The capital of the Land of Fire. Midnight.
The Daimyō of the Land of Fire sat upright on a broad, cushioned bench, leaning over his desk as he reviewed and annotated memorials submitted from the various regions.
After a long while, he rubbed his lower back and let out a sigh.
Vexation. Irritation. Powerlessness…
As the Daimyō, he ought to possess immense authority. Yet in reality, there was little he could truly do.
The current territory of the Land of Fire had also expanded rapidly only after the era of village-state consolidation.
When the ninja originally scattered throughout the regions of the Land of Fire gradually joined Konohagakure, the local lords, having lost their original cooperative ninja forces, mostly chose to affiliate themselves with the Land of Fire in order to seek stronger military protection.
But the problem was that the relationship between the Land of Fire and Konohagakure was extremely delicate…
In principle, the Daimyō was the sovereign. Yet wanting Konohagakure to obey his commands was unrealistic.
There was no need to even speak of Senju Hashirama; the same had been true for Senju Tobirama…
Even by the time of Hiruzen's generation, the name Shimura Danzō still resounded among the nobility like thunder.
As a result, "heeding deployment but not proclamations" had become the current norm within the Land of Fire.
Because everyone knew that the Daimyō could not command Konohagakure to carry out private tasks.
The poor state of tax revenues stemmed from this as well.
The various lords would symbolically hand over a small sum to the Daimyō each year, indicating a subordinate relationship, and then muddle through…
"What can I possibly do?"
"I have nothing but a title." The Daimyō of the Land of Fire slumped back and tossed the brush in his hand aside. Ink splattered across the entire desk as his eyes grew vacant.
He could do nothing at all…
For a ruler who had read some books and still harbored a measure of ambition, this helplessness toward the present situation was clearly the greatest source of his mental anguish.
He wanted to give up and coast—but could not fully bring himself to do so…
"Over at Konoha, they say they've developed health pills that can strengthen the body, and that they even come from a Sage Region?"
"Perhaps this is an opportunity."
"But I've summoned the Hokage so many times, and he never comes. Heh…" The Daimyō of the Land of Fire drew in a deep breath and muttered to himself with self-mockery: "Forget it. At the very least, he should show me a little consideration and give me a few pills, shouldn't he?"
"If that's the case, I'll just improve my health a little and spend my days doing nothing—drifting along comfortably, one day at a time…"
This kind of psychological pressure was already on the verge of crushing his body.
Though still in his prime, he looked like a prematurely aged middle-aged man.
The Daimyō of the Land of Fire lifted his head. His heart suddenly trembled, and he nearly cried out in shock.
In the very center of his bedchamber, two figures stood there, one to the left and one to the right.
He did not know when they had arrived…
The guards did not make a single sound.
Danzō's expression was cold.
In the wavering lamplight of the night, his slightly withered face was half lit and half shadowed. An eerie bandage was wrapped around his forehead, and his gaze was cautious—tinged with malice.
The Daimyō wanted to speak, but the moment he met that gaze, it was as if someone had seized him by the throat…
'Shimura Danzō? Why is it him!'
'What is he here for? Why would he suddenly appear in the middle of the night—could it be that…' The Daimyō of the Land of Fire's heart shook violently.
In today's shinobi world, there was a delicate balance between the nobles of each country and the ninja.
The nobles provided money and resources to the ninja, and the ninja handled the killing.
Although the old inertia of viewing ninja as mere tools still remained, ever since the development of ninjutsu and chakra technology… quite a few nobles had begun to faintly sense that, in the end, those who would rule this world would still be the ninja.
The reason was simple: ninja were the group that held the greatest violence in their hands—and that alone was enough.
But the current pattern of opposition among the Five Great Hidden Villages had also slowed this down.
So even if the nobles understood where the future was heading, they still did their best to keep the battlefield confined to the ninja—dragging it out for as long as possible, day by day.
Even though conflicts between nations objectively existed.
But if any force were to strike at the nobles first, it would trigger a joint siege by the entire shinobi world.
The nobles might not have force, but they had legitimacy and resources, and they could hire other hidden villages to attack the rebels who stuck their heads out.
