"No!"
Arashi's proposal was immediately rejected by the Daimyo of the Land of Earth. "Daimyo Arashi, are you trying to turn our three countries into your vassals?"
"This is a Four-Nation Inspection Team, not your Land of Fire's Guardian Ninja. The leader's position must not be monopolized by your country!"
"This approach is indeed inappropriate," the Daimyo of the Land of Wind followed up at just the right moment. "If the Land of Fire takes the lead, the nature of the Inspection Team will fundamentally change, and we won't be able to explain it to our people."
"I propose that the leadership be rotated among the Four Nations, changing every season, to show fairness!"
"I agree to the rotation system!" the Daimyo of the Land of Water immediately added. "Otherwise, we would rather not participate!"
In an instant, an alliance was formed to resist the Land of Fire's attempt at domination.
Arashi frowned slightly, clearly displeased with their strong reaction, and argued, "A rotation system will only cause inconsistent command and independent actions. It would make a complete joke of the entire inspection operation!"
"That's still better than your Land of Fire dominating everything!" The Daimyo of the Land of Earth snapped back without giving an inch.
"If the leadership is given to the Land of Fire, then the Inspection Team's base must be established near the Land of Earth as a balance of power!"
His proposal was immediately blocked by the Daimyo of the Land of Wind and the Land of Water.
"No!"
"Absolutely not!"
"Since the mission is to inspect Kumogakure, the base must be located there!"
"Otherwise, with your geographical advantage, who knows what you might secretly do?"
"It must be located at a port. It has to be a port!"
The reception room instantly descended into chaos.
The debate quickly expanded from the question of leadership to the location of the base.
Everyone wanted the center of power close to themselves while preventing others from getting the upper hand.
Arashi also joined the argument, his face red with fury.
He played his role perfectly as a monarch concerned with the big picture but constrained by the selfishness of narrow-minded leaders.
Just when it seemed that no one could convince the others and the plan was on the verge of collapse, Arashi finally waved his hand with a look of exhaustion.
"Enough. Enough!"
His face was filled with visible disappointment and helplessness. He let out a long sigh, as if deeply tired of the endless bickering.
"It seems, gentlemen, that you only see short-term gain and completely ignore the larger picture. Unified command is impossible."
His voice, heavy with anguish, caused the other three to momentarily stop arguing and turn to look at him.
With a face full of reluctant compromise, Arashi slowly said, "In that case, there's only one solution."
"To avoid further disputes and ensure the inspection operation can begin as soon as possible, we'll cancel the joint inspection and the leader position!"
"The Land of Lightning will be divided into four defense zones."
"Each of our nations will take responsibility for one defense zone."
"Each side will control its own military and administrative authority, without interfering with the others!"
As soon as this alternative was proposed, the breathing of the three Daimyo grew heavier.
But the Kage and shinobi standing behind them showed a completely different kind of shock.
Ōnoki's usually hunched back straightened, his cloudy old eyes filled with dread.
He was witnessing a great nation being dissected through nothing more than a political discussion.
This was a complete dismantling of the Five Great Nations system.
Rasa's face, shadowed beneath his kasa, was tense. The Suna shinobi behind him held their breath.
As the Village suffering from the worst resource scarcity, this proposal was nearly fatal in its temptation.
But reason warned Rasa that if the Land of Lightning could be carved up like this today, then tomorrow, when the Land of Fire no longer needed allies, who would be next on the chopping block?
His hands, hidden inside his sleeves, were clenched tightly.
Meanwhile, behind Arashi, the Guardian Ninja Twelve reacted very differently.
Their eyes were filled with admiration bordering on fanaticism as they looked at their Daimyo, along with lingering confusion.
Ever since their first meeting, Arashi had spoken frankly with them about his ambitions.
Now, in their eyes, their Daimyo was reshaping the world order, dismembering a great nation through sheer force of will.
But why had he given up the position of leader?
Enmaru was completely lost in thought.
In the middle of this conflicting atmosphere, Arashi moved, slowly tracing his finger across the map.
Finally, his hand landed heavily on the central area of the Land of Lightning.
Kumogakure and its surrounding fertile plains.
"Since it's a divided responsibility, then naturally, the side with the greatest merit chooses first," Arashi said with renewed confidence. "My Land of Fire made the largest contribution and the greatest sacrifice in this war."
"The heartland of the Land of Lightning, namely Kumogakure and its surrounding areas, should rightfully be assigned to the Land of Fire's defense zone to suppress villains and uphold justice!"
As he said these righteous words, he thought back to the escort unit that had departed two days late.
By now, the blood of three thousand Kumo shinobi had likely already soaked a piece of land near the Land of Fire's border.
Kumogakure itself was the bait to attract Kumo's wrath.
Whoever took it would be the one to bear the brunt of Kumo's future madness.
"What?!" As expected, the Daimyo of the Land of Earth was the first to explode in anger. "Daimyo Arashi, are you trying to claim the juiciest piece and leave us to chew on bones?"
"No! Absolutely not!"
"Daimyo Arashi, this is far too greedy!" The Daimyo of the Land of Wind grew furious, snapping his fan shut. "Kumogakure is the symbol of the Land of Lightning. If your country takes it alone, how is this any different from the original Inspection Team?"
"I propose that Kumogakure be jointly managed by all four nations!" The Daimyo of the Land of Water also joined in, snorting coldly.
The reception room turned into a noisy marketplace again.
Arashi stood his ground, fiercely arguing with the three.
He vividly portrayed the image of a greedy monarch trying to secure maximum benefits for his nation.
The more stubborn he acted, the more the other three believed Kumogakure was the true centerpiece of the feast.
As the four sides fell into a deadlock and negotiations were on the brink of collapse...
Arashi finally flung his sleeve in frustration, his expression filled with disappointment and anger at being betrayed by his supposed allies.
"Good. Good. Good!"
He said the word three times in a row, his tone full of bitterness and fury. "Since you all think the Land of Fire is insatiably greedy, then I concede!"
He slammed the table with his palm, shaking the teacups. "This tough bone, Kumogakure, my Land of Fire won't gnaw on it anymore!"
His eyes remained fixed on the map, hesitating as though giving up something dear to him.
At last, he pointed to the southern region of the Land of Lightning, a fertile plain near the Land of Fire's border, though far less strategically valuable than Kumogakure.
"This area... surely no one will fight me for this!" He practically shouted the words, full of the helplessness of someone forced to compromise.
At that moment.
The room fell into a strange silence.
The Daimyo of the Land of Earth, Wind, and Water all froze.
Looking at Arashi's aggrieved expression, as though he had taken a great loss, then at the Kumogakure area he had just given up on the map...
Their hearts all began pounding wildly.
He... actually gave it up?
Didn't that mean...
In an instant, the three Daimyo looked at each other. Their mutual understanding as allies vanished, replaced with naked competition.
Just moments ago, they had stood united against the Land of Fire.
Now, they were mortal enemies fighting for the unclaimed prize.
"Ahem! Since Daimyo Arashi is so noble and selfless, then about Kumogakure..." The Daimyo of the Land of Earth's eyes gleamed.
"Wait!" The Daimyo of the Land of Water quickly cut him off. "In terms of location, our Land of Water is—"
"Don't even think about it! Kumogakure must be under the Land of Wind's management!"
Another round of fierce arguments erupted.
Meanwhile, Arashi quietly sat back in his chair, picked up his now cold tea, and took a slow sip.
He watched as the three sly old foxes tore at each other over the poisoned bait he had tossed out.
A cold glint flashed in his eyes.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)