This made him realize the danger, and he came in person.
Just now, every word Sarutobi Hiruzen had said had reached his ears. Konoha was as unruly as ever.
Though it should have been under the Daimyo's jurisdiction, it had always retained a considerable degree of autonomy.
By the time of the Third, Konoha had even begun interfering in the selection of the Daimyo's successor.
Earlier, they had chosen Minato Namikaze, a Fourth Hokage with no real power base, in an attempt to weaken the Hokage's influence over Konoha.
But the result had been that the Third, who had resigned in disgrace, became even less subtle and quickly consolidated his power.
Fortunately, Konoha's corruption could no longer be concealed.
When their dirty dealings threatened the interests of the Hyuga Clan, Sarutobi Hiruzen had revealed his true colors.
The village's ninja clans had recognized the Sarutobi Clan's ambitions and were already on their guard.
This forced Kazuma to revise his original plan.
At first, he had intended to destroy Konoha and weaken the Sarutobi Clan, supporters of the Second Young Master of the Genji Clan.
Now he saw that he could look for an opening from within.
The Third was far less beloved by Konoha's ninja than before.
The Daimyo's position remained undecided.
He no longer had to carry out his all-or-nothing plan to assassinate the new Daimyo.
He would never allow the Second Young Master of the Genji Clan, brainwashed by the Third, to take the Daimyo's seat.
"Kazuma, you're still the same as ever, hostile toward us. Konoha and the Land of Fire are one family, aren't they?"
The Third smiled. Though he seemed to be joking, his words put Kazuma at odds with everyone present.
He made it clear that Kazuma had come to cause trouble.
And he united the jōnin present behind a common stance.
The Third's words had their intended effect.
Everyone regarded Kazuma with suspicion.
If what the Third said was true, was the Daimyo trying to seize power?
That would mean taking power away from the ninja clans.
Compared to the high-handed nobles of the Land of Fire, they trusted the Sarutobi Clan, which had been there since the village was founded.
But the Sarutobi Clan was too dangerous. They could choose a new candidate from among themselves and keep the Daimyo's people from exploiting the situation.
In an instant, a fragile alliance had formed.
It was the unspoken understanding among the ninja clans ever since the village was founded.
They had first banded together to protect their own interests.
Kazuma silently considered the situation, searching for allies with his eyes, but he couldn't find Shinichi Hyuga. At last, he sighed.
These ninja really couldn't be relied on.
"Since you've finished your investigation, I won't interfere. Just submit the results. As long as you're satisfied—and the Daimyo is satisfied—that's all that matters."
Kazuma spun the staff in his hand once against the ground. The rings on it clinked together with a crisp chime, drawing everyone's attention.
Hearing Kazuma's concession, the ninja present breathed a sigh of relief.
The ninja village was theirs.
They had secured the interests they needed to protect. This was practically the best outcome they could hope for.
Only the Third had a bad feeling.
As someone who had known Kazuma for years, he didn't believe Kazuma had come all this way just to conduct a harmless inspection.
Kazuma was known as a hardliner.
Sure enough, Kazuma's next words sent the Third plummeting into despair.
"But I came here primarily to warn the Sarutobi Clan. You joined forces with the Fire Temple and interfered in the struggle between the Daimyo's heirs. Don't let it happen again.
"The contract signed by the First states that the Daimyo is the highest leader of the country, while the Hokage is its military leader, subordinate to the Daimyo.
"The Hokage must not interfere in the succession of the Daimyo, and candidates for Hokage must be reported to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.
"The Fujiwara Family carries the blood of the Senju Clan!"
Kazuma narrowed his eyes and tore away the Third's last shred of cover.
Were they even going to wipe out the last of the Senju Lineage?
Kazuma's true identity was that of a ninja with Senju blood. He supported the Fujiwara Lineage, which carried both Senju and Genji blood.
The Third supported the pure Genji Lineage, represented by the eventual victor, Genji Shu.
That was also why Kazuma, despite being a staunch supporter of the Daimyo, would later assassinate him.
A Daimyo from the Genji Lineage had no Senju blood. Kazuma would never accept him.
In a sense, the Third's original plan to seize control of the country had succeeded. It was what had allowed the Sarutobi Clan to flourish afterward.
Now, the outcome was still unknown, and the Daimyo's position remained undecided.
From here on, everything would depend on the struggle between the various factions.
Kazuma laid all the blame for his visit at the Third's feet.
The Third's gaze wavered. His actions had crossed a line.
Now that his behavior had been exposed, the Sarutobi Clan had become a target for everyone.
The most stable arrangement had always been a balance of power between the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and the Hokage.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen now wanted to control the selection of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, breaking the rules laid down by the First once again.
It also changed how all the ninja clans saw him, because the Eldest Young Master of the Fujiwara Family carried the blood of the Senju Clan.
By rights, Konoha's ninja clans should now support the Fujiwara Family.
Instead, the Third was using his influence to undermine the Senju Clan.
Disappointment showed in Minato Namikaze's eyes. He had tried many times to convince himself that the Third was a selfless man who sacrificed everything for the village.
That he deserved to retire with dignity.
That was why Minato had continued to defend the Third, even when he saw many things that reflected badly on him.
He suddenly remembered what the Daimyo had asked him when he took office.
"Can you guarantee that you'll be impartial?"
Looking back now, he realized he had lost sight of his original convictions.
The Third had influenced the way he handled many matters, including his bias against Shinichi Hyuga.
The other clans' ninja stared in shock and disbelief.
He had interfered in the struggle between the Daimyo's heirs? And supported the Genji Clan? Was he trying to wipe out the Senju Clan of the Land of Fire and Konoha?
That would shake Konoha to its very foundations.
The Senju Clan and the Genji Clan had once united, giving rise to the Fujiwara Family—a lineage eligible to hold the position of Daimyo of the Land of Fire.
So how had Sarutobi Hiruzen interfered?
By eliminating the Fujiwara Family and throwing his support behind the Genji Lineage instead.
If that was true, the Sarutobi Clan's ambitions were greater than anyone had imagined.
The last shred of respect these ninja clans had felt for the Third vanished.
"The Sarutobi Clan has absolutely no intention of taking part in the struggle over the Daimyo's successor. This is all slander!"
The Third suddenly leaped to his feet and shouted furiously. He looked nothing like an old, frail man.
He couldn't admit it. More than that, he couldn't let the accusation stick to the Sarutobi Clan. There was still room to turn things around.
"Then which one do the ninja clans here support: the Eldest Young Master of the Fujiwara Family or the Second Young Master of the Genji Clan? And who did the former Third support?"
Kazuma raised his voice and asked directly, speaking in a meeting room where jōnin bore witness.
He drove a wedge between the ninja clans and Sarutobi Hiruzen, forcing them to declare their positions in public.
The Second Young Master of the Genji Clan was now using the Third's name to influence certain ministers of the Land of Fire.
The Third had held the office for far too long, and his influence was immense.
That influence had to be diminished, and the Eldest Young Master of the Fujiwara Family needed enough support to take the Daimyo's seat without trouble.
That was the main purpose of Kazuma's visit.
It was also part of Shinichi Hyuga's plan: to undermine the Sarutobi Clan's influence in the Land of Fire.
And to change the identity of the Daimyo who would otherwise emerge from this course of history.
Before you continue