Chapter 66.4- One Thousand Hands

“My name is Shorirama Senju. I am the Grandson of Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage of this village. My blood runs through this village. I am not a fan of birthrights, but I can tell you that in more ways than you know, this village is mine, and if that was not enough, add the fact that I am the strongest shinobi in this village, then I struggle to imagine just what there is for you to be yapping about. Either support my ascension or stay out off my way. Just know that if you dare to nip at my heels as I climb than I will be sure to smash your head in with my boot” I said, making it clear that I would kill him if he got in my way.

“For once in your short-lived reign as Hokage, do the right thing. Yield the chair and hat to me peacefully. Let the village witness a peaceful transition, show them that the Great Tree remains strong with me as its guardian. If you can’t do that much, then step out of the way. When the time comes, I will secure your removal, because we both know that you are far from fit to be Kage of anything in your present state— it’s an argument if you were ever truly fit enough. Don’t fight, Saru. Be a good boy” I said, tapping him on the cheek twice before turning around and leaving the room. That was all I had to say to him. On my way out, I returned Onoki to his scroll. His body, I was going to take to the Daimyo.

—

“The Daimyo will see you now” The attendant said, walking into the waiting room I sat in. The Daimyo’s quarters in the village were a massive mansion— a gift from my Grandfather surely. I could feel him in the wood beneath my feet. I could feel him in the air that flowed through this place. It sat empty most of the time, but since Uraume had extended the invitation on my behalf, the Daimyo had essentially began conducting his court from here. He had left the Capital for the Ninja village, and I knew it was not a fact that many were taking with enthusiasm.

Several of the civilians had already complained about the nobles and their tendency to block the roads with their massive palanquins and escorts whenever they deigned to step into the marketplace. Thankfully, that was the only thing being complained about. Well that, and the strain it was placing on the existing security apparatus in the village. Security was usually handled in a rotating series of C-rank missions assigned to Chiunin within the village. With so many more people in the village— because where the court went, the courtiers and their attendants followed. Staff, servants, even just merchants who delighted in providing nobles with their pleasures, had flocked to the village en masse. Presently we had taken some of the genin and begun assigning them security missions as a stopgap, but sooner or later we would have to find something more permanent.

Shinobi made for terrible law enforcement. All our training was focused on killing our targets. That made us a poor choice for separating a fight between then servants for two different noble families who insisted that they deserved the last bottle of rice wine in the village. That bottle still sat in my office, waiting for some sort of resolution. The servants concerned? Well, one overzealous genin had forgotten just how soft civilians were and at least two of them would never walk again. Another headache I had pushed back until we dealt with Iwa.

It was the thoughts of the problems that his presence was causing me that I walked into the Daimyo’s throneroom.