The Capital City Trip

Spring of Konoha 56

Land of Fire

Capital City

At the Daimyo's mausoleum, monks and priests struck wooden fish drums, while court musicians played mournful tunes. Nearly a thousand officials from the Land of Fire, dressed in black formal attire, led by the new Daimyo, paid their respects to their deceased Daimyo.

The mausoleum of the Daimyo stretched for hundreds of meters. Hokage Uchiha Nara Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura stood behind the new Daimyo, bowing slightly in mourning.

After the three minutes of mourning, the monk from the Fire Temple, standing before the mausoleum with his hands clasped together, rose and solemnly addressed the new Daimyo:

"My late father has already entered the cycle of reincarnation."

After the monk finished speaking, more than ten attendants dressed in black formal attire approached the new Daimyo, carrying trays with fresh spider lilies on them.

The newly Daimyo picked up a spider lily, walked to the tombstone, and offered the flowers.

Naraku, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu Mitokado also took the spider lilies, a symbol of mourning, from the servant's tray and offered them to their late lord, Daimyo.

"Lord Hokage, Homura -Daimon, Koharu -sama, this way please."

After Naraku presented the flowers, a middle-aged man next to the new Daimyo gestured to Naraku and his companions for directions.

The three from Konoha were guided and followed the middle-aged man and the new Daimyo out of the cemetery.

"Lord Lie, our late father passed away just the night before last; isn't it too hasty to bury him today...?"

Mitokado Homura Naraku, and quietly asked the man named Retsu a question.

Retsu, the Daimyo, is a member of the royal family of the Land of Fire and holds a noble status.

Naraku remained silent upon hearing this; Naraku could sense that this ritual was anything but ordinary.

The successor to the Daimyo was the former Daimyo's youngest son, who was only fifteen years old. The former daimyo's Daimyo son, who was already mature and steady, was only given some wealth and was sent to serve as an official in a border town of the Land of Fire. He received nothing else.

"Lord Hokage, Lord En, let's talk about this after we return to the palace."

Retsu answered Mitokado Homura's words in a soft voice, and followed the Daimyo back to the Daimyo Palace.

In front of the Daimyo's mausoleum, the former Daimyo son and Kazuma, standing beside him, watched the departing new Daimyo and Hokage.

"Chusheng, the traitors Xia Chang and Lie seem to want Konoha to help them consolidate their power. They have assassinated Daimyo and seized the throne by forging an imperial edict! We can't delay any longer!"

Kazuma's eyes widened as he stared at the departing new Daimyo, Kazuya, his gaze filled with murderous intent.

"The Kazuma, and they have Asuma Sarutobi Chiriku, the Guardian Shinobi Twelve, to protect them."

Even though they killed five other Guardian Shinobi Twelve the day before yesterday, they still couldn't eliminate those two...

Moreover, the Hokage of Konoha has arrived, and his four bodyguards must be quite powerful...

The Daimyo son of the former Chusheng, had a conflicted and helpless expression on his face.

"Lord Chusheng, the late emperor always maintained a balance between the court and Konoha. As the successor, you are well aware of this."

Retsu and Xia Chang plotted to harm the Daimyo and colluded with Konoha.

In this Land of Fire, Daimyo and the Hokage, who truly holds the title? Are you really willing to hand over the Land of Fire's foundation to Konoha?"

Kazuma looked indignant and tried his best to encourage the former daimyo 'Daimyo son, Chusheng.

"I understand. I think I should also utilize the power of Konoha."

Chusheng looked bitter. He was on good terms Kazuma Chusheng and other radical members of the Guardian Ninja. Regarding the Jade Contest in the Land of Fire, Chusheng had always sided with the Imperial Court and wanted to weaken Konoha.

His past actions, at this moment, became shackles that prevented him from losing face. How could Konoha possibly support someone like him?

"Chusheng, we don't necessarily have to rely on Konoha. Of the five hundred Guardian Ninja in the Capital City, more than a hundred died in the turmoil, but most of the survivors obey my orders."

Why not follow Xia Chang and Lie's example and launch a coup to seize back the position that rightfully belongs to you!

Even former comrades-in-arms, if they stand on Xia Chang's side, I will not hesitate to take them down.

Furthermore, the Hokage can be eliminated as well...

As he finished speaking with Kazuma, Chao Chusheng made a gesture of slitting his throat with his hand.

Seeing this, Chusheng hesitated for a moment, then nodded heavily.

