Deep within the daimyo's residence, in a side hall used as an office, the daimyo slowly leafed through documents concerning the Guardian Ninja.
Minato stood silently by the wall, his eyes closed as he rested. Some of the guards in the room still watched him warily.
Just then, a knock came at the door.
"Enter!" a guard called loudly.
An official hurried through the door and knelt on the floor. "Wandering Shinobi are attacking east of the city!"
"Is the situation serious?" the daimyo asked unhurriedly, without raising his head.
"There are roughly eighty of them, the largest group this year. We need troops from inside the city to reinforce our defenses, or some Wandering Shinobi may slip into the city," the official said quickly.
"Then send troops-"
Before he could finish, Minato opened his eyes and stepped forward.
Seeing this, the daimyo looked up at Minato. "Konoha Ninja, what is it?"
"There's no need for all that trouble. Leave those Wandering Shinobi to me," Minato said.
The daimyo raised an eyebrow. "There are eighty of them. Are you certain?"
Minato smiled without answering.
The daimyo understood what he meant and waved him away. In an instant, Minato vanished from everyone's sight.
The guards fell silent. They had not seen how Minato had left.
The daimyo calmly picked up the documents, glanced at them, then put them down again.
"One man defeating eighty Wandering Shinobi, and he is still far from Konoha's strongest ninja-it seems the Guardian Ninja matter will have to be expedited."
After leaving the daimyo's residence, Minato glanced back. An oppressive gloom washed over him.
This place was far too stifling. It did not suit him.
Tsunade, Shizune, Xue Ge, and Lilan stood atop the wall, watching a group of Wandering Shinobi gathered outside the city, seemingly