Outside Konoha Village, atop the hundred-meter-high wall.
Inside a temporary wooden pavilion, a shogi board sat at the center.
Arashi leaned back lazily, a cup of warm tea at his side.
He casually picked up a piece, glanced at the board, then turned to gaze at Hokage Rock, his eyes filled with thought.
After a moment, he placed the piece.
Clack.
The crisp sound snapped Hiruzen back to his senses from across the board.
His pipe had long since gone cold.
Staring at the shogi board, what had once been a manageable situation had, with that one move, been completely locked down.
Checkmate.
Hiruzen stared silently for a long while, then smiled bitterly and set down his piece.
"No more. This old man concedes."
He waved his hand and swept the board, scattering his own pieces. "Daimyo-sama's skill is excellent. I admit defeat."
"It's only for fun, Third Hokage. No need to take it so seriously." Arashi chuckled and personally poured Hiruzen another cup of tea. "You've worked hard these past few days watching over the prisoners."
Hiruzen accepted the cup. The warmth in his hands sank deeply into his heart.
Ever since Kumogakure's invasion, this young Daimyo had spent his days watching performances and drinking tea, completely at ease.
At night, he would stay atop this wall, letting the others rest after their exhausting days.
He didn't involve himself in day-to-day governance. He simply played shogi, enjoyed the view, and lived as if nothing in the world could trouble him.
But precisely because of that, Hiruzen's reverence only deepened.
A ruler strong enough to stop a Tailed Beast Ball barehanded, yet humble enough to pour tea for an old retired shinobi like him.
Such confidence no longer required outward displays of authority.
Just then, two stocky figures climbed up the wall, panting heavily.
Leading was Tanaka Shigeru, Minister of Finance from the Fire Capital.
Behind him was a senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Both were travel-worn, their faces revealing shock and exhaustion.
After rushing here from the Fire Capital, they had seen with their own eyes the towering wall, and the masses of kneeling Kumogakure prisoners below.
And after hearing that all of this had been accomplished by the Daimyo alone, Tanaka's heart had not stopped racing since.
A monarch with terrifying combat strength, yet still willing to abide by court protocol… It instilled in all the ministers, including Tanaka, an overwhelming sense of awe.
"Daimyo-sama." Tanaka bowed respectfully, holding up a scroll. "The Ministry 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 all responded. They agree to hold a Daimyo conference in the Land of Hot Water ten days from now."
"As for the Land of Lightning… there's been no reply yet."
"As expected." Arashi wasn't surprised. "He'll come."
The conference would be held in the Land of Hot Water, which bordered the Land of Lightning.
Even if that Daimyo wanted to bury his head in the sand, he would still need the courage to back it up.
The Land of Lightning must be in absolute chaos by now.
That Daimyo was probably busy putting out fires and losing sleep.
Arashi took the scroll and slowly unrolled it.
"This is the list of accompanying personnel from each Daimyo manor," Tanaka added.
Arashi scanned through the list.
Land of Earth: Accompanying guard, Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki.
Heh, that old man couldn't sit still after all.
Land of Wind: Accompanying guard, Fourth Kazekage Rasa.
Seems the capture of the Eight-Tails was enough to leave him sleepless.
Then, Arashi's gaze fell on the Land of Water.
Land of Water: Accompanying guard, elite Jōnin unit from Kirigakure.
Mizukage: Absent.
Arashi tapped his fingers lightly, letting out a cold snort inwardly.
Obito… still hiding like a rat.
Kamui was troublesome.
But only to ordinary shinobi.
In front of his overwhelming power, all space-time Ninjutsu were nothing but cheap tricks.
Clearly, being forced to flee from Konoha last time had shaken Obito enough that he didn't dare show himself again.
"Well done." Arashi rolled up the scroll and handed it back to Tanaka. He then turned to Hiruzen. "Third Hokage."
"Eh? Yes, Daimyo-sama." Hiruzen, who had been pretending to admire the view, turned around as if he hadn't overheard a word.
Clever old man.
"Would you like to accompany me to the Land of Hot Water?" Arashi asked. "You've been cooped up in Konoha too long. Time to get out a bit."
"And witness the dawn of a new era."
Hiruzen's heart skipped a beat.
Looking at the Daimyo's deep eyes, he knew he couldn't refuse.
He wanted to see it too.
To see what kind of new world this Daimyo would create.
Hiruzen smiled. "Alright."
Arashi nodded, then turned to Tanaka. "You two return to the Fire Capital and handle the preparations for the conference."
"Also, send my list of accompanying guards to the Daimyo of each nation."
"Yes, sir!"
The two bowed and quickly descended the wall.
The pavilion fell quiet again, only Arashi and Hiruzen remaining.
"Where's the Fourth Hokage?" Arashi suddenly asked.
Hiruzen came back to himself. "Minato? He should be dealing with post-battle work and managing the prisoners."
"Have him come here."
"Yes."
Hiruzen gave the order. A short while later, Minato arrived, slightly haggard in appearance.
"Daimyo-sama."
"You've worked hard, Fourth Hokage."
Arashi stood and slowly walked to the edge of the pavilion, looking down at the sea of prisoners below.
"Ten days from now, I will travel to the Land of Hot Water for the Daimyo conference."
"Before that, I need you to do a few things."
Minato's expression turned serious. "Please give your orders."
"First, Konoha's defenses cannot relax. Kumogakure's infiltration was a bloody lesson."
"Second…" Arashi paused. "In three days, the Third Hokage will personally escort these three thousand Kumo prisoners to the Land of Hot Water."
What?
Escort three thousand prisoners?
The Third Hokage leading the team?
Minato and Hiruzen were both stunned.
To escort thousands of prisoners across the continent to the neutral Land of Hot Water?
Why was the Third Hokage personally leading the mission?
"Daimyo-sama, I'm afraid that's not suitable," Minato hesitated. "The journey is long, and with that many prisoners, it's risky."
"Besides, the Land of Hot Water might not even allow—"
"They will," Arashi cut him off. "If Kumo could march through, why can't we?"
"As for the risk…"
"With the Third Hokage leading them, they won't dare act up."
"But…" Minato looked at Hiruzen, who was also lost in thought. "The Third is quite old. Let me go instead."
"No. Konoha still needs you in charge. You can't leave." Arashi waved it off. "Don't you agree, Third Hokage?"
"Ah! Yes, Daimyo-sama is right!" Hiruzen quickly nodded. "I've been idle for too long anyway. I'd be glad to put myself to use."
"Then it's decided." Arashi gave the final word.
Seeing the matter settled, Minato could only accept it reluctantly.
"Oh, and one more thing." Arashi added, "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 ninja world to see clearly…"
"What happens when you provoke the Land of Fire."
His voice was soft.
But it was ice cold.
This was a public display.
A message to the world.
To declare the Land of Fire's supremacy using the humiliation of three thousand Kumo elites.
When this chained procession crossed the continent, the uproar it would cause was inevitable.
"Yes," Minato replied quietly, unable to refuse.
He didn't dare.
Because the one speaking was the true ruler of the Land of Fire.
"Go prepare." Arashi waved his hand.
Minato bowed and left, his back visibly burdened.
As Hokage, he was increasingly becoming just an executor.
After he left, Arashi turned to Hiruzen again.
Hiruzen was still lost in thought, clearly puzzled why he had been asked to lead the escort.
Only then did Arashi speak.
"Third Hokage…"
"I need you to do something."
(To be continued.)
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