"Hokage-sama… why wasn't I informed about something this serious in advance?"
"This has to be fake… Hokage-sama, this can't be real, right?"
Nara Shikaku stood frozen in shock, his voice heavy with exhaustion.
This was what overwork looked like.
Endless overtime. Sleepless nights. A cycle with no end.
And his superior—the great Hokage—kept throwing even bigger problems onto his plate.
Now—
The so-called loyal officials of the Land of Fire were plotting to assassinate the Daimyo.
Was this some kind of joke?
The Daimyo was still the Daimyo.
Not some clay figure to be crushed at will.
Even if he was indecisive, even if he preferred compromise—if someone truly tried to kill him, and he survived…
He would retaliate without end.
Even against Konoha.
Could those "loyal officials" really be so bold?
Instinctively, Shikaku didn't believe it.
But…
The full plan was already laid out before him.
Detailed.
Clear.
And Konoha's ANBU intelligence network was not something he could doubt.
"It's real," Uchiha Ren said calmly.
He leaned forward, hands clasped, looking slightly drowsy. He had woken up early that morning.
Shikaku's heart trembled.
That calmness…
This wasn't new information.
Could it be—
Hokage-sama is the one behind this?
Was he pushing things forward… from the shadows?
Shikaku didn't dare think further.
"Hokage-sama… what should we do?"
"The answer is simple," Ren said with a faint smile. "Protect the Daimyo—secretly. Konoha doesn't let those hundreds of billions of ryo go to waste."
Shikaku exhaled in relief.
For a moment, he had thought—
Never mind.
Though strangely… there was a faint trace of disappointment in his heart.
"Shinobi villages exist to protect the nation. To protect the Daimyo," Ren continued. "Konoha is like an umbrella."
"But it hasn't been opened in a long time."
"This time… we let the Daimyo get a little wet first."
"Only then will he understand how valuable that umbrella really is."
That smile—
Filled with unmistakable malice.
Shikaku felt a chill run down his spine.
At this point, he was certain.
The assassination attempt—
Had the Hokage's hand behind it.
"Call in the representatives of the industrial faction today," Ren said casually. "ANBU has gathered plenty of evidence. Hand it over to them."
"They're not shinobi. This kind of work suits them perfectly."
He paused, then said with satisfaction—
"This time… Konoha will cleanse the court."
Shikaku's expression changed.
He had read enough history to understand what that phrase truly meant.
"Cleansing the court."
Those who raised that banner…
Often ended with the "court" itself being wiped clean.
—
A few days later.
Lake Shikotsu.
The Daimyo's fleet passed through the waters, famous for their rich fish.
As always, he picked up a fishing rod, eager to catch a few himself.
"I've got one!!"
His face lit up with excitement as the rod bent sharply.
"This one's huge—ahhh—!"
Splash.
He fell straight into the lake.
The water was freezing.
He struggled wildly, shouting for help.
But—
No one moved.
The guards stood still.
Silent.
Blind.
Deaf.
"…Am I going to die?"
Water filled his lungs. His strength faded.
His body sank.
Inside the cabin—
"My father's going to die! I'll be the Daimyo!!"
The Second Prince shouted excitedly.
"Your Highness—this is only the first step. You should be crying," his uncle whispered, frowning.
"I… I can't cry…"
"…At least pretend!"
The uncle sighed.
The boy was useless—but that didn't matter.
The officials would govern the country.
Everything was under control.
Or so they thought.
"Protect the Daimyo!!"
"Rebels are attacking!!"
Chaos erupted.
Figures appeared along the shores.
In an instant—
The Daimyo was pulled from the water.
Twelve ANBU shinobi moved swiftly, cutting down fleeing guards and securing the area.
"Ugh—!"
The Daimyo coughed violently, trembling from the cold.
A medical ninja forced a greenish liquid into his mouth.
Warmth spread through his body instantly.
Healing chakra flowed.
"What… what happened?"
He looked around, shaken.
Then—
Realization struck.
"Someone tried to kill me!!"
His voice rose in fury.
