DAIMYO: Chapter 74/77

Chapter 74: Point The Sword

An order from the Daimyo Manor arrived at Konoha with the highest priority.

Minato immediately gave an order upon receiving it.

"Transmit my command!"

"From the border war zones of the Lands of Wind, Earth, and Water, immediately dispatch five hundred shinobi to converge at full speed on Material Transfer Station Number One!"

"A temporary combat unit will be formed in the village. Five hundred Jōnin and Chūnin are to depart immediately, destination as above!"

The Hokage's order, like a stone thrown into a still lake, instantly stirred up great waves within Konoha.

The war had just subsided.

Peace had not lasted long, and such a large-scale military mobilization made everyone sense a tense atmosphere.

The two thousand Konoha shinobi who received the order, like a surging torrent, converged from all corners of the Land of Fire toward the same location.

This material transfer station was located on the northeastern border of the Land of Fire, only about one hundred kilometers from the border of the Land of Lightning.

The materials stockpiled there were enough to support a localized war.

Together with the front-line troops led by Jiraiya, they could advance within a day to support any potential conflict.

Or they could retreat, securing the rear supply lines and providing logistical support for the entire front.

This deployment would firmly anchor the border against the Land of Lightning.

A single order from the Daimyo instantly switched the entire Land of Fire's war machine into a state of readiness.

Almost simultaneously, in the Land of Earth, the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki, an old man known for his stubbornness and toughness, also received the highest directive from his Daimyo.

After a brief moment of surprise, the Iwagakure shinobi quickly sprang into action.

A large-scale force began moving toward the border between the Lands of Earth and Lightning.

They did not cross the border but instead set up camp along it, conducting regular military exercises.

However, the towering chakra fluctuations and the murderous intent radiating from the assembled thousands of shinobi weighed heavily on the border of the Land of Lightning.

Deterrence.

Pure, naked military deterrence.

For a time, the entire shinobi world was in turmoil.

The illusion of peace was shattered, and the clouds of war once again gathered overhead.

Countless intelligence organizations frantically sought to gather information.

Why did the Land of Fire suddenly increase its troops?

Why did the Land of Earth deploy its forces to the border?

Although the Land of Wind had no visible military action, its Daimyo publicly called on all parties to exercise restraint.

Yet, in his words, the accusation was aimed squarely at a certain hegemonic nation attempting to disrupt regional peace.

Even a fool could see that these three were acting in concert.

And there was only one target.

The Land of Lightning.

The eyes of all nations converged on that land perpetually shrouded by thunderclouds.

They waited.

Waited for the Fourth Raikage's response.

Would it be concession? Or war?

The entire shinobi world was like a lit powder keg, ready to explode at any moment.

In the capital of the Land of Lightning, inside the Daimyo Manor, the atmosphere was heavy with tension.

The Daimyo of the Land of Lightning slammed the joint diplomatic note, signed by the three countries of Fire, Wind, and Earth, onto the floor.

"Outrageous!"

"They've gone too far!"

The Daimyo's furious roar echoed through the hall.

His chest heaved violently, his face flushed, eyes filled with rage and humiliation.

He had never imagined that simply wanting that small thing called the Crystal of Fire, merely wanting to enjoy the same benefits as other Daimyo, would invite joint pressure from the three great nations.

This was no longer a trade issue.

This was humiliation.

A humiliation of their entire Land of Lightning.

It was as if the three great nations were telling the whole shinobi world that the Land of Lightning had been kicked off the table of top powers.

"Daimyo-sama, please calm down," a trembling civil official spoke up, trying to soothe him.

"Calm down? How can I calm down!" The Daimyo pointed at the scroll on the floor, furious. "That brat from the Land of Fire, how dare he bully me so!"

"And those two bastards from the Lands of Earth and Wind, how dare they follow along and cheer!"

"What do they want? To force our Land of Lightning to kneel?!"

Below the hall, the civil and military officials were silent.

Everyone lowered their heads, not daring to face their Daimyo's wrath.

Just then, a voice filled with explosive power rang out.

"If they want to fight, then let's fight!"

Everyone turned toward the voice.

A burly man walked in from outside the hall, shirtless, his bronze, muscular physique radiating a fierce aura.

It was none other than the Fourth Raikage, A.

"Raikage-sama, absolutely not!"

The earlier civil official immediately stood up to refute him. "Now the Land of Earth has already deployed troops to the border, watching us closely! If we go to war with the Land of Fire, Iwa will surely take advantage of our weakness!"

