake of their clans' honor.

If they were going to argue based on reason, there was no point in going at all.

So when Minato Namikaze repeated the Third's exact words, both clan heads understood.

If they insisted on settling the score with Ling Feng, the Third would absolutely not favor their two clans once he arrived!

In other words, the Third intended to protect Ling Feng!

Although neither understood why the Third was doing this, they knew they could only drop the matter for now.

"Understood. We'll speak to Lord Third ourselves."

With that, the two clan heads left resentfully, but their tightly furrowed brows showed that they would not let the matter rest.

Watching the two clan heads leave, Minato Namikaze breathed a sigh of relief, then vanished with the Body Flicker Technique and returned to report.

Inside the Hokage's office.

Minato Namikaze stood before the Third and recounted what had happened.

"Lord Third, I think your decision was a little rash. Offending two other clans to protect Ling Feng isn't worth it."

The Third merely smiled at Minato Namikaze's words.

"Ling Feng knew perfectly well that he would offend both clans, yet he still stood his ground. That means he isn't afraid."

"On the other hand, if I let these two clans run wild, I would only give them more reason to keep acting arrogantly."

"As for Ling Feng, there is no question about his potential. I'm sure you understand that better than I do. He truly is powerful."

"So I've decided to make Ling Feng a new force that can keep the other two clans in check. Three forces balancing one another will make things far more stable than they are now."

The Third slowly explained his thoughts.

Little did he know that Minato Namikaze was already reeling inside.

Because Ling Feng had said these very same things when Minato had delivered the message to him.

He had never expected that this was exactly what the Third had in mind, too!

For a moment, Minato Namikaze stood frozen.

Not only did he have to process the shock of this revelation, he also struggled with whether to tell the Third that Ling Feng had already laid out everything he was thinking.

The Third, however, assumed that the young Minato Namikaze simply needed more time to understand the art of balancing power.

He rose, walked over to Minato Namikaze, and patted his shoulder with a smile. "You'll need time to understand these things gradually. You're still young, after all, and you have a great deal left to learn."

"No era ever lacks geniuses or new forces. Although the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan are pillars of our Konoha, we cannot let them do whatever they please because of that. Otherwise, that razor-sharp spear will eventually turn against us."

"But have you considered what we should do if Ling Feng grows into someone even harder to control than those two clans?"

Minato Namikaze voiced the doubt in his heart.

His words stunned the Third as well.

Clearly, he had not thought that far ahead.

"If that day truly comes, then I hope his heart will be with Konoha, because we will have given him more than enough!"

The Third spoke through gritted teeth.

Minato Namikaze opened his mouth, but ultimately left his concerns unspoken.

Even if that day did come, dealing with such a headache would not fall to him anyway.

If Ling Feng truly became that powerful, he would not have the strength to deal with him either.

"All right, Minato Namikaze. You don't need to worry too much about Ling Feng."

"Go see him tomorrow and bring him here. I have something for him to do."

The Third said.

Minato Namikaze paused. "What is it? ANBU doesn't have any special missions to carry out lately."

"It isn't an ANBU mission. There are about two weeks left until the Chunin Ninja Exams. Because of the recent unrest, they've been postponed by a month. These six weeks are precious. I hope we can increase the number of our village's candidates who pass the Chunin Ninja Exams this time, so I intend to make Ling Feng a teaching assistant."

Seeing Minato Namikaze's puzzled expression, the Third continued.

"Ling Feng is very powerful, so I need to give him a sense of belonging in Konoha. Protecting him this time is one part of that, but helping him integrate into the village is important, too."

"I want him to understand that even though he's an orphan, he still holds an important place in the village."

Minato Namikaze nodded and accepted the order.

He knew this must be another example of what the Third considered the art of balancing power.

But Minato Namikaze felt that Ling Feng could see right through every idea the Third came up with.

The next day, Minato Namikaze appeared before Ling Feng once again. This time, however, he had used the front entrance, knowing that barging in again might upset Ling Feng.

"Minato-sensei, please have a seat."

Sure enough, Ling Feng was much more courteous to Minato Namikaze this time.

"No need. It's just a small matter. Lord Third would like you to work as a teaching assistant at the Ninja Academy."

Minato Namikaze said.