Konoha: Start from untying the caged bird

Page 193

Da Ming was all smiles.

The guards at the gate were stunned, almost forgetting to lower their heads. This was the first time they had ever seen a daimyo so 'humble' as to come out to greet someone. In the past, servants would always lead the daimyo to see him; there had never been a time when he would personally come out to greet someone.

However, the thought that the person he was to greet was none other than the now world-renowned Fifth Hokage of Konoha filled him with a sense of respect and admiration. This young man, who had already distinguished himself in the ninja world, truly gave people the feeling that a great man should be like him. Just looking at him, he had an ethereal quality that inspired awe.

Hinata Yuzuru and the Daimyo walked inside. Along the way, the ancient yet luxurious buildings made him glance at them frequently. The Daimyo also explained things carefully without any pretense, such as what style each decoration was and which master it was. There was no hint of showing off in his words. Hinata Yuzuru was willing to give him a high score for his attitude.

It seems that all that time spent ignoring him wasn't for nothing.

The person before me had clearly gone through a lot in his mind long ago and had now made his judgment.

Whether he was being hypocritical or genuinely willing to humble himself, Hyuga Yuzuru didn't care. As long as the other party was willing to act like a grandson in front of him, he would truly treat them as a grandson.

The place where they finally sat down to talk was the council hall of the Daimyo's mansion. In the past, this was where the Daimyo and other nobles would hold meetings together, with the Daimyo sitting alone in the head seat and a row of nobles or ministers on each side. But now, there were two low tables placed at the head of the table.

Hyuga Yuzuru paused, and the peaceful atmosphere suddenly froze. But when he looked at the table, he just smiled and then sat down in the head seat.

Hmm, it seems that wanting to be on equal footing with me is this daimyo's last stand?

Daming breathed a sigh of relief, sat down beside him, and said with a smile.

"Fifth Hokage, you must be tired from your journey. I wonder if you have any plans for tonight? If not, I've arranged a banquet and song party for you, and accommodations have also been prepared..."

Seeing Hyuga Yuzuru nod in agreement, the Daimyo's smile widened. He was genuinely worried that the other party would treat him with a purely formal, written approach, and what if they confronted him directly, leaving him humiliated...

Hyuga Yuzuru did not refuse, but simply smiled and said, "I dare not refuse what the host has asked."

The meaning behind these words was thought-provoking. The name narrowed his eyes slightly, but then nodded with a smile, though he couldn't say anything for a moment.

Host and guest?

You wouldn't even call me 'Your Name'.

The servants quickly brought tea, but Hyuga Yuzuru waved his hand and said, "I don't like tea. Do you have any clear tea made from leaves?"

"Haha, that would be even better. Actually, I also like Konoha's clear tea." The daimyo said, but one of the ministers below turned his head away with a look of reluctance.

We can't, at least we shouldn't... use our names.

Hinata Yuzuru smiled broadly, his expression mirroring that of the Daimyo.

"And who is this young lady?" The daimyo turned his head to look at Hyuga Kaoru and Uchiha Izumi, who were sitting below him. Uchiha Izumi had not removed her ANBU mask and was sitting silently. Apart from placing her katana under her body as a sign of friendliness, she did not seem to be relaxed at all.

Kaoru appeared poised and confident, and although he was dressed like one of his subordinates, Daimyo couldn't help but suspect that the other person's identity might not be so simple, judging from the way he rolled his eyes and his demeanor.

Everyone knows that the Hyuga clan practices endogamy.

"This is my bodyguard, Uchiha Izumi from the Anbu, and this is my secretary, Hyuga Kaoru."

Hyuga Yuzuru gave a brief introduction, and the daimyo immediately introduced the important retainers beside him. After a few pleasantries, the daimyo cheerfully suggested that they have a few drinks first. Hyuga Yuzuru did not refuse. Since he was already there, he was not in a hurry and decided to see what the other party had prepared.

When the lord saw him nod, he immediately sent people to pour wine and serve snacks. The singers and dancers had been preparing for a long time. In just over ten minutes, what was originally a serious and formal meeting turned into a lively banquet.