"At that time, we'll be trapped fighting on two fronts, neglecting one side or the other, and the country will be in peril!"

As soon as he finished, another official echoed, "What the councilor says is absolutely correct!"

"Although the Land of Wind hasn't sent troops, its stance is clearly aligned with the Lands of Fire and Earth."

"Now that the three nations are united, if we rashly go to war, it will be one against three, with no chance of victory!"

"Chance of victory?" Raikage let out a sneer.

His cold gaze swept over the group of civil officials with disdain.

"You bookworms only know how to calculate gains and losses."

"The Lands of Earth and Wind?" Raikage's tone was mocking. "Just a pack of hyenas blinded by profit!"

"Do you really think they'd fight to the death with Kumo just for a small trade share with the Land of Fire?"

"They're just making noise, trying to seize the opportunity for their own gain."

Raikage took a step forward, his voice rising.

"As for the Land of Fire! Do you still think they're the same Konoha as before?"

"In the Third Shinobi World War, Konoha claimed victory, but at what cost?"

"Except for Minato and a few old geezers, the entire Konoha is already struggling, with a generational gap in its core strength!"

"The current Konoha is just an empty shell! The title of the strongest village should have changed hands long ago!"

"Now is their weakest moment!"

"If not now, then when?!"

Raikage's words instantly ignited the young officials in the room.

They clenched their fists, breathing heavily, and shouted in agreement.

"Raikage-sama is right!"

"Fight! Strike while he's down and finish him off!"

The civil officials, refuted and flustered, still tried to hold their ground.

One of them stammered, "But... but even a lean camel is bigger than a horse!"

"Konoha's foundation still exists, and once war breaks out, our Land of Lightning will suffer massive losses as well. It's not worth it!"

"This is exactly what the Land of Earth wants to see!"

"Shut up!" Raikage roared, lightning crackling around him, blue arcs flashing across his muscles.

The immense pressure silenced the civil official instantly, sweat dripping down his face.

"A bunch of weaklings who only know how to push pens! What do you know about war!"

"You—"

"Enough!"

Before the argument could escalate further, the Daimyo finally intervened.

The fury on his face faded, replaced by deep solemnity.

Looking at the two opposing factions below, he remained silent for a long moment.

To fight meant immense risk. Once dragged into a prolonged war, the Land of Lightning could decline permanently.

Not to fight meant swallowing unbearable humiliation and losing all prestige.

It was a difficult choice.

"This matter... will be discussed later."

"Everyone, withdraw for now."

The Daimyo waved his hand, dismissing them.

However, no one knew that late that night, the Fourth Raikage secretly met with his Daimyo.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 75: The Raikage’s Crazy Plan

Inside the bedchamber, the lights burned brightly.

The Daimyo of the Land of Lightning dismissed all attendants.

In the vast palace, only he and Raikage A remained.

Stripped of the dignity of the court, his face was filled with unresolvable sorrow.

"A, do you also think we have no choice but to fight?"

There was a trace of uncertainty in the Daimyo's voice.

A did not answer immediately. He walked straight to the giant map of the shinobi world, pressing his finger heavily on the location of the Land of Fire.

After a moment, he spoke. "Daimyo-sama, do you really think those three nations would fight us to the death just for trade shares?"

The Daimyo pondered. "The Lands of Wind and Earth might not, but the Land of Fire… their newly appointed Daimyo is a man who fought his way to power. It's hard to say."

"No." A shook his head. "I don't think any of them will."

"Cutting off someone's source of wealth is like killing their parents."

"The reverse is also true. No one will risk their own life for someone else's source of wealth."

"The Lands of Earth and Wind stationed troops on the border only to protect the benefits they gained from the Land of Fire."

"As long as we don't touch their share, they will never actively attack us."

A's analysis was sharp and precise.

The Daimyo's brow furrowed. "You mean…"

"Our enemy, from beginning to end, is only one!" A's voice deepened. "The Land of Fire!"

"As long as we move fast and strike ruthlessly, crushing the Land of Fire in one fell swoop so that they can no longer organize effective trade…"

"This so-called Three-Nation Alliance will collapse without a fight!"

"By then, the Lands of Earth and Wind, for the sake of new profits, might even turn around and ally with us!"

The Daimyo was stunned by A's bold words. His breathing quickened. "But the Land of Fire has already sent two thousand more troops to the border. How can we crush them quickly?"

"This is exactly why I came to see you tonight." A turned around, his eyes gleaming with madness and confidence. "The Land of Fire made a terrible move."

