Assassination

"Hiss, this is a gift Lord Danzo is sending to the Daimyo. Deliver it to him tomorrow!"

After Little White Snake finished speaking to the Root ninja, he opened his mouth and spat out a box ten times larger than his own mouth before vanishing.

The Root ninja was used to such things.

The box was covered in dense, intricate patterns. With one glance, the Root ninja recognized them as Sealing Jutsu.

Setting up such a seal was troublesome and exhausting.

However, unlocking it only required a simple sequence of hand seals.

Ox, Rat, Goat, Horse, Monkey.

Click!

The box opened, revealing a letter and a small porcelain bottle inside.

"I didn't expect to find such a bonus. Not bad!" An unfamiliar voice sounded behind the Root ninja.

The Root ninja tried to resist, only to discover that his body had become like wood, utterly beyond his control.

What do I do?

Who is this?

He's not going to covet my beauty, is he?

I'm so nervous. He sounds like a man. It's over—my innocence!

"Don't worry. Today is not the day you die."

Hikari picked up Danzo's letter and opened it.

"To His Excellency the Daimyo:

Since our last parting, many years have passed. Even now, when I think of the Daimyo's bearing, it seems almost divine. I admire you deeply and wish only to serve at your side. I have recently acquired ten Immortal Pills. Taking them will restore youth and allow the Daimyo to regain his former splendor.

Though the Hidden Leaf Village appears prosperous on the surface, it is rotten within. Recalling the Daimyo's previous instructions fills my heart with grief and indignation.

That commoner, the Third Hokage, deceived those above and below him, sacrificing the interests of village and country to enrich himself. Such a disloyal, unfilial, inhumane, and unrighteous man was actually the Third Hokage. Now that the Third Hokage is dead, Konoha rejoices, and the Land of Fire should rejoice as well.

The Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, is but a woman and will surely inherit Hiruzen's will, repeating the mistakes of the past.

Danzo is now willing to serve the Daimyo. Let this letter stand as proof. I await your commands!

Respectfully,

Shimura Danzō."

Well, well, Danzo, you old schemer. You actually dared plot against your Big Bear Tsunade and still wanted to become Hokage? Looks like you really don't need that old face of yours anymore.

It would be too easy to kill you now. I wanted to see how you would deal with the Daimyo's retaliation next.

"Turn around and look into my eyes!"

The Root ninja turned his head and immediately met a pair of blood-red eyes.

This was... an Uchiha?

The next morning.

Tsunade got up as usual and brought Hikari and Might Guy to the entrance of the Daimyo's Mansion.

"Tsunade of Konoha requests an audience with the Daimyo. Please make arrangements."

The guard opened his eyes, glanced at Tsunade, then closed them again without a word.

The Daimyo was probably receiving Danzo's subordinate right now. Tsunade, just wait slowly!

Tsunade raised an eyebrow and was about to enter when she heard another thought.

You'll definitely be delighted later. This young master helped you behind the scenes, woman, so don't forget me!

Ah, too bad I can't tell you that. I can only be an unsung guardian knight.

Tsunade had no interest in studying the strange terms in Hikari's mind.

She only knew one thing now: Hikari had already taken care of it.

All she had to do was wait.

"Daimyo, I have a letter from my lord Danzo for your inspection!" The Root ninja respectfully presented the letter, then stood there waiting.

A maid came over from behind the Daimyo, took the letter from the Root ninja, and examined it carefully for quite some time. Only after confirming that it was safe did she hand it to the Daimyo.

The Daimyo opened the letter. The instant he finished reading it, his face broke into a delighted smile.

"Where are the Immortal Pills? Bring them to me at once!"

Even if the Immortal Pills were not as miraculous as the legends claimed, the Daimyo would be satisfied as long as they could restore his youth or extend his life by a few years.

Now that he had received Danzo's letter of submission, the Daimyo felt light and invigorated.

He was going to accomplish great things. The entire Land of Fire would submit beneath his feet.

"Daimyo, these Immortal Pills were obtained by my lord at the cost of vast resources. They are exceedingly precious. Can this maid truly be trusted?" The Root ninja looked suspiciously at the maid, gripping the small porcelain bottle tightly in his hand.

The Daimyo laughed. "She is my adopted daughter, even closer to me than my biological daughter. Why would she harm me? Hurry and present the pills!"

"Yes!" This time, the Root ninja did not refuse. He slowly walked to within three steps of the Daimyo, where he was stopped by someone—the same maid from before.

The Root ninja sighed helplessly and handed over the porcelain bottle, watching her with a tense expression.

The maid took the bottle and placed it directly on the table before the Daimyo.

The Daimyo opened the bottle and poured out an "Immortal Pill." A strange fragrance filled the air, and in an instant, he felt his little brother, which had not risen in a long time, showing signs of fierce revival.

So this is the kind of Immortal Pill it is. Danzo really is a shameless old bastard!

Just as he was about to swallow it, the Daimyo glanced at the Root ninja with lingering fear and tossed the pill toward him.

"This one is your reward. Take it."

The Root ninja did not hesitate. He opened his mouth and swallowed the Immortal Pill.

A minute later, the Root ninja bent over, looking somewhat embarrassed.

"Haha, it really is an Immortal Pill! That old Danzo—if I hadn't pressured him, he would have kept hiding such good stuff!" the Daimyo said with a chuckle.

Men, after all!

Power and beauty held roughly equal status.

Now that the Daimyo possessed power, he naturally wanted to enjoy more beauties.

To his aged, declining body, Danzo's pills were practically Immortal Pills.

The Daimyo poured out another Immortal Pill and swallowed it directly.

In an instant, it felt as though he had taken a warm bath. His body became pleasantly warm, his aged skin noticeably younger, and the weapon he had been unable to use for years became hard once more.

"Good stuff. You may leave now."

After speaking to the Root ninja, the Daimyo pulled the maid into his arms and began pawing at her.

As for the adopted-daughter identity he had mentioned earlier? Heh, it only made him more excited.

Pfft!

A kunai pierced through the maid's body and flew toward the Daimyo.

The maid who had been writhing in his arms collapsed limply to the ground. Crimson blood sprayed from her wound onto the Daimyo's body.

"Guards! There's an assassin!"

"You bastard, die!"

Two voices rang out at once. Unlike the Daimyo's panicked cry, the Root ninja's voice was icy as he hurled another kunai from his hand.

Clang! Clang!

Two men in black surrounded the Root ninja from front and back.

"Quick! Kill him! Kill him!"

The Daimyo was nearly mad. For the first time in all these years, he was facing mortal danger.

That bastard Danzo actually wanted to kill him.

He had clearly sent him such precious pills, so why send assassins as well? Could the pills have some terrible side effect that he did not want him to discover?

The two ninjas truly deserved to be the Daimyo's guards. Their strength was formidable, and they quickly dealt with the Root ninja. Just as they were about to force the truth out of him, the Root ninja's head exploded, spraying red and white matter all over them.

"This is Sealing Jutsu. If someone's Chakra is sealed, they will automatically explode, preventing the enemy from obtaining any useful intelligence!"

The Daimyo shoved the maid's corpse aside. Ignoring the blood covering his body, he urgently shouted, "Quick, bring Tsunade in! She is a Medical Ninja! Get her here to examine me at once!"