The Daimyo's Residence in the Land of Fire
The Daimyo of the Land of Fire listened to his subordinates' reports. Today was a good day: crops across the Land of Fire had yielded twice as much as usual.
That meant their tax revenue would double this year, too. He was just planning to host a banquet for his ministers when a message from Konoha's Anbu made his face darken. He cursed, "Is Konoha out of people? How could they let this treasonous scoundrel inherit the Hokage Position!"
His chief civil official turned ashen as he read the letter. Sarutobi Hiruzen had stepped down. That alone would have been bad enough, but he had actually chosen Shimura Danzō—the man who had threatened the Daimyo with a kunai a few years ago.
What was Sarutobi Hiruzen thinking? Did he want to start a war? Had he forgotten that the Daimyo had once been humiliated by Danzō?
The chief civil official didn't think Sarutobi Hiruzen was that foolish. There had to be more to this than met the eye.
"Daimyo, I believe a struggle for power—or perhaps a coup d'état—may have erupted in Konoha. It hasn't broken out yet, but the aging Sarutobi Hiruzen wants to retire, so he's tossed this hot potato to Shimura Danzō."
"In my view, Sarutobi Hiruzen can't withstand this coup, which is why he's trying to pass the buck and flee as quickly as possible. If even Sarutobi Hiruzen can't handle it, do you think Shimura Danzō can?"
"Why not agree to the appointment, then investigate the situation in Konoha and contact the clan preparing the coup? We can provide them with armor, ninja tools, money, and food, and demand that they kill Shimura Danzō."
"That way, we can build ties with the clan behind the coup in