In the capital of the Land of Tea, within the Daimyo Palace, Uchiha Feng was lost in deep thought.
He had originally only intended to use the Land of Fire to cause Konoha some trouble, but he had never expected it to trigger something so enormous.
Even though it was Konoha that was being targeted, Feng could not bring himself to feel pleased.
According to his original plan, once he had completely taken control of the Land of Tea's army and court officials, he would make a show of refusing three times before accepting, then take the position of daimyo for himself.
But looking at how nearly every country in the Ninja World was now targeting Konoha together, Feng could foresee that if he truly took the daimyo's seat, everything Konoha was suffering now would inevitably come for him a hundredfold, a thousandfold in the future.
If he had enough strength, like Hashirama Senju or Madara Uchiha, then there would be nothing to fear.
But the cheat he had received after crossing over was not that powerful, and he himself was a hopeless ninjutsu student. Unable to become invincible, Feng could only silently adjust his plans.
Until he had developed enough, he should let Aiko continue sitting in the position of Land of Tea daimyo.
Likewise, his original plan to secretly control other countries in the future had to be adjusted as well.
If he continued using the Land of Tea method, the other wary daimyos would inevitably discover him before long. Then, forget leading the Uchiha to glory—he would be lucky if they did not wipe out his clan ahead of time.
However, Feng had not yet figured out exactly how to make those adjustments. He would need to think it over some more.
Meanwhile, in Konoha, inside the Hokage's office.
"Hokage-sama, Kumogakure has currently assembled at least three thousand shinobi in the Frost Country.
"Iwagakure has gathered shinobi near the Land of Grass as well, with an estimated three thousand men.
"Although Sunagakure is our ally, urged on by its daimyo, it has also gradually assembled around one thousand shinobi.
"However, at the pace they are assembling, the war may be over before they even leave the Land of Wind, so there is no need to pay them much attention.
"Kirigakure is the strangest. They used to be the most enthusiastic participants in shinobi wars, but this time, we have found no signs of any assembled shinobi forces.
"As for the other small countries and minor shinobi villages, they have currently scraped together three shinobi units of roughly one thousand men each. They are joining up with the shinobi forces of Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure respectively.
"That is all the intelligence Anbu has currently uncovered regarding shinobi forces targeting Konoha."
An Anbu knelt on one knee and reported the situation to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Not far from him sat the other three members of the Konoha High Command Quartet: Shimura Danzō, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura.
"Tell me, what should we do now?
"This situation is more dangerous than any previous Shinobi World War."
After taking several deep drags from his pipe, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage, was the first to speak.
His face was full of worry, and the dark circles under his eyes were deeper than a panda's.
He had thought for three days and three nights without understanding how Konoha had suddenly become the target of the entire Ninja World again, besieged by everyone.
The Third Shinobi World War had clearly ended not long ago. Shouldn't every country and shinobi village be like Konoha, licking their wounds, recovering and developing, then waiting for the next generation to grow up?
"Hmph. What is there to discuss? If they want to fight, then we'll fight them.
"Konoha fears no one."
The aggressive Shimura Danzō was the first to respond, and his words were even more aggressive than he was.
"Shut your mouth. Fight?! Fight with what? The younger generation of the village was practically wiped out in the wars of the last few years.
"If we fight now, are you going, am I going, or are Koharu and Homura going?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi flew into a rage at once and began berating him.
You were damn aggressive without even looking at the situation. With Konoha as it was now, how were they supposed to fight the Allied Shinobi Forces of the entire Ninja World? Was that not just courting death?
"Then are we supposed to just watch as the village is invaded and let others destroy Konoha?"
Danzō was unhappy as well. If they did not act, were they supposed to wait to die?
"Enough. Get out and wait for orders."
Hiruzen Sarutobi no longer wanted to deal with him.
At the same time, he could not help sighing inwardly. As expected, Sensei was right to choose me as Hokage. Danzō is only suited to pulling little tricks in the shadows. When something major happens, he gets impulsive and stops using his brain.
Danzō: You'll regret this.
Hiruzen: I'm Hokage!
Bang!!
Another office door was ruined, but no one paid it any mind.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked toward Mitokado Homura, who was in charge of administration and diplomacy.
