The Daimyo's Visit

Yakumo Kurama, dressed in a chest-high ruqun specially made for her by Akira, looked less sickly with the pink fabric against her pale complexion. Mirai Kurama followed Yakumo, having been the one responsible for taking care of the young lady of the Kurama Clan for the past two years, thanks to her healing skills.

"Brother, you're back!" Yakumo was overjoyed to see Akira. In her heart, her brother was the most powerful person in the world, capable of almost anything. Whatever she desired, her brother would find a way to obtain it. Akira doted on Yakumo, and Yakumo was equally dependent on Akira. Their sibling bond was so strong that Koji Kurama was a little jealous, often saying that if Yakumo depended on him that much, he'd be willing to fight the Nine-Tails.

"Mhm, slow down, Yakumo." Akira's gaze towards Yakumo was completely different from how he looked at Hinata; he truly doted on Yakumo like a sister. Seeing his sister run towards him, he quickly went to her side and took her small hand, only then feeling at ease.

"Hehehe... Don't worry, Brother! Yakumo is very capable!" Yakumo giggled, letting her brother hold her hand.

"Mhm, mhm, Yakumo is the best! Come, I found a friend for you today!" Akira held Yakumo's hand and walked her over to Hinata, introducing them. "Yakumo, this is Hinata Hyuga, the young lady of the Hyuga Clan. She's here to visit us today!"

Yakumo curiously looked at Hinata's eyes. After hearing her brother's introduction, she extended her small hand towards Hinata and said brightly, "Welcome to our home, Hinata! My name is Yakumo Kurama, hehe..."

"D-Disturbing you, I'm Hinata Hyuga. It's nice to meet you," Hinata said politely, looking at Yakumo. Frankly speaking, in terms of etiquette, the Hyuga Clan was probably the best in all of Konohagakure.

"Haha, can I call you Hinata? This is my first time meeting someone my age!" Yakumo said happily.

"Yes, you can." Hinata nodded. She didn't dislike Yakumo's outgoing personality.

"Hinata, you're so nice! Let's go to my room, Hinata! I have lots of fun things, all gifts from Brother." With that, Yakumo pulled Hinata's hand and ran towards her courtyard, not forgetting to call back to Akira, "Brother, tonight we're having secret garlic pork ribs and Kung Pao chicken! Hinata, stay for dinner! My family's chef is the best in the world!"

Akira didn't clearly hear Hinata's reply. He gave a wry smile and looked back at Tsukishiro Yuexi. "Did you hear that? Miss wants secret garlic pork ribs and Kung Pao chicken tonight. Please instruct the kitchen to prepare them!"

"Understood." Tsukishiro Yuexi nodded and scurried away from the courtyard to inform the chef.

When she returned, she was accompanied by a middle-aged man, the gatekeeper of the Kurama Clan. The gatekeeper approached Akira, cupped his hands, and said, "Young Master, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire has come to visit."

"Hm?" Akira frowned slightly. He didn't have any prejudice against the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. He just disliked the Daimyo system in the ninja world. In this world, to achieve anything in politics, one had to become a vassal of the Daimyo. Vassals were divided into upper and lower ranks, known as "Kiyoshin" and "Kiyoshi" respectively. Akira happened to dislike this vassal system, as it tied the Kurama Clan completely to the Daimyo.

"Where is the Daimyo now?" Despite his dislike, he still had to receive him. After all, the Daimyo was the Daimyo, and a major benefactor of Konohagakure.

"We've already invited the Daimyo to be seated in the main hall," Tsukishiro Yuexi replied.

"Mhm, thank you for your hard work. You can return to your post," Akira nodded and said to the gatekeeper before heading to the main hall with Yuexi and Qing Yan.

When they arrived at the main hall, they overheard the Daimyo inside saying, "My, my... this Kurama Clan mansion is decorated wonderfully. I've grown to like it!"

"If the Daimyo likes it so much, let Akira Kurama give it to the Daimyo later," a sycophantic voice chimed in. Akira couldn't help but stop, wanting to hear the Daimyo's response.

