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The other Kages felt the weight of Horyu's words, each sentence a hammer blow to their pride. Oonoki and Mei exchanged glances, their expressions hardening. They couldn't ignore the truth in Horyu's accusations, but admitting it was another matter.
Horyu's gaze swept over the room, settling on each Kage in turn. "From the first Shinobi war to this, you were never equal to Konoha. If Hashirama didn't pity you and sell you the Tailed Beasts, there would not be five great villages, but one, and four smaller beggars."
Hashirama stepped forward, his presence commanding. "I sold the Tailed Beasts to maintain peace, to ensure a balance of power. But it seems that balance has been shattered by your own actions."
A clenched his body, trying to get himself free from Horyu's foot, his muscles tensing with barely contained rage. "We won't be lectured by a boy who hasn't seen half the wars we have."
Horyu chuckled, applying more pressure until the sound of bones cracking emanated from A's body. "This is the Shinobi World. Strength is the only currency, not your pitiful experience where you hid behind your village forces and played Kage."
A struggled beneath Horyu's foot, the lightning around him flickering but unable to break free. His muscles tensed, eyes blazing with fury. "You little—"
"That's enough," Hashirama's voice cut through the tension like a blade. He stepped forward, his presence alone commanding silence. "We are here to unite against a common threat, not to squabble among ourselves."
Horyu released A, who scrambled to his feet, glaring daggers at him but not daring to make another move. The room remained heavy with tension, each Kage's pride wounded by the display of power.
Loking at meek and submissive Kage, he snorted and left the room. He came on top of the Hokage Mountain and looked at the border, "Hirato won't attack Konoha. Even he knows he can't win. Zetsu won't try to force Hirato into action. At worst, they will hide. Is there Kabuto who can summon hundreds of legendary shinobi in this reality as well? If they can summon Rinnegan-Wood Release Madara, they might hope to achieve something; otherwise, it is futile."
He had kept Kabuto hidden so far, solely to leave the possibility of Madara's resurrection open. He had never mentioned Kabuto's name in intelligence reports, nor had he revealed his existence to anyone. He hadn't killed him either, even though he easily could have. At the time, Horyu wasn't sure if Madara's return could be beneficial. Now, with more experience and wisdom, he understood the complexities better.
"I am an older man now, and perhaps wiser," he muttered, staring into the distance. "If I could, I would do things differently, but that is fine. But that is fine. I live the way I feel like it."
His perception shifted, and suddenly he was in a luxurious room, a private quarters. The room was opulent, with rich tapestries hanging from the walls, depicting historical battles and serene landscapes. Plush cushions adorned the floor around a low table set with exquisite tea ware. Shelves lined the walls, filled with scrolls and artifacts that hinted at the owner's wealth and power. The air was fragrant with the scent of incense, and the soft light from ornate lanterns cast a warm glow over everything.
Horyu opened his eyes in another body. This person looked older, weaker, but dressed in opulent clothes. He was a life clone, a technique originally used by Mito to deceive other villages about her demise. Horyu, however, had used it for a more selfish purpose. He had killed the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and taken his place.
The room was lavishly furnished with rich tapestries, plush cushions, and ornate lanterns casting a warm glow. The scent of incense lingered in the air. As Horyu adjusted to this body, two figures appeared before him. One was a fifteen-year-old boy with red hair, a clear sign of his Uzumaki lineage, and his eyes glowed with two crimson Sharingan. The other figure was a pitch-black humanoid, Black Zetsu.
"Daimyo-sama," Zetsu said in an eerie tone, his grin obvious even without seeing his face clearly.
Horyu feigned fear, his voice trembling. "Who are you?" he asked, his body shivering slightly to sell the act.
The Uzumaki boy, Hirato, looked at him with disgust. "Ruling the strongest nation in this world, yet you are weak and cowardly," he sneered.
Horyu hid his grin behind a mask of fear, his body shivering more noticeably. "What is your purpose?" he stammered, eyes darting between the two intruders.
Hirato's expression twisted in contempt. "You will serve us, or we will tear this country apart," he declared, his voice filled with malice.
Zetsu's voice dripped with menace. "We will exchange your life for what is ours. Konoha is hiding the Tailed Beasts."
Horyu, still acting afraid, pondered this new opportunity. He could take down Hirato and Zetsu, but revealing his true identity now would complicate his plans. He wanted to maintain his position as the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. "They will never exchange them. The Tailed Beasts belong to other nations," he stammered, playing his part convincingly.
Zetsu grinned, his eerie smile sending a chill through the room. "We already caught the other Daimyo." With a swift motion, Hirato touched Horyu, and the three of them vanished.
'Flying Thunder God Jutsu?' Horyu thought, genuinely surprised. It seemed Hirato had learned his father's technique. Horyu could easily prevent them from taking him, but he still acted compliant, allowing them to believe they had the upper hand.
They appeared in a dimly lit room, where four other figures were shivering in the corner. The room was cold, and the fear in the air was palpable. Horyu scanned the room quickly, noting the frightened faces of the other Daimyo. They had been stripped of their usual opulent attire, now reduced to helpless captives.
Zetsu's voice broke the silence. "Welcome, Daimyo of the Land of Fire. Your peers have been waiting." His tone was mocking, relishing in their collective fear.
Horyu feigned more fear, his body trembling. "What do you want from us?" he asked, his voice shaking. He knew he needed to maintain his cover while gathering information.
Hirato pushed Horyu towards the others forcefully. Horyu fell to the ground, grimacing in "pain." He looked at Hirato with feigned fear.
"Just sit still and be a good hostage," Hirato said coldly, his eyes glinting with disdain.
Horyu nodded profusely, his expression a picture of terror. The other Daimyo huddled in the corner, their eyes wide with fear, watching the interaction. The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from a single flickering lantern, casting eerie shadows on the walls. The air was thick with tension, the palpable fear of the hostages hanging heavily in the room.
Hirato and Zetsu turned and left the room, their footsteps echoing down the hallway. As soon as they were gone, Horyu's demeanor shifted. A sly grin spread across his face as he straightened up, shaking off the act of fear. The other Daimyo stared at him in shock and confusion.
"What... what are you doing?" one of them whispered, his voice trembling.
Horyu smirked, his eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and cunning. "Relax. I'm a captive, just like you." He stood up, dusting off his clothes. 'Now, what to do?' He looked around the room, taking in the terrified faces of the Daimyo. 'I should wait until Konoha and the other villages learn about this. But in the meantime, let's make sure we're comfortable.'
The other Daimyo exchanged nervous glances, clearly unsure of what to make of Horyu. One of them, the Daimyo of the Land of Wind, spoke up hesitantly, "How can you be so calm? We're hostages!"
Horyu chuckled, a dark, mirthless sound. "I've been in worse situations. Trust me, we'll get out of this. Well, I will. For now, just stay quiet and do as I say."
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