The Capital

When the current Daimyo ascended the throne, the Land of Fire had been only a small nation. Throughout his reign, he had devoted himself to strengthening it, gradually increasing its power. He had also recognized the potential of shinobi and immediately found common ground with Hashirama, approving his proposal for a Shinobi Village that the nation would employ: Konoha Ninja Village.

Afterward, the Daimyo personally planned military campaigns abroad, using the Shinobi Village as his main force and the Samurai Legion in support. He absorbed the neighboring small nations one by one, establishing the borders the Land of Fire held today.

Even among all the rulers in the Land of Fire's history, this Daimyo surely ranked among the finest, perhaps even the greatest. Future generations were destined to look up to him.

But his tireless devotion to state affairs had quietly worn him down. A minor illness brought all his underlying ailments to the surface at once, leaving him bedridden. Within half a month, he passed away in the Daimyo Mansion.

Upon receiving the news, Tobirama hurried to inform Hashirama, who was recuperating at home. Hashirama sighed. "I never imagined His Highness the Daimyo would pass away before me. When I last visited the Daimyo Mansion, he still looked so full of life."

Hashirama had worked with the Daimyo for many years, and a bond had formed between ruler and subject. How could he not grieve? What he regretted most was not having seen the Daimyo one last time.

"Brother, now that the Daimyo has passed away, I will go to the Daimyo Mansion to attend his funeral," Tobirama said. "While I am away, I will leave the village in your hands."

"No, I want to go as well." Hashirama shook his head. "I knew His Highness for so many years. I cannot simply stay in the village. Do not worry about my health. A journey this short will be fine."

Tobirama knew, of course, that Hashirama attending the funeral in person would make it easier to gain the new ruler's trust. But Hashirama's health was steadily declining, and he did not want to burden his brother. Still, after hearing his words and seeing his expression, Tobirama knew there was no stopping him, so he said no more.

With both Tobirama and Hashirama preparing to leave, Mito would manage the village's daily affairs. As the First Hokage's wife, she was capable of temporarily assuming those duties. Tobirama then selected several Anbu members to serve as an escort, protecting him and Hashirama on their journey to the Daimyo Mansion.

Originally, Tobirama had not intended to take many people. His own strength was exceptional, and a single squad would have sufficed. With Hashirama coming along, however, he had to select additional squads. There were plenty of people who wanted Hashirama dead. As long as he remained alive, someone would be willing to attempt an assassination for money and fame.

Someone from the Land of Waterfalls had once come to assassinate Hashirama. Hashirama had been at his peak then and had easily defeated the attacker. Still, the man had been skilled enough to make Hashirama use a Wood Release Secret Technique and had even managed to escape from him—though that was mainly because Hashirama had no interest in pursuing him.

Now that news of Hashirama's illness and retirement had spread throughout the shinobi world, some people might truly dare to attempt an assassination. Tobirama had to prepare for every possibility.

Before long, Tobirama settled on the escort: three Anbu squads in total, including his seven disciples. Kazemori Masaki had not expected to get a chance to visit the Capital so soon. Given the gravity of the occasion, though, he might not have an opportunity to read the scriptures in the Fire Temple.

Alongside their responsibility to protect the Hokage, the others felt a hint of anticipation toward the Capital. They had never been there and had no idea what it looked like. At least Satomi could glimpse its prosperity through the outfit Kazemori Masaki had given her.

The ruler's funeral could not wait, so Tobirama prepared to depart immediately. The party gathered at the village gates. Besides the seven disciples and Satomi, a member of the Hyuga Clan's Branch Family had also been selected for the three squads.

The Hyuga Clan's Byakugan excelled at reconnaissance. With this Hyuga shinobi present, they could maintain awareness of their surroundings. It was Kazemori Masaki's first time meeting this member of the Hyuga Branch Family. Through introductions from Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, he learned that the man's name was Hyuga Qi.

