Minato Namikaze Submits, The Daimyo IS The Will of Fire!

While Mei Terumi was still picking up the shreds of her dignity off the floor...

Minato Namikaze was at that very moment waiting for the Daimyo's summons.

Unlike previous occasions, Minato Namikaze today wore the Hokage Robe that symbolized the identity of the Hokage.

His golden hair was still dazzling, and in those azure blue eyes lay nothing but calm.

He didn't even have the guards announce him; he simply stood quietly outside the study, waiting.

His posture was not that of the Fourth Hokage who shook the shinobi world, but rather that of an ordinary retainer awaiting his lord's summons.

When he entered, he stopped three steps away from the desk.

Then came a ninety-degree bow.

"Daimyo-sama."

The title remained unchanged.

But the pride and distance that belonged to the Hokage in his tone had vanished without a trace.

Chiba Ran leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the armrest.

He did not tell Minato Namikaze to rise, nor did he speak.

Silence was a monarch's finest weapon.

To apply pressure, and also to observe.

Within the study, there was only stillness.

Minato Namikaze maintained his bowing posture, motionless, strands of hair falling across his forehead, obscuring his expression.

The sharp aura about him had long since been reined in.

Like a blade returned to its sheath.

After who knew how long, Chiba Ran's voice rang out.

"Thought it through?"

"Yes, I've thought it through."

"Rise! Tell me how you thought it through!"

Minato Namikaze straightened up, meeting Chiba Ran's gaze with a frank look.

"Your subordinate... was previously always thinking from Konoha's standpoint, with narrow vision. I failed to live up to the Daimyo-sama's expectations."

"Oh?"

Chiba Ran's interest was piqued; he leaned forward slightly. "And now, from what standpoint are you thinking?"

Minato Namikaze took a deep breath, his expression utterly solemn.

"The Land of Fire."

Three words, striking like a hammer.

He continued: "From now on, the interests of Konoha Village will serve the overall interests of the Land of Fire completely."

"Konoha Village belongs to the Land of Fire's Konoha Village."

These words were a belated pledge of allegiance.

They represented that Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, had, on a spiritual level, completely submitted to the Daimyo.

The smile on Chiba Ran's face grew deeper.

This was even more perfect than he had anticipated.

A Hokage whose spine had been broken was nothing more than a puppet.

But a Hokage who actively changed his perspective and embraced his lord's ideology—that was a fine blade, ready to be wielded.

"Very good."

Chiba Ran finally spoke, his voice carrying approval.

"Have a seat, Minato."

"Tell me about your new plan."

"Yes."

Minato Namikaze sat down as instructed, took out a scroll, and presented it with both hands.

His demeanor no longer held any trace of an equal partner; it was entirely that of a subordinate reporting to a superior.

"Regarding the Genius Training Special Fund, your subordinate believes that the Daimyo-sama's line of thinking is completely correct."

"Concentrating resources to train top-tier combat power is indeed the best way to rapidly increase the Land of Fire's deterrent force."

"However, mere financial support can easily cause young shinobi to lose themselves in power and wealth, forgetting the original purpose of battle."

He lifted his head, his eyes sincere, carrying a plea.

"Therefore, your subordinate humbly proposes upgrading the Genius Cultivation Plan to the Will of Fire Inheritance Plan."

"The Will of Fire?"

Chiba Ran savored the four characters, rolling them over his tongue. "Continue."

Minato Namikaze pressed on. "The selected prodigies will not only receive preferential funding and resources but must also accept one-on-one mentorship from a mentor."

"The mentors will be chosen from the village's most experienced and resolute Jonin."

"Their duty is to teach these prodigies how to wield power correctly, guide them in building a conviction to dedicate themselves to the nation, and make them understand the responsibility that comes with strength."

"This funding is meant to shape their strength, but even more so, to shape their souls."

Minato Namikaze glanced up at Chiba Ran. Seeing no sign of opposition, his heart steadied slightly.

"As for the selection of the Guardians of the Twelve, I recommend holding an open Selection Tournament for all ninja in the village."

"No inquiry into birth, no regard for background—only loyalty is asked, only strength is judged."

"The final twelve victors will represent Konoha, becoming the sharpest blade in the Daimyo's hand, and the supreme glory of the Land of Fire."

