The Daimyo of the Land of Fire Bows His Head!

Land of Fire.

Daimyo Palace.

Inside an extravagantly luxurious room.

The Daimyo of the Land of Fire sat upright in the seat of honor.

The folding fan in his hand, a symbol of his status, was trembling faintly beyond his control.

Across from him.

Chiba lounged casually against the back of a rosewood chair.

He held a cup of freshly brewed hot tea, looking utterly at ease.

"Lord Chiba."

"The documents regarding your succession as the Fifth Hokage have already been prepared."

The Daimyo swallowed.

There was none of a ruler's majesty in his voice; instead, it carried a deliberate note of ingratiation.

"Lord Daimyo, you work quite efficiently."

Chiba set down his teacup with a crisp clink.

His voice was not loud, yet it made the Daimyo's fat body shudder violently.

At first.

The Daimyo had wanted to put Chiba in his place.

After all, he was the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and held Konoha's economic lifeline in his hands.

However.

Before Chiba.

The Guardian Shinobi Twelve, whom the Daimyo had relied upon, were as weak as ants.

They had not even lasted a second before Chiba casually sent them flying with a wave of his hand.

That made the Daimyo fully recognize reality.

Sarutobi Hiruzen followed the rules.

Because Sarutobi Hiruzen needed the Daimyo's support and the funds the Daimyo provided.

But what about Chiba?

This monster with Senju blood flowing through him, who wielded the legendary Wood Style.

He did not care about the rules of the secular world at all!

The Daimyo had no doubt.

If he dared oppose Chiba.

Chiba would definitely snap his neck, then put another obedient Puppet in his place.

"As long as Lord Chiba is satisfied."

"Under your leadership, Konoha will surely enter an era of unprecedented prosperity!"

The Daimyo wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

An ingratiating smile was squeezed onto his face.

"The Daimyo's annual funding will increase by another thirty percent."

"Konoha is about to enter a period of rapid development. It needs more money."

Chiba glanced at him.

His gaze was calm and utterly devoid of ripples.

This was not a negotiation.

It was a pure command.

"No problem!"

"It is only right, for the peace of the Land of Fire!"

The Daimyo nodded repeatedly and immediately agreed.

The Land of Fire was the wealthiest nation in the Ninja World.

Even with another thirty percent added to the budget, nothing would go wrong.

Chiba stood up.

His black Hokage Cloak fluttered despite the absence of wind.

Without sparing the Daimyo another glance, he turned and walked toward the door.

Only after Chiba's back had completely disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Did the Daimyo seem to have all his strength drained away.

He collapsed onto the tatami, gasping heavily for breath.

"Monster..."

"He's a complete and utter monster..."

The Daimyo muttered to himself.

He suddenly began to sympathize with Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Faced with such a domineering figure who refused to play by the rules.

Those old men with politics and schemes filling their heads probably would not even understand how they died.

Inside the Izakaya.

Chiba pushed open the door as a light breeze stirred his short hair.

Tsunade was still seated at the bar.

She held a wineglass in her hand, seemingly lost in thought.

"You really won't come back with me?"

Chiba stopped and slightly turned his head.

Tsunade did not turn around.

She suddenly tipped back her head and drained the strong liquor in her glass in one gulp.

The fiery liquid poured down her throat into her stomach, bringing a scorching sting.

"I said I'm not going back."

"You brat's wings have grown now. Konoha is already yours for the taking."

"What would I go back for?"

"To watch you send those old bastards to the chopping block one by one?"

There was a hint of self-mockery in Tsunade's voice.

Chiba watched her quietly.

He understood the struggle in Tsunade's heart.

That place had once been her home, where everything she had wanted to protect remained.

But Konoha had long since changed!

"I promise you."

"If Sarutobi Hiruzen doesn't cause trouble, I'll spare his life."

After leaving those words behind.

Chiba stepped forward and walked straight out of the Izakaya.

Tsunade's fingers around the wineglass suddenly tightened.

She closed her eyes, and two trails of silent tears slid down from the corners of her eyes.

"Old man..."

"Don't do anything foolish!"

Tsunade knew Chiba's ruthlessness better than anyone.

Sparing Sarutobi Hiruzen's life.

Was already the greatest concession Chiba had made for her sake.

If Sarutobi Hiruzen tried to cause trouble.

Chiba would definitely kill Sarutobi Hiruzen and might even wipe out the entire Sarutobi Clan.

Meanwhile.

Wood Style had returned to the Ninja World...

Chiba had forcefully suppressed the Konoha High Command...

Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, had been forced to step down...

These pieces of news spread frantically throughout the entire Ninja World as if they had grown wings.

Land of Wind.

Inside the Kazekage Office of Sunagakure.

"Wood Style..."

"A giant Wood Golem hundreds of meters tall..."

Looking at the intelligence Scroll in his hand.

The muscles on Rasa's face twitched violently beyond his control.

His voice was extremely hoarse, carrying an unconcealable tremor.

On the other side.

Baki knelt on one knee below, not even daring to raise his head.

As the Kazekage's confidant, he knew Sunagakure's current situation all too well.

The Daimyo of the Land of Wind had been continually cutting military funding.

The village's fighting strength was in a state of decline.

To preserve the village's deterrent power.

Rasa had even sealed the One-Tail inside his own son, all to create an ultimate weapon.

But now?

A descendant of the Senju Clan had actually appeared in Konoha!

Not only had the other party awakened Wood Style, he had directly suppressed the entire Konoha High Command!

Such strength had already vaguely surpassed the standards of a Kage Level expert.

"Lord Kazekage."

"Could this intelligence be exaggerated?"

After a moment.

Baki swallowed and asked with difficulty.

"Exaggerated?"

"The spies planted in Konoha saw it with their own eyes."

"Shimura Danzō did not even have room to resist before he died miserably on the spot."

"Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, was even forced to resign!"

"Are you telling me all of that is fake?"

"..."

Rasa slammed his palm onto the desk.

His eyes were bloodshot, and his chest heaved violently.

Even though he had never met Chiba.

He could still imagine just how powerful Chiba was!

That was not a force he, the Kazekage, could possibly contend with!

"Sunagakure... is in grave danger!"

After a long while.

Rasa slumped dejectedly into his chair.

Once Chiba completely consolidated Konoha's strength.

With that youth's domineering style, he would never be as weak as Sarutobi Hiruzen and pursue some peaceful diplomacy.

And Sunagakure was the closest village to Konoha.

They would likely become one of Konoha's first targets for annexation.

"Give the order immediately!"

"Fully pull back the border defenses."

"All shinobi carrying out missions outside the village are forbidden from provoking Konoha!"

"Also."

"Go check on Gaara's condition!"

"No matter what it takes, make sure he gains control over the One-Tail's power!"

"..."

A flash of madness crossed Rasa's eyes.

Against the legendary Wood Style.

The Tailed Beast might be Sunagakure's only trump card.

Even if that trump card could backfire on them at any moment...

At this point, Rasa could no longer worry about that much!