Land of Fire Capital, the Konoha delegation's temporary residence.
This was the residence Daimyo Manor had prepared for Konoha's upper ranks.
At that moment, however, the atmosphere in the main hall was oppressively tense.
Every Konoha higher-up who had accompanied the delegation was present.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze had just returned from Daimyo Manor.
The two Council Elders, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, wore grave expressions. Their fingers tapped against the table again and again, betraying their inner agitation.
Fugaku Uchiha, Hyuga Hiashi, Shikaku Nara, and the other clan heads sat rigidly, each lost in different thoughts.
Within the shadows of a corner, Shimura Danzō showed only one eye and said nothing.
Everyone's gaze was focused on the seat of honor.
On the man who seemed to have aged ten years overnight.
Hiruzen Sarutobi.
His face was ashen, and both hands resting on the table trembled constantly.
"Cough, cough..."
He cleared his throat and swept his gaze across the room.
Everyone he looked at felt their hearts skip a beat.
The Third's former authority was gone. Only emptiness remained.
"Starting today, I am no longer Hokage."
With those words, the hall erupted.
"What?!"
"Lord Third! This..."
"How could this be so sudden? What happened at Daimyo Manor?"
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura abruptly rose to their feet, their faces filled with disbelief.
Hiruzen Sarutobi raised a hand, and only then did the clamor gradually subside.
His voice was hoarse, devoid of emotion.
"This is the Daimyo's order."
"Following my personal resignation, the Daimyo has approved it."
He turned to look at the silent Minato Namikaze beside him.
"At the same time, the Daimyo has personally appointed..."
"Minato Namikaze as Konoha's Fourth Hokage!"
At those words, everyone's heads turned in unison toward Minato Namikaze.
Envy, jealousy, scrutiny...
Feeling those complicated gazes, Minato Namikaze felt immense pressure.
He rose to his feet and bowed deeply to everyone without saying a word.
This appointment was far too heavy.
So heavy that becoming Hokage brought him not the slightest joy.
"Hmph."
Danzo let out a cold snort from the shadows.
"Hiruzen, you lost a war, and now you want to pat your ass and walk away?"
His voice was icy.
"You're dumping this mess onto a green kid?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's body stiffened, but he did not argue.
Because Danzo was telling the truth.
"There is one more matter."
Ignoring Danzo's provocation, Hiruzen Sarutobi continued.
"Daimyo Manor has issued a new fiscal budget plan."
He pushed an official document to the center of the table.
"Starting next quarter, the village's annual budget will be cut by twenty percent."
Dead silence.
A pin could have been heard dropping.
If replacing the Hokage was a shift in the upper ranks' power structure...
Then cutting the budget was like carving flesh from everyone seated here!
"Twenty percent?!"
A Jonin representative finally lost his restraint and cried out.
"What kind of joke is this?!"
"The war has just ended, and the compensation payments haven't even all been issued! The wounded are still lying in the hospital! Why are they cutting our budget?!"
"That's right! We bled and sacrificed for the Land of Fire, and this is how that New Daimyo treats us?"
"He's trying to force us to death!"
The crowd was furious!
Their anger was aimed directly at the New Daimyo they had never met.
And at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had brought back this news.
"Quiet!"
Minato Namikaze slammed his hand onto the table. Chakra flashed and vanished, instantly suppressing the entire hall.
Only then did everyone remember that the Yellow Flash before them was already the Fourth Hokage!
The main hall fell silent once more, but every face was filled with resentment and fury.
"This is an order."
Hiruzen Sarutobi repeated those words.
"The Daimyo sympathizes with the people and believes that the nation's finances should prioritize postwar reconstruction for civilians."
"Konoha should set an example."
"Hehe..."
Danzo laughed.
His laughter was full of mockery.
"Hiruzen, you truly have gone senile."
"Ninja are the foundation of the nation! Without us as its blade, those civilians are nothing but lambs awaiting slaughter!"
"That Daimyo is tearing down his own defenses!"
He stood up, his single eye blazing with a terrifying gleam.
"I refuse!"
