Assassinate the Daimyo

The Daimyo waved his hand, his tone tinged with emotion.

"No need to be modest. You did a great service by escorting my daughter home. Your ability to keep her safe even when enemies attacked is especially commendable."

He paused and turned his gaze to Princess Tachibana, his voice warm with affection.

"Tachibana, you've had a hard time too."

Princess Tachibana lowered her head slightly and said softly,

"Father, it was my duty."

The Daimyo nodded, then turned to Amada and the others, his tone growing serious.

"Everyone, I'm sure you already know that Tachibana is my daughter and the princess of Rice Field Country. She had no choice but to conceal her identity on her way home this time."

He sighed and began to explain how it had all come about.

"I have no sons, which has created a problem with the succession. Then I suddenly remembered that I had a daughter studying in the Land of Fire, so I decided to bring her here and groom her as my heir. But many ministers at court opposed a woman inheriting the throne. Although I overruled them, I was afraid they might resort to extreme measures to stop Tachibana from returning home."

The Daimyo's voice grew tinged with helplessness.

"To protect Tachibana, I had no choice but to conceal her identity and have her return as a merchant's daughter. I also hired Konoha Ninja to escort her and ensure she arrived safely."

Hearing this, Amada immediately understood what had happened.

He thought to himself,

No wonder someone tried to assassinate Princess Tachibana. So this is all tied to the succession.

After the reception, Amada and the others were shown to guest rooms in the palace.

Amada looked both ways from his doorway, and after making sure no one was nearby, quietly closed the door.

"Now, let's see what Danzo wants me to do."

Amada murmured under his breath and took the mission scroll Danzo had given him from his ninja tool pouch.

He slowly unrolled it.

Amada froze.

"Assassinate the Daimyo of Rice Field Country."

A storm of disbelief rose in Amada's heart.

He stared at the scroll, unable to believe it.

"Danzo wants me to assassinate the Daimyo of Rice Field Country? Why? Isn't Rice Field Country a vassal state of the Land of Fire? The Daimyo seems to be on good terms with the Land of Fire. Why kill him? Could there be something going on that I don't know about?"

Danzo clearly had reasons for the mission that Amada didn't know.

But Amada couldn't understand how assassinating the Daimyo would benefit Danzo—or Konoha.

"Did the Daimyo of Rice Field Country secretly do something against the Land of Fire? Or does Danzo have his own personal motives?"

Amada thought it over. He was worried he'd be made a scapegoat once the mission was done.

"No. I can't act rashly."

Amada murmured under his breath.

Night fell, and the palace grew quiet.

Amada changed into a black outfit, covered his face with a mask, and left only his eyes exposed.

He gently pushed open the window and slipped silently into the night.

He moved swiftly between the rooftops and walls.

Soon, he reached the rooftops near the Daimyo's bedchambers.

He crouched down and carefully lifted a roof tile, peering through the gap to watch what was happening inside.

The Daimyo sat at his desk, holding a document, his brow furrowed as if deep in thought.

Just then, the door to the room was gently pushed open.

Inada Kai, the middle-aged man who had looked somewhat like the Daimyo earlier that day, walked in.

He looked impatient, and his tone was pressing.

"Have you made up your mind yet, Brother?"

Inada Kai stepped beside the Daimyo and spoke in a low voice.

"You should know that the terms offered by the Land of Wind are much better than those offered by the Land of Fire. If we accept, we won't have to suffer the Land of Fire's exploitation anymore."

The Daimyo sat at his desk, his brow furrowed, his expression full of hesitation.

He raised his head, worry in his eyes.

"But that would make an enemy of the Land of Fire. Can the Land of Wind and Sunagakure really protect us? What if the Land of Fire retaliates? What would we do then?"

Inada Kai sneered, his tone confident.

"Brother, you're being too cautious. The Land of Wind is no weaker than the Land of Fire, and quite a few Sunagakure Ninja have already infiltrated our capital. If we accept their terms, they'll support us with all their strength. Then the Land of Fire won't dare act rashly."

The Daimyo fell silent for a moment, tapping his fingers lightly on the desk as he struggled with the decision.

He murmured under his breath,

"But... wouldn't that be too risky? Tachibana has only just returned. I don't want her to face a situation like this as soon as she takes the throne."

Inada Kai shook his head, his tone impatient.

"Brother, you can't keep hesitating! We have no way back. The people from Sunagakure are losing patience. If we don't make a decision soon, they might abandon us. Do you think Konoha will let us off then?"

The Daimyo's expression grew solemn.

He took a deep breath, determination flashing in his eyes.

"All right. Once those Konoha Ninja leave, we'll make our move."

A satisfied smile appeared on Inada Kai's face.

"Wise as ever, Brother! This gives Rice Field Country a future."

With that, he turned and left the room, his footsteps gradually fading away.

Amada lay on the roof, having heard every word.

A storm of disbelief surged through him. At last, he understood why Danzo wanted the Daimyo dead.

Amada furrowed his brow, his mind racing.

He recalled the conversation he'd heard on the roof and thought,

Is this Daimyo insane? You can't just switch sides whenever you feel like it! Does he really think the Land of Fire and Konoha are fools?

Rice Field Country was far too important strategically.

It bordered the Land of Fire and lay close to the Land of Wind, making its location extremely important.

More importantly, Rice Field Country was a major grain producer, and grain was the lifeblood of any nation.

The Land of Fire would never willingly give up such an important vassal state.

If the Daimyo of Rice Field Country harbored treasonous intentions, Konoha had to take action.

Amada suddenly realized that Danzo's assassination mission was probably not just Danzo's idea.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, as Hokage, likely knew about the mission and may even have tacitly approved it.

"What a clever move..."

Amada thought to himself.

"Once the Daimyo is dead, Konoha can openly support Princess Tachibana, who favors the Land of Fire, as the new ruler. That way, Rice Field Country will remain firmly in the Land of Fire's hands."

With that thought, Amada no longer hesitated.

He knew that the Daimyo's collusion with the Land of Wind had crossed the Land of Fire's bottom line.

Whether for the Land of Fire's interests or to fulfill Danzo's mission, the Daimyo had to be eliminated.

"The Daimyo brought this on himself. He has no one to blame but himself."

Amada murmured under his breath, determination flashing in his eyes.