"This way, not only will every ninja see a clear path to fair promotion, but it will also maximize their potential, selecting the strongest warriors for you."

Having finished, he looked at Chiba Ran, his eyes earnest.

Chiba Ran did not respond immediately. Instead, he picked up the new plan and flipped through it page by page.

The handwriting was neat, the logic clear. Even the rules for the Selection Tournament and the criteria for mentor screening had been laid out in meticulous detail.

It was plain to see that Minato Namikaze had not rested well recently to prepare this proposal.

All his struggles had been poured into this scroll.

If you find this book enjoyable, to avoid losing it next time, remember to add it to your bookshelf.

Minato Namikaze's heart involuntarily tightened.

He didn't know if the Daimyo would tolerate his hidden agenda.

Binding the training of prodigies to the Will of Fire.

This was the last line he could defend as the Hokage.

A long moment passed.

Only then did Chiba Ran close the scroll and set it gently on the desk.

"Not a bad plan."

He looked at Minato Namikaze, his gaze fathomless, as if trying to see straight through him.

"Minato, you're very clever."

"You know what I want, and you know what you want to protect."

"You're trying to find a balance within my rules—a balance you can accept."

Minato Namikaze's heart sank heavily.

His little scheme had indeed failed to escape this ruler's notice.

"However..."

Chiba Ran's tone shifted, and a playful smile returned to his face.

"I like clever subordinates."

"Because working with clever people yields the highest efficiency."

He picked up the Imperial Brush on the desk, dipped it in cinnabar, and scrawled his signature across the cover of the scroll with bold, flowing strokes.

"Do it your way."

"I have only one demand."

Chiba Ran's voice suddenly grew heavier.

"The list of mentors for the Will of Fire Inheritance Plan."

"The final list of selected prodigies."

"And the results of the Guardians of the Twelve Selection Tournament."

"All of them must be personally reviewed and finally approved by me."

He paused, then spoke each word deliberately.

"Their strength is granted by me."

"Their loyalty belongs only to me, and to the Land of Fire."

"As for that Will of Fire you mentioned..."

Chiba Ran leaned back into his chair, crossing his arms, and calmly fixed his gaze on Minato Namikaze.

"From today onward, my will is the Will of Fire."

"Do you understand?"

Chiba Ran had approved the plan.

Minato Namikaze should have been happy, but he couldn't muster any joy at all.

Because the Daimyo had once again used a single sentence to drain the soul from this plan.

The Daimyo's will was the Will of Fire.

This was the final blow, the ultimate verdict of power.

All his struggles, all his efforts, all his compromises—in this moment, they crumbled to dust.

What he had tried to protect had merely been given a new name.

A name belonging to the Daimyo.

Minato Namikaze slowly closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, the last glimmer of light belonging to the Hokage in those blue eyes had been completely extinguished.

He stood up once more, then removed the Hokage Robe, revealing the ninja uniform underneath.

He folded the Hokage Robe neatly and set it aside.

Then he knelt on one knee, the motion without a hint of hesitation.

This time, it was the salute of a subject to a sovereign.

"Your subordinate... understands!"

"From today onward, Konoha has no Hokage."

"Only the supreme commander of Konoha Hidden Village, under the Daimyo of the Land of Fire—Minato Namikaze."

In this moment.

An era had come to a complete end.

A satisfied smile finally spread across Chiba Ran's face. "No, you are still the Hokage."

He generously returned the title of Hokage to him.

Because the Hokage was now nothing but a name.

"Thank you, Lord Daimyo!"

[Ding!]

[Target: Minato Namikaze]

[Loyalty: 85 (Loyal and Reliable)]

[Congratulations, Host, on completing the hidden mission: The Fall of the Hokage! You have completely subdued the Fourth Hokage. The sharpest blade of Konoha is now firmly in your grasp.]

[Reward: National Fortune +500.]

Excellent.

Chiba Ran looked at the man kneeling before him, his mood light.

"Rise, Fourth Hokage."

"From today onward, you will have a much larger stage."

He picked up the Hokage Robe set aside and personally draped it over Minato Namikaze's shoulders.

"The future of the Land of Fire needs your Flying Thunder God Technique."

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