Qinglian Valley reported the situation in the capital to Shin. General Oda Isamu held military power and had deployed troops to surround the Daimyo's Palace under the pretext of protecting everyone.
Not only that, Oda Isamu had privately contacted the Guardian Ninja, promising to retain them as Guardian Ninja under the new ruler and offering all sorts of benefits to win them over.
Whenever a nation's ruler changed, the emergence of a powerful minister was perfectly normal. Oda Isamu clearly intended to turn the young daimyo about to ascend the throne into a puppet.
And the Hokage generally would not interfere in such matters—at least, an ordinary Hokage would not.
While everyone was keeping vigil for the daimyo, a guard suddenly hurried in from outside and whispered a few words into Oda Isamu's ear. Oda Isamu's expression instantly turned ugly.
After pondering for a long while, he approached Shin. "Hokage, could we speak somewhere privately?"
Shin followed him to a quiet area outside the courtyard.
Oda Isamu said, "Hokage, the country is currently in the midst of a critical internal crisis. I humbly ask that you help suppress the rebellion."
Shin merely sighed. "General Oda, those so-called rebels are only ordinary people who took up arms because they could not fill their stomachs. I truly cannot bear to strike at them."
Oda Isamu understood perfectly well. It would have been one thing if Konoha merely refused to act, but it had also ordered every notable mercenary organization within the country not to get involved. Worse still, when he sent people abroad to hire mercenary shinobi, they were blocked at the border and unable to enter the Land of Fire.
What sort of behavior was that?
Oda Isamu cursed inwardly, though his face still wore an earnest expression.
"Hokage, the rebel