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Outside Konoha, atop a one hundred meter high wall, inside a temporarily built wooden pavilion, a shogi board was placed in the center.
Shin leaned back leisurely, a cup of clear tea by his hand.
He casually picked up a piece, glanced at the board, and looked at the Hokage Rock with a thoughtful expression.
After a moment, he placed the piece down.
Clack.
The crisp sound of the piece falling brought Hiruzen, who was opposite him, back to his senses.
His pipe had long since gone out.
Staring hard at the board, the game, which had still allowed for moves, now had all its escape routes blocked with the placement of that single piece.
Checkmate.
Hiruzen thought for a long time, then smiled bitterly and put down the piece in his hand.
"No more. I surrender."
He waved his hand, actively pushing his own pieces into disorder. "Daimyo-sama's chess skills are excellent. I admit defeat."
"It's just for fun, Third Hokage. No need to take it seriously." Shin smiled and personally refilled Hiruzen's tea. "You've been guarding the prisoners these past few days. You've worked hard."
Hiruzen picked up the teacup. The warmth in his palm filled his heart with mixed emotions.
Ever since Kumogakure's invasion, this young daimyo spent his days listening to plays and sipping tea, completely at ease.
At night, he would willingly stay on this high wall, allowing those who had worked all day to return and rest.
He didn't ask about government affairs, spending his days simply enjoying the view and playing chess, as if everything had nothing to do with him.
But the more he acted this way, the deeper Hiruzen's respect became.
A powerful individual who could crush a tailed beast ball with his bare hands, a ruler who could understand the hard work of his subordinates, and still calmly play chess and chat with an old retired man like him.
This kind of confidence no longer needed to show authority by putting down anyone.
Just then, two heavy figures climbed the city wall, breathing hard.
The person in the lead was Minister Tanaka, the Minister of Finance from the capital.
Behind him followed a high official from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Both were travel-worn, their faces showing clear tiredness and shock.
Having rushed all the way from the capital, they had personally seen the towering wall that reached into the clouds, and also the dense mass of Kumogakure prisoners beneath the wall.
Especially upon hearing that all of this was the work of the daimyo alone, Minister Tanaka's heart was still pounding wildly.
A ruler with terrifying combat power, yet willing to play by the rules with them—this filled all the ministers, including Minister Tanaka, with immense respect.
"Daimyo-sama." Minister Tanaka bowed respectfully, holding up a scroll. "The Department of Foreign Affairs has sent letters to the daimyo of the Land of Earth, Land of Wind, Land of Water, and Land of Lightning."
"The daimyo of the Land of Earth, Land of Wind, and Land of Water have already replied, agreeing to hold a daimyo conference in the Land of Hot Water ten days from now."
"As for the Land of Lightning, there has been no reply yet."
"As expected." Shin was not surprised by this. "He will come!"
The daimyo conference was to be held in the Land of Hot Water, and the Land of Hot Water was a neighboring country to the Land of Lightning.
Even if the Lightning daimyo wanted to hide his head like a turtle, he would need the courage to do so.
The Land of Lightning must be in complete chaos right now.
That daimyo was probably busy putting out fires, overwhelmed with worry.
Shin took the scroll and slowly unrolled it.
"This is the list of people coming along from each daimyo manor's reply," Minister Tanaka added.
Shin's gaze swept over the list.
Daimyo of the Land of Earth, accompanying guard: Third Tsuchikage Onoki.
Heh, that old man certainly couldn't sit still.
Daimyo of the Land of Wind, accompanying guard: Fourth Kazekage Rasa.
It seems the Eight-Tails falling into Konoha's hands has kept him from sleeping or eating in peace.
Shin's gaze continued downward, landing on the section for the Land of Water.
Daimyo of the Land of Water, accompanying guard: Kirigakure jonin unit.
Mizukage, absent.
Shin tapped his five fingers lightly, a cold snort in his heart.
Obito, that rat in the gutter, was afraid after all.
Kamui was indeed troublesome.
But that was only for ordinary shinobi.
In the face of his absolute power, all space-time ninjutsu were merely unimportant party tricks.
It seemed that being driven away within Konoha last time had made him realize the danger, and he no longer dared to show his face easily.
