The veteran hurried back outside. Beside him, the young guard asked in confusion, "That man looked pretty young too! Why did the daimyo seem afraid of him?"
The veteran slapped the young guard's helmet and said, "Don't ask questions you shouldn't, or you won't even know what got you killed!"
The two soon reached the entrance and said to Hatake Ziyan, "Lord Ziyan, the daimyo has asked you to come in!"
Hatake Ziyan smiled and said, "Let's go, Kushina!"
Kushina smiled happily at Hatake Ziyan's words and immediately followed him.
The young guard was about to stop her, but the veteran beside him held him back again.
Once Hatake Ziyan and Kushina had gone inside, the young guard asked another question. "The daimyo only asked him to come in, but now we've let two people through. Aren't you afraid he'll blame us?"
"Enough. Just listen to me. The daimyo won't blame us!"
Hatake Ziyan led Kushina straight to the hall where the daimyo was, without anyone stopping them.
"Long time no see, Daimyo!" Hatake Ziyan picked a spot at random and sat down as though he were in his own home.
"Hatake Ziyan! What are you doing here? You're still alive!" the daimyo said, pursing his lips.
"How many years has it been? You're still holding a grudge?" Hatake Ziyan picked up a piece of fruit from the table and took a bite.
The daimyo ignored Hatake Ziyan's brazen behavior and continued speaking to Minato Namikaze beside him. "Explain the matter I just raised. Why has someone reported that you used your military achievements to force Hiruzen Sarutobi to step down?"
Only then did Hatake Ziyan notice the expression on Minato Namikaze's face. But why would someone report this? Could Hiruzen Sarutobi have staged the whole thing himself?
Minato stood and addressed the daimyo. "Daimyo, I know nothing about what you've described, and I've never forced anyone to do anything. Besides, the Third personally recommended me to become the Fourth Hokage! If I'd forced him, why would he recommend me? Couldn't he simply have put someone else on the list of Hokage candidates?"
The daimyo nodded at Minato Namikaze's words, but still insisted, "Since someone has reported it, there must be more to the story. So I can't recognize you as the next Hokage just yet!"
Kushina suddenly bristled. She stood and pointed at the daimyo. "Minato fought all over the place for Konoha and accomplished so much. Are you going to dismiss everything he's done just because of a report from some unknown person? If this is how you act as daimyo, you won't stay in power for long!"
The daimyo abruptly stood, snapped his folding fan shut, and looked at Hatake Ziyan. "What is this girl to you?"
Hatake Ziyan kept eating his fruit indifferently, seemingly oblivious to the daimyo's anger. "She's the descendant of an old friend who asked me to look after her. Why? Do you want to lay a hand on her?"
The daimyo's hand trembled, and he slowly sat back down. "Little girl, don't speak so aggressively when you're out in the world! This guardian of yours won't always be at your side. It would be unfortunate if some accident happened to you!"
Kushina still glared angrily at the daimyo, wisps of red bubbles beginning to appear around her. Seeing that Hatake Ziyan had no intention of stopping her, Minato hurried forward and took her hand. "Kushina, the daimyo hasn't said he won't let me become Hokage. He only wants me to explain why these rumors exist!"
Feeling the warmth of Minato's palm, Kushina let the red bubbles around her disappear. She plopped down beside Hatake Ziyan and ignored Minato!
Faced with Kushina's little sulk, Minato could only smile helplessly before addressing the daimyo. "Daimyo, what would you like me to do?"
"Just produce some evidence! Or prove that you didn't force the Third Hokage!" The daimyo opened his folding fan and covered his mouth.
"Well..." Minato was momentarily at a loss for words, unsure what to say.
Hatake Ziyan casually tossed the core of his finished fruit onto the table, stood, and walked up to the daimyo. He snatched the folding fan from his hand and threw it aside. "Haven't I told you not to do that in front of me? It's revolting!"
The daimyo clenched both fists hard, then relaxed them. "You're right, Lord Ziyan. I'll be more careful in the future!"
Hatake Ziyan returned to Minato's side and patted his shoulder. "This man here, Konoha's Fourth Hokage, was the one I personally put in the Hokage position! He really is well suited to being Hokage. Besides, Little Monkey has grown old and lost the ideals he had when he first became Hokage. I didn't want to see the Konoha that Hashirama, one other, and I worked so hard to build ruined in Little Monkey's hands. That's why I put Minato in power.
"So your claim that he forced the Third Hokage to step down doesn't hold water. Even if someone did force him to retire, that someone was me! If you want to find that person and get your evidence, you've found him now. What do you plan to do next?"
The daimyo's face darkened at Hatake Ziyan's words. The corners of his mouth kept twitching, and his chest heaved. It was plain to see that he was furious.
But he soon composed himself and said to Hatake Ziyan, "Lord Ziyan, you did the right thing! But if you want to replace the Hokage, could you give me a heads-up beforehand?"
Hatake Ziyan pressed Minato down into his chair and said to the daimyo, "Well, I'm here now, aren't I? It's just that this boy Minato was too fast. I couldn't get here before him!"
Suppressing his anger, the daimyo said calmly, "Very well! Since everything has been cleared up, Minato Namikaze, you are now Konoha's Fourth Hokage! Lead Konoha well and safeguard the Land of Fire!"
Looking at the visibly furious daimyo, Minato Namikaze truly feared for him. He was afraid the daimyo might get so angry that he fell out with Hatake Ziyan, who really might draw his blade and kill him on the spot. Even if Minato wanted to protect the daimyo then, he probably wouldn't be able to stop Hatake Ziyan if he was intent on killing him!
Minato Namikaze hurriedly stood as well and said to the daimyo, "Thank you for your trust, Daimyo! I will protect the peace of the Land of Fire!"
"All right! Now that everything's settled, there's nothing else, is there?" Hatake Ziyan spoke up without waiting for the daimyo to respond.
Hatake Ziyan glanced at the silent daimyo and continued, "Since no one has anything else to say, let's leave! There's no point sitting here staring at each other. What a waste of time!"
Having said his piece, Hatake Ziyan paid no attention to the daimyo's reaction and headed straight out of the residence.
"Come on, Kushina! What are you still doing there?" Hatake Ziyan took a couple of steps, realized neither of them had moved, and turned back to call out.
Before you continue