Land of Fire Royal Capital.
Before long, Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi completed the last stretch of their journey and arrived at the Land of Fire's Royal Capital.
Looking at the bustling Royal Capital before him, Hyuga Setsuna had to admit that the Land of Fire's Royal Capital was indeed far better than Konoha and more suitable for its residents.
Within the Sealing Space, Otsutsuki Kaguya also saw the prosperous, lively Royal Capital through Hyuga Setsuna's eyes. Her gaze carried memories and sorrow as she softly said,
"This was where I built my palace in the distant past!"
"Who would have thought that, after a thousand years, it would become like this?"
Hearing Otsutsuki Kaguya's sorrowful words, Hyuga Setsuna gazed at the bustling Royal Capital and gently comforted her.
"Don't worry, Grandmother. Everything will return. I'll help you!"
Within the Sealing Space, the sorrowful Otsutsuki Kaguya listened to Hyuga Setsuna's comfort, and a relieved look flashed through her eyes.
With determination in her eyes, Otsutsuki Kaguya looked toward the boundless sky of the Shinobi World and murmured,
"Hamura, Hagoromo, I have a new child now!"
"I no longer need you!"
Outside.
Hyuga Setsuna looked at the prosperous Royal Capital. The streets were filled with people coming and going, every face brimming with happy smiles.
The Second Shinobi World War had clearly ended only recently.
Yet the Royal Capital was peaceful like a Pure Land. Everything here seemed entirely unaffected by the war outside.
And so-called peace was merely something temporarily gained through war.
Once they had recovered enough, they would begin the next war again.
Following the information described in the mission scroll, Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi arrived at a residence.
When the official waiting inside saw their attire, a delighted smile immediately appeared on his face as he said to Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi,
"You two have finally arrived. Next, I'll take you to meet the Daimyo."
With that, he respectfully led them toward the Daimyo's Mansion within the Royal Capital, introducing the situation in the city as they walked.
After arriving at the Daimyo's Mansion, Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi first waited outside while the official went in to report their arrival to the Daimyo.
Before long, they were granted an audience with the Land of Fire's Daimyo, Akishinomiya Kensuke.
As they entered the Daimyo's Mansion and looked at Akishinomiya Kensuke seated above them, he appeared kind and amiable, like an ordinary middle-aged fat man.
He wore the luxurious robes exclusive to a Daimyo, and every gesture carried the arrogant bearing of nobility.
Yet after seeing Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi, the aristocratic arrogance around him instead subsided.
Akishinomiya Kensuke spoke to them in a mild, friendly manner.
"You two must be the ninja sent by Konoha. I'll have to trouble you over my daughter's matter this time."
Looking at the Daimyo, Akishinomiya Kensuke, who spoke to them so pleasantly,
Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi exchanged a glance. In the end, Hyuga Setsuna was the one who spoke.
"There is no need to be so courteous, Lord Daimyo. This mission is simply part of our duty!"
Akishinomiya Kensuke looked at Hyuga Setsuna in his Rabbit Mask and Kakashi in his dog mask, not underestimating them because of their young age.
"Then Yuri's safety will be entrusted to you two. Please protect my daughter carefully in the coming days."
"Lord Daimyo, please leave it to us! ×2"
After receiving their answer, Akishinomiya Kensuke finally felt at ease.
He summoned servants to lead Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi away, but as though he had remembered something, his expression suddenly turned anxious and he hurriedly called them back.
Akishinomiya Kensuke looked at the puzzled pair before him and said with a bitter smile,
"If Yuri asks you any strange questions, please do not mind them!"
"Yuri is still young, so she likes to fantasize and ask strange, unusual questions. If she asks either of you anything odd, please do not take it to heart."
Hearing Akishinomiya Kensuke's words, suspicion flashed through Hyuga Setsuna's eyes.
She liked asking strange questions, liked fantasizing, and needed extra protection lately?
Having noticed important details in Akishinomiya Kensuke's words, Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi quietly exchanged another glance.
There was something wrong with this mission!
The request for extra protection in the coming days was easy enough to understand. It meant that someone would likely harm Princess Akishinomiya Yuri soon.
But what was this about liking strange questions and fantasies?
Akishinomiya Kensuke looked at the confused pair with a bitter smile. He said nothing further, merely summoning servants to lead Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi away.
After Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi left, Akishinomiya Kensuke sat blankly in the main seat of the hall, lost in thought.
In the end, he merely let out a quiet sigh before leaving.
The two followed behind a servant as they walked through the Daimyo's Mansion.
After glancing at the servant, Kakashi quietly lowered his voice and said to Hyuga Setsuna,
"Yagokoro, there's something wrong with this mission!"
Hyuga Setsuna, who had been pondering Akishinomiya Kensuke's earlier words, merely shook his head slightly after hearing Kakashi, signaling for him not to speak yet.
After all, there was still a servant leading the way ahead of them.
Seeing Hyuga Setsuna shake his head, Kakashi understood what he meant. He said nothing more and silently followed behind.
However, Kakashi's eyes continued to memorize the routes through the Daimyo's Mansion.
Before long, led by the servant, Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi arrived at the rear courtyard of a magnificent palace.
Looking at the small torii gate before them and the shrine behind it, Hyuga Setsuna's eyes filled with astonishment and confusion.
Kakashi's face beneath his mask also frowned. Looking at the torii gate ahead, he asked the servant beside him,
"Does that princess live in this shrine?"
The servant turned to Kakashi and respectfully replied,
"Yes. Her Highness is currently inside this shrine!"
After hearing the servant's words, Hyuga Setsuna looked at the torii gate and shrine before him and fell into thought.
Was there a shrine in the Land of Fire in the original story? And inside the Daimyo's Mansion, no less?
He clearly remembered that, in the Naruto world, only the Land of Demons had Shion, a shrine maiden connected to a demon. Nothing else like this should have appeared.
Why was there a shrine in the Daimyo's Mansion?
Was this a butterfly effect caused by my arrival?
Following behind the servant, they passed through the vermilion torii gate and climbed the somewhat new stone steps. Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi arrived before a magnificent shrine.
Looking at the splendid shrine before them, Hyuga Setsuna's brows furrowed deeply beneath his Rabbit Mask.
This shrine had no name?
That was right. No name had been written on the shrine before them. There was only a vermilion plaque placed above it.
After bringing them here, the servant had already left.
After exchanging a glance with Kakashi, Hyuga Setsuna stepped up to the shrine's entrance and slowly pushed the door open.
As the door opened, the inside of the shrine was revealed before them.
The first thing they saw was a red-and-white figure.
Otsutsuki Kaguya's former palace was placed in the Land of Fire, since the Land of Fire could be considered the most prosperous place in the entire Shinobi World.
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