บท 59: PART 6.
The midday sun fell mercilessly on the vast lands of the Land of Fire, its heat radiating even from the stone slabs that paved the road.
The skies were clear, the air permeated with a soft but constant heat that made the atmosphere feel dense, almost still. The wind barely moved the leaves of the trees that lined the path, and the little birds sang lazily from the branches.
The feudal lord of the Land of Fire walked out of the building with a slow, relaxed step, as if neither the heat nor the weight of his responsibilities could affect him.
Her rich but comfortable clothes fluttered lightly with every movement. Beside him, walked an old friend, with a sterner face and hands weather-beaten.
The noble friend, dressed in sober and elegant tones, maintained an erect composure, but his expression reflected a certain uneasiness.
His dark, piercing eyes, which had always been quick to catch the subtleties of the surroundings, were slightly narrowed by the sun, but there was a deeper concern in his countenance.
"These days have been... Strenuous." The feudal lord sighed, fanning himself lazily with his silk fan, decorated with golden motifs. His tone was calm, almost disinterested, as if the burden he carried was only a slight annoyance in his privileged life.
The friend made a faint sound of nod, almost like a murmur under his breath, before asking discreetly, as if fearing that someone might hear them, although they were relatively alone on the trail.
"You mean... That problem?" The nobleman whispered with some apprehension, his eyes searching for some trace of an answer in the feudal lord's carefree face.
The feudal lord nodded slightly, still fanning his face with lazy elegance. Their eyes, often lost in distant thoughts, showed no hurry to answer, as if everything, even the subject they were broaching, was insignificant in its own way.
"Yes, yes... more riots." He said finally, with a carefree air that contrasted with the gravity of his words. "Those people... those who came out of the doorways..." He let the phrase float in the air, almost as if it were part of the warm afternoon breeze.
The friend frowned, glancing sideways at the feudal lord. Although they shared a friendship of many years, the nobleman had always been more aware of the dangers of the world, more prudent in his handling of delicate situations.
"Execute them...?" He asked in a low voice, but full of disbelief. His tone was a mixture of surprise and fear. He couldn't understand why the feudal lord would take such an extreme stance.
The feudal lord let out a slight laugh, one that barely showed any real emotion, as he moved his fan in a nonchalant manner.
" What other option do we have?" He replied calmly, looking straight ahead as they walked. "We don't know where they really come from. Some say they are of parallel dimensions, others believe that they are disturbed spirits. We can't risk it..." His eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke, as if he was deep in thought, pulling away from the conversation for a moment. "It's easier that way. Safer."
The noble friend closed his lips with a tight line, his eyes darkened with worry as his thoughts came and went.
The two continued walking, their sandals resounding softly against the stone, as the wind finally managed to move a few leaves on the trees, filling the space with a faint natural whisper.
Finally, the friend dared to ask again.
"And that mediator of the nations...? The one who asked permission to investigate in the village..." His voice, now more controlled, hid a genuine but fearful curiosity.
The feudal lord stopped fanning his face for a moment, looking up at the sky as if considering the words before uttering them. Then he let out a deep sigh, heavy with exasperation.
"Oh, yes. The mediator..." he said at last, in a tone of annoyance. "He wants to dig into the hidden village. I suppose this whole thing has him as nervous as the rest. But—" He paused, the fan resuming its slow, rhythmic movement. "I'm too tired to deal with it now."
The friend glanced at him sideways, an eyebrow raised at the feudal lord's evasive reply. But he said nothing more.
I knew that, in time, I might be able to get a clearer answer. For now, what mattered was what hadn't been said: the growing tension over the unknown, the mysteries of the portals, and the decisions the feudal lord was making, or avoiding making, on his behalf.
The midday heat seemed to have intensified even more as the last monks began to disperse with quiet murmurs among themselves.
The soft orange and brown robes of the religious stirred in the occasional breeze, and some of the nobles present were already beginning to climb into their elegant carriages. The wooden wheels creaked slightly on the stone pavement, creating a soft echo that blended with the whisper of the wind.
The feudal lord watched the scene with his usual calmness, his silk fan moving to and fro in an almost hypnotic rhythm. In the distance, his bodyguards were approaching, moving with military precision while making sure to keep the proper distance.
Each was sheathed in shining armor, with swords at their sides, always ready for any eventuality. The feudal lord did not even give them a direct look; his confidence in them was absolute.