The daimyo, being very discreet, only talked about life and not about national affairs. The two exchanged toasts, and Hyuga Yuzuru did not refuse at all. With his physique, let alone sake, even if it were alcohol, he would not get drunk as long as he did not want to.

At first, these classical vocal pieces sounded quite novel, but after listening for a while, Hinata Yuzuru found them a bit tiresome. Although the dancers were beautiful, their revealing clothing made them slightly inferior to the young ladies he had met online before his transmigration.

Singing and dancing, the daimyo finally seized an opportunity to clink glasses and casually asked, "Fifth Hokage, did you come here just to get the official document appointing you as Hokage?"

Hyuga Yuzuru raised his sake, but didn't drink it. He simply smiled slightly and said, "Of course, it's not just that."

The daimyo seemed a little tipsy, his face flushed, and he leaned closer affectionately: "Oh? Does Konoha have any other questions? Please feel free to ask?"

"Konoha is developing rapidly these days. As things stand, everything else is fine, but this area is a bit insufficient. I wonder if the Daimyo could entrust Konoha with the management of the area south of Konoha, including several small towns like Shangyan?"

Upon hearing this, the Daimyo's eyes widened slightly, his wine glass trembled slightly, and a few drops of wine fell. After a long while, his smile became somewhat awkward: "Fifth Hokage, you are joking. Konoha is already vast in territory. Let alone one Shangyan, even if we built two more Kyotos, we would have enough space. Why would we need these few towns like Shangyan?"

"Daimyo, you are mistaken. In terms of area, Konoha is certainly large enough. But as you know, Konoha's population is now over a million, which is only a matter of time. With such a large population, it would be difficult to support the finances of just one ninja village like Konoha."

Especially given the difficulties the Land of Fire has faced in recent years, and the Daimyo even cut Konoha's funding, as the Fifth Hokage, I have no choice but to plan ahead and start thinking of ways to prepare for the future.

"If we could acquire a few cities in Shangyan, and also bring the area south of Konoha under Konoha's control, we would have land that could be self-sufficient, and we wouldn't need to rely on you, Daimyo, to worry about and waste resources allocating funds. Don't you think so?"

As soon as Hinata Yuzuru finished speaking, even though the musicians and dancers continued to play music and dance, the sounds of everyone drinking and chatting happily suddenly disappeared.

The daimyo's smile froze, his eyes fixed on Hyuga Yuzuru, who simply smiled gently, like a spring breeze, his fingers holding a wine glass but not drinking.

One of the ministers below could no longer contain himself and shouted loudly after hearing Hyuga Yuzuru's words.

"Traitor! What do you really think of the daimyo?!"

Chapter 143 Those who obey me live, those who defy me die!

The atmosphere in the room suddenly changed.

The samurai standing at the door sharpened their eyes and all looked at Hyuga Yuzuru, but Hyuga Yuzuru's smile remained unchanged. Uchiha Izumi, standing beside him, slowly reached out and covered the samurai sword, his red Sharingan under the mask staring straight at the samurai at the door.

The Sharingan, carrying an immense sense of oppression, looked down at the samurai. The samurai felt as if their bodies had become incredibly heavy, as the red eyes held undisguised killing intent, and cold sweat immediately soaked their backs.

The minister's forehead was already damp with sweat when he was looked at by Hyuga Yuzuru's smiling blue eyes, but even so, he still stubbornly said: "You are the Kage of Konoha Village in the Land of Fire, not the Lord of the Land of Fire. Do you really think that you can act lawlessly just because you are strong?!"

Hyuga Yuzuru, as the Kage of a village, you should at least know some manners! If you're determined to betray the Land of Fire, why feign such loyalty? Do you think the Land of Fire has no loyal subjects?

Hinata Yuzuru slowly drank the sake in his cup, turned his head, and looked at the daimyo. The daimyo still had a forced smile on his face. When he saw Hinata looking at him, his smile only became more unpleasant, but he did not say anything to explain.

Oh.

I'm both a coward and want to give it a try.

Hyuga Yuzuru probably understood.

He put down his wine glass, his eyes deep and unfathomable: "Is that what the Great Ming thinks too?"

"Huh? This, haha, maybe he's drunk. Goro, watch your words!"

Daimyo chuckled, not looking at Hinata Yuzuru, but saw that the other was just sitting calmly beside him, extending his finger and gently tapping the table.