In the palace

The young Daimyo sat high on the steps, below him Uchiha Nara, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, as well as members of the royal family, Retsu, and Retsu's cronies, officials, and ministers.

Seated at the head of the courtiers, Naraku respectfully said:

"Lord Hokage, there was a palace incident the day before yesterday. Some wandering ninja, whose origins are unknown, attacked and killed the late emperor."

We did everything in our power to protect His Highness, but in the end, he was unable to escape.

His late father was mortally wounded and, on his deathbed, issued a will appointing Xia Chang as his successor, with me serving as prime minister and regent. After giving these instructions, His late father passed away in the palace. Alas."

After Lie finished speaking, he sighed heavily and recounted the truth behind the late emperor's death.

"A wandering ninja assassinated the late emperor? With so many ninjas Guardian Ninja him, how could such a daring assassin have succeeded?"

Before Naraku could even ask a question, Utatane Koharu nearby, raised her own.

The late emperor's death was extremely mysterious, and the behavior of this Mr. Lie and the Daimyo who was clearly a puppet was even more bizarre. Even the late emperor's burial was very hasty.

"It's highly likely an internal traitor causing trouble. I suspect it's someone from the Guardian Ninja, most likely the Guardian Ninja leader Kazuma..."

With a serious expression, Lie voiced his guess.

Naraku carefully examined his late brother, Retsu, and saw that his face showed genuine grief, which did not seem feigned. He couldn't help but think:

"If I remember correctly, the former Daimyo seemed to have an extremely good relationship with Kazuma and subject. How could it be Kazuma who assassinated the Kazuma? This is just too strange..."

Naraku recalled the scene of the previous Daimyo and the leader of the Guardian Ninja getting along well with Kazuma, and he didn't quite believe what Retsu said.

"Alas, please accept our condolences. As ministers of Daimyo lord, we should observe seven days of mourning and assist the new ruler."

Naraku sighed and quietly stated his position, omitting the matters of the imperial court and the Daimyo assassination attempt by the Naraku.

This matter had nothing to do with Konoha, Naraku simply ignored it. Just like he had served the previous Daimyo, he continued to serve the new lord and cooperate with him.

"Lord Hokage, please stay in the palace during your mourning period! We are worried that those with ill intentions will continue to plot assassinations. The Daimyo has just been established; the court cannot afford any more chaos!"

Lie stroked his beard and softly pleaded with Naraku.

"Lord Lie, it's probably against the rules for us to stay in the palace..."

Before Naraku reply, Mitokado Homura spoke Naraku, shaking his head in refusal.

The Daimyo Palace were generally reserved for the Daimyo's concubines and offspring; it was unheard of for a courtier to reside Daimyo Palace.

As Mitokado Homura finished speaking, both the young Daimyo and the prime minister, Retsu, on the steps showed a hint of tension.

Prime Minister Lie straightened his expression, his face serious, and said with a hint of pleading:

"Assassins are rampant! Lord Hokage, Koharu, Lord En! Konoha is supported by the Imperial Court. At this critical moment, when Konoha needs to protect the Daimyo's safety, will Konoha disobey the Daimyo's orders?"

"This..."

The three people who were named looked at each other, their doubts deepening.

"Since Your Highness has given the order, we will not refuse."

In the end, Naraku the final decision and agreed.

Naraku had roughly guessed the situation in the Land of Fire's court. The assassination attempt last night to mark the death of the late emperor was probably a conspiracy between the newly enthroned young Daimyo and the prime minister, Retsu.

Otherwise, the position of Daimyo should rightfully belong to the eldest son of the Daimyo, and Chusheng should be the rightful heir.

Now that the two have seized the throne, they are worried that Chusheng and Kazuma will launch a counterattack and assassinate them. That's why they want Naraku and his group to live in the palace.

During the previous memorial service at the cemetery, Chusheng and Kazuma were also in the mourning procession. At that time, none of them dared to make trouble for Konoha, the eldest Chusheng of the late lord. Only after leaving the cemetery did they begin to seek help from Konoha, clearly indicating that their accession to the throne was illegitimate and that they were feeling guilty.

"Should we avenge our late father? Or perhaps use this incident to our advantage..."

Naraku pondered to himself.

The changes of Daimyo or conspiracies in the imperial court are not Konoha's concern. Whoever becomes Daimyo and whoever provides funding to Konoha will be protected by Konoha, nothing more.