Beside him, his noble friend stood motionless for a moment, his dark eyes filled with palpable concern. He cleared his throat before he spoke, his tone measured but charged with genuine uneasiness.
"Are you going to allow that mediator to enter Konoha... As if nothing happened?" He asked, carefully avoiding pronouncing Mifune's name, though they both knew exactly who he meant.
The feudal lord paused in his fanning, his eyes narrowed, and he raised an eyebrow with an almost offended air. The question seemed to have struck a chord, though his expression remained unfazed.
"Tsunade is in charge of Konoha, not me." He said in a calm but firm voice, which made it clear where his responsibilities ended. "My duty is to the Land of Fire, and nothing else. The mediator has my permission to go into the country, but what happens inside the hidden village is none of my business. My work is already done."
The noble friend frowned slightly, but did not insist. He knew well that the feudal lord did not usually change his mind once he had decided something. However, his concern continued to grow.
"Why did you allow me to do it?" The friend asked, cautiously. Although the feudal lord was rarely fazed by external issues, it was obvious that the situation with portals was different.
The feudal lord paused, staring at the horizon for a moment before answering. The fan was still in his hand, but his pace had slowed. He looked as carefree as ever, but his words carried a different weight.
"Because, although we have executed several people who came out of those portals, there is something that does not add up." He said quietly, but clearly. "If it's not just here, in the Land of Fire, but in other places... then it is bigger than we imagine. I don't like things that slip out of my hands. That's why I gave Mifune the benefit of the doubt."
The noble friend nodded slowly, understanding the logic, though he still didn't feel entirely comfortable.
"Tomorrow I will give the order to pause the executions." The feudal lord continued. "Until we hear from Mifune."
The nobleman blinked, visibly surprised.
"Mifune-dono...?" He repeated, almost incredulous.
The feudal lord looked up at the sky, watching as a gentle cool breeze began to move through the clouds, barely cooling the sweltering heat of the day.
For a moment, he seemed lost in thought, enjoying that brief respite that nature offered. Then he looked down, but his expression had become more serious, though he still maintained the same usual calmness.
"Mifune-dono witnessed the same thing in the Iron Country." He said slowly, with a barely perceptible shadow of concern in his tone. "You want to get to the bottom of this. If there's anything we can do to prevent more indiscriminate killings, then I'll allow it."
The noble friend, until that moment relatively calm, opened his eyes in surprise.
"Did portals appear in the Iron Country too?!" He asked in disbelief, almost unable to process what he had just heard.
The feudal lord nodded, but before he could say anything more, he waved his hand, as if to downplay the matter.
His bodyguards were already next to him, and with an elegant movement, he prepared to get into his carriage. The nobleman looked at him as they helped him into the vehicle, unable to shake the feeling that all of this was bigger than any of them could handle.
The feudal lord sat comfortably inside the carriage, his fan hiding a smile that only his calm eyes reflected. Just as he was about to close the bamboo curtains, the noble friend, visibly worried, approached the window with a hurried step.
"Will you give me permission to go to Konoha?" He asked almost urgently. "I could question Mifune-dono personally. I need more details about what happened in the Iron Country."
The feudal lord looked at him from the window, his expression almost amused by his friend's concern. He made a faint nonchalant sound before answering.
"I'm too tired to give more details." He said with a friendly smile, which was hidden behind his fan. "From now on, Konoha has a duty to solve this on his own."
With an affectionate farewell, he closed the bamboo curtains, signaling the driver to move forward. The carriage began to move slowly, its wooden wheels echoing over the stones, slowly moving away from the building.
The nobleman stood motionless, watching the carriage recede into the distance. His shoulders slowly fell, as if the weight of worry was finally crushing him.
"He will never change..." He muttered to himself, letting out a deep sigh, full of resignation
火
The Hokage room, unlike Tsunade's usual office, had a more ceremonious layout.
Two large armchairs facing each other, separated by a low table, where Mifune sat in front of the Hokage, with a tranquility that bordered on coldness. The details of the tatami under his feet and the subtle decorations of the place seemed insignificant in the face of the gravity of the situation.
Tsunade was the first to speak, her tone formal, but with a slight note of impatience.
"Mifune-dono, I appreciate the blessing of your visit, but I wonder what urgency your presence in person has required." He asked, bluntly, while his fingers drummed softly on the armrest of the armchair.