The terrifying chakra almost solidified, and its immense majesty even made the daimyo bow his back in an instant. He turned his head in disbelief and saw Hyuga Yuzuru lazily tapping the table with his fingers, his expression so indifferent that it seemed as if he was somewhat bored.

"In that case, you may all consider Konoha's decision to betray the Land of Fire."

As Hyuga Yuzuru spoke leisurely, everyone present was astonished.

"Years of war have left Konoha exhausted, but regardless of victory or defeat, it is Konoha that bears the consequences and the pain. Have I ever heard that any of you here have close friends or relatives who have sacrificed their lives for the country in the past few decades?"

For a mere sum of money and a piece of land in the Land of Fire, Konoha has served the Land of Fire for decades. In my opinion, that's more than enough.

Over the past few decades, the Land of Fire has remained unchanged, and Konoha has made no progress. This makes me ponder deeply: where exactly did things go wrong?

I've thought it over and over. People only yearn for a peaceful life, and successive Hokage have only hoped for the peaceful development of their villages. But time and again, the ninja world remains unchanged, the villages remain unchanged, the Land of Fire remains unchanged...

Hinata Yuzuru's words undoubtedly had many points that could be argued, but no matter what kind of rhetoric they used, they could not be uttered at this moment, simply because at this moment, most people could only stand still and struggle to hold on, and even lifting their heads was extremely difficult.

"So where exactly did things go wrong?"

Hyuga Yuzuru countered with a question, and the Daimyo was finally able to speak. At this moment, he was struggling to speak, and his voice trembled as he said, "Fifth Hokage, please calm down. Over the years, we have also worked hard to make the Land of Fire a better place. We have never done anything to let Konoha down!"

Hyuga Yuzuru softened his imposing manner.

He just looked bored.

His posture gradually became more unrestrained; he rested one hand on his knee, tilted his head back, stared at the ceiling, and said calmly, "But can you change this ninja world?"

The daimyo of the Land of Fire was speechless, or rather, hadn't yet decided what to say, so Hyuga Yuzuru shook his head.

"If you can't do it, neither can the daimyo of other countries, nor can the kage of other ninja villages."

All I want is to enjoy my life in a relatively equal and peaceful country, but since such a country doesn't exist, and such peace doesn't exist, then I might as well do it myself.

He continued speaking calmly, but his eyes were like daggers as he looked at the minister who had spoken first, and said, "Konoha now spends not only on military expenses, but also on welfare payments to the poor and medical insurance payments, which amount to two-tenths of the Land of Fire's annual budget. Can the Land of Fire afford this now?"

If I were to say, I would hope that every person in the Land of Fire could have a minimum level of basic living security, that people could live and work in peace and contentment, that they could be cared for in life and have support in their old age.

Every child, regardless of their poverty, can go to school and have the opportunity to change their destiny.

Every person afflicted with illness can find a way to survive, so that they don't have to wait to die at home because of poverty and backwardness...

Can the Land of Fire do it?

As Hyuga Yuzuru spoke, he pointed at the minister without any politeness: "If the Land of Fire could do it, why would refugees bring their families to Konoha? If the Land of Fire could do it, why would I do such a 'treasonous' thing, allowing you incompetent people to criticize me behind my back!?"

"If you still have eyes, go to Konoha and see for yourself! I'm not joking, I'm not fantasizing, I'm stating the facts!"

In Konoha today, every child can afford to go to school.

Every able-bodied person, regardless of gender, can have a decent job!

Everyone suffering from an illness can receive treatment through Konoha's medical insurance... Can the Land of Fire do that!?

His words resonated deeply, and even the dancers and musicians who had been trembling in the distance couldn't help but steal glances at him, their eyes sparkling with disbelief and longing.

Hyuga Yuzuru emphasized again, sneering disdainfully, "If you say that the Land of Fire has the determination and ability, fine, Konoha can still follow the leadership of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. I don't ask for much, just support Konoha's finances as before."

"Konoha's funding needs for this year, up to March of next year, will leave a shortfall of at least 57.2 billion yen. We urge the Fire Country Daimyo to approve the funds to cover this year's expenses first."

