章節 107: Chapter 107
Land of Fire, Daimyo's Castle
This castle undoubtedly stands as the most prosperous location in the Land of Fire. Its luxury rivals that of the grandest castles from the Shogunate period. The expansive trading centers and markets surrounding it occupy an area more than twice the size of Konoha, with the castle serving as its epicenter.
Naturally, the castle is guarded by Ninjas and Samurai, comprised of both Konoha-born Ninjas and Ronin personally trained or hired at considerable expense by the Daimyo.
The apex of the Daimyo castle is the conference room. Seated at the primary position is the Daimyo of the Fire, a personage of similar age to Sarutobi Hiruzen, meticulously inspecting everyone present while swaying an origami fan.
The initial focus falls squarely on the leading candidate for the next Hokage, Senju Tsunade. Rumour has it that her frontline combat prowess is formidable, complemented by her direct lineage to the First Hokage, making her an indisputable choice for the Hokage position.
Her title as the world's best Medical Ninja adds an extra layer of caution, discouraging the Daimyo from immediately crossing her.
Next in line is Uchiha Fugaku, the head of the Uchiha clan. Although the position of Hokage has passed to the Fourth Generation, the Uchiha family—one of the founding clans—harbors deep-seated grievances. After all, they haven't had a single shinobi in the top brass since the founding of Konoha.
However, with Konoha's current military might, it seems unlikely that the Uchiha can instigate any significant waves in the political arena.
Following them are the Konoha Shinobi clans such as Hyuga, Ino-Shika-Chō, Inuzuka, Aburame, Kurama, and Aoi, who require no special attention.
Daimyo then shifts his gaze to the Konoha Elders, led by Sarutobi Hiruzen. A deep resentment flashes in his eyes, not due to dissatisfaction with their village management or political methods.
Instead, his frustration stems from the fact that these mighty elders allowed Mist Shinobi's army to infiltrate the Land of Fire, resulting in substantial economic and diplomatic losses in the southern region.
The Daimyo places this burden squarely on their shoulders, prompting him to agree to a change in Hokage under these circumstances.
"Hurry up and get to the point," Tatsuya remarked, his disregard evident as he consumed half of the grapes from the fruit bowl on the seat opposite the Daimyo.
Daimyo then directly addressed the matter at hand, stating, "The election of the Fourth Hokage." He paused, allowing the weight of his words to sink in before continuing. "I urge each of you to consider the candidates carefully."
Hiruzen's approach to the Daimyo reflected the customary respect of subordinates for their superiors, but Tatsuya, sitting in his place, harbored no such inclination.
In Tatsuya's perspective, the Daimyo represented the symbiotic relationship between the military minister and the finance minister—a critical distinction during war and peacetime. There was no inherent nobility on either side and while Tatsuya could be polite, he saw no reason to bow down unnecessarily.
Reflecting on past wars, he emphasized, "If it weren't for my strength, you wouldn't know if you could protect your wealth."
"Yes... there is no need to waste time," he asserted, dismissing any notion of undue reverence. "Although all the high-level officials in the Land of Fire are assembled, I don't think there is much to discuss, right?" Tatsuya scanned the room, strategically distancing himself from the Ninja clans and political representatives. He questioned, "Apart from Tsunade, is there a better candidate?"
Tatsuya's assertion found agreement among the gathered ninja clan chiefs, including Uchiha Fugaku, Hyuga Hiashi, Inuzuka Tsume, and Nara Shikaku.
The looming change in the Hokage's position was deemed inevitable. Considering Tatsuya's usual demeanor, he did not conform to the customary alignment during this critical moment. As each patriarch voiced their support for Tsunade, the disapproval on the faces of the Elders intensified. The political discussions among other Land of Fire ministers also took place in hushed tones.
Similarly, no one dared to voice dissent, even if they maintained a good relationship with Sarutobi Hiruzen.
This Ninja War had exposed numerous errors on his part – first, a failure to discern the tactics of the Cloud Shinobi, and then allowing the invasion of Mist Shinobi's Ninja army into the land of Fire's territory. Speaking in support of Hiruzen under such circumstances would only invite trouble.
Furthermore, it risked offending the newly appointed Hokage, as well as Tatsuya, whom the Daimyo referred to as a new monster comparable to Shoadai. "There is no objection, is there?" Daimyo scanned the room, but his primary focus rested on Hiruzen and his friends.
Utatane Koharu's face bore signs of worry, and she seemed ready to rise. However, Sarutobi Hiruzen, seated beside her, promptly restrained her by pulling on her cuffs and signaling with his eyes for her to stay composed.
"It's not just the position of Hokage," asserted Nawaki, the head of the Senju family at that time. "From the head of the intelligence department to Anbu, the team captains, and even the senior advisor, all positions must change."
Nawaki's eagerness to uproot the senior figures within Konoha became evident. "What did you say?" Utatane Koharu couldn't contain her reaction this time and stood up, disregarding Hiruzen's attempt to stop her. Danzo's face mirrored her concern, realizing that changing the Anbu commander might expose certain hidden secrets.
Hiruzen interjected solemnly, "The current senior executives have held their positions for decades. Replacing them all at once could lead to problems with Konoha's stability. This is inappropriate."
In contrast to the impulsive Koharu, Hiruzen displayed a more thoughtful approach. Nawaki, disdain evident in his expression, began to retort, but Tatsuya intervened, speaking quietly, "Nawaki has a point. If Hiruzen can make mistakes so can others from his generation."
Upon Tatsuya's intervention, Nawaki restrained his words, swallowing his response.
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