They gradually began meddling in the village's development and major affairs. Though it was not exactly overstepping their authority, strictly speaking, it was still like extending their claws—like Konoha asking the Daimyo how much money he had.
Such things could not be done casually, yet it happened to be during the tenure of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Thus, the relationship between Konoha and the Daimyo began to change. Little by little, the Daimyo gained considerable say in some of the village's important decisions.
"Everyone can look at the Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth. Their Daimyo can already sit in the village conference rooms, make decisions alongside the Kage as equals, and participate in village affairs. The Land of Wind is even worse—the Daimyo can point fingers at the Kazekage, hurl insults at him, and I believe everyone has heard at least a little about it. Konoha even benefited from it."
"If this continues for a long time, will Konoha become like that as well?"
"Just imagine it: the Daimyo sitting above all of you, knowing nothing, constantly pointing fingers and giving orders, blindly directing Konoha and the entire Land of Fire. What would that become?"
Ronglin spoke calmly, but no one in the conference room was calm. Stormy waves rose in everyone's hearts. Even Tsunade, who knew what Ronglin was planning, and Nara Shikaku, hailed as the smartest among them, were no exceptions.
That was right. Without anyone noticing, the Daimyo's influence had grown greater and greater. At first, he had merely inquired about certain village matters. Later, even the election of a Hokage required his approval. That was not a good sign. Ronglin had also cited the Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth; in those two nations, the Daimyo truly sat in the