Kōmei's sudden arrival took everyone by surprise.
Just then, the guard who had left the room earlier hurried back in. Looking deeply uncomfortable, he said to Young Master Sagi, "I told him beforehand that you were receiving guests, but Lord Kōmei insisted on coming in. I... we couldn't stop him."
"It is no matter. Lord Kōmei is my elder and was my late father's right-hand man. Surely he has a reason for barging in so rudely."
Even the mildest person had a temper.
The seemingly amiable youth's words now had an edge to them, outwardly praising Kōmei while covertly mocking him.
But Kōmei acted as though he hadn't noticed. Instead, he shook his head in disappointment. "A mere child is unfit to discuss such matters. If you trust others so readily, how could you possibly govern an entire country?"
At that, Tsunade finally lost her patience. She slammed the table and stood.
"You've been making snide remarks and calling us frauds ever since you walked in. I wasn't going to bother arguing with you, but you just won't stop."
Kōmei glanced at her. "In all my years governing this country, I have never heard of Konoha's ninja coming to the Daimyō's Mansion to demand money. Since when has the Land of Fire been unable to fund Konoha's military? Or have Konoha's ninja all become bandits?"
Those mocking words left Tsunade, Shizune, and the others looking displeased.
But that was followed by the embarrassment of having no way to refute him.
If Tsunade really were a bandit, she could simply rob the Daimyō's Mansion and leave without a care.
But she had mentioned Konoha earlier. She couldn't do that, or she would tarnish the village her grandfather had founded.
And so her expression suddenly grew calm.
"We're leaving, Shizune, Sakura."
Tsunade