(Bonus chapter for ten thousand rewards)
Meanwhile.
Wind Country Daimyo's Mansion.
The Wind Country Daimyo sat on his knees behind a curtain, while his staffers knelt on either side.
"According to the latest intelligence, Master Digo of the Temple of Fire intends to travel to the Temple of Soup to discuss Buddhist teachings. What are your thoughts?" The daimyo's low voice sounded from behind the curtain.
Below, an elderly man kneeling at the front pondered for a moment before speaking.
"The situation is far from good.
"On the surface, this appears to be merely an exchange regarding Buddhist beliefs. In truth, however, the Land of Fire is extending an olive branch to the Land of Soup."
The daimyo was slightly taken aback and asked doubtfully, "Why do you say that, Miyadera?"
Miyadera narrowed his eyes and stroked his beard. "To ordinary people, this is merely an interesting bit of news.
"But to Buddhists, it is a rare grand gathering of Buddhist teachings.
"Even if they had to crawl, they would crawl there.
"Grains of sand pile into a tower, drops of water gather into a river. There are countless Buddhists scattered throughout the Ninja World.
"When the time comes, these Buddhists will flock there. Once there are enough people, the economy will be stimulated.
"If this debate is exciting enough and its influence great enough,
"then for many years to come, the area around the Temple of Soup may become a place of pilgrimage.
"As long as the Land of Fire provides even a little assistance, the Land of Soup's national strength will rapidly grow.
"After tasting the benefits, it may truly turn completely toward the Land of Fire."
After hearing Miyadera's advice, the daimyo found it more reasonable the more he considered it. He let out a long sigh.
"At first, I thought it was just a trivial matter. I did not think so deeply about it.
"It seems the relationship between the Land of Soup and the Land of Fire is growing ever closer.
"To hear such bad news first thing in the morning...
"Does Miyadera have any good countermeasures?"
Miyadera secretly smiled, then lightly cleared his throat. "Your Highness, whose Buddhist teachings do you believe are superior: Master Digo of the Temple of Fire, or the monks of the Temple of Soup?"
"Master Digo, naturally."
"This subordinate has an immature idea."
Miyadera rose to his feet, clasped his hands behind his back, and spoke eloquently.
"The Temple of Soup loses the Buddhist debate and suffers a humiliating defeat.
"Then, it sends people to ruthlessly murder Master Digo. Do you all think that reason is plausible enough?"
"This..." The staffers wore strange expressions, unsure whether they should speak frankly.
Miyadera lowered his gaze and chuckled.
"It seems it is not plausible. But that is all right.
"Even the worst lie will have fools who believe it.
"Especially those ignorant Buddhist believers."
The daimyo humbly asked, "Miyadera, what do you mean...?"
Miyadera bowed toward the curtain and enunciated every word. "Let the highly respected Master Digo sleep forever in the Land of Soup."
As soon as he finished speaking, a young staffer stood up and immediately refuted him.
"I believe Miyadera's plan is inappropriate. Anyone with clear eyes can see through such a crude frame-up."
With someone taking the lead, the other staffers who found the plan unsuitable also began voicing their agreement.
Miyadera wore an expression of calm confidence as he said unhurriedly.
"Hehe, I naturally know this plan has flaws.
"But as long as Digo dies, Your Highness may simply have people spread rumors.
"The first rumor would be that the monks of the Temple of Soup felt inferior to Master Digo in Buddhist cultivation, became jealous, and sent people to assassinate him.
"As for the second rumor...
"The Land of Thunder does not wish to see the Land of Soup ally with the Land of Fire, so it sent people to assassinate Master Digo and damage relations between the two nations."
After Miyadera finished, the daimyo and the staffers all fell into deep thought.
Miyadera returned to his place and knelt again, speaking leisurely.
"If there were only the first rumor, I fear very few people would believe it.
"After all, when a person faces a single rumor, they will instinctively choose either to believe it or not.
"But when a person faces two rumors, they will choose the more plausible one and believe it without question."