Hyuga Qi was highly talented even within the Hyuga Clan and was closely related by blood to the current Hyuga Main Family. The clan's purpose in placing him in the Anbu, which answered directly to the Hokage, was obvious: they hoped to strengthen their relationship with the Hokage. In fact, more or less every Anbu member had similar considerations behind them.

The three squad leaders were Senju Toka, the kunoichi who had always served at Hashirama and Tobirama's side; Sarutobi Kosuke, an expert from the Sarutobi Clan; and Aburame Yuichi, an expert from the Aburame Clan.

With these people around him, Tobirama believed Hashirama's safety could be assured. He confirmed everyone's assigned responsibilities, then set out.

A specially constructed official road connected Konoha Ninja Village to the Capital. All unnecessary obstacles had been cleared away, allowing it to lead straight to the city. The road had also been caught in Hashirama and Madara's battle, but fortunately, the damage had not been severe, and it had soon been repaired.

Throughout the journey, Hyuga Qi continuously watched their surroundings with his Byakugan, working in tandem with his squad leader Aburame Yuichi's kikaichū. Almost no shinobi could slip past their combined surveillance. The journey was peaceful, but no one felt like chatting. After all, this was no sightseeing trip.

Outside missions, Kazemori Masaki and the others could laugh and talk freely. During a mission, however, Tobirama demanded that everyone take their duties seriously and never let their guard down. He deeply disliked frivolous behavior, and it was absolutely forbidden in his presence.

After their Anbu training, Kazemori Masaki and the others' professionalism was unquestionably up to standard. As they traveled, they remained silent and devoted themselves to their duties. Only during breaks did they use a method of communication they had developed for situations like this to grumble about the stifling atmosphere.

To them, Tobirama was kind and approachable most of the time, but in situations like this, he seemed excessively cold. If Hashirama had been leading them to the Capital, the mood surely would not have been so dreary.

Hashirama could have livened things up, but his health was poor, and the Daimyo's passing weighed on him. He either traveled with them or sat off to the side resting, with no inclination to speak.

Several days later, the Capital appeared before them. Tobirama went ahead and spoke with the city guards for a while, then led the others inside.

As soon as they entered the Capital, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others who had never visited before felt their eyes light up. The buildings in Konoha Ninja Village were all rather dull, but the Capital was extraordinarily prosperous. Its streets and alleys, restaurants and teahouses were unlike anything in Konoha Ninja Village, leaving them with more sights than they could take in.

Even Kazemori Masaki, who had experienced another world, was impressed. The cities there had long since become entirely modern. Though he had seen places like this in television dramas, their visual impact could not compare with the reality and rich atmosphere of the Capital before him.

Hashirama and Tobirama were already accustomed to it and did not linger. Rather than heading straight to the Daimyo Mansion, Tobirama led everyone to the city's temple, the Fire Temple. Naturally, they could not bring so many people to meet the new ruler. Only he and Hashirama would attend the audience; everyone else would remain at the Fire Temple.

Kazemori Masaki wondered whether his luck was simply too good. Not only had he come to the Capital, but he had been brought straight to the Fire Temple. Although he could not immediately examine the Ninshu Classics in the Land of Fire, he could at least learn something of their contents from the monks or the abbot.

At the Fire Temple, the abbot and several monks came out to welcome Tobirama and Hashirama. The abbot was a kindly man past fifty. He told Kazemori Masaki and the others that the Fire Temple would prepare guest rooms for them, and they could stay there until the two Hokage departed.

After giving Senju Toka and the other two squad leaders a few instructions, Tobirama hurried toward the Daimyo Mansion with Hashirama. The three squad leaders followed closely behind. Once they had seen the two enter the mansion, they would return to the Fire Temple.

The remaining members followed the monks to the guest rooms. Afterward, the abbot would take them on a tour of the Fire Temple.

Sorry for the late update. I was busy with a few things.

(End of chapter)