Daimyō: How About You Marry Princess Tsunade?

Tonight was Christmas Eve, yet Danzo still made no assassination attempt.

At noon the next day, Toji held a formal meeting with the Daimyō.

The current Daimyō was barely in his twenties. By seniority, he was Tsunade's maternal uncle.

The Daimyō sized Toji up, while Toji observed the Daimyō and the Twelve Guardian Ninja behind him.

The leader of the Guardian Ninja was Kazuya. His features bore a striking resemblance to the future Kazuma's, confirming that he was indeed Kazuma's ancestor.

Having seen his face clearly, Toji felt reassured. He could proceed according to plan and turn this man into his tool.

Looking at the group as a whole, the twelve Guardian Ninja did not impress Toji. Of the twelve, only six were Jōnin or Special Jōnin; the remaining six were merely Chunin.

The number "twelve" itself carried a certain significance.

Images flashed through Toji's mind: the Twelve Houses of Saint Seiya, Demon Slayer's Twelve Kizuki, Hunter x Hunter's Twelve Zodiacs. Their roots all lay in systems like the Western zodiac and the Eastern twelve earthly branches.

Konoha alone had its Twelve Rookie Nine and Twelve Golden Immortals.

Compared to those, the Land of Fire's Twelve Guardian Ninja seemed rather low-rent.

Of course, that was only in the eyes of someone as strong as Toji. To ordinary shinobi villages, and even the Five Great Ninja Villages, the Daimyō's protective force was formidable. Even an ordinary genjutsu Jōnin would not be able to easily kill or control the Daimyō with illusions.

"I didn't expect the Third to be so young. By my count, you should be thirty-four this year?"

"That's right."

Holding a delicate round fan over part of his face, the Daimyō spoke in an unhurried tone. "Toji, you do not mind if I address you directly like that, do