The Killer Was in Konoha

The Daimyo's voice was icy. "Bring me the person who spread that news!"

"Your Majesty... the news spread through teahouses, gambling dens, pawnshops, and storytellers' stalls. Everyone's talking about it. We can't trace it to the source..."

The Daimyo's expression grew darker.

He sat in his chair, his chest heaving.

Konoha...

Konoha keeps saying it's thoroughly investigating Akatsuki, yet it hid news like this?

The killer appeared in Konoha, and you didn't report it?!

The angrier he grew, the harder he gripped the teacup on his desk. Then he hurled it to the floor.

Crack!

Shards scattered across the floor.

Every official in the hall dropped to his knees.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"

"Calm my anger?" The Daimyo's voice trembled. "How am I supposed to do that?!"

He rose and paced the hall.

Danzo...

Shimura Danzō...

Prince Takasu ran Bounty Offices, gambling dens, pawnshops, and other shady businesses across the Land of Fire...

Could he have had some quarrel with Konoha's forces in the shadows?

The killer claimed Danzo had sent him...

Was that a frame-up, or...

Just then, another attendant hurried in and knelt.

"Your Majesty, the Konoha Messenger requests an audience."

"The Konoha Messenger?" The Daimyo frowned. "What does he want?"

"He has come with a petition from the Konoha High Command... They request that Your Majesty issue a Hokage Appointment Letter naming Jiraiya of the Sannin as the Fifth Hokage."

The Daimyo's expression froze.

Then he laughed in fury.

"Fine."

He ground out each word. "Just fine!"

"Konoha hasn't even handed over a trace of the killer, and now you're asking for a Hokage Appointment Letter?!"

He spun toward the doors.

"Tell that messenger to get in here!"

The messenger entered and had barely opened his mouth.

"Your Majesty..."

"Enough."

The Daimyo cut him