"They moved two thousand elites to the border, which looks like they can advance or retreat, but it's their fatal mistake!"

"They put all their focus on that long border."

A lowered his voice. "That means… Konoha is now an empty city."

The Daimyo's breathing hitched.

He abruptly stood up, staring intently at A, waiting for him to continue.

A's mouth slowly twisted into a cruel, savage smile as he revealed a plan that could overturn the entire shinobi world.

"We can feign peace talks."

"Send envoys to the Fire Capital, pretend to negotiate, and lull them into a false sense of security."

"At the same time, we'll continue to provoke small conflicts on the border, keeping everyone's attention there."

"And I…" A pointed to himself, battle intent surging.

"I will personally lead an elite surprise attack unit, bypass the Land of Water, secretly infiltrate the Land of Fire, and hide!"

"Our team includes a shinobi from Kumo skilled in space-time ninjutsu."

"He's developed a new technique, one that allows large-scale, ultra-long-distance teleportation."

"As long as we establish an ultra-long-distance reverse teleportation array deep within the Land of Fire…"

"Once the formation is complete…"

A's chest heaved with excitement. "We'll be able to silently send an army of shinobi straight to Konoha's doorstep overnight!"

Boom!

The Daimyo's mind went blank.

A decapitation strike!

Bypassing all defenses, ignoring all barriers, and stabbing the enemy straight in the heart!

Once Konoha is breached and the Hokage falls in battle, those few thousand border troops will become leaderless souls, collapsing without a fight.

The entire Land of Fire will become fish on a chopping block!

The plan was insane.

The Daimyo quickly regained his composure and asked the key question. "Will the Land of Water agree?"

"They certainly won't," A said coldly, "but we can quietly borrow their route while they're mired in internal strife."

"Hmm. This plan is feasible." After a moment of thought, the Daimyo nodded, then added, "But A, you forgot someone."

"Minato Namikaze!"

"As long as that man is still in Konoha, even if our army reaches the gates, we may not be able to breach them."

"Don't forget, you couldn't do anything against his Flying Thunder God Technique back then."

At that name, A's pupils shrank sharply, his muscles tensing.

He gritted his teeth, the sound audible, as if recalling the humiliation of being dominated by that golden flash.

He was an opponent carved into his very bones.

A man so fast that even A had felt powerless.

"Of course I didn't forget!" A said fiercely. "Precisely because of him, I must lead the team myself!"

"This time, I'll bring B with me!"

"B?" The Daimyo trembled slightly.

"Yes. B can already perfectly control the Eight-Tails." A's face twisted into a cruel smile, overflowing with confidence.

"Minato's speed is indeed fast, but his destructive power is limited."

"He can kill ten, kill a hundred, but does he have a Tailed Beast Ball to kill with?"

"Once we surround Konoha, I'll have B unleash the Eight-Tails directly!"

"When Tailed Beast Balls explode one after another in Konoha, will Minato save the village or come for me?"

"I want to see whose is faster, his Flying Thunder God kills or B's Tailed Beast Ball explosions!"

These words were filled with absolute dominance.

Using power to crush skill.

Using indiscriminate destruction to overwhelm precise killing.

The fire in the Daimyo's heart ignited completely, but he still asked rationally, "What about the Land of Earth?"

He pointed to the other side of the map, full of concern. "The Land of Earth isn't easy to deal with. If our main forces are all teleported to the Land of Fire, what if they stab us in the back?"

A smiled confidently. "Daimyo-sama, you overestimate the Land of Earth."

"I've dealt with Ōnoki."

"He's an opportunist, not a warrior."

"As long as we don't invade the Land of Earth, he won't dare gamble the fate of Iwa on a full-scale war with us."

"At most, he'll send a few small units to harass us, put on a show, cause minor trouble, but nothing serious."

A's gaze returned to Konoha's mark on the map, his tone resolute.

"This plan has only one key word: speed!"

"Once we act, we must achieve victory quickly!"

"As long as we move fast enough, before Ōnoki even makes a decision, we'll have already smashed Konoha!"

"When he sees the Land of Fire trampled under our feet, will he avenge the dead or come running to discuss how to divide the spoils?"

"So the Land of Earth isn't a problem at all."

Every word A spoke radiated confidence.

And they dispelled all of the Daimyo's doubts.

Yes, as long as they acted fast enough to create a fait accompli, every threat would resolve itself!

Fortune favors the bold.

The fate of a nation is no different.

"Good!" The Daimyo slammed the table and stood up. "It will be done as you say!"

