"Are they playing us, Konoha?"
"Is the Emperor so great? Even the former Daimyo wouldn't dare to keep Konoha waiting like this."
These whispers, though low, still sounded somewhat noisy in the quiet square.
Just then,
Danzo Shimura in the corner suddenly snorted coldly.
His cane struck the ground heavily, making a dull thud.
Immediately, it drew everyone's attention.
"Presumptuous!"
Danzo's single eye swept over the whispering Ninja, his voice grim and tinged with a reprimand, "The other party is His Majesty the Emperor of the Land of Fire, a person of incomparable noble status!"
"How can you discuss him so casually?"
"Waiting for His Majesty is a matter of course. All of you, show some respect!"
His words were righteous and stern.
He completely adopted the posture of upholding the imperial dignity and considering the overall situation.
However, those present who knew the inside story or had some insight understood his current defense.
It was merely because, in his view, he and Di Yan were allies on the same boat.
Di Yan's prestige was directly related to the "legitimacy" of his subsequent coup.
He would never allow anyone to question Di Yan's authority.
Not even just complaining about the waiting time.
Shizune glanced at Danzo, a hint of undetectable sarcasm flashing deep within her emerald eyes.
But she didn't say anything.
Only the knuckles of her hands, resting on her knees, tightened slightly.
The scene temporarily quieted down due to Danzo's reprimand.
But the anxious and uneasy emotions, like an undercurrent beneath the surface of the water, surged even more intensely.
Everyone could feel it.
Behind this seemingly calm wait was an already turbulent undercurrent.
Lady Tsunade's faction remained on high alert amidst their anxiety.
They knew today was no simple meeting.
Di Yan's lateness seemed more like a psychological pressure tactic or some ulterior motive.
Danzo and his Root forces, on the other hand, were suppressing their excitement.
Waiting for that "destined" moment after His Majesty the Emperor appeared.
And more of the neutral faction and ordinary Ninja felt bewildered and uneasy.
They sensed an unusual and dangerous atmosphere in the air.
Creak… As the sound of the door opening echoed.
The atmosphere in the square instantly tensed to the extreme.
Everyone's gaze was focused on the door that had suddenly opened.
The inn's main door was finally pushed open.
Di Yan slowly walked out.
He even lazily stretched and yawned a few times.
Looking like he was either still hungover or had been "overworked."
Completely out of place with the tense and somber atmosphere in the square.
Behind him, Uchiha Tekka and Uchiha Izumi stood one on each side like the most loyal guards, their eyes coldly sweeping the entire scene.
Further back were dozens of silent and powerful black-clad Ninja.
They filed out, quickly forming a formidable protective circle around Di Yan's seat.
The powerful aura seemed to make the air itself condense.
Di Yan ignored the Konoha Ninja's astonished, angry, or awed gazes.
He walked directly to the main seat prepared for him and sat down.
It was then, as if he had just remembered something, that he spoke in a somewhat lazy and playful tone:
"My apologies, everyone, for the long wait. Last night, I spent some effort taming two disobedient little wildcats and didn't get much rest."
The implication in his words was extremely blatant, instantly making the faces of those in the know turn extremely ugly.
Especially Shizune, whose fists clenched, making cracking sounds.
Everyone suppressed their various emotions and bowed in unison:
"Greetings, His Majesty the Emperor!"
Di Yan waved his hand casually, as if shooing away flies:
"Since everyone is here, let's begin and deal with official business."
Before he finished speaking, he lightly waved his hand.
Two black-clad Ninja were seen escorting a figure out of the inn.
Forcibly pressing him down in the center of the square!
That person was none other than Asuma Sarutobi!
He looked very weak, with injuries on his body, and his mouth was sealed with a cloth strip.
He could only make muffled sounds.
His eyes were filled with anger and unwillingness.
"Asuma!"
"Asuma Sensei!"
A chorus of exclamations and commotion immediately erupted from the Konoha side.
Nara Shikaku, Inoichi Yamanaka, and others who were close to Asuma suddenly stood up.
Their faces were filled with shock and worry.
Among the Sarutobi Clan, the noise grew louder.
Di Yan watched the Konoha Ninja's reactions with a relaxed air.
A cold smile played on his lips as he slowly spoke, his voice clearly reaching across the entire square:
"This man, Asuma Sarutobi, attempted to assassinate Us during his time in the Land of Fire Imperial Palace."
His voice suddenly turned cold, "A Konoha Ninja attempting to assassinate the Emperor of the Land of Fire, don't you, Konoha… owe Us an explanation?"
This accusation was immense!
It almost instantly elevated the incident to the level of treason and war!
Danzo had been waiting for this opportunity; he immediately stepped forward first, indignantly accusing:
"Asuma dared to assassinate His Majesty! This is a heinous crime of the gravest sort!"
"With conclusive evidence, he should be immediately executed to serve as a warning! Konoha will absolutely not tolerate the existence of such a traitor!"
He was eager to confirm Asuma's guilt.
This would both strike at the prestige of the Hokage faction and curry favor with Di Yan.
"Elder Danzo, your words are mistaken!"
Nara Shikaku immediately retorted, suppressing his anger and maintaining his composure, "We all know Asuma's character; there must be another hidden truth to this matter!"
"How can one easily convict someone before a detailed investigation? Please, Your Majesty, investigate thoroughly!"
Advisor Utatane Koharu also frowned and spoke:
"Your Majesty, could Asuma be allowed to speak for himself? At least hear what he has to say?"
She tried to secure an opportunity for defense.
Homura Mitokado also chimed in, "Yes, Your Majesty, a one-sided accusation might be hard to convince everyone."
For a time, the Konoha Higher-Ups argued amongst themselves.
Danzo's faction desperately wanted to confirm the guilt.
While the Hokage faction struggled to secure an opportunity for investigation and defense 4.7.
The other Konoha Ninja in the square also discussed amongst themselves, and the scene became somewhat chaotic.
"Silence!"
Di Yan suddenly slammed the armrest of his seat.
His voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority.
Instantly, it suppressed all the clamor.
The square immediately fell silent.
Di Yan's gaze, like cold arrows, swept over everyone.
It directly shot towards Lady Tsunade, who sat on the main seat with a somber expression.
His expression was somewhat playful, then he looked at Shizune behind Lady Tsunade, and his expression became strange.
As if he had discovered something interesting.
Di Yan leaned forward slightly, with an extremely strong sense of oppression, and asked word by word:
"Fifth Hokage, Lady Tsunade."
"Your Konoha's elite Jonin attempted to assassinate Us within the Imperial Palace…"
"This makes it very difficult for Us not to suspect whether this was his personal act, or… was he instigated by certain individuals?"
His voice suddenly rose, carrying a thunderous anger:
"Was this something you, the Hokage, ordered?!"
"You, Konoha…"
"Are you trying to rebel?"
The last sentence, he almost roared out, like a clap of thunder exploding over the square.
"Is this Land of Fire still Ours?"
The ultimate question instantly threw all the pressure and responsibility onto Lady Tsunade.
The fate of the entire Konoha seemed to hang on Lady Tsunade's upcoming answer.
Everyone's hearts were in their throats.
Danzo, meanwhile, stood to the side, a glimmer of excited and sinister light flashing in his single eye.
Anticipating Lady Tsunade's collapse or slip of the tongue… 63 Danzo's moment of glory; Kotoamatsukami
The air in the square seemed to freeze.