Behind the curtain, the daimyo clapped his hands and laughed. "Hahaha... Excellent plan. This way, the Land of Fire and the Land of Thunder can fight like dogs over a bone.
"Jiafeng, send someone to Sunagakure at once and post an S-rank mission."
"Wait."
Miyadera immediately stopped him.
"This subordinate believes it is unsuitable to have Sunagakure handle this matter.
"It would be better to send someone to the Underground Bounty Office and post a bounty, letting those rogue ninja do it.
"That way, even if someone wants to investigate, they will not be able to trace it back to the Land of Wind."
After the meeting ended, the staffers left the Daimyo's Mansion.
One of the older staffers caught up with Miyadera.
"Lord Miyadera, does this move have some deeper meaning?"
Miyadera stopped walking, pretended to casually glance around, then whispered, "You mean I was exaggerating the danger just now."
"Whether it was exaggerated or not, you and I both know perfectly well."
Miyadera clasped his hands behind his back and narrowed his eyes.
"You know how things have been in recent years. His Highness has begun placing importance on newcomers, and only a few of us old staffers remain.
"If we do not stir up some trouble, give His Highness a sense of crisis, and demonstrate our value in the process,
"then the few of us will probably be going home to retire soon. Once we lose our power, whether we can even die peacefully will be uncertain.
"Look at today. Before I had even finished speaking, young people were already refuting me.
"They do not take old fellows like us seriously at all."
The other staffer nodded. "That is true. The younger generation is too idealistic, unable to see reality clearly.
"However, the situation among the nations has become tense again recently, and the Land of Wind's finances are growing tighter and tighter.
"Two days ago, Sunagakure even sent word that it wanted to increase this year's military budget."
Miyadera raised a brow. "Did His Highness agree?"
"No."
Miyadera nodded, leaned close to the other man's ear, and said quietly.
"Do something for me. That young man today—I find him very unpleasant.
"Tell Sunagakure that he has been embezzling and taking bribes. Have them send a few reliable ninja to investigate.
"As long as solid evidence is placed before me, I will personally donate five hundred million ryo to supplement the military funds."
After saying that, Miyadera lightly patted the man's shoulder, turned around, and leisurely departed.
After taking two steps, he seemed to remember something and turned back.
"Oh, right. It does not matter whether the evidence is genuine. As long as it can prove he is guilty, that is enough."
Two days later, Namikaze Minato and his group arrived at the Temple of Fire.
At the temple gate, a novice monk sweeping the ground saw the three of them and immediately pressed his palms together. "Are you the ninja sent by Konoha?"
Namikaze Minato nodded and took the Mission Scroll from his ninja tool pouch. "That is right. This is proof of the mission."
After looking it over, the novice monk returned the Mission Scroll to Namikaze Minato and nodded.
"Master Dilu is meditating in the Meditation Room. Please follow me."
The group followed the novice monk toward the Meditation Room in the rear courtyard of the Temple of Fire.
At that moment, Digo was meditating and chanting sutras in the Meditation Room.
Suddenly, Digo frowned, abruptly opened his eyes, and muttered to himself.
"What pure evil intent."
As soon as he spoke, a knock sounded at the door.
"Master Digo, the Konoha ninja have arrived."
"Bring them in."
Namikaze Minato and the other two entered the Meditation Room and bowed to Master Digo.
"Greetings, Master Digo."
Digo smiled and pressed his palms together. "No need for such courtesy. I will have to trouble you on this journey."
"This is our mission."
"You may rest at the Temple of Fire for the night. We will depart tomorrow morning."
"All right."
At that moment, Digo shifted his gaze to Uchiha Tunan. He took a Buddhist scripture from his robes and smiled faintly.
"Young one with glasses, I have a Buddhist scripture here for you. Read it if you are interested.
"It can cleanse the soul."
Uchiha Tunan hurriedly imitated him by pressing his palms together, then respectfully accepted the scripture.
"Thank you, Master Digo. I will read it properly when I return."
What is this old man up to? Giving me a Buddhist scripture out of nowhere... Could he be another Kushina?
Before you continue