Mifune, serene, looked away at the window, as if meditating before speaking. He briefly observed the hustle and bustle of the Anbus in the streets, noticing a vigilance that did not seem usual. His gaze returned to those present and, after a slight sigh, he decided to speak.
"Konoha seems more protected than usual." He commented softly, although his observation was not a simple reflection. He knew what it meant to increase security in a village like that.
Koharu, always quicker to respond, intervened before Tsunade.
"We are going through some difficulties." He said in a firm voice.
While Homura added:
"Nothing that we can't handle in a short time."
Mifune nodded with an almost imperceptible gesture, letting the silence linger for a moment before continuing. Then, with the same serenity that characterized him, he released the information for which he had traveled to reveal:
"I'll be direct. In the Land of Iron, portals have appeared. From them emerged people... who died shortly after. These people claimed to be from Konoha."
The tension in the room increased instantly. Koharu and Homura straightened up, their faces tinged with alarm, but they maintained a rigid grip on their emotions.
Tsunade, on the other hand, barely let his eyes narrow, giving away what that information was provoking inside. Mifune watched, measuring each reaction accurately. He had said what he had just said, and now he was waiting for answers.
"And what is the reason for your visit, Mifune-dono?" Tsunade kept her composure, though her words came out more cautiously. "I hope this isn't an attempt to accuse us of something without evidence."
Mifune didn't flinch.
He had seen all kinds of diplomatic situations in his life, and this one would be no different. With an almost disconcerting serenity, he replied:
My visit is not an accusation, but a request for clarity. The appearance of people who claim to be from your village, only to die shortly after, raises serious questions. Not only in the Land of El Hierro. I'm here to determine if this is a matter involving Konoha, intentionally or not.
Homura cleared his throat, his gaze fixed on Mifune as he added:
"And what is your conclusion so far?"
Mifune, glancing sideways at the window once more, went direct.
"I'm here to ask you directly if you know anything about this. I'm not here for speculation, but for the truth. The words of those dying suggest a threat... and I want to know if you are aware of it."
The air in the room became dense, full of uncertainty. The elders looked at Tsunade, expectantly.
It was evident that this conversation was going to escalate if it was not handled cautiously. Tsunade knew she couldn't keep hiding everything she knew, but revealing too much would put Konoha in an even more delicate position.
"We are aware of certain... Irregularities." He said finally, with a mixture of caution and firmness. "It's not an attack, or something that's under our control. But it is not for me to reveal the whole truth to you without further ado."
Mifune stared at her, his face unchanged at all. He had been through many conflicts, and he could see when someone tried to avoid an answer.
"If there is anything that affects the stability of nations, Tsunade-dono..." His tone was formal but charged with authority. "You have a responsibility to inform us. I need the truth, not just what you're willing to share."
The room fell silent again, with everyone present exchanging glances, measuring the words that would come next.
Tsunade kept her gaze fixed on Mifune, her golden eyes reflecting the intensity of the conversation.
The elders, Koharu and Homura, exchanged worried glances, almost as if trying to warn the Hokage not to talk more than necessary. Tsunade felt the weight of their gazes, as if in that silent exchange they were asking her to be prudent, but they were also uneasy about what was being revealed.
With a suppressed sigh, Tsunade closed her eyes, deep in thought. The situation was more serious than I had imagined. His lips tightened, and after a few seconds, he decided to speak again.
"Can you give me more details about it, Mifune-dono?" She asked, her tone more controlled, although the tension did not leave her.
Mifune, always serene, nodded slowly. He took a moment before answering, as if the words were carefully selected in his mind.
"People began to appear about two or three weeks ago. At first, the witnesses seemed disoriented, and then, little by little, they began to emerge in various parts of our lands." He explained calmly. "However, due to the scattered nature of the events and the confusion they brought, I couldn't get there earlier to inform you."
Tsunade's eyes snapped open, and surprise was evident on her face. Beside him, the elders were unable to hide their own astonishment.
Koharu tensed his hands on his lap, while Homura leaned his body forward slightly, his face showing a mixture of concern and disbelief.
Homura was the first to speak, his voice full of uncertainty and doubt.
"Mifune-dono, are you saying that these... incidents occurred weeks ago? And only now do you arrive with this information?"
