Seeing this, the Daimyo instinctively assumed it was another message about the Fifth Hokage refusing to meet him. Anger rose in his chest as he asked displeasedly, "What? Rejected again? Is the Fifth Hokage still busy these days?"
After catching his breath, the Foreign Minister hurriedly shook his head. "No, Lord Daimyo, it's not from Konoha. It's the envoys from the Land of Waves and the Land of Sea. They're waiting outside the manor, saying they have an extremely important matter that must be reported to you in person."
"The Land of Waves? The Land of Sea?" The Daimyo raised a brow, and the fan in his hand paused.
Both were impoverished minor countries without ninja villages of their own. The Land of Fire's Daimyo looked down on such poor nations, so there was rarely any communication between them.
The two countries knew that avoiding annexation was already a blessing. Aside from occasionally offering small sums of money each year as tribute, they rarely took the initiative to send envoys, much less over urgent matters.
The Land of Fire's Daimyo pondered briefly. Though he had no desire to see them, matters of image and other important considerations meant he should meet them after all.
With that thought, he picked up his fan again, trying to regain some of his usual composure and poise. "Let the envoys from both countries enter."
Only after receiving permission did the Foreign Minister raise his voice slightly and instruct the attendants outside to bring in the two countries' envoys.
Before long, the two envoys were led inside.
They were dressed quite plainly—one might even call them shabby—completely out of place amid the luxury and splendor of the Daimyo's residence.
Yet both wore unmistakable exhaustion and anxiety on their faces.
The moment they entered, they respectfully