Upon hearing this, the minister exclaimed incredulously, "Nonsense! What kind of funding requires 57.2 billion? Even if it were 57.2 billion yuan instead of taels, it would be absolutely impossible!"

"Ignorant!" Hyuga Yuzuru shouted angrily.

The minister felt his blue eyes suddenly magnify, and the figure of Hyuga Yuzuru not far away seemed as tall as Mount Tai pressing down on him. He couldn't even maintain his upright posture and hurriedly sat back, almost falling backward in a sorry state.

"I thought you would have some profound insights to offer when you criticized me here! But now it seems you are nothing more than a mad dog relying on useless etiquette, daring to bark and howl in front of me!"

Do you know how many taels of silver are needed to pave one kilometer of road?

Do you know how much initial investment is required for a factory?

Do you know how much research funding a research lab burns through every day?

Do you know how much a Konoha ninja earns in a day?

If war is to break out, do you know how much a ninja's pension is, and how much his family receives?

Do you really think that approving a sum of money will solve all your problems?

After finishing speaking, Hyuga Yuzuru went even further, saying, "What's more, nowadays everyone in the world yearns for Konoha, and the review office receives tens of thousands of naturalization applications every month!"

You don't care, you don't pay attention, you don't even know that people from the Land of Rain, the Land of Wind, the Land of Iron, and even the Land of Tea are secretly crossing into the Land of Fire, hoping to join Konoha and live a good life like the people of Konoha. Have you ever put any effort into settling these refugees? Have you spent even a penny to help them live?

I meticulously amassed wealth from across the land, yet not a single drop went into my own pocket. Even the Hyuga clan behind me is now tightening their belts. Every powerful clan in Konoha has responded to my call, burning through cash to contribute to Konoha's development...

You provide neither administrative support nor financial assistance, hindering and holding me back at every turn, yet you shamelessly demand that I observe proper etiquette and demonstrate my loyalty!

They even have the audacity to think Konoha earns too much and want to change taxes and collect taxes...

"I'd like to ask, it's been some time since the Land of Fire decided to cut off Konoha's funding and change the tax system. Have you made any changes?"

As Hyuga Yuzuru finished speaking, not only was the minister speechless for a moment, but the daimyo beside him also looked bitter and stammered, unable to say a few words to smooth things over.

So, Hinata Yuzuru simply tapped the table heavily with his hand.

"I'm not here to negotiate, I'm not here to beg, I'm here to make demands!"

As he finished speaking, he declared firmly, "What you can't do, I'll do; what you can't handle, I'll handle! I'm not asking for any help from you, but at the very least, don't try to trip me up!"

I'm not saying you did anything wrong. In fact, compared to other countries and other ninja villages, the Land of Fire has done quite well.

But that's not enough, far from enough! Since you can't do what I can, then let me do it. The capable rise, the mediocre fall. Someone has to change this era, so why can't that person be me?!

I never believed that Konoha's future could be obtained by kneeling and begging.

In this ninja world, since the law of the jungle prevails, let Konoha be the strongest!

Let me change the world, let me set the rules, and those who obey me will live...

Those who oppose me shall die!

After Hyuga Yuzuru finished speaking his last four words, the room fell so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Several seconds later, he raised his sake cup, and the maid behind him hurriedly filled it for him before he brought it to his lips.

"I've finished speaking... Who agrees, and who disagrees?"

No one dared to utter a sound.

He raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp.

"If the Daimyo is willing to cooperate with Konoha, you can continue to sing and dance as before, and you will still be the Daimyo of the Land of Fire until the day you die."

He casually placed his wine glass on the table, turned his head, looked at the silent daimyo, and calmly gazed at him: "How is it?"

The daimyo of the Land of Fire felt a bitter taste in his mouth, with no one to confide in. He dared not reveal even a trace of his grief and indignation. At this moment, he could only lower his head and say in a low voice, "Fifth daimyo, do you know what your actions will do to this world?"

"If the Land of Fire, the leader of the Five Great Nations, and Konoha, the leader of the Five Great Ninja Villages, were to take this step, the world would be plunged into chaos! Where would the peace you speak of be found?!"

Hinata Yuzuru chuckled twice and slowly stood up.