The Royal Capital and the Shrine!

The Land of Fire's royal capital.

Before long, after completing the last stretch of their journey, Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi 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 capital was indeed far better than the Hidden Leaf Village, and more suitable for its residents as well.

Within the Sealing Space, Otsutsuki Kaguya also saw the bustling royal capital through Hyuga Setsuna's eyes. Her gaze carried memories and sorrow as she softly spoke.

"This place 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 beside his ear, Hyuga Setsuna looked 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 trace of gratification flashed through her eyes.

With determination in her eyes, Otsutsuki Kaguya gazed at the boundless sky of the Shinobi World and murmured to herself.

"Hamura, Hagoromo, I have a new child now!"

"I no longer need you two!"

Outside.

Hyuga Setsuna looked at the prosperous royal capital. The streets were crowded with people, and every face was filled with happy smiles.

The Second Shinobi World War had clearly ended only recently.

Yet the royal capital was as peaceful as a Pure Land. Everything here seemed completely unaffected by the war outside.

And so-called peace was merely something temporarily obtained 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 house.

Upon seeing their attire, the official who had been waiting inside immediately broke into a delighted smile and said to Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi.

"You two have finally arrived. Next, I will take you to meet the Daimyo."

After saying that, he respectfully led them toward the Daimyo's Mansion within the royal capital, introducing the situation of the capital 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 received by Akishinomiya Kensuke, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.

As they entered the Daimyo's Mansion, they saw Akishinomiya Kensuke seated in the place of honor. He looked kind and amiable, like an ordinary plump middle-aged man.

He wore luxurious robes exclusive to the Daimyo, and every gesture carried the haughty air of nobility.

However, when he saw Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi, that noble arrogance instead became restrained.

With a friendly expression, Akishinomiya Kensuke spoke to them.

"You two must be the shinobi sent by the Hidden Leaf Village. I will have to trouble you over my daughter's matter."

Looking at Daimyo Akishinomiya Kensuke, who was speaking so amicably to them.

Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi exchanged glances, and Hyuga Setsuna was ultimately the one who spoke.

"Please don't be so courteous, Lord Daimyo. This mission is our duty to begin with!"

Akishinomiya Kensuke looked at Hyuga Setsuna in his Rabbit Mask and Kakashi in his dog-face mask, but he did not underestimate them because of their young age.

"Then Yuri's safety will be entrusted to you two. Please protect my daughter closely in the coming days."

"Lord Daimyo, please leave it to us! ×2"

After receiving their answer, Akishinomiya Kensuke finally felt relieved.

He summoned servants to lead Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi away, but as though he had suddenly remembered something, his expression turned anxious and he hurriedly called them back.

Akishinomiya Kensuke looked at the two, who wore puzzled expressions, and spoke with a bitter smile.

"If Yuri asks you any strange questions, please don't pay them any mind!"

"Yuri is still quite young, so she likes to fantasize and ask all sorts of strange questions. If she asks either of you anything odd, please be sure not to take it to heart."

Upon hearing Akishinomiya Kensuke's words, suspicion flashed through Hyuga Setsuna's eyes.

She liked asking strange questions, she liked fantasizing, and they were to protect her closely in the coming days?

Having noticed important details in Akishinomiya Kensuke's words, Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi quietly exchanged glances.

There was something wrong with this mission!

The instruction to protect her closely in the coming days was easy enough to understand. It meant that someone would soon seek to harm Princess Akishinomiya Yuri.

But what did liking to ask strange questions and liking to fantasize have to do with it?

Akishinomiya Kensuke looked at the puzzled pair with a bitter smile. He said nothing more and merely summoned 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 slow 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, something is wrong with this mission!"

Hyuga Setsuna had been pondering Akishinomiya Kensuke's earlier words. Upon hearing Kakashi, he merely shook his head slightly, signaling for Kakashi not to say anything yet.

After all, there was still a servant leading the way ahead of them.

Kakashi understood Hyuga Setsuna's meaning when he saw him shake his head. He said nothing further 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 in 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 also frowned beneath his mask. Looking at the torii gate before him, he asked the servant beside them.

"Does that princess live in this shrine?"

The servant turned toward Kakashi and respectfully answered.

"Yes, Your Highness is currently inside this shrine!"

After hearing the servant's words, Hyuga Setsuna fell into thought as he looked at the torii gate and shrine before him.

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 there should only have been Shion, the shrine maiden connected to demons in the Land of Demons, in the Naruto world. No others 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 rather new stone steps. Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi arrived before a magnificent shrine.

Looking at the splendid shrine before him, Hyuga Setsuna's brows furrowed deeply beneath his Rabbit Mask.

This shrine had no name?

That was right. No name was 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 walked to the shrine's entrance and slowly pushed the door open.

As the door opened, the scene inside the shrine was revealed before them.

The first thing they saw was a red-and-white figure.

Second update!

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.

It felt like writing the royal capital arc in the Land of Fire would leave me stuck on this plot for a very, very long time. So frustrating...