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The Daimyo fell silent, watching Horyu warily. Horyu paced the room, his mind racing. He knew he had to keep his cover intact, at least for now. Revealing his true identity too soon could complicate matters. He needed to bide his time, gather information, and wait for the right moment to strike.
As he paced, he reached out with his senses, trying to detect any chakra signatures nearby. The walls of the room were thick, and the chakra-suppressing seals made it difficult to sense anything beyond the immediate vicinity. He frowned, realizing that Hirato and Zetsu had taken significant precautions.
"Looks like they're not taking any chances," he muttered to himself. The Daimyo were still fearful but slightly more reassured by Horyu's confidence. Horyu sat down, leaning against the wall and closing his eyes.
At the top of the Hokage Mountain, Horyu opened his eyes, a grin spreading across his face. He turned and began walking back to the meeting room.
As he entered the room, the Kages were preparing to leave, their faces etched with a mix of frustration and resignation. Horyu's presence drew their attention immediately.
"The Daimyo have been kidnapped by an unknown force," Horyu announced, his voice steady and commanding. The room fell silent, the weight of his words sinking in. "I suspect it is Black Zetsu."
Still stung by the earlier confrontation, A roared, "This is not a joking matter, boy!" His muscles tensed, lightning crackling around his fists. The room's atmosphere grew heavy with his fury.
Horyu ignored A's outburst. He turned to Hashirama, his voice calm but urgent. "They will demand the Tailed Beasts in exchange for the Daimyo," he said, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
Hashirama's eyes narrowed, the gravity of the situation sinking in. "This complicates things," he muttered, his mind already working on a solution. "We can't afford to lose the Daimyo, but giving up the Tailed Beasts is not an option either."
Tobirama stepped forward, his expression stern. "We need to devise a plan that ensures the safety of the Daimyo without compromising our strategic position," he said, his voice firm. "Uchiha, do you have any insight into their location?"
Horyu shrugged, his nonchalance evident. "No idea. When people entered the Daimyo's room, they were gone. At first, they looked around, but soon, panic set in. That's how I got the news. It should spread sooner or later."
The room fell silent as the gravity of Horyu's words sank in. Oonoki, Hanzo, and Mei realized that Horyu had a vast spy network if he could receive such news so quickly from five nations. They each made a mental note to clear out their villages as soon as they returned. Renji, being less experienced, didn't grasp the full implications of Horyu's statement, while A was still raging, his anger palpable, but no one cared about his outburst.
Oonoki, his expression stern, finally spoke up. "If you received the information this quickly, it means your network is extensive and efficient. But what is your plan to retrieve the Daimyo?"
Horyu crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing slightly. "The first step is to ensure that the villages understand the severity of the situation. We need to make it clear that this threat is real and immediate."
Mei nodded, her expression thoughtful. "We cannot allow them to use the Daimyo as leverage. But if we attack without a plan, we risk their lives."
Hanzo, still seething from earlier, managed to compose himself enough to speak. "So, what's the plan, Uchiha? How do we retrieve them without giving in to their demands?"
Horyu's eyes gleamed with a sharp, calculating light. "We need to gather more intelligence. Right now, our priority is to locate their exact position and understand their defenses. Once we have that, we can formulate a precise and effective rescue operation."
A, unable to contain his frustration any longer, slammed his fist on the table. "Enough with the talk! We should be out there, fighting! We can't just sit here and let them dictate terms!"
Horyu smirked, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the furious Raikage. "As always, a brute without a brain cell. Go ahead, charge in. Let's see where that gets you without knowing a damn thing about your enemy."
A's muscles tensed, the crackling of his lightning chakra intensifying. "You dare—" he began, but Hashirama's raised hand silenced him.
"Enough," Hashirama said, his voice firm. "This isn't the time for petty squabbles. We need a coordinated approach if we're to rescue the Daimyo and maintain the stability of the shinobi world."
Oonoki sighed heavily. "He's right. We can't afford to let our emotions dictate our actions. We need a plan, and we need to act swiftly."
Hanzo reluctantly nodded. "Agreed. But we need to act quickly. The longer we wait, the more leverage they have."
Horyu didn't care what they did, having already planned ahead for both possibilities. As the others were still discussing, a messenger entered, delivering urgent news. "The Daimyo of the Land of Fire has been kidnapped from his office."
Soon, messengers from other villages followed, each with the same grim news. The tension in the room grew palpable as the reality of the situation set in. Horyu watched from a corner, his expression unreadable.
On the Daimyo side, Horyu, disguised as the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, gathered the other four Daimyo. When he was certain no one was watching, all five of them vanished. The other Daimyo were initially shocked, but relief soon washed over them. They thought they were being rescued. However, their relief turned to horror when they realized they were not in a safe place but another dark, damp cave. Horyu kicked them into a makeshift cage and sat on a throne-like rock formation, his expression twisted with satisfaction.
Looking at the four captive Daimyo, he couldn't help but laugh. "Oh Hirato, I wanted to settle with the Land of Fire, but you offered me the whole world. Then I shall take it," he declared, his voice echoing through the cave. His body started to split, a sight that filled the Daimyo with terror. Although the Life Clone Jutsu weakened him tremendously, Horyu had a few potions he earned from the system and his Uzumaki physique, which would compensate for it soon enough.
As the four clones began to take human shape, they mimicked the appearances of the other four Daimyo. The real Daimyo watched in shock and disbelief from their cage. The clones' transformation was flawless, down to the last detail. Their movements, their voices, even their mannerisms were an exact match.
"Welcome, gentlemen," one of the clones said, bowing mockingly. "From now on, we will take your places and ensure that everything goes according to plan." The real Daimyo were speechless, their fear and confusion evident.
Horyu's original body remained seated on the throne, observing his handiwork with a satisfied smirk. "You see, power isn't just about strength or numbers," he said, addressing the captives. "It's about control. And now, I control everything."
One of the Daimyo, finding his voice, shouted, "You won't get away with this! The shinobi villages will come for us!"
Horyu chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, they will," he replied with a sinister smile. Rising to his feet, he joined the other four clones. "And they will find five weak, afraid, and meek Daimyo."
As he spoke, the clones began to mimic the terrified expressions and trembling postures of the original Daimyo when they were first captured. The room was filled with the sound of their feigned whimpers and pleas for mercy.
The original Daimyo watched in horrified silence, their eyes wide with fear and confusion. Horyu's plan was unfolding before them, and they were powerless to stop it.
With a final glance at the caged Daimyo, Horyu and his clones turned and left the room. Back in Konoha, Horyu closed his eyes, then listened to the report his clone delivered. Hiding his smirk, he said, "I found them. A spy of mine carrying my mark tracked their location. Hashirama, Tobirama, I will take you there, and we need to stop Zetsu and his puppet."
Hashirama nodded, his expression serious. "Good. The safety of the Daimyo is paramount. Let's move quickly."
Tobirama's gaze was sharp, snorted. "Showing off with my creation."
As they prepared to leave, Tsunade stepped forward, concern etched on her face. "Be careful, grandfather," she said to Hashirama. "Also remember what grandmother said."
Hashirama smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Tsunade. We'll bring them back safely."
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