The Drunken Man's Intent Is Not Wine

Another year passed.

The Land of Fire emerged from its growing pains and returned to its former peace and tranquility.

Yet over that same year, the world descended into unprecedented chaos.

The Land of Water, the Land of Bears, Rōran, the Land of Earth, the Land of Lightning, and countless smaller nations—even Peach Country—were not spared, with troubles erupting everywhere.

The root cause was Peach Country's annexation of the Land of Fire, which had thrown the world's political balance of power out of alignment.

The political blocs led by the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning used every possible means to create trouble for Peach Country, hoping to curb its expansionist ambitions and excessively rapid development.

They assassinated political figures from various nations, sabotaged alliances, posed as bandits to loot resources, conducted espionage, and even carried out terrorist attacks. They caused Peach Country endless trouble and left Shiraishi Yoshijo utterly overwhelmed.

Consumed by rage, he even proposed bombing the capitals of both countries during a routine parliamentary meeting.

Fortunately, Peach Country's legislators were all intelligent people. They strongly urged His Majesty the Emperor to be patient. Once the Land of Fire had been fully converted into their own fighting force, every scheme and conspiracy would crumble before absolute military superiority.

Under those circumstances, Shiraishi Yoshijo had no way to act entirely on his own. Yet he could not swallow this indignity either. In a fit of furious humiliation, he directly dispatched the Anbu.

The Daimyo of three small nations were assassinated. The Daimyo of the Land of Earth died after succumbing to severe injuries. Although the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning survived, he would be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. The Fourth Raikage, A, was surrounded and attacked while protecting him, and