The other hidden villages were happy to see it as well. Who wouldn't be willing to fight more?
Even someone as crazed as the Third Mizukage would not dare shoulder that kind of pressure.
What's more, a country also needed a large number of grassroots officials to govern, and the massive upheaval caused by internal chaos would also invite external attacks.
So, in principle, Konohagakure should not have moved against him, the Daimyō…
But the problem was that theory was always theory. Reality sometimes did not need logic.
Just as the Daimyō sank into fear and tried to say something—a hearty burst of laughter suddenly rang out, washing away the murderous atmosphere in an instant: "Your Excellency the Daimyō, it's been a long time. I've missed you dearly!"
Only then did the Daimyō come back to his senses and realize that beside Danzō, there was also a middle-aged man standing there—gentle in demeanor, yet powerfully built…
He stared hard for a moment, and then jolted in shock—
Wasn't this Konoha's Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen?
How did he seem so much younger and more vigorous?
"Hokage-sama, you should have said something before coming!" The Daimyō let out a breath, feeling his shoulders loosen. Compared to Danzō's notorious reputation, Hiruzen was famously a decent, fair-minded man.
"So I could have sent people to welcome Hokage-sama…"
If he was here, then there probably wouldn't be any serious incident…
Hearing the words of the Daimyō of the Land of Fire, Hiruzen's eyes flickered.
Addressing him with honorifics such as "Your Excellency" and "sama" in their respectful form indicated that the administrative department's assessment of the Daimyō had been correct.
He was a normal person capable of rational thought.
If he had started shouting and demanding to know why they had come without prior notice like a fool… then they would have had to replace the Daimyō. It would have been troublesome, though manageable.
"This matter is of great importance and cannot be discussed with outsiders…"
Hiruzen spoke as if chatting casually: "Moreover, you have invited me to visit many times. You likely know as well as I do that the situation in the shinobi world is deteriorating."
"Although there were reasons, I do feel ashamed at heart. So once I had the time, I came overnight."
The Daimyō forced a smile and nodded in agreement. "I know, I know! Those barbarians from Kumogakure have truly gone too far!"
"Fortunately, Hokage-sama, you are sufficiently resolute and renowned—one official note from you, and they quieted down without a sound…"
The diplomatic dispute between Konoha and Kumogakure was naturally something the Daimyō of the Land of Fire followed closely.
In fact, it was also one source of his pressure.
After the end of the Second Shinobi World War, Konoha's performance could hardly be described as outstanding. Thus, certain thoughts had sprouted in the Daimyō's mind…
For example, drawing in some ninja from Konoha and the Land of Fire to have them directly obey him…
He had even thought of a name: under the banner of guardianship, they would be called the Twelve Guardian Ninja.
But the "Senju brothers" card played by Sarutobi Hiruzen had caused his prestige within the Land of Fire to rise steadily. The probing attempts made by the Daimyō's envoys sank without a trace…
Not to mention Konoha as it was now.
The administrative department that handled dealings with the Land of Fire, controlled by Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, was like an iron gate.
At this moment, Hiruzen had already walked to a position not far from the Daimyō of the Land of Fire.
Wearing a gentle and hearty smile, yet looking at him with an expression that was smiling but not smiling—or rather, looking at the bench beneath him…
The Daimyō of the Land of Fire felt his heart tremble.
Under normal circumstances, when conducting military and political affairs in the Land of Fire, he would sit at the head of the long table, with the Hokage seated just below him.
If the Hokage came to visit, he would naturally be granted a seat.
But now…
There was only this one bench!
Even if he called for someone—setting aside what the guards outside were doing…
Even if he muddled through this moment, what use would it be?
"Hokage-sama…"
"You came overnight. It must have been exhausting. Why not rest here for a while?"
The Daimyō of the Land of Fire forced a smile and patted the bench. "It's large—enough for two people to sit!"
Hiruzen smiled in silence.
Just as the Daimyō's heart grew colder bit by bit…
"Then I thank Your Excellency for your consideration," Hiruzen suddenly said.
He relaxed and sat down in the center of the bench, while the Daimyō unconsciously shifted to the side.
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