"Today's guards—every single one of them dies!!"
"And there's more—there must be a mastermind!"
His gaze swept across the officials.
Everyone was suspicious.
"Who are you?" he demanded.
"We are the Twelve Guardian Ninja," one of them replied calmly. "Assigned by the Hokage to protect you in secret."
The Daimyo froze.
Then remembered.
Yes.
The Hokage had arranged this.
Even he didn't know their identities.
"…The Land of Fire has bred a pack of traitors."
His expression darkened.
"These people—hand them all over to Konoha."
"Use whatever methods you want."
"Break them."
"Yes, Your Highness."
—
The assassination attempt spread across the capital by that afternoon.
Those involved immediately tried to flee.
They had prepared escape routes long ago.
But—
Konoha moved faster.
Too fast.
Every single one of them was captured.
Even those who had already fled the country—
Were dragged back.
The prisons overflowed.
"Damn it!!"
"This is a trap!"
"There's a traitor among us!!"
In their cells, the so-called loyal officials turned on each other.
—
Late at night.
"Father, I was wrong!!"
"It was Uncle! He forced me!!"
The Second Prince knelt, sobbing, shifting all blame.
The Daimyo said nothing.
In his hands—
Confessions.
Under genjutsu, every detail had been extracted.
Planning.
Bribery.
Execution.
Aftermath.
Even the plan to install his foolish son as ruler.
Konoha's efficiency was terrifying.
If they claimed ignorance—
He wouldn't believe it.
But that didn't matter.
At least—
They hadn't wanted him dead.
"…Strip him of his status. Confine him for life."
The Daimyo spared his son.
Killing him would only damage his own reputation.
After dealing with the matter, he entered court the next day.
Many seats were empty.
"Your Highness, treason demands execution of three generations!"
"I agree!"
"Agreed!"
The industrial faction stepped forward first.
The rest followed immediately.
No one dared oppose.
The Daimyo's gaze lingered on them.
They had worked hardest in capturing the traitors.
Clearly—
They had already aligned with Konoha.
In the end—
He had no choice.
He granted them the largest share of power.
A reward.
And a gesture.
The political landscape of the Land of Fire was reshuffled overnight.
Konoha's influence—
Finally reached the core of power.
And now—
Through the industrial faction—
They could eliminate obstacles openly.
No need to get their hands dirty.
After all—
Business thrived on harmony.
—
Back in Konoha—
The news spread like wildfire.
The Konoha TV station replayed the assassination repeatedly.
The villagers were captivated.
After all—
Everyone loved gossip.
Life soon returned to normal.
Expansion continued.
—
On a moonlit night—
Uchiha Ren visited the lab as usual.
"Senju Tobirama… are you getting old?" Ren said casually. "Why haven't you developed a technique to capture Black Zetsu yet?"
Tobirama exploded.
"Bullshit!"
"Do you have any idea how complex this is?!"
"It needs instant activation, underground penetration up to fifty meters, and resistance to Yin–Yang Release—what kind of insane requirements are these?!"
Ren shrugged.
"Then why were you so efficient when creating techniques to counter the Uchiha?"
"That's completely different!"
Tobirama snapped.
"…So how long?"
"At least two more months."
Ren didn't press further.
Then, as usual, their conversation drifted.
"By the way," Ren said, "you should thank me."
"I'm the one avenging you."
Tobirama snorted.
"You naturally evil Uchiha brat…"
"Using underhanded tricks again."
He paused.
Then—
"…But speaking of it—those Kumogakure bastards deserve a proper beating."
His mood visibly improved.
Back then—
If not for Kinkaku and Ginkaku—
He wouldn't have died.
Wouldn't have been dug up.
Wouldn't be enslaved in this lab.
"…Damn it."
He gritted his teeth.
Then suddenly—
His expression brightened.
"Oh right."
He took out a sample.
"This is my latest invention."
"Explosives to replace explosive tags."
"Three to five times cheaper."
"Same power."
"And most of the production can be handled by ordinary people—not shinobi."
His eyes gleamed.
Now—
That was something worth using.
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