Traveling through three generations: Making Konoha great again!

The Land of Fire, the capital city, midnight.

The daimyo of the Land of Fire sat upright on a wide, upholstered bench, reviewing the documents submitted by various regions.

After a long while, he rubbed his lower back and sighed.

Frustration, irritability, and helplessness...

As a daimyo, he should have had immense power, but in reality, he could do very little.

The current territory of the Land of Fire was rapidly expanded after the Kingdom of the Village era.

After the ninjas who were originally scattered in various regions of the Land of Fire joined Konoha Village.

After losing their original ninja allies, most of the local lords joined the Land of Fire in search of stronger military protection.

The problem is that the relationship between the Land of Fire and Konoha is quite delicate…

Logically speaking, the daimyo is a monarch, but it's unrealistic to expect Konoha to obey his orders.

Leaving aside Hashirama Senju, the same applies to Tobirama Senju…

Even by the time of Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura's name was already widely known among the nobility.

This has led to the current situation in the Land of Fire where people obey orders but not proclamations.

Because everyone knows that the Daimyo cannot order Konoha to do private work.

This led to poor tax performance.

The various lords would symbolically pay a small amount of money to the daimyo each year to demonstrate their vassal relationship, and that was it...

"What can I do?"

"I only have a title." The Fire Country Daimyo threw the brush in his hand in a nonchalant manner, staining the table with ink, his eyes glazed over.

He can't do anything...

For a monarch who was somewhat educated and had some ambitions, the inability to change the status quo was clearly the greatest source of his mental anguish.

I want to give up, but I can't seem to completely let go...

"In Konoha, they say they've developed a health-enhancing pill that can improve physical health, and it even comes from the Holy Land?"

"This might be an opportunity."

"But I've called the Hokage so many times, and he still hasn't come. Heh..." The Fire Country Daimyo took a deep breath and muttered to himself with self-deprecation.

"Fine, at least they'll give me a little something, maybe they'll spare me a few pieces?"

"In that case, I'll just focus on getting better, do nothing, and leisurely drift through each day..."

This mental pressure is already taking its toll on his health.

He is still young and strong, but looks like a middle-aged or elderly person who has aged prematurely.

The daimyo of the Land of Fire looked up, his heart suddenly trembled, and he almost cried out in surprise.

In the center of his bedchamber, two figures stood on either side.

I don't know when it arrived...

The guards didn't make a sound.

Danzo Shimura's expression was icy.

The night lights flickered, casting shadows on his slightly withered face. A strange bandage was wrapped around his forehead, and his gaze was cautious yet malicious.

The daimyo wanted to speak, but when he met his gaze, it felt as if someone was choking him…

"Shimura Danzo? How could it be him?!"

"What does he want? Why would he suddenly appear here in the middle of the night? Could it be..." The daimyo of the Land of Fire trembled with fear.

In today's ninja world, there is a delicate balance between the nobles and ninjas of various countries.

The nobles provided the ninjas with money and resources, and the ninjas were responsible for fighting.

Despite the ingrained mindset that ninjas are tools, the development of ninjutsu and chakra technology...

Many nobles could vaguely sense that the ninjas would ultimately rule this land.

The reason is simple: ninjas were the group that wielded the greatest violence, and that alone was enough.

However, the existing antagonistic relationship among the five hidden villages has delayed this process.

Therefore, even though the nobles knew the future course of events, they wanted to keep the battlefield within the ninjas' hands as much as possible, hoping to delay the inevitable for as long as possible.

Even though conflicts between countries objectively exist.

However, if any force attacks the nobles first, it will trigger a siege by the entire ninja world.

Although the nobles lacked military power, they possessed legitimacy and resources, enabling them to hire rebels from other hidden villages to attack those who had taken the lead.

The other hidden villages were also happy to see this scene; who wouldn't want to see one more person fight than the other?

Even someone as mad as the Third Mizukage wouldn't dare to bear such pressure.

Moreover, a country needs a large number of grassroots bureaucrats for governance, and the huge turmoil caused by internal strife can also attract external attacks.

Therefore, logically speaking, Konoha shouldn't have attacked a daimyo like him...

The problem is that theory is always just theory, and reality sometimes doesn't require logic.

Just as the daimyo was gripped by fear and trying to say something.

A hearty laugh suddenly rang out, dispelling the tense atmosphere: "Lord Daimyo, it's been a long time! I've missed you dearly!"

The daimyo then came to his senses and noticed that standing next to Shimura Danzo was a gentle-looking but robust middle-aged man…

He tried to recognize it for a while before realizing with a start that it was none other than Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage of Konoha.

Why do you seem so much younger and more energetic?

"Lord Hokage, why didn't you say you were coming!" The Daimyo breathed a sigh of relief. Compared to Shimura Danzo's infamy, Sarutobi Hiruzen was known as a kind and honest man.

"I'll send someone to welcome His Hokage..."

If he comes, nothing serious should happen...

Upon hearing the name of the Land of Fire, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes flashed.

The use of honorifics like "Your Excellency" and "Your Honor" indicates that the administration's analysis of the daimyo is correct.

He is a normal person with the ability to think.

If you yell and shout, questioning him about why he came without reporting it to me, you idiot...

Then I'll have to change my name. It'll be a bit of a hassle, but it'll be alright.

"This matter is of great importance and cannot be discussed with outsiders..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke casually, as if it were a casual conversation: "Besides, you've invited me to visit many times. You probably know that the situation in the ninja world is getting worse and worse."

"Although there was a reason for it, I was truly ashamed, so I came here as soon as I had a free moment."

The daimyo forced a smile and nodded in agreement, saying, "I know, I know! Those barbarians from Kumogakure are really going too far!"

"Fortunately, our Hokage is strong enough and has a prestigious reputation; a single resignation silenced them..."

The diplomatic turmoil between Konoha and Kumogakure was naturally of great concern to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.

In fact, this is also part of the source of his stress.

After the Second Shinobi World War, Konoha's performance was hardly outstanding, so the Daimyo began to harbor some ulterior motives...

For example, recruiting some ninjas from Konoha and the Land of Fire, making them directly obey his orders...

He had already thought of a name: the Twelve Guardian Ninjas, named in the name of protection.

However, Hiruzen Sarutobi's use of the Senju Brotherhood card caused his prestige to rise steadily in the Land of Fire, and the attempts by envoys sent by the daimyo to test him were like stones sinking into the sea...

Not to mention Konoha now.

The administrative department, which deals with the Land of Fire and is controlled by Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, is like an iron gate.

Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi had already reached a distance not far from the daimyo of the Land of Fire.

She wore a gentle and cheerful smile, but looked at him with a half-smile.

Or rather, it was the bench beneath his butt...

The daimyo of the Land of Fire felt a tremor in his heart.

Normally, when important military and political affairs are held in the Land of Fire, he should sit at the head of the long table, with the Hokage sitting next to him at the lower end.

If the Hokage were to visit, he would naturally be offered a seat.

But now…

There's only this one chair!

If we call for help, let's not even talk about what the guards outside are doing...

What's the point of just muddling through like this?

"Lord Hokage..."

"You've come all night and must be exhausted. Why don't you rest here for a while?"

The Fire Country Daimyo chuckled and patted the bench: "It's huge, enough for two people to sit in!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled silently.

Just as the daimyo's heart was growing colder and colder...

"Then thank you for your understanding, Your Excellency." Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly said.

He sat relaxed in the center of the bench, while Daimyo unconsciously moved to the side.