"No matter the cost or manpower, the entire Land of Lightning will fully support you!"

"The fate of our nation rests on you!"

"Daimyo-sama, please rest assured, I will not fail you!" A nodded heavily, then turned and left.

The bedchamber door slowly closed behind him.

A massive conspiracy targeting Konoha, targeting the Land of Fire, was now set in motion.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 76: Asuma’s Problem

Compared to the tense atmosphere of an impending storm spreading across the entire shinobi world, the Fire Capital still radiated peace and prosperity.

Of course, that tension had not been without impact.

A while ago, rumors of a possible war with the Land of Lightning caused prices in the capital to skyrocket.

Shrewd merchants began hoarding goods, hoping to profit from the looming national crisis.

However, they clearly underestimated the Daimyo's influence.

With just one decree—

The next day, more than a dozen heads of prominent merchants were hung high above the city gates.

Their charge: disrupting the market and undermining the foundation of the nation.

Blood was the best sedative.

All speculators fell silent immediately.

Soaring prices dropped overnight.

The citizens of the Fire Capital praised the Daimyo's decisiveness and benevolence.

They only knew that the Daimyo had allowed them to continue buying food and cloth at fair prices.

As for whose heads those were, no one cared.

In the rear hall of the Daimyo Manor, the pool water steamed gently, and a faint fragrance filled the air.

Arashi leaned against the edge of the pool, eyes closed, resting.

Beside him, a soft and delicate body nestled close to him.

It was Terumī Mei.

At this moment, the sharp edge she had once shown was gone.

After clearly understanding his boundaries, and to better help her companions overthrow Yagura, she had completely submitted.

Arashi, of course, knew why she did so. He also had to admit that this woman was ruthless in her own right.

Just then, the faint sound of footsteps approached.

"Daimyo-sama," a maid's respectful voice came, "Lord Gen requests an audience."

"Hm…" Arashi, without opening his eyes, spoke faintly. "Tell him to wait."

A moment later, he rose from the water.

The sound of splashing filled the air.

His muscular body emerged, water droplets sliding down his well-defined frame.

The nearby maids blushed deeply, their faces red as they hurried forward with a robe to dry him and help him change into casual clothes.

When Arashi stepped out from the rear hall, his expression had already returned to that of a ruler.

Gen was waiting outside. Upon seeing Arashi, he quickly bowed. "Daimyo-sama."

"What is it?" Arashi asked calmly.

"The foundation work for the new district has been completed," Gen replied at once. "The Twelve Guardian Ninja have also returned to the capital and wish to see you."

"Oh?" Arashi raised an eyebrow slightly.

The elites he had sent to the construction site had finally returned.

He wondered how much they had learned after over a month of labor.

"Understood." Arashi nodded. "Prepare a banquet in the garden. I will host them tonight."

"Yes!"

Gen accepted the order and withdrew.

As night fell, the garden of the Daimyo Manor was brightly lit.

Water flowed gently, and the cool evening breeze brushed through the air.

A modest banquet had been arranged.

When the Twelve Guardian Ninja entered the garden, their eyes immediately fell upon the figure seated at the head of the table.

Rumors said the new Daimyo was very young.

But even seeing him in person, they still found it hard to believe.

He was indeed far too young.

Yet, it was this very young man who had effortlessly manipulated them and even Konoha itself.

"Greetings, Daimyo-sama!"

Without hesitation, everyone straightened and bowed deeply.

"Rise and take your seats." Arashi raised his hand, gesturing to the maids. "Serve the wine."

"Yes."

The maids moved gracefully, guiding everyone to their seats and filling their cups.

The atmosphere was quiet.

Arashi was the first to speak. "You all worked hard at the construction site for half a month."

His gaze swept across them.

Their skin was tanned, and their temperaments had become steadier.

It seemed the assignment had achieved its purpose.

Enmaru said, "It was our honor to share the Daimyo-sama's burden. It was not hard."

Arashi smiled, raised his cup, and said, "Let's eat and talk."

Everyone quickly followed his lead.

After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere gradually warmed.

Arashi set down his cup.

"Tell me," he said.

"How have you reflected on the questions I asked you to consider?"

At those words, everyone stopped eating and turned their eyes toward Enmaru.

This was the reason they were here.

Enmaru stood and bowed deeply. "Daimyo-sama, regarding the foundation work of the new district, I have some conjectures to report."

Arashi gestured for him to continue.

Receiving the signal, Enmaru continued, "At first, we were indeed confused."

"We couldn't understand why the Daimyo-sama would deploy elite combat forces for ordinary labor."

