Only two days remained until the coronation ceremony.
Fire Capital, a city that had just undergone a bloody purge, was not in chaos. Instead, it was orderly.
The streets were spotless, and the nobles and ronin who used to roam freely were nowhere to be seen.
In their place were teams of sharp-eyed guards, clad in armor.
They patrolled every street corner in groups of three.
A carriage adorned with the Uchiha clan fan crest slowly entered the city.
Inside the carriage, Uchiha Fugaku, Hyuga Hiashi, and the clan chiefs of the Ino-Shika-Cho families rode together, conversing merrily.
However, due to Akimichi Choza's presence, it felt a bit crowded.
Just then, Hyuga Hiashi's expression changed slightly, and veins bulged around his eyes.
"Hiashi, what's wrong?"
Nara Shikaku, who was beside him, noticed his abnormality and quickly asked.
The others also cast inquiring glances.
Hyuga Hiashi did not answer immediately. His Byakugan penetrated the carriage, scanning the surrounding buildings, his brows tightly furrowed.
"Something's not right..."
After a long while, he slowly spoke. "The defenses of this capital are more than just the guards we see."
"Oh?" Nara Shikaku's interest was piqued.
"There are shinobi hidden at every critical intersection." Hyuga Hiashi said with a solemn tone.
Uchiha Fugaku snorted, "Are they the Twelve Guardian Shinobi?"
"Doesn't seem like it."
Hyuga Hiashi shook his head. "Their chakra fluctuations are unfamiliar, and there are about thirty-odd of them, but..."
"Of all the people I've detected, the weakest are at least chunin level. Some of their chakra are even on par with ours!"
Hiss—
The carriage instantly fell silent.
The relaxed expressions on everyone's faces vanished.
A shinobi force of over thirty individuals, at least chunin level? And with experts of elite jonin level?
This power was enough to instigate a coup in a small country!
Moreover, this force did not belong to Konoha. It seemed to be the doing of that Daimyo!
"This is troublesome..."
Nara Shikaku rubbed his forehead, muttering to himself. "This young Daimyo is very assertive!"
In another carriage, two figures appeared within it.
It was the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Minato Namikaze behind him.
"Minato, do you feel it?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi scanned the surrounding streets, his tone deep.
Minato Namikaze nodded, looking at the orderly streets and saying, "Yes, this Daimyo is very capable!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, his gaze directed towards the distant, majestic Daimyo Manor.
"Indeed... I just wonder if this Daimyo still remembers the blood Konoha shed for the Land of Fire."
After speaking, he looked serious and turned to Minato Namikaze.
"During this great war, we suffered heavy losses, and the village, both internally and externally, needs an explanation. As the Third Hokage, it's time for me to take responsibility for all of this."
His words were full of self-reproach, but Minato Namikaze understood the deeper meaning beneath them.
Take responsibility? How to take responsibility?
By resigning from the position of Hokage to take responsibility!
This was both a gesture of accepting responsibility and a tactical retreat!
Daimyo Manor, in a side hall.
The delegations from the Daimyo Manors of the Land of Lightning, Land of Wind, Land of Earth, and Land of Water had already been arranged to wait here.
The atmosphere was somewhat subtle.
The envoy from the Land of Lightning was a burly noble, dressed lavishly, his face full of arrogance, with two Kumogakure shinobi guards behind him, exuding an intimidating aura.
The envoy from the Land of Earth was short, appearing to be a civil official, stroking his beard silently, also with two Iwagakure shinobi guards behind him.
The envoy from the Land of Wind was a middle-aged official with a weathered face, and behind him stood a masked female shinobi with dangerous eyes.
Most striking was the delegation from the Land of Water.
The envoy was a pale-faced, gloomy young noble, and the guard standing behind him was Biwa Juzo, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
"Hmph, making so many of us wait here, this is hardly proper hospitality!"
The envoy from the Land of Lightning was the first to break the silence, his voice rough and tone displeased.
Although the others did not speak, their faces showed dissatisfaction.
Just then, the door of the side hall was pushed open, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
The person who walked in was a young woman.
The woman carried a tray with exquisite pastries on it.
She lowered her head, moving with light steps, placing the pastries one by one on everyone's tables.
The gloomy noble whistled with interest, the sound not loud but particularly jarring.
"Oh, the Land of Fire's maid, she's quite pretty."
The woman seemed not to have heard. After placing the last pastry, she bowed and retreated to the side, standing with her hands clasped.
Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door again.
This time, it was the Daimyo Manor's old butler, Takeshi.
"My lords, thank you for waiting." Takeshi bowed. "The Daimyo has specially ordered this old man to arrange lodging for you."
The envoy from the Land of Lightning snorted, "The Land of Fire's hospitality leaves much to be desired!"
Takeshi's smile remained unchanged.
"The Daimyo said that since you have traveled a long way and endured hardships, you should rest well. Tomorrow evening, Daimyo Manor will host a banquet to welcome you."
With words spoken to this extent, the envoy from the Land of Lightning found it difficult to make a scene.
Just as everyone was preparing to stand up, the old civil official from the Land of Earth, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke.
"I heard that a few days ago, the Kiyotsuki family of Fire Capital was arrested for rebellion?"
Takeshi's steps paused, and he smiled. "That is correct. Those who dare to shake the foundation of the country must be dealt with by swift and decisive means."
The old civil official nodded, his cloudy gaze falling upon the maid.
"I man also heard that the young miss of the Kiyotsuki family, Kiyotsuki Saki, was renowned for her talent and beauty. I wonder where she is now?"
As these words were spoken, everyone present's gaze collectively fell upon the woman standing with her head bowed.
Kiyotsuki Saki!
Many in the noble circles of their respective countries had heard of this name.
Upon hearing the question, the woman buried her head even lower.
Takeshi's smile remained, and he turned to the maid, instructing her:
"Saki, lift your head and let these lords have a good look."
The command was beyond dispute.
Kiyotsuki Saki's body stiffened for a long time.
Finally, she slowly lifted her head, revealing a face that was exquisitely beautiful but devoid of life.
Tears of humiliation welled in her eyes but stubbornly refused to fall.
She looked at these foreign nobles before her, her lips trembling.
"I... greet you, my lords."
The side hall fell silent.
The arrogance on the Land of Lightning noble's face receded.
Biwa Juzo's smile froze.
Both the Land of Wind envoy and the Land of Water's gloomy noble showed wariness in their eyes.
Was this the method of the new Daimyo?
He not only killed people but also crushed their spirits!
Placing a top noble young miss, once their equal in status, before them as a maid.
This was a warning to them not to cause trouble!
Daimyo Manor.
Shin stood by the window, looking down at his capital.
In his consciousness, on the interface of the Daimyo System, points of light representing powerful individuals lit up one by one.
Uchiha, Hyuga, the Ino-Shika-Cho families... Inuzuka, Aburame... Hiruzen Sarutobi, Minato Namikaze... and the shinobi guards in the delegations of the four great nations...
"They've almost all arrived."
"Are all the arrangements made?"
"Yes, my lord, all have been properly arranged." Takeshi's voice came from behind him.
"Very good."
Shin turned around, his gaze falling on an invitation.
This was sent by Hiruzen Sarutobi, arranging to pay a visit tomorrow.
His finger tapped on Hiruzen Sarutobi's name.
He was somewhat looking forward to tomorrow's arrival.