Land of Fire's Reaction

Although such a blunt and crude approach might carry certain hidden risks for the future, it was the most suitable method for the present.

After all, Dongfang Mao could not remain stationed in Kasumi Town forever, slowly and methodically ironing out every issue within the city.

His target, after all, was Tsurumi Pass, some 200 miles away.

A day later, having arranged all matters, Dongfang Mao took a brief rest before listening to Yasuke's military report.

"Commander, the New Martial Army now stands at 7,964 men, with 81 new additions; the New Auxiliary Army stands at 36,741, with 1,863 new additions."

Dongfang Mao nodded slightly upon hearing this. During this period, although both the New Martial Army and the New Auxiliary Army had suffered losses, he had balanced them out.

By rewarding merit, he had promoted the high-performing soldiers of the New Auxiliary Army into the New Martial Army.

Simultaneously, he had incorporated surrendered troops and able-bodied men from the captured cities into the New Auxiliary Army to replenish their ranks.

This ensured that the total scale of the army had not only failed to shrink since their departure but had actually expanded.

"Tell the men to rest quickly; we prepare to move out immediately. Furthermore, detach 200 men from the New Martial Army to garrison Kasumi Town. Have them wait for the officials who will arrive later to take over the city. During this period, if anyone stirs up trouble, execute them without mercy!"

"Understood!"

Yasuke replied respectfully.

Meanwhile, the news that Dongfang Mao had routed the Land of Rice Fields' suppression army and was marching eastward hit like a boulder thrown into a pond, sending ripples through the outside world.

Those who had previously mocked the affair were now struck dumb.

They repeatedly confirmed the incoming intelligence, unable to believe it.

The regular army of the Land of Rice Fields had proven so fragile that they collapsed across the entire front the moment they clashed.

Even more shocking was that Dongfang Mao, who had already committed the ultimate taboo by forcibly seizing a city, had not stopped while ahead, but instead intensified his eastern campaign.

"Does he truly hold the Daimyo of the Land of Rice Fields in such contempt?"

This question surfaced simultaneously in the minds of the powerful across various nations.

In no time, intelligence on Dongfang Mao was placed upon the desks of dignitaries everywhere, and these rulers began, for the first time, to seriously scrutinize the origins of this audacious man.

However, when they discovered that Dongfang Mao was merely the leader of a band of mountain bandits driven out of the Land of Fire, and that his New Martial Army—which had sent the regular troops of the Land of Rice Fields fleeing in terror—was composed of starving refugees, the dignitaries were left stunned.

Following the shock came a sense of disdain and disgust; that a dignified nation could be humiliated by mere brigands was truly a loss of decorum.

Yet, beneath this contempt lay a hidden, unspeakable anxiety.

They began to worry that those under their own rule might imitate Dongfang Mao's actions.

This madman, who dared to challenge the inherent legitimacy of the Daimyo's rule, instantly became a thorn in the side of the powerful, a man they were desperate to eliminate.

Take the Land of Fire, for example.

Dongfang Mao's actions finally stirred the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, who had previously dismissed the matter with disdain.

The ruler of the Land of Fire was exceptionally furious.

Whether it was seizing territory, openly challenging the authority of a Daimyo, or encroaching upon the trade routes the Land of Fire had painstakingly cultivated in the Land of Rice Fields, every single act touched upon the Land of Fire's bottom line.

This rage traveled with astonishing speed, reaching the desk of the Hokage in Konoha in less than half a day.

"Puff... puff..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep drag from his pipe. Amidst the curling smoke, his brow furrowed deeper with every line of indignation in the document.

"Dongfang Mao... a mountain bandit by trade..."

He whispered the intelligence, unable to help but sigh.

To be honest, beyond being shocked by the man's recklessness, he felt little genuine resentment.

There was a time when ninjas were nothing more than tools in the eyes of the Daimyo and the nobility.

It was only after ninjas demonstrated power capable of destroying the world that those high-and-mighty dignitaries were forced to lower their status, gradually forming the current relationship of mutual interdependence.

From this perspective, Dongfang Mao's act of challenging the Daimyo's authority actually brought a hint of satisfaction to Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Perhaps it would force their own Daimyo, who fussed over budgets and made life difficult in every way possible, to show some restraint.

Moreover, Konoha had no time to spare for such matters right now.

The smoke of the Second Ninja World War had only just cleared; nearly every household in the village hung white funeral banners, and the sounds of weeping echoed from dawn until deep into the night.

To meddle in someone else's affairs at a time like this would truly be a waste of effort.

However, he could not simply refuse the Daimyo's orders.

Sarutobi Hiruzen took another deep drag from his pipe, his eyes flashing suddenly through the smoke as he nodded slightly to the Anbu at his side.

The Anbu vanished in a flicker, returning shortly with a young man with blonde hair.

The youth wore a dark green jonin vest, and beneath his brilliant blonde hair was a handsome, gentle face, with a smile that felt like a spring breeze playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Lord Hokage, did you summon me?"

His voice was as clear as a mountain spring.

The Third Hokage gazed at Namikaze Minato before him, a look of gratification surfacing in the depths of his eyes.

This was the prized pupil of his beloved student Jiraiya, and thus his own grand-disciple.

The young man possessed exceptional talent, and the unrest in the Land of Rice Fields served as an excellent opportunity for him to gain experience.

"Minato, there is an important mission I must entrust to you."

Sarutobi Hiruzen tapped his pipe against the edge of the desk, shaking off a few sparks of ash.

"Please, give your orders!"

Minato immediately straightened his back, his gentle smile shifting into a solemn, serious expression.

"A rebellion has broken out in the Land of Rice Fields, and the Daimyo is extremely furious."

Sarutobi Hiruzen pushed a document toward the edge of the desk.

"Therefore, I would like you to go and pacify the leader of the rebels."

"Understood!"

Minato accepted the order without a second thought, only reaching out to take the document and review the information afterward.

Upon seeing the details regarding Dongfang Mao's strength, Minato could not help but raise an eyebrow.

"Knows ninjutsu, but never displayed it while in the Land of Fire; has trained for less than half a year; estimated strength is between that of a genin and a chunin."

He recited the information silently in his mind, pondered for a moment, then looked up and scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"Lord Hokage, may I bring my students along to execute this mission? Those children have been pestering me every day, wanting to go out and see the world..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was taken aback, then deliberated for a moment, thinking that although the Daimyo attached great importance to this matter, the target of the mission was, after all, merely a genin or chunin.

Given Minato's strength, an assassination would not be overly difficult, and there was no harm in letting him take a few children along for a stroll.

He nodded and said, "You may, but those children are the new sprouts of Konoha and the hope for carrying on the Will of Fire, so you must ensure their safety."

Hearing this, Minato nodded solemnly.

"Please rest assured, Lord Hokage!"

Minato immediately knelt on one knee.

"I will certainly take good care of them."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded with satisfaction.

"Good, go!"

After Minato bowed respectfully and departed, the Third Hokage gazed at his retreating back, the glow in his pipe flickering in the dim light.

He had long since taken note of this young man's character and talent.

Perhaps... after he returned from this mission, he could let him try to master the Flying Thunder God, a technique that no one had successfully cultivated since its creator, the Second Hokage?