What's wrong with having a large harem if you're the emperor of the ninja world?

Instead, it stood proudly atop the carriage shaft, its gaze disdainful.

It wasn't as if they were there to demand an explanation.

Instead, they went to inspect their own territory.

Behind him, inside or around the imperial carriage.

Following a group of women from diverse backgrounds, yet all equally captivating:

Mikoto Uchiha changed into her battle suit, her expression complex yet resolute.

Uchiha Hikaru looked around like a curious child, as if he were just going on a picnic.

Uchiha Izumi, like the most loyal guard, sharply scanned her surroundings.

Kurenai Yuhi, Hinata Hyuga, Ino Yamanaka, and Hana Inuzuka each displayed a different expression: some were numb, some timid, some bewildered, and some resentful...

But they all had no choice but to follow along.

This created a "landscape" that evoked both much speculation and extreme unease.

Behind the group were one hundred black-clad assassins led by Uchiha Tetsuka.

Although their numbers were small, their concentrated killing intent and absolute discipline made them a force to be reckoned with.

What's even more surprising is...

There were also several specially made prison vans in the procession!

They are being held inside.

It was the wounded and dejected Sarutobi Asuma, Nara Shikamaru, and Inuzuka Kiba, among others!

They were presented as irrefutable evidence and spoils of war for the "assassination of the emperor."

They were paraded through the streets as a public spectacle.

This greatly inflamed the anger of the people along the way towards Konoha.

Di Yan deliberately slowed down his pace.

They made a big show of it all the way.

It was as if he was afraid others wouldn't know he was going to Konoha to "demand an explanation."

In every town they passed through, an announcement about "the Hokage sending ninjas to assassinate the Emperor" would be read aloud.

Public opinion was completely ignited.

This is a slow, deliberate method of cutting meat.

They continuously exerted enormous psychological and political pressure on Konoha.

……

at the same time.

Konoha Village, Hokage's office.

The atmosphere was as heavy as lead, making it almost impossible to breathe.

The Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, rested her hands on her desk.

Her brows were furrowed, and her usually spirited face was now filled with fatigue and anxiety.

I knew being Hokage would be this troublesome.

I shouldn't have agreed to Jiraiya and that brat Naruto's request in the first place...

On the desk in front of her.

It was filled with intelligence about the route of the Emperor Yan's army, public opinion along the way, and the official accusation documents from the Land of Fire.

In the office, almost all of Konoha's top officials were gathered together.

The two advisor elders, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, sat to one side with gloomy expressions.

His eyes were filled with worry and a hint of barely perceptible resentment.

Nara Shikaku frowned.

The pipe in his hand had long since gone out.

He was rapidly analyzing the complex situation before him.

But the devastating news of his son's capture and the return of his fingers clearly greatly affected his composure.

Yamanaka Inoichi's face was pale, and his hands trembled slightly.

He was worried about his daughter Ino's safety.

Kakashi Hatake's exposed eye lost its usual laziness and became unusually sharp.

He leaned against the wall, seemingly casually.

In reality, all the muscles in the body are tense, and the brain is working at high speed.

They were considering all possible solutions.

It can be said……

Apart from Jiraiya, who led Naruto on his training trip.

All the high-ranking officials in Konoha who could make decisions were here.

As for Shimura Danzo?

He was naturally not there.

At this critical juncture when "Konoha has become the target of everyone's criticism."

He and the "Roots" department he leads.

It seemed as if it had completely disappeared, making it all the more suspicious.

"asshole!"

Tsunade slammed her fist on the table.

With a loud bang, several cracks instantly appeared on the solid wood tabletop.

"That brat Di Yan! He's clearly framing me!"

“How could Asma possibly assassinate him! That’s just an excuse!”

"It's no use saying all this now, Tsunade."

Koharu Utatane sighed, her voice hoarse, "The announcement from the Daimyo of the Land of Fire has spread throughout the country, and public opinion is extremely unfavorable to us."

"Asma is a fact in their hands, and we cannot deny it."

Mitomon En replied, "The most urgent task is how to deal with the arrival of Di Yan."

"He brought a hundred elite soldiers and took hostages... He's up to no good."

"We don't know when he acquired such power. Isn't he accompanied by the strategist and guardian ninja?"

The atmosphere in the Hokage's office remained heavy.

But after the initial shock and anger...

Led by Nara Shikaku, the strategists began to calmly analyze ways to break the deadlock.

Nara Shikaku remained silent for a long time, his fingers unconsciously tapping the back of the chair.

This is his habit when he is thinking deeply.

Finally, he spoke slowly, his voice steady yet carrying a hint of barely perceptible worry:

"Gentlemen, we now need to distinguish between primary and secondary contradictions."

Lu Jiu's gaze swept over everyone. "Di Yan's trip is quite grand."

“Taking hostages and demanding answers from Konoha seems to be the biggest threat.”

"But ultimately, he still represents the identity of the 'official government of the Land of Fire'."

"What he relied on was the 'righteous' legitimacy brought by that announcement and the hostages in his hands."

He paused, then continued his analysis: "There are actually rules to follow when dealing with this kind of 'official' accountability."

"It's nothing more than negotiation, wrangling, and mutual pressure."

“We can deny the assassination allegations and emphasize that Asma was either killed in an accident or framed while performing a normal mission.”

"We can even countersue Di Yan for unjustly detaining Konoha ninjas... As long as we remain calm internally, given Konoha's strength, Di Yan's hundred ninjas wouldn't dare to actually make a move."

"What he wants is likely just a bargaining chip, or an excuse to get involved in Konoha's affairs."

Nara Shikaku's words elicited slight nods from many of those present.

indeed.

Compared to internal rebellion.

This kind of oppression comes from the outside and is carried out under the guise of official authority.

For a military group like Konoha.

On the contrary, there are mature response mechanisms.

Although the emperor was nominally the head of state.

But does he want to directly command Konoha's army?

That's wishful thinking.

“However,” Shikaku’s tone shifted, his expression turning extremely serious, “the real deadly threat comes from within!”

"It comes from Danzo and his roots!"

Upon hearing this, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado both sighed in unison, their faces showing expressions of deep sorrow.

"How could Danzo... have come to this?"

"To be so desperate for the Hokage position, they actually colluded with outsiders and wreaked havoc on Konoha?"

At this moment, Di Yan's calculations were perfectly proven.

After receiving the severed finger and the secret letter containing "Danzo's instructions," the three clans of Ino, Deer, and Butterfly...

As expected, they immediately shared the information with the Naruto faction.

They unanimously concluded that Danzo was the mastermind and the biggest traitor.

Di Yan successfully shifted all the vigilance and hatred of Konoha's higher-ups onto Danzo.

Tsunade slammed her hand on the table, her anger reignited:

"That's right! The root of everything lies with that old bastard Danzo!"

"Emperor Flame? It's nothing more than a weapon Danzo uses, or an external reinforcement he finds!"

"As long as Danzo is dealt with and the internal rebellion is quelled."

"Di Yan's small force and so-called 'punishment' are nothing to be afraid of!"

"Without an inside man, what gives him the right to run rampant in Konoha?"

This judgment was accepted by the majority of people.

"That's right! As long as the internal situation is stable, Konoha has nothing to fear from any external threats!"

"Danzo and his Roots are the real threat!"

"First, get rid of the houseworms!"

Everyone said something to me.

The focus of the discussion quickly shifted from how to deal with Di Yan to how to prevent and suppress a possible coup d'état by Danzo.

They began analyzing the strength of the Root organization, the families that might support Danzo, the weaknesses in the village's defenses, and how to strike first...

A subtle sense of underestimation began to spread.