"Oh, no, no!" The Daimyo tapped the table with his fan. "Such a beautiful mansion must have taken a lot of thought from Akira. A gentleman does not take what others like. I'll have someone build a separate one for me after I return!"

"The Daimyo truly loves his people like his children. We are so moved to be bathed in the Daimyo's benevolent radiance!" The sycophantic voice even carried a hint of a sob, as if truly moved to tears.

What a talent!

Akira hesitated no longer. He stepped out and deliberately glanced at the owner of the sycophantic voice. The man had a shifty, weasel-like appearance, fitting the anime trope of outward appearance reflecting inner character.

Akira walked up to the Daimyo and bowed, saying, "Akira Kurama pays his respects to the Daimyo."

"Mr. Akira!" The Daimyo stood up and walked to Akira, taking his hand with great enthusiasm. "I read Mr. Akira's great work last year and benefited greatly! That's why I've always hoped to invite Mr. Akira to the Royal Capital to teach!"

Akira replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "You flatter me, Daimyo. My skills are still lacking. How dare I teach and mislead students by lecturing outside?"

"Mr. Akira truly possesses the bearing of a gentleman!" The Daimyo looked full of admiration and continued, "This time, I came to Konohagakure not only to see the Naruto but also to have a chat with Mr. Akira! I hope Mr. Akira can enlighten me."

"I wouldn't dare," Akira took a step back and bowed again. "Please speak, Daimyo. Akira will tell you everything he knows without reservation!"

"Good, good, good," the Daimyo clapped his hands in delight. He pulled Akira down to sit and asked, "Mr. Akira, what are your thoughts on the current situation in the Land of Fire?"

"Akira cannot answer this question for the Daimyo," Akira said with a wry smile, shaking his head. "Since I was young, I haven't left Konohagakure and am not familiar with the outside world. Therefore, I cannot answer the Daimyo's question."

"Is that so!..." The Daimyo looked somewhat disappointed, but before Akira could relax, the Daimyo "revived" with renewed vigor. He said happily, "Mr. Akira, since you're not familiar, let me tell you! My Land of Fire, after the last war with the Land of Wind, Land of Lightning, and Land of Earth, although we won, it was a hard-fought victory. Currently, there are some bandits and refugees causing trouble domestically. I don't know how these groups appeared. My large group of vassals work diligently every day, yet I receive less and less money. One of my vassals came up with a good idea to increase taxes, and only then did my purse become a little fuller. Oh, right! Previously, we received news that there was a flood at the border with the Land of Rain, leaving tens of thousands of my subjects homeless. But at the border with the Land of Grass, there was a drought, and tens of thousands of subjects there have nothing to eat."

Akira listened and felt awkward. Was this Daimyo brain-dead? The points he mentioned were all precursors to dynastic collapse in ancient China! Natural disasters, man-made calamities, roving bandits, corrupt officials, and heavy taxes – the Ming Dynasty, which once defeated Toyotomi Hideyoshi, collapsed just like that!

Should I hurry and change my nationality? It feels like the Land of Fire could collapse any minute!

"Sir, what do you think should be done?" After venting his frustrations, the Daimyo looked at Akira. Although he was foolish, he wasn't irredeemably so. Speaking of which, how did the Land of Fire overcome its difficulties without Akira? This question was worth pondering!

"Daimyo, from your description, the current situation in the Land of Fire is not very optimistic!" Akira chose a tactful way to put it.

"Ah? Really? How come I feel it's okay?" The Daimyo was startled and tapped his head with his fan, asking in confusion.

Okay your sister! If this happened in China, they'd overthrow you in minutes!

Akira inwardly complained. It seemed he had overestimated the Daimyo's intelligence. Or perhaps he had underestimated the tolerance of the common people in the ninja world? Otherwise, why hadn't this broken country collapsed by the Fourth Great Ninja War?

As if not noticing Akira's idiotic expression, the Daimyo smiled and asked, "Mr. Akira, do you think there are areas in the Land of Fire that need improvement?"

"Um... this..."

What do you viewers think Akira should answer at this point?

Akira was dumbfounded!

As expected! You can't use common sense to deduce things in a shonen anime world! Maybe the Japanese people just like this kind of agonizing situation?