"Well done." Shin put away the scroll, handed it back to Minister Tanaka, then looked at Hiruzen and said, "Third Hokage."
"Ah? Yes, Daimyo-sama." Hiruzen, who had been pretending to look at the scenery, turned his head, as if he hadn't heard the previous conversation.
He's a clever old man!
"Would you like to come along on this trip to the Land of Hot Water?" Shin extended an invitation. "Don't stay in Konoha all day. You can move around more."
"And witness the dawn of a new era."
Hiruzen's heart skipped a beat.
Looking at the daimyo's deep eyes, he couldn't refuse.
He also wanted to see what kind of new world the daimyo would bring in.
Hiruzen smiled. "Alright."
Shin nodded and said to Minister Tanaka, "You two return to the capital first and prepare for the conference-related matters."
"Also, give my list of accompanying guards to the daimyo of each country."
"Yes, my lord!"
The two received their orders, bowed again, and then went down the city wall.
Inside the pavilion, only the daimyo and Hiruzen remained.
"Where is the Fourth Hokage?" Shin suddenly asked.
Hiruzen came back to his senses. "Minato, he should be dealing with the prisoners and the village's aftermath."
"Have him come over."
"Yes."
Hiruzen immediately sent an Anbu.
A short while later, Minato's figure appeared outside the pavilion, looking somewhat tired.
"Daimyo-sama."
"You've worked hard, Fourth Hokage."
Shin stood up and slowly walked to the edge of the pavilion, his gaze directed toward the prisoner camp below.
"Ten days from now, I will go to the Land of Hot Water to hold a meeting with the daimyo of the other four countries."
"Before that, I need you to do a few things."
Minato's expression became serious. "Please give your orders, my lord!"
"First, Konoha's defenses must not be relaxed. Kumogakure's sneaking in this time is a bloody lesson."
"Second, three days from now..." Shin paused and said, "The Third Hokage will personally lead a team to escort these three thousand Kumogakure prisoners to the Land of Hot Water."
What?
Escort three thousand prisoners to the Land of Hot Water?
The Third Hokage personally leading the team?
Minato and Hiruzen, who was beside him, were both stunned.
Escort three thousand prisoners across the continent to the neutral Land of Hot Water?
Why was the Third Hokage personally doing it?
"My lord, this might not be right, might it?" Minato hesitated. "The journey is long, and with three thousand prisoners, there are too many unknowns."
"Moreover, the Land of Hot Water might not even agree to us..."
"They will agree." Shin interrupted. "If the Land of Lightning can pass through, why can't we?"
"As for unknowns, with the Third Hokage personally escorting them, they wouldn't dare to cause trouble."
"But..." Minato glanced at the thoughtful Third Hokage. "The Third Hokage is getting older. Why don't I escort them instead!"
"No, Konoha still needs you to be in charge. How can you leave?" Shin waved his hand, refusing. "Don't you agree, Third Hokage?"
"Ah! Daimyo-sama is right!" Hiruzen came to his senses and said, "It just so happens that I also want to go out and move around, and contribute some of my remaining energy to the village!"
"Then it's settled!" Shin made the final decision directly.
Seeing that the matter was decided, Minato could only reluctantly agree.
"Oh, and!" Shin continued, "Put shackles on all of them, the heaviest kind."
"I want them to walk, step by step, from the Land of Fire to the Land of Hot Water."
"I want the entire shinobi world to see clearly what the consequences are for daring to provoke the Land of Fire."
Shin's words were light, yet incredibly cold.
This was a public display!
It was to declare the power of the Land of Fire to the entire world, using the dignity of three thousand Kumogakure elites!
It was easy to predict what kind of uproar would be caused when this shackled team appeared before the world.
"Yes!" Minato spoke the single word with difficulty.
He dared not, and could not, argue.
Because the one giving the order was the true master of the Land of Fire.
"Go prepare." Shin waved his hand.
Minato bowed and left, his back appearing somewhat heavy.
He, as Hokage, was increasingly becoming an executor.
After Minato left, Shin looked at Hiruzen again.
At this moment, Hiruzen was still lost in thought, unclear why the daimyo wanted him to lead the team.
Only then did Shin say, "Third Hokage!"
"I need you to do something!"