" Sasuke!"
Kakashi grabbed Sasuke's shoulder and pulled him back from the throne. His expression remained calm, but a hint of sternness flickered in the one eye that was exposed.
"Enough," Kakashi said in a low voice, so only Sasuke could hear, "Don't do anything you shouldn't. The Lord Hokage's orders are to gather evidence and hold a public trial."
Sasuke glanced at Kakashi, said nothing, took a step back, and rejoined the group.
Kakashi took a deep breath. He saw through the daimyo's weakness, but was unwilling to take any further action. For thousands of years, the daimyo's rule had been deeply ingrained in people's hearts, and even Hashirama Senju had not taken that step.
Shinsei might have other ideas about the Daimyo, but without a clear order, Kakashi was unwilling to overstep his bounds.
Especially Sasuke, as a member of the Uchiha Clan, he already carries enough burdens. Kakashi didn't want his disciple to bear any more.
He turned around and knelt on one knee again.
"My lord, Sasuke acted impulsively in his youth. I apologize to you on his behalf."
However, the evidence regarding the Hokage by Kazuma is irrefutable. If you are unwilling to have the case heard, Konoha will try these missing-nin themselves and announce the results to the entire nation.
Kakashi raised his head, his gaze resolute.
" The Lord Hokage does not wish to be your enemy. However, if you insist on protecting the culprit, Konoha will have no choice but to take further action."
The daimyo slumped on his throne, his face a smudged mess of rouge and powder, an expression that was hard to discern as either anger or fear.
The hall was deathly silent. A faint, unpleasant odor wafted from the direction of the throne.
Kazuma knelt on the ground, looking at the trembling figure on the throne, the fanaticism in his eyes gradually fading.
He saw with his own eyes the puddle of urine beneath the once high and mighty name, and a sacred figure in his heart shattered.
"Please allow me... to tidy my clothes." The daimyo covered half his face with a fan and hurriedly stepped down from the throne. The attendants quickly stepped forward to help him and led him hurriedly to the back of the palace.
The candlelight in the side hall was much dimmer than in the main hall.
The lord shook off the waiter's hand and walked behind the screen alone.
He stood in front of the bronze mirror and saw himself reflected there.
His hat was askew, and the lead powder was washed away by sweat, leaving deep furrows; his rouge was smeared into two dirty red patches.
He ripped off his hat and slammed it to the ground.
He braced his hands on either side of the bronze mirror, panting heavily.
This is the daimyo of the Land of Fire? He was lifted from his throne by a mere teenager and, in front of his courtiers, he was so terrified he lost control of his bladder?
What right does he have to sit in that position? He's not even as good as a dog. A dog, when hit, knows to bite back, while he just slumps in his chair and trembles.
A waiter's cautious inquiry came from outside the door. "My lord, what do you need—"
"Roll!"
He grabbed a bronze mirror and smashed it against the doorway, causing the screen to collapse. The servants hurriedly retreated outside.
He was bent over, making muffled sounds in his throat, like a mix of crying and laughing.
He mentally went through those names one by one.
Kakashi, that respectful tone is actually a form of charity, a way of "giving you a way out."
Sasuke Sharingan eyes as if he were an insect.
Naruto kept his fists clenched from the moment he entered the hall until he left.
Sakura's calm, scrutinizing gaze sent chills down his spine.
And then Shinsei, the new Hokage who's far away in Konoha and has never taken him seriously.
He sent four men and they turned his Daming Prefecture upside down, without even bothering to show his face.
He straightened up and suddenly laughed. It was a soft laugh, but his shoulders were shaking.
He bent down to pick up the black hat, dusted it off, and put it back on.
She took out lead powder from her sleeve and, using the remaining fragments of the bronze mirror, painstakingly repaired her smudged makeup.
His hands were steady, his movements slow. Lead powder concealed his loose skin and reddened eyes. He finished the last stroke of his dark eyebrows and reapplied rouge to his cheeks.
The person in the mirror transformed back into the daimyo of the Land of Fire.
He stepped out from behind the screen. The servants quickly came forward to help him change into a brand new court robe. The fabric was clean and fresh, without the slightest odor.
He walked back to the main hall step by step along the corridor.
All eyes were once again on him. He stood before the throne, but instead of sitting down immediately, he looked down at Kazuma, who was kneeling on the ground.
Kazuma raised his head, his eyes no longer filled with fervor, only emptiness.
The lord's face was expressionless. There was no anger, no pity. He was simply looking at a useless pawn.
Then he sat down.
"The evidence against Kazuma and his associates for assassinating the Hokage is irrefutable and their crimes are unforgivable."
His voice was still high-pitched, but much steadyer than before.
"I, the daimyo, will personally oversee the trial of this case. Three days later, the trial will be held publicly in this hall to set the record straight."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Kakashi, then over Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura.
" Kakashi, you can go and inform the Hokage."
Kakashi knelt on one knee. "Thank you for your great understanding, Daimyo."
The emperor waved his hand. A servant announced the end of the court session, and the ministers filed out with a sigh of relief.
Kakashi led Team 7 and the prisoners out of the main hall.
Naruto glanced back—the daimyo sat upright on the throne, his fan waving slowly, a faint, empty smile on his face.
Naruto scratched his head, feeling that something was wrong, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He quickened his pace to catch up with the group.
Outside the palace, it was already broad daylight.
The daimyo sat upright on his throne until the last minister's figure disappeared outside the palace gates, and until the footsteps in the courtyard had completely faded away, before slowly closing his fan.
Only one trusted attendant remained in the hall, kneeling beside the throne.
The lord remained silent for a long time, so long that the waiter thought he had fallen asleep.
Then he spoke, his voice as soft as a mosquito flapping its wings.
"Go to that place. Tell Madara Uchiha that I gave him what he wanted."
The waiter trembled and responded softly, "Yes."
"Remember," the daimyo said, smoothing the wrinkles in his cuffs, his tone as casual as if he were talking about the weather, "If a third person finds out about this, your tongue will no longer be yours."
The attendant kowtowed and backed out of the palace gate. His footsteps faded into the distance.
The daimyo sat alone in the empty hall. Morning light streamed in through the window lattices, illuminating the armrests of the throne and his pale fingers holding the fan.
"Grandfather, your fears are finally coming true. Konoha is finally going to attack our Daimyo."
However, rest assured, as the Daimyo, I will absolutely not let the Hokage obtain this position so easily.
Haha, Madara Uchiha never expected that you'd still be around in this era.
You lost to Hashirama Senju before, so this time, you absolutely cannot lose to Shinsei Senju!