His tone was honest.

"But during those two weeks, I discovered that when shinobi strength is applied to basic construction, efficiency increases a hundredfold over that of ordinary workers."

"I boldly speculate that the Daimyo-sama's intention was to test a new model for combat power allocation."

"You deploy us where the task is most difficult. Once the critical part is achieved, we withdraw immediately."

"The remaining work, though tedious, is not hard and can be handled by civilians."

At this point, Enmaru looked up, meeting Arashi's gaze.

"In short, this is the maximization of elite combat power value."

"Using the strongest forces to solve the hardest problems, then disengaging quickly to avoid wasting valuable resources on lesser work."

"I believe that if applied in wartime, this model would be incredibly effective."

His words were logical and precise.

From a military perspective, he analyzed Arashi's decision perfectly, displaying the trademark insight of the Nara clan.

The garden fell silent.

Arashi listened quietly, then smiled.

"Excellent." He clapped softly. "As expected of the Nara clan. To analyze it so deeply from a military standpoint surpasses my expectations."

He gestured for Enmaru to sit.

Enmaru sat down, relieved.

It seemed he had passed the test.

Just then, Asuma stood up, looking at Arashi with a mix of confusion and doubt.

"Daimyo-sama."

"I understand Enmaru's analysis for the most part," Asuma began, "but there's one thing I still can't figure out."

Arashi said simply, "Speak."

Asuma said, "If your goal was to test tactics, why only half a month?"

"Wouldn't completing the construction test the model more thoroughly?"

"Stopping halfway, just after laying the foundation, feels… incomplete."

This question was on everyone's mind.

If it was just a drill, why stop halfway?

Arashi's smile deepened slightly.

Looking at the straightforward Asuma, he said, "Your question hits the mark."

His gaze swept over the group and finally settled on Enmaru. "This is also why Enmaru's answer was only half correct."

At those words, Enmaru, who had just begun to relax, felt his heart tighten.

All eyes returned to Arashi, waiting for his explanation.

Arashi continued, "Because all of you only saw the combat power, but you didn't see the people."

That sentence left everyone stunned.

What did he mean?

"Asuma." Arashi's tone sharpened. "Let me ask you something."

"During your half-month at the construction site, did you speak with any of the craftsmen?"

Asuma instinctively nodded. "Yes, when coordinating tasks…"

"Work-related matters don't count." Arashi interrupted him.

He leaned forward slightly, his tone cutting. "Asuma, did you ask any of the craftsmen their names?"

"Did you ever think about whose husband or father they were once they took off those dust-covered clothes?"

"In your eyes, were they people, or just moving tools?"

Each question struck like a hammer.

Asuma opened his mouth but couldn't say a word.

Because he had never thought of these things.

And he wasn't alone.

Even Enmaru, who had spoken so eloquently before, lowered his head in shame.

None of the others responded.

To them, those craftsmen were merely background figures to complete their assignments.

They had never tried to understand those ordinary people.

The entire garden fell into silence.

Only the maids moved quietly.

Arashi looked at their ashamed faces and said nothing more.

But his silence was heavier than any rebuke.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 77: The Daimyo’s Answer

Asuma sat blankly in his seat, the Daimyo's earlier questions echoing endlessly in his mind.

The names of the craftsmen… father… husband… are they people, or tools?

Those words shattered the understanding he had built over twenty years.

He wanted to refute it, but found he couldn't say a word.

Because everything the Daimyo said was true.

He could protect them—it was an easy thing for him to do.

But he had never truly seen those ordinary people as people.

Just then, a maid approached, preparing to pour wine for Arashi.

Arashi raised his hand to stop her.

The maid froze in confusion as he picked up his empty wine cup, glanced at Asuma, and said, "Asuma, look."

"My cup is empty. If you were me…"

Before he finished, the expressions of the Twelve Guardian Ninja changed instantly, and they all knelt down in panic, saying they wouldn't dare.

"I said, if!" Arashi sighed, shaking his head. "Get up, all of you."

Only then did they rise to their feet.

"Let's not talk about chakra consumption. If I were you," Arashi continued, "could I use ninjutsu to make the wine from that pot fly into this cup on its own?"

Even with his mind in turmoil, Asuma could still answer this question.

"…Yes."

"Good. Then let me ask again." Arashi smiled faintly, pointing at the maid beside him. "Why don't I do that, and instead have her pour the wine for me?"

"Wouldn't using ninjutsu be faster and more convenient?"

The question was simple.

So simple that Asuma didn't need to think.

