Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its character belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 72: Behind The Scene
After the first Great Ninja War, the world of Ninja has a rare long peace between each nation. This peace give positive impact for a people livelihood and indirectly strengthen the village, so that means the balance of power in the nation had begun to shift.
Before this each village have around 100 jonin left and most of them has died in the war, but once they got some peace the Hokage started to push and train this ninja like crazy, making the number of Jonin increased exponentially, thus making them too powerful.
Villages that were once desperate to survive now brimmed with trained shinobi, each generation stronger, faster and more disciplined than the last. Even the smaller hidden villages, had managed to form squads of elite jōnin, capable of doing some S Rank Mission.
On the surface, this seemed like a blessing. Peace had brought stability. The daimyos lands prospered, trade routes reopened and the common people no longer feared waking to the sound of battle. Yet behind the glitter of prosperity lay a growing unease. The daimyos, the so-called rulers of the shinobi nations, began to feel something they had not felt in generations, it was fear.
Power was supposed to flow from the throne of the daimyo but in this era of peace, it was instead in the hands of the Kage. A single command from a Kage could mobilize an army strong enough to topple kingdoms in a matter of day. The daimyos had begun to notice the way the kage on their land started to behave, they become more arrogant than before. Respect was turning into arrogance, and arrogance was becoming dangerous.
Some smart people in Daimyo Castle who knows well about geo politics saw all this threat. The shinobi were no longer tools, they were power itself and as power grew, so too did ambition. The advisors began to whisper that the Kage had become too independent, too confident. If left unchecked, one of them might one day decide that the country no longer needed a daimyo at all.
There was only one way to restore balance, it is to weaken the villages under them.
But how does one weaken an army that thrives in peace? How does one control a generation of warriors born into strength? The answer, cold and cruel, was simple, it is war.
Unlike the first great ninja war, which had been fought to establish dominance and prove which village was strongest, the war they now planned was born from politics, not pride. The daimyos did not want victory, they wanted exhaustion. They wanted to drain the strength of the shinobi world until every Kage was forced to follow them like a dog.
Their plan was subtle and calculated. Through secret meetings and coded letters, the daimyos began to form an unspoken alliance. The first target would not be any of the five great villages, that would cause too much instability too soon. Instead, they chose a smaller, yet influential nation, Uzushiogakure.
The Uzumaki Clan had long been allies of Konoha. Their sealing techniques were unparalleled, their chakra reserves are too large. They were a stabilizing force and they are the only village that been shown in this world that they didn't need Daimyo to become prosper, so this first threat need to be destroy first and to destroy Uzushiogakure they launched an ambush without Konoha knowing it.
Kirigakure was the first to agree. The Mist Village had been struggling with internal tension, its clans divided by ideology and bloodline suspicion. A foreign war was a convenient way to redirect that hatred outward. By attacking Uzushiogakure, the Mizukage could unify the divided clans under a single banner, although it was only temporarily.
Iwagakure and Kumogakure, are peaceful village and they only agreed because they saw profit. The first profit is of course money, second is fuinjutsu and third it will weaken Konoha. The Uzumaki clan were Konoha allies, their destruction would mean the weakening of Fire Country strategic defenses. If Konoha partner fell, the balance of power would tilt.
Sunagakure hesitated at first. The desert village was weary, its population smaller. But when their daimyo promised new trade routes and financial aid once the war began, they too agreed to take part.
Four daimyos, four villages, it should be successful but Raiken manage to turn the tide by running away from the village with all surviving member of Uzumaki Clan.
Not just that, the last standing Uzumaki member fought mercilessly, kill as many as they can and they lost quite a lot of powerful member compared to original series.
Yet the daimyos' victory was incomplete, they should be happy that many had died but after hearing that the survivor of Uzumaki Clan had survived and even manage to seek refuge in Konoha. Making them become afraid with Uzumaki Clan retaliation.
Konoha had grow stronger after the Uzumaki Clan had rebuilt the clan there. With them selling the scroll freely, more and more Konoha ninja survive in a mission.
Worse still, the war that was meant to drain power did not accomplish its purpose. The casualties were on one side, but the gold flowed to the other.
And so, fear took root once again.
In the Lightning Country palace, the daimyo sat in his grand chamber when his advisor entered respectfully.
"Daimyo-sama, our intelligence has brought news that might please you," the advisor reported.
It had been nearly a year since Uzushiogakure was destroyed, and until now, most reports had been grim and it was very rare for a good news to come in.
The daimyo raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
"The Fire Daimyo revenue has dropped by sixty percent and it appears the cause is none other than the Uzumaki Clan," the advisor replied.
The Lightning Daimyo expression brightened with interest. A few months ago, he had heard whispers that the coal trade in the Land of Fire was collapsing due to new competition influenced by the Uzumaki. Now, it seemed there was even more good news.
"What happened this time?" he asked, leaning forward slightly.
"The Uzumaki Clan has created a new kind of game," the advisor explained. "It's based on sealing scrolls, fūinjutsu. Our people managed to participate, and they said it was like stepping into heaven."
The daimyo frowned slightly. "What do you mean, 'like heaven'?"
"It means the place feels otherworldly, Daimyo-sama. A place of joy and wonder," the advisor clarified.
"I see," the daimyo said thoughtfully. "And how does this affect the Fire Daimyo finances?"
"The requirement to participate in the game," the advisor continued, "is that players must not consume alcohol for twenty-four hours beforehand, or else the seal will not works properly."
He paused, a faint smile forming on his lips. "Because of that rule, people have started avoiding alcohol altogether. Those who used to spend lavishly on wine and alcohol which are mostly supplied by nobles and the Fire Daimyo merchants, have now stopped buying entirely."
The Lightning Daimyo laughed heartily, the sound echoing through the hall. "So the Uzumaki, who were supposed to strengthen Konoha, have become thorns in the Fire Daimyo side instead!"
"Indeed, Daimyo-sama," the advisor said with a grin.
"Tell me," the daimyo said, his curiosity piqued, "is that game truly so entertaining?"
"Yes," the advisor confirmed. "They say it's worth giving up drinking altogether just for the chance to enter."
The daimyo chuckled again, pleased by the irony. "How fascinating. The Uzumaki may have lost their village, but they are unknowingly destroying Land Of Fire business."
Author Notes: To read advanced chapter you can go to my patreon.
Chapter 100: Strongest Hokage
Chapter 101: Forced
Chapter 102: Frontline
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