"Konoha definitely cannot defeat the Allied Shinobi Forces. That would be like an egg striking a rock.
"We must start from another angle.
"The alliance gathered under the pretext that Konoha had plotted against the Land of Tea's daimyo.
"So we will start there.
"Homura, personally lead a delegation to the Land of Tea. Apologize face-to-face to the Land of Tea's daimyo and the daimyo's husband, and seek their forgiveness.
"As long as they stop making trouble, the Allied Shinobi Forces will have no reason to gather.
"Konoha's crisis will naturally vanish."
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura's eyes immediately lit up after hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words.
In the face of a crisis that could destroy the village, when the vast majority of Konoha's people believed the village was doomed and had fallen into despair,
Hiruzen had seen through the surface to grasp the heart of the matter. With a simple diplomatic approach, he had easily resolved this crisis that threatened to wipe out the village.
At that moment, both of them could not help thinking in admiration:
With a mind like that, Hiruzen really is the one who should be Hokage.
Smack!!
Mitokado Homura was so excited that he slapped the table and stood.
"Good. I'll leave immediately. I will definitely obtain the Land of Tea daimyo's forgiveness before the alliance assembles."
With that, he hurried away.
However, he seemed a little too excited and used slightly too much force when closing the door.
Bang!!
Clang!!
Thus, the already damaged door of the Hokage's office completely parted ways with its frame.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Utatane Koharu, who remained behind, looked at the now doorless office and each revealed helpless smiles.
They could no longer work here, but the village's trivial affairs still needed handling, so they could only take their work home.
Their warm harbor, their home, had become an office where they suffered through paperwork. That feeling... sigh.
In just one day, Konoha's administrative and diplomatic advisor, Mitokado Homura, arrived at the capital of the Land of Tea.
The reason he was so fast was all thanks to the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
Relying on the Simplified Flying Thunder God jointly performed by Genma Squad—Shiranui Genma, Namiashi Raidō, and Tatami Iwashi—the three guards of the late Fourth Hokage and the developers of the technique, Mitokado Homura was directly transported from Konoha to the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Tea.
If he had not been afraid of causing trouble, the frantic Homura would even have wanted to teleport directly into the Land of Tea's capital.
When Feng, who was cultivating diligently in the Daimyo Palace, heard that Konoha's administrative and diplomatic advisor had requested an audience with the daimyo, he was startled as well.
Although the formal diplomatic request had not stated a name, only an official position,
Feng was originally from Konoha, so naturally he knew that its administrative and diplomatic advisor was Mitokado Homura.
That old man might be cowardly and slippery, but there was nothing to criticize about his strength and abilities. In the official anime, he was acknowledged as a Kage Level powerhouse and a seasoned schemer.
Even if that Kage Level assessment referred to his prime rather than his old age now,
Kage Level was still Kage Level. Even the weakest Kage Level powerhouse was stronger than Feng, who was still a Genin.
If Feng dared to face him while relying on the Transformation Technique, he would be exposed one hundred percent of the time.
And with what Feng had done in Konoha shortly after crossing over, if he were exposed and reverted to his true appearance, he would definitely be recognized.
Then, a Genin against a Kage... heh...
Therefore, to avoid exposure, Feng could not go meet that old man Mitokado Homura.
But he could not leave the man waiting outside either. His strength was there for all to see. If he forced his way in, no one in the Land of Tea could stop him.
Fortunately, the other side was the one asking for something now. After thinking for a moment, Feng came up with an idea.
"Someone, summon the Grand Minister. Tell him that a Konoha advisor has arrived and that he is to receive him properly."
He instructed an attendant in the distance.
But inwardly, he could not help feeling fortunate that he had not yet removed the Grand Minister from office.
As the head of the civil officials, that old man was just like Mitokado Homura: cowardly and slippery, yet always wearing an appearance of unwavering loyalty.
After Feng took control of the Land of Tea, he had wanted to deal with him several times but had never found a good excuse.
Now was perfect. He could drag him out to wrangle with Mitokado Homura.
Konoha had sent an advisor second only to the Hokage, while the Land of Tea was receiving him with the Grand Minister, second only to the daimyo. It was entirely proper.
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