The relationship between the daimyo and the Kage was more like that of an employer and an exclusive military contractor.
Moreover, it was not that the daimyo wanted only one shinobi village. It was that the powerful shinobi village monopolized the nation's military force.
Thus, wars between the Five Great Shinobi Villages generally did not target the opposing side's daimyo.
But considering possible rash moves by the enemy and certain short-sighted wandering shinobi, the shinobi villages did send long-term protection to their nation's daimyo. The village dispatched these missions long-term, basically one jōnin leading two to three chūnin squads.
The shinobi Konoha dispatched were only responsible for protection. They did not follow the daimyo's orders or get involved in internal daimyo residence affairs. Add to that the fact that the daimyo residence always had private matters inconvenient to commission to the village, and Konoha had always turned a blind eye to the daimyo recruiting shinobi privately.
This time was different. The Third specifically told Shuji to pay attention to the Guardian Shinobi Twelve for two reasons:
First, twelve people exceeded the limit the village could accept.
Second, last month, the daimyo's residence had refused Konoha's rotation of a new guard squad.
Unable to gather more intelligence from Asuma, Shuji did not wander around. He simply rested in the guest room.
By the time night deepened, faