The Daimyo's Envoy!

Konoha.

Hokage Office.

"Hiruzen."

"What exactly are you plotting?"

Mitokado Homura's voice trembled slightly.

They had held the double-edged sword of power for far too long. They simply could not bear to let it go.

"Qianye is just a brat in his teens."

"What does he know about politics?"

"What does he know about running a village?"

"All he has is that terrifying brute strength and the supposed righteousness of the Senju Bloodline!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled a thick cloud of smoke.

Behind the haze, the old man's face was shrouded in shadow, impossible to read.

"But he has Wood Style!"

"The villagers are all talking about Danzo now. People are panicking!"

"If this continues, public opinion will become impossible to suppress!"

Utatane Koharu's voice was filled with panic.

The gossip she had heard on the streets today had thoroughly rattled her.

Those lowly commoners actually dared to question the High Command's decisions!

That would have been absolutely unimaginable in the past.

"What are you panicking for?"

"Konoha's Hokage cannot be chosen on strength alone."

"They also need to pass the Jonin confidence vote and possess enough prestige to hold the situation together!"

"What does Qianye have?"

"A thorn who has only just returned to the village. Aside from destruction, what else can he do?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen snorted coldly.

"You mean..."

"Transfer the prestige?"

Mitokado Homura seemed to have grasped part of the idea.

But he still had no clue how it would work in practice.

"That's right."

"It is fine if this old man does not remain Hokage."

"But the person replacing me must be someone this old man can trust."

"And someone the village cannot find a single fault with."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded.

A glint of certainty flashed in his eyes.

"Who?"

Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words,

Utatane Koharu hurriedly pressed for an answer.

"Jiraiya."

Jiraiya!

One of the Sannin, a hero renowned throughout the Ninja World.

He possessed immense prestige among civilians and low- to mid-ranking ninja.

More importantly,

he was also the Third Hokage's direct disciple!

"Brilliant!"

"If Jiraiya is willing to return and take the position, Qianye will have no excuse to oppose it!"

"In terms of seniority, military achievements, and reputation, in what way does Jiraiya not crush that little bastard?"

Mitokado Homura slapped his thigh.

He laughed outright, his face full of excitement.

"Exactly!"

"Jiraiya's mind is on writing books and traveling. He has no interest in power whatsoever."

"If he becomes the Fifth Hokage,"

"won't the village's actual power still be in our hands?"

Utatane Koharu's expression brightened as well.

They would push a Puppet into power and continue maintaining their rule.

As long as Jiraiya occupied that seat, Sarutobi Hiruzen would be the power behind the throne.

Qianye?

What right did a Chunin have to compete with one of the Sannin?

"This must be done quickly."

"This old man will issue the order tonight. The Anbu will search for Jiraiya with all their strength."

"We must bring him back to the village before Qianye makes his move."

Knock, knock, knock.

Just then,

urgent knocking shattered the trio's fantasies.

"Lord Hokage!"

An Anbu Ninja appeared out of thin air and dropped to one knee.

"Have you found the source of the rumors?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned.

"No."

"The rumors have already spread throughout the village. Even the taverns and bathhouses are discussing them."

"The civilians' trust in the High Command... is plummeting."

The Anbu lowered his head, his voice tense.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression darkened.

Those damn rumors were spreading like a plague.

Qianye's move had struck directly at Konoha's weak point.

In political struggles, public opinion came first.

How did that brat understand such schemes?

Could Tsunade be advising him from behind the scenes?

That was highly possible!

Tsunade had been part of the Konoha High Command, after all. She knew exactly how to disgust people the most.

"Enough."

"Set the rumors aside for now."

"Find Jiraiya with everything you have. This is the highest order!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand impatiently.

The Anbu was just about to accept the order and withdraw.

Whoosh!

Another Anbu Ninja Body Flickered into the room.

His face was pale, and unmistakable panic filled his eyes.

"Report!"

"Lord Hokage, honorable Advisors!"

"The Daimyo's envoy... has arrived outside the building!"

The Daimyo's envoy?

The three people in the Hokage Office rose to their feet at the same time.

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu exchanged a glance, both seeing unease in the other's eyes.

Although Konoha governed itself, its financial funding depended entirely on the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.

For the Daimyo to send an envoy at a time like this was absolutely not a good sign.

Qianye had only caused trouble the day before yesterday, yet the Daimyo had sent someone today.

The timing was far too coincidental.

"Bring him in quickly!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen straightened his Hokage robes and headed outside first.

Even the High Command's arrogance had to be restrained before the absolute power of wealth.

After all,

without funding from the Daimyo Palace,

Konoha could not even pay the ninja their salaries next month.

The three had just reached the corridor

when a group of attendants dressed in lavish clothing approached.

Leading them was a fair-skinned middle-aged official with an arrogant expression.

He was Fujiwara, a favored aide of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and a cabinet minister.

"Lord Fujiwara."

"You have come a long way. Forgive us for failing to welcome you properly."

Sarutobi Hiruzen piled a genial smile onto his face.

He looked like a kindly old man, with none of the sinister malice from moments ago.

"Third Hokage, spare me the pleasantries."

Fujiwara closed his folding fan and shot Sarutobi Hiruzen a sidelong glance.

His attitude was cold, carrying even a trace of condescending scrutiny.

At that sight,

Utatane Koharu's heart sank.

This had never happened before.

Whenever the Daimyo's envoys visited Konoha in the past, which one had not been courteous?

This was bad.

Something was about to go terribly wrong.

At the side, Mitokado Homura held his breath as well.

"Lord Fujiwara."

"Please come into the office so we can talk. This old man has some excellent tea."

Sarutobi Hiruzen gestured with his hand.

But Fujiwara remained where he stood.

"No need."

"By the Daimyo's order, I have an important matter to announce."

He shook his wide sleeve and took out an Imperial Decree stamped with the Daimyo's golden seal.

"Third Hokage."

"Immediately gather every Jonin in Konoha."

"In half an hour, I will read the Daimyo's decree."

Every Jonin?

Sarutobi Hiruzen froze.

What kind of major operation required gathering all the Jonin?

Normally, such a grand mobilization only happened when replacing the Hokage or launching a Ninja World War.

What was the Daimyo trying to do?

Was he interfering in Konoha's internal affairs?

"Lord Fujiwara."

"Isn't this... a little too sudden?"

"Many Jonin are still carrying out missions, or recovering from injuries..."

Mitokado Homura spoke cautiously.

Fujiwara gave him a cold look.

"Call everyone who can move."

"My time is precious. I have no leisure to waste in Konoha."

As he spoke,

Fujiwara paused.

His gaze swept across the three leaders' faces, a meaningful chill curling at the corner of his mouth.

"One more thing."

"That Chunin called Senju Qianye must be present."

Chiba!

At the sound of that name.

The pupils of Sarutobi Hiruzen and the other two suddenly contracted.

Utatane Koharu nearly cried out.

The Daimyo's envoy had specifically demanded to see Chiba!

What did that represent?

Had Chiba's name already reached the Daimyo's ears?

No.

That wasn't right.

It wasn't as simple as merely reaching him.

The one pulling the strings behind this was definitely Tsunade!

That madwoman Tsunade had actually used her status as Princess of the Land of Fire to lodge a formal complaint before the Daimyo!

Cold sweat seeped into Sarutobi Hiruzen's palms.

Chiba had only just displayed Wood Style in the village, and the Daimyo's decree had arrived immediately afterward.

That one-two punch had caught them completely off guard.