Mifune was unfazed by the questioning. With the same impenetrable serenity, he answered:
"That's right. When I arrived in The Land of Fire, I presented myself to the feudal lord to ask for permission to investigate. He granted me his permission to come to Konoha. My destiny was clear from the beginning."
The feudal lord's name echoed through the room with a heavier weight than expected. Both Koharu and Homura exchanged another look, now concerned about the possible implications of the country's leader already being aware of the situation.
"The same has happened in other parts of our territory." Mifune continued. "While many people apparently managed to survive the portals, some of them have disappeared, while others cause disturbances. That is what worries us the most."
Tsunade listened silently, but Mifune's words echoed more intensely in his mind.
He remembered what Akita had mentioned to him earlier, about people who could take advantage of misinformation and chaos. His heart pounded as he realized that what seemed like an isolated phenomenon might be just the tip of the iceberg.
He swallowed, feeling the situation get more complicated with each detail revealed. Mifune was watching her with a calm expression, but his eyes betrayed a caution he had not shown until now.
"I don't blame you for what has happened in my country." Mifune added, his tone respectful. "But I need to know why, among all the people who appeared, some claimed to be from Konoha."
Tsunade felt the weight of his words fall on her shoulders. He couldn't help but think about the possibility that his village was somehow connected to these events, even if it was indirectly. And yet, he had no clear answers.
Tsunade was in a compromised position. Mifune's words, along with Koharu and Homura's stern gazes, made her feel caught between two opposing forces.
He knew that the elders did not want him to speak, that had been the condition for continuing to count on his support in difficult decisions.
But on the other hand, the urgency of the situation could not be ignored, and the mention of people from Konoha appearing in the Iron Country made her deeply uneasy.
Would they be people from his village? ¿... Of the future?
The Hokage bit her lip hard, as she felt the pressure mount. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to calm his mind and find a way out of this crossroads. When he opened them, his decision was made.
"I'm going to explain everything." She finally said, breaking the tense silence that had taken over the room.
Hearing this, Koharu leaned forward, anger and fear mingling in his expression.
"Tsunade, you can't...!" He tried to stop her.
Homura, more serene, but equally firm, added:
"It's unwise to reveal such information... You know what the deal is!"
Mifune, always observant, did not let that exchange pass him by. His eyes narrowed slightly as he caught the tension between the advisors and the Hokage, giving him a clear sign that something much bigger was being hidden.
Tsunade, ignoring the protests, rose from his seat with an ironclad decision.
"Listen to me, Mifune-dono." He said in a deep voice, advancing a step. "This is much more complicated than a simple space-time Jutsu. What is happening is unprecedented, and we are trying to deal with something that we do not fully understand."
The mediator of nations looked at her with his usual calmness, but this time his gaze contained a spark of curiosity and distrust.
"What do you mean, Hokage-dono?" He asked in a serious tone, staying in place, but clearly expectant.
Tsunade bit her lip again for a moment, aware that what she was about to say might change the course of events. In the end, he breathed out a deep sigh and straightened up, making a final decision.
"I'll take you to the person who probably has some of the answers you're looking for." He declared, his gaze fixed on Mifune. The elders, hearing that, exchanged alarmed looks.
Koharu rose abruptly, his voice trembling in disbelief.
"You can't be serious! She...! It has not yet been decided what we will do with it!"
Homura, though more restrained, expressed similar concern, leaning forward and squinting.
"Tsunade, you know perfectly well who you mean. If you expose it, all our effort can fall apart."
But Tsunade, maintaining his defiant posture, fixed his gaze on Mifune. There was a tense, almost explosive serenity in his eyes, like a storm that threatened to break loose. Mifune, undeterred, slowly stood up, without losing eye contact.
"I have come to Konoha to find answers." He declared in a firm voice. "If you assure me that your village is not behind this with the intent to harm, then I will follow you wherever necessary."
Tsunade nodded, almost as a sign of truce.
"I'll prove it to you." She said, in a tone that denoted both his confidence and his concern. The elders, though clearly upset, resigned themselves to the Hokage's decision, knowing that they could no longer stop it.
The atmosphere in the room became even denser. The tension, far from dissipating, seemed to grow with every second, but there was a firm resolve in Tsunade, a determination that kept both Koharu and Homura silent, though not without their reservations.
Mifune, with his unwavering calmness, nodded a small gesture indicating that he was ready to follow her.
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