"This order is an insult to every Konoha Ninja! I will never accept it!"
His words voiced the feelings of most of those present.
For a moment, many people turned hopeful gazes toward Danzo.
Perhaps only this hardline leader of Root dared say no to the Daimyo.
Hiruzen Sarutobi watched this scene without joy or anger on his face.
"This is the Daimyo's order."
He repeated it for the third time, then stood up. Without looking at anyone else, he shuffled toward the exit.
His back was desolate.
Daimyo Manor.
Within the bedchamber, sandalwood incense curled through the air.
Chiba Ran reclined lazily on a soft couch.
Before him, Qing Yueye knelt upon the carpet, using a small silver knife to peel a crystal pear for him.
Her movements were slow and careful.
Those hands that had once played the guzheng and wielded brush and ink were now doing a maidservant's work.
Her long lashes hung low, concealing every emotion.
She had learned not to look and not to think.
Only numbness remained.
After peeling the pear, she cut it into small pieces, skewered them with a silver pick, and held one to Chiba Ran's lips.
Chiba Ran opened his mouth and took a bite.
It was sweet.
Looking at her lifeless face, he suddenly found it a little boring.
His hand passed through her soft, flowing hair and gently caressed her neck.
Qing Yueye's body stiffened, but she quickly relaxed again.
"Raise your head."
Chiba Ran ordered.
Qing Yueye obediently raised her head.
"Smile."
Qing Yueye forced out a smile that looked uglier than crying.
Chiba Ran frowned and let go.
"Forget it. Boring."
He waved his hand.
"Leave."
"Yes."
Feeling as though she had been granted a reprieve, Qing Yueye bowed and withdrew, her steps somewhat hurried.
Ding!
The system notification sounded in his mind.
Main Quest: Land of Fire Fiscal Reform (Phase One) completed! Quest Evaluation: Perfect! Quest Reward: Talent Scan function unlocked! New quest issued! Main Quest: Lord of the Land of Fire (Phase Two) Quest Objective: During the coronation ceremony, establish the Land of Fire's supreme sovereign authority, intimidate envoys from all sides, and let the world know that in the Land of Fire, the Daimyo reigns supreme! Quest Reward: Economic Policy Sandbox!
"Economic Policy Sandbox?"
What was that?
Forget it. He would ask after completing the quest.
His attention shifted to the newly unlocked Talent Scan function.
Activate?
"Activate."
In an instant, a three-dimensional map encompassing the entire Land of Fire Capital unfolded in his mind.
Countless points of light appeared on the map.
White represented civilians, while red represented ninja.
The depth of a light's color directly displayed the strength of its owner.
Among them, several points glowed such a deep red that they were nearly purple.
Minato Namikaze, Fourth Hokage (pending appointment), Loyalty: 65 (wavering), Threat Level: Low Fugaku Uchiha, Uchiha Clan Head, Loyalty: 50 (undecided), Threat Level: Low Hyuga Hiashi, Hyuga Clan Head, Loyalty: 55 (watching), Threat Level: Low
This new feature was truly useful. The previous system could also display people as points of light.
But it had not shown loyalty.
Now, he could tell at a glance who was loyal and who was treacherous.
Chiba Ran's consciousness finally stopped on a familiar name.
Shimura Danzō, Root Leader, Loyalty: 10 (rebellious), Threat Level: Low
"Only 10 loyalty?"
"Old dog, you can't hide your tail anymore."
Chiba Ran paid him no further attention. His thoughts continued moving, scanning the area where the Four Nations Delegation was staying.
The Land of Earth, Land of Wind, Land of Lightning... the delegations' guards were quite formidable, each with an Elite Jonin stationed among them.
What interested him most was the location of the Land of Water delegation.
There, aside from the visible envoys and their guard Juzo Biwa, was a point of light so red it was nearly purple.
Mei Terumi (undercover), Kirigakure genius ninja, Loyalty: -20 (hostile), Threat Level: Low
Mei Terumi?
Why was she here?
Information about this woman immediately surfaced in Chiba Ran's mind.
The future Fifth Mizukage.
"What was she doing here?"
Before you continue