"Your subordinates pay their respects, Lord Daimyō!"
The ninja lined up according to their strength and status, then bowed to the Land of Fire's Daimyō.
The Daimyō made no gesture in return. He shifted his waist with difficulty, took an intelligence scroll from a guard beside him, and angrily hurled it to the floor.
"Konoha has betrayed the great Land of Fire. Now our territory is covered in Uchiha flags."
"This is a provocation against our Land of Fire!"
"This is a declaration of war against our Land of Fire!"
"Who among you will shoulder this responsibility, bathe Konoha and the Uchiha in blood, and rid our Land of Fire of this grave threat?"
The Daimyō pounded the wooden armrest in agitation, almost dizzy with rage.
He believed he had never wronged Konoha.
Even when he had cut their funding, it had been punishment for Konoha's defeats on the battlefield and the damage to the Land of Fire's prestige.
Ever since Hiruzen had sacrificed himself and Tsunade had taken office.
To resist the threat of Xuanyin in the north, he had repeatedly squeezed the people of the Land of Fire to provide Konoha with substantial support.
Whether in money or supplies, he had done everything in his power to meet Konoha's needs.
Years ago, rumors had already circulated in the Land of Fire's capital that the Fifth Hokage, Princess Tsunade, had borne Xuandou a child.
Chiriku had even submitted a petition specifically requesting that the Hokage be replaced.
He had ruthlessly suppressed those malicious rumors and defended Tsunade's innocence.
All so that he could keep the Land of Fire safe!
So that Xuanyin would not invade the Land of Fire's fertile lands!
Yet he had never imagined...
A benevolent and mighty ruler like himself had actually suffered betrayal at the