The Land of Fire's Civil War (2)

"Marvelous! Marvelous!"

Inside the Mizukage's office in Kirigakure, the Second Mizukage, Hozuki Gengetsu, was overjoyed. He threw back his head and laughed. "The Aso Family—a great noble house of the Land of Fire, major landholders related by blood to successive Daimyo—has sent us a special employment request. They are paying one hundred million ryo upfront for a protection mission, along with long-term employment contracts afterward!"

"Basically, they can bring the village three million ryo in mission funds every year. Furthermore, they promised that if we help him take the position of Daimyo of the Land of Fire, they will give Kirigakure thirty percent of all mission shares in the Land of Fire. This is a perfect opportunity to enter the Land of Fire and obtain mission commissions!"

"Excellent! There's no need to hesitate. This is a tremendous opportunity for Kirigakure!" Elder Genji repeatedly praised the proposal, declaring excitedly, "Right now, Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Yotsuki Clan have immediately fallen into internal conflict. They are practically irreconcilable, and even Konoha in the Land of Fire has no defenses against Kirigakure's capabilities."

"Before Konoha under Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Yotsuki Clan decide who comes out on top, neither side will target an outsider like us. Otherwise, they will only wound each other and let someone else reap the benefits. Under such a balance, this is precisely the best time for us to enter the Land of Fire!"

"With the guarantee of a major landholder, our entry into the Land of Fire this time will be justified and will not provoke any disputes!" Genji's words won the approval of all the high-ranking officials present.

So-called major landholders were naturally masters of vast territories. They were both nobles and powerful clans, possessing their own armies and officials, even their own cities.

In the