"Because… because she's a maid, and pouring wine… is her job…"

The moment the words left his mouth, Asuma froze.

Maid… job…

It was as if lightning struck through his mind, connecting all those scattered thoughts into one clear realization.

The names of the craftsmen… their families… not letting them finish the building… the maid's job…

Asuma's eyes widened. He stared at Arashi in disbelief, completely stunned.

And it wasn't just him.

Enmaru, Hizashi, and the others all had the same look of shock.

They turned to the maid standing respectfully beside Arashi, and in that instant, they understood everything.

Seeing the expressions on their faces, Arashi knew it was time.

"Now do you understand?" he said calmly. "I stopped the project to return those jobs to the craftsmen who need them to feed their families."

His voice suddenly turned cold as his sharp gaze swept across the group.

"But do you think what I want to teach you is simply about efficiency, or about not stealing the livelihood of civilians?"

"You're wrong."

"I sent you to that construction site so you could see with your own eyes what truly forms the foundation of this country—something you powerful shinobi have long ignored!"

"It is those craftsmen. It is those farmers. It is the countless civilians who earn their food with their own hands!"

Arashi stood, clasping his hands behind his back. A commanding aura of authority filled the garden.

"I once heard a saying: with great power comes great responsibility."

"And yes, you do fulfill your responsibilities—fighting shinobi from other nations, completing S-rank missions, protecting the safety of the Land of Fire."

"But have you ever thought that your so-called responsibility is built on a flawed foundation?"

Asuma's body trembled, his face pale as paper.

He recalled the Will of Fire his father always spoke of, and the seniors who had sacrificed for the village.

Could it be… they were all wrong?

Arashi's voice roared like thunder in their ears.

"For decades, the Five Great Villages have been at war, endless conflict after conflict. Whose homes were destroyed each time?"

"Whose trade routes were severed? And behind every mission, how many hidden, dirty transactions existed?"

"You've been blinded by the honor of shinobi and the bonds of your village, yet you've never once looked down to see the true face of this country!"

The Twelve Guardian Ninja sat frozen, unable to speak.

Arashi's voice continued, powerful and clear.

"Your wars make merchants afraid to invest!"

"Your conflicts turn civilians into refugees!"

"Your very existence has twisted the nation's economy and people's livelihoods into something dependent on the shinobi mission system!"

"You might not have personally taken food from a craftsman's table, but this very shinobi era you uphold…"

Arashi took a step forward, his tone echoing like a strike of thunder.

"This old order has been stealing the right of every ordinary person to live and work in peace!"

"This is the greatest plunder of all!"

He looked at the Guardian Ninja with something close to pity.

"I stopped that project to make you understand one simple truth: this country doesn't lack a few shinobi who can build houses."

"What it lacks is a peaceful environment where all craftsmen can build houses without fear."

"A stable order where all farmers can till their land and feed their families without worry."

"And you, the ones with power, your responsibility isn't to take their place!"

"It's to use your strength to end this cursed age of shinobi infighting!"

"To build an unshakable, absolute order!"

"To become the sword and shield that upholds it!"

"In this new order, shinobi will be the guardians of the nation, the defenders of peace, and the enforcers of justice!"

"Not warlords who act independently, waging battles for profit!"

"Under the peace you protect, every commoner will have work, land, a home, and live with dignity!"

Arashi's voice echoed through the night, every word resounding with conviction.

"This is the new order I want to build!"

"This, in my eyes, is the true Will of Fire!"

After finishing, he turned and returned to his seat.

The garden was silent.

All the Guardian Ninja sat as if their souls had left them, their beliefs shaken to the core.

Arashi looked at them, his heart steady, only a glint of determination flashing in his eyes.

These men, their fathers, and even the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, had all fallen into a great historical delusion.

Ending the Warring States period and founding Konoha had been an extraordinary achievement.

But the so-called God of Shinobi had ultimately been too naïve.

He merely merged countless clan conflicts into a few national ones, replacing clans with villages, but in doing so, expanded the scale and destruction of war.

He naively believed that balance through the distribution of tailed beasts would bring peace.

Yet that very act planted the seeds for even greater conflict.

The one-country, one-village system he established created a distorted economy sustained by the sale of violence.

Under such a system, true peace would only strip the shinobi villages of their purpose.

Thus, the so-called Will of Fire had, from the very beginning, served only Konoha's interests.

It was an old order, rotten to its core.

And what Arashi needed to do was to correct that mistake himself.

To tear out this twisted era from its roots.

(To be continued.)