The 47th year of Konoha, Autumn.
Calendar Annotation: Auspicious for sacrifices, blessings, and coronation.
Before dawn, a thin layer of morning mist enveloped the Fire Capital.
But the city had already awakened.
Countless civilians poured into the streets, dressed in their finest clothes, their faces beaming with excitement, forming a human tide that surged towards the city center.
"Mom, hurry up! Uncle said that today at the square, not only will there be blessing cakes, but the Daimyo Manor has also prepared a large pot of meat stew, and everyone gets a share!" a half-grown child yelled, tugging at his mother's sleeve.
"Run slower, don't fall!" The woman grumbled, but her pace quickened. Looking at her son's new clothes, her face was full of maternal love. "If it weren't for the Daimyo waiving the harsh taxes and the city workshops paying fair wages, let alone new clothes, we wouldn't know how we'd survive this winter."
"Hey, food and clothing are nothing! The important thing is to see the Daimyo with our own eyes!" A burly, bearded man nearby laughed loudly. "If it weren't for the Daimyo, would we have such good lives now? Hahahaha!"
"Yes, yes, now my family has meat to eat every meal, all thanks to the Daimyo's grace!"
Discussions and laughter converged within the crowd.
Brand new flame banners fluttered along the streets.
Armored guards stood at the intersections, heads held high, eyes sharp, yet they brought a sense of security to the civilians.
The sun pierced through the morning mist, casting golden light that gilded the city.
Today was the day of the new king's coronation.
It was the day the Land of Fire turned a new page.
Unlike the lively atmosphere in the square, the mood on the viewing platform was subtle.
Envoys from the four great nations were already seated, and beneath the calm, there was a silent probing.
The envoy from the Land of Lightning stood with his arms crossed, his face filled with impatience.
He looked at the dense crowd of civilians below, openly displaying his disdain. "A bunch of lowlifes, worthy of witnessing the grand ceremony? The Land of Fire is becoming increasingly unruly."
The envoy from the Land of Earth narrowed his eyes, appearing calm and collected.
The envoy from the Land of Wind had a weathered face and remained silent.
Behind him, a masked kunoichi vigilantly scanned her surroundings.
In the Land of Water's delegation, the gloomy young noble was yawning.
Biwa Juzo stood behind him, his head bowed, no one knowing what he was thinking.
The corner of his eye would occasionally glance at another guard.
Mei Terumi.
She was dressed sharply today, accentuating her graceful figure, her face showing vigilance and aloofness.
But her inner thoughts were far from as calm as her exterior.
The heartfelt support and affection on the faces of the civilians below puzzled her.
In her view, shouldn't the Daimyo and nobles all be bloodsuckers who exploit civilians?
Why was the scene here completely different from what she had seen in the Land of Water?
On the other side, in the Konoha viewing area.
Minato Namikaze sat at the forefront, his golden hair dazzling in the sunlight.
Looking at the sea of people before him, at each face filled with hope, he felt a surge of emotion.
The will of the people was the foundation of the Land of Fire.
For the first time, he so directly felt the weight of the words "nation" and "people."
Hiruzen Sarutobi, behind him, remained silent throughout.
The old monkey wore simple clothes, holding an unlit pipe in his hand.
His cloudy eyes swept over the impassioned civilians, then over the sharp-eyed guards, finally resting on the ninety-nine steps leading to the supreme throne.
That was once a place he had to look up to.
And now, he was about to lose even the qualification to look up.
In the corner, Danzo Shimura's single eye was cold.
His hands were hidden in his sleeves, clenched tightly.
At the same time, on the east side of the square, in the underground wine cellar of a tavern.
It was dark and damp, filled with the sour smell of fermenting wine.
Nearly a hundred desperadoes were squeezed in here, the stench of sweat mixed with the smell of poison smeared on weapons, making it nauseating.
Shu Kurogane and Saionji Takashi stood at the very front.
Through the cellar's small ventilation shaft, they could hear the cheers outside, growing louder and louder.
The sound was like red-hot iron needles, piercing Shu's heart.
"Uncle... outside... it's started outside..." His voice trembled, his lips pale.
Saionji Takashi's face was equally pale.
He pressed Shu's trembling shoulder and growled, "Steady! Remember our plan! Wait for the bells! When you hear the ninth bell, that's our signal to move!"
Shu gritted his teeth, staring at the sliver of light coming through the ventilation shaft, his eyes bloodshot.
The throne... Saki... wealth... they should all be mine!
He roared in his heart again and again.
The tumultuous voices outside, to him, were a death knell and the fire that ignited his ambition.
"Dong——!"
A long, drawn-out bell chime rang out from the highest point of the Daimyo Manor, echoing throughout the city.
The noisy square instantly fell silent.
In the cellar, all the desperadoes gripped the knives in their hands.
Shu's breathing almost stopped.
One, two, three... When the ninth bell chime reverberated across the sky, Saionji Takashi suddenly opened his eyes, which were filled with madness.
He said nothing, only waved his hand abruptly, letting out a suppressed roar.
"Attack!!"
Above the square, everything was silent.
Tens of thousands of civilians, the four great nations' delegations, Konoha's high-ranking officials... everyone's gaze converged on the end of the ninety-nine steps.
Under the gaze of all, the heavy crimson gate, symbolizing supreme authority, slowly opened.
Chief ritual officer Yamano, dressed in the most solemn sacrificial robes, holding a congratulatory text, walked out step by step.
He reached the top of the steps, facing the sky and all the people, and chanted in a loud voice.
"The auspicious hour has arrived!"
"Welcome——"
"The Land of Fire's new Daimyo, Lord Shin Kurogane!"
The moment the words fell, an impassioned elegant music soared into the sky.
A figure appeared behind the crimson gate.
He was dressed in a ceremonial robe embroidered with golden flame patterns, wearing a golden crown symbolizing the monarch's position.
Just standing there silently, an indescribable majesty enveloped the entire square.
The impatience on the Land of Lightning envoy's face disappeared, and his corpulent body instinctively leaned forward.
A sharp glint flashed in the Land of Earth envoy's eyes.
Minato Namikaze's mind was greatly impacted.
This demeanor, this imposing presence... He suddenly realized that the gap between the Hokage and the Daimyo might be even greater than he had imagined.
Shin moved.
His left foot led the way.
He stepped onto the first step.
His pace was not fast, but incredibly steady.
Each step echoed dully in the silent square.
The civilians in the square unconsciously held their breath, their faces filled with fanaticism and reverence.
One step... two steps... Shin walked up the ninety-nine steps.
He arrived at the elevated platform carved from a single giant stone.
In the center of the platform, on a jade tray, a crystal, entirely crimson, lay quietly.
The national stone.
Symbolizing the supreme power of this nation.
Ritual officer Yamano's voice rang out again, filled with excitement.
"Please, my lord, accept the national stone, and bring peace to all people!"
Shin slowly stepped forward.
He extended his hands, his movements slow and solemn.
The entire square was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone widened their eyes, witnessing this moment worthy of being recorded in history.
Shin's hands were about to touch the national stone.
Just at this moment——
"Kill!!"
A heart-wrenching roar suddenly exploded!
"Kill that usurping tyrant! Avenge the former Daimyo!!"
Boom!
The corner tower on the east side of the square exploded with a crash!
The terrifying blast swept away the surrounding civilians!
Dozens of dark figures burst out from the smoke of the explosion!
They held long blades, their eyes bloodshot, charging desperately towards the platform!
The crowd instantly fell into chaos!
Screams and cries echoed through the sky!
"Protect the Daimyo!!"
The guards roared, forming a human wall, confronting the desperadoes!
But this was only the beginning!
"Move out!"
From the crowds in the west, north, and south... another hundred ambushing assassins simultaneously erupted!
They formed a massive encirclement from all directions, their target directly Shin!
The glint of blades, the flash of swords, blood, instantly stained this sacred square red!
An assassination attempt against the new king!
A long-planned killing scheme, under the gaze of all had begun!