Daimyō Mansion, Land of Fire
The daimyo sat elegantly, covering his mouth with a folding fan, and spoke with a hint of frustration to Sarutobi Hiruzen, who stood below him.
"Why didn't I receive an invitation? I wanted to attend the competition too."
One of the ministers nearby slammed his fist on the table in anger.
"It's all the Uchiha clan's fault! They used to shamelessly come to us asking for military funding. Now they've disbanded the ninja village and think they can just break away from our authority? Your Highness, you must punish them severely!"
Another minister chimed in with enthusiastic agreement.
"Exactly! What's so special about Konoha? If we lose them, we'll just establish a new Konoha. It will still belong to the Land of Fire!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face twitched uncontrollably.
These fools have no idea what they're dealing with.
The arrogance of the daimyo's ministers had blinded them to the truth. They had been living comfortably for so long that they forgot the basic reality of their situation: there were two "jades" in the Land of Fire, and the Uchiha were one of them.
Did they really believe the Uchiha clan wouldn't dare to act against them?
Assassinations between nations and factions had always been part of the ninja world. No one was untouchable.
Sarutobi Hiruzen cleared his throat, breaking the tension, and spoke diplomatically:
"Daimyo-sama, this matter requires careful consideration. For now, our priority should be to gather strength and establish alliances with other ninja villages. Without a functioning ninja village in the Land of Fire, creating cooperative agreements with outside forces is the best course of action."
The daimyo, seemingly unbothered, pouted dramatically and waved his fan.
"Oh, very well, very well. The Third Hokage always has the right ideas. I'll leave this matter in your hands."
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed inwardly.
This daimyo has no sense of urgency whatsoever.
Despite losing control of Konoha, the daimyo seemed far more interested in his leisurely pursuits than addressing the growing power of the Uchiha.
In the past, when Sarutobi was Hokage, such a carefree daimyo would have been ideal. He could have easily manipulated him to secure funding or resources. But now, with the Uchiha steadily consolidating power, the situation was far from favorable.
The influence of Uchiha Toki was growing at an alarming rate. Sarutobi Hiruzen had gone to great lengths to fracture Konoha in hopes of forcing the daimyo to act. His goal was clear: to pressure the Fire Nation's aristocracy into uniting against the Uchiha clan.
He knew better than anyone what would happen if the Uchiha's current trajectory went unchecked. During Uchiha Madara's time, the clan's strength was so overwhelming that the other villages didn't even dare to breathe a word of dissent.
And now, with Toki rising as a new Madara-like figure, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt an urgent need to prevent history from repeating itself.
But the daimyo's inaction had left him restless. If they delayed any longer, the Uchiha would inevitably replace the daimyo as the de facto rulers of the Land of Fire.
Already, the Uchiha were handling missions directly, bypassing the daimyō's authority. They had transformed Konoha into a commercial hub, effectively turning it into a self-sufficient entity.
If the ninja world grew accustomed to this new reality, any attempt to unite against the Uchiha would be futile.
---
Sarutobi Hiruzen's aura flared, his oppressive chakra filling the room. His piercing gaze locked onto the daimyo as he shouted:
"Your Highness! We cannot delay any longer! You must act now and unite the nobles in your name, or it will be too late!"
Startled by Sarutobi Hiruzen's sudden outburst, the daimyo's face paled. Shaken, he nodded quickly in compliance.
"O-Okay, okay! I'll make contact immediately…"
But just as he was about to call his attendants, a vortex suddenly appeared behind him.
Everyone in the room froze as a figure emerged from the spiraling distortion.
It was Obito.
The masked man's voice was laced with mockery as he chuckled darkly.
"Trying to act now, huh? A bit late for that…"
Before anyone could react, Obito unsheathed a long blade and drove it straight through the daimyo's heart.
The daimyo's fan dropped to the floor as his lifeless body slumped forward.
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[T/N: Guys, I am taking a 2 week break. I think I burned myself 😂 writing ✍️ 203 chapters in 62 days. All of my works will stop as of today and return after 2 weeks. I know you are upset, but my fingers are hurt from writing every day. Doctor said rest a month, but I am willing to return in 2 weeks for you guys. Bye 👋]