A Dark and Windy Night, Before the Daimyo
The Land of Fire, its capital city, midnight.
The Daimyo of the Land of Fire sat upright on a wide, upholstered bench, hunched over his desk reviewing the documents submitted by various regions.
After a long while, he rubbed his lower back and sighed.
Frustration, irritability, and helplessness...
As Daimyo, he should have had immense power, but in reality, he could do very little.
The current territory of the Land of Fire was rapidly expanded after the Warring States and Village Era.
After the ninjas who were originally scattered throughout the Land of Fire joined Konohagakure.
After losing their original ninja allies, most of the local lords joined the Land of Fire in search of stronger military protection.
However, the relationship between the Land of Fire and Konohagakure is quite delicate...
Logically, the Daimyo is a ruler, but it's unrealistic to expect Konoha to obey his orders.
Senju Hashirama, the same applies to Senju Tobirama...
Even by the time of Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō among the Nobles.
This has led to the current situation in the Land of Fire where people obey orders but not proclamations.
Everyone knows that Daimyo cannot order Konoha to do personal favors.
This led to poor tax performance.
The various lords would symbolically pay a small amount of money to the Daimyo each year to demonstrate their vassalage, and that was it...
What can I do?
"I'm just a title, nothing more." The Land of Fire Daimyo casually tossed his calligraphy brush aside, ink staining the table, his eyes glazed over.
He can't do anything...
For a monarch who was somewhat educated and had some ambitions, the inability to change the status quo was clearly the greatest source of his mental anguish.
I want to give up, but I can't seem to completely let things fall apart...
"In Konoha, they say they've developed health-enhancing Healthcare Pill that can improve physical health, and they even come from the Holy Land?"
"This might be an opportunity."
"But I've called the Hokage so many times, and he still hasn't come... Heh heh..." The Daimyo of the Land of Fire took a deep breath and muttered to himself with self-deprecation.
"Fine, at least they'll give me a little face and spare me a few, right?"
"In that case, I'll just focus on getting better, do nothing, and leisurely drift through each day..."
This mental pressure is already taking its toll on his health.
He is still young and strong, but looks like a middle-aged or elderly person who has aged prematurely.
The Daimyo of the Land of Fire looked up, his heart suddenly trembled, and he almost cried out in surprise.
In the center of his bedchamber, two figures stood on either side.
I don't know when it arrived...
The guards didn't make a sound.
Shimura Danzō icy.
The night lights flickered, casting shadows on his slightly withered face. A strange bandage was wrapped around his forehead, and his gaze was cautious yet malicious.
The Daimyo wanted to speak, but when he met his gaze, it felt as if someone was grabbing his throat...
"Shimura Danzō? It's him!"
"What does he want? Why would he suddenly appear here in the middle of the night? Could it be..." The Daimyo of the Land of Fire trembled inwardly.
In today's Shinobi World, a delicate balance exists between the Nobles and ninjas of various countries.
The Nobles provided the ninjas with money and resources, and the ninjas were responsible for fighting.
Despite the ingrained mindset of ninjas Tool Theory, the development of Ninjutsu and Chakra technology...
Many Nobles vaguely sensed that the ninjas would ultimately rule this land.
The reason is simple: ninjas were the group that wielded the greatest violence, and that alone is enough.
However, the existing adversarial relationship among the Five Great Hidden Villages has delayed this process.
Therefore, even though the Nobles knew what the future held, they tried their best to keep the battlefield within the ninjas' hands, hoping to delay the inevitable for as long as possible.
Even though conflicts between countries objectively exist.
However, if any force attacks the Nobles first, it will trigger a siege by the entire Shinobi World.
Although the Nobles lacked military power, they possessed legitimacy and resources, enabling them to hire other Hidden Village to attack any rebels who dared to emerge.
The other Hidden Village were also happy to see this scene; who wouldn't want to see multiple opponents fighting against one?
Even someone as mad as the Third Mizukage wouldn't dare to bear such pressure.
Moreover, a country needs a large number of grassroots bureaucrats for governance, and the huge turmoil caused by internal strife can also invite external attacks.
Therefore, logically speaking, Konoha shouldn't have attacked a Daimyo like him...
The problem is that theory is always just theory, and reality sometimes doesn't require logic.
Just as the Daimyo was gripped by fear and trying to say something...
A hearty laugh suddenly rang out, dispelling the tense atmosphere. "Daimyo, it's been a long time! I've missed you dearly!"
The Daimyo then came to his senses and noticed that standing beside Shimura Danzō was a gentle-looking but robust middle-aged man...
He strained to recognize it for a moment before realizing with a start—wasn't this the Third Hokage of Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi?
Why do you seem so much younger and more energetic?
"Hokage, why didn't you tell me you were coming!" The Daimyo breathed a sigh of relief. Compared to Shimura Danzō's infamy, Hiruzen Sarutobi was known for his kindness.
"I'll send someone to welcome His Hokage..."
If he comes, nothing serious should happen...
Upon hearing the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes flashed.
The use of honorifics like "Your Excellency" and "Your Honor" indicates that the Administrative Department's analysis of the Daimyo is correct.
He is a normal person capable of thinking.
If you yell and shout, questioning him about why he came without reporting it to you, you idiot...
Then I'll have to change my Daimyo. It'll be a bit of a hassle, but it's not too bad.
"This matter is of great importance and cannot be discussed with outsiders..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said casually, "Besides, you've invited me to visit many times. You're probably aware of the increasingly dire situation in the Shinobi World."
"Although there were reasons for this, I truly felt ashamed, so I came here as soon as I had a spare moment."
The Daimyo forced a smile and nodded in agreement, "I know, I know! Those barbarians from Kumogakure are really going too far!"
"Fortunately, our Hokage is strong enough and has a prestigious reputation; a single resignation silenced them..."
The diplomatic turmoil between Konoha and Kumogakure was naturally of great concern to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.
In fact, this is also part of the source of his stress.
After the Second Shinobi World War, Konoha's performance was far from outstanding, so the Daimyo began to harbor some ulterior motives...
For example, recruiting some ninjas from Konoha and the Land of Fire, making them directly obey his orders...
He had already thought of a name: the Twelve Guardian Ninja, named in the name of protection.
However, Hiruzen Sarutobi's use of the Senju Brotherhood card caused his prestige to soar in the Land of Fire, and the attempts by envoys sent by the Daimyo to test him were like stones sinking into the sea...
Not to mention Konoha now.
The Administrative Department, which dealt with relations with the Land of Fire and was controlled by Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, was like an iron gate.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi had already reached a distance not far from the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.
She wore a gentle and cheerful smile, but looked at him with a half-smile.
Or rather, it was the bench beneath his butt...
The Daimyo of the Land of Fire felt a tremor in his heart.
Normally, when important military and political affairs are held in the Land of Fire, he should sit at the head of the long table, with the Hokage sitting next to him at the lower end.
If the Hokage were to visit, one would naturally be offered a seat.
But now...
There's only this one chair!
If we call for help, let's not even talk about what the guards outside are doing...
What's the point of just muddling through like this?
"Hokage..."
"You've come all night and must be exhausted. Why don't you rest here for a while?"
The Land of Fire Daimyo laughed and patted the bench, "It's big, enough for two people to sit!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled silently.
Just as the Daimyo's heart was growing colder and colder...
"Then thank you for your understanding, Your Daimyo." Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly said.
He sat relaxed in the center of the bench, while Daimyo unconsciously shifted to the side.