The potbellied official widened his beady eyes.
"Third Hokage, what are you saying?"
"Do you think the Daimyō would joke with you?"
After saying this, the official seemed to realize he had been a little inappropriate, and his tone softened.
"The Daimyō has your best interests at heart."
"After all, you're getting on in years, Third. Wouldn't it be better to hand your responsibilities over to the younger generation, as you did before?"
"Everything in the village progressed very well during Minato Namikaze's tenure."
"I refuse to believe the village can't find another young man as outstanding as the Fourth Hokage."
The Third Hokage's expression shifted at those words. At last, his eyes narrowed to slits, and he suddenly composed himself, speaking with a smile.
"Of course. Konoha still has an abundance of talent."
"I have merely been serving as acting Hokage during this time. Ultimately, the position must pass to the next generation."
After speaking, he sighed softly.
It wasn't that he couldn't find someone to inherit the Hokage position. He couldn't find someone from the new generation who suited his faction's interests.
"That's more like it!"
The official smiled.
Then, accompanied by the Third Hokage and his entourage, the officials from the Land of Fire were shown to their accommodations.
Though these officials were physically frail and powerless, Konoha treated them with gravity and caution.
They represented the Daimyō, which demanded the utmost care.
Konoha belonged to the Land of Fire. More precisely, it was an army maintained by the Land of Fire. After all, even ninja needed to eat, and they needed money to survive.
Weapons, food-these necessities of human survival held Konoha by the throat.
No matter how powerful ninja were, could they farm, make clothes, or forge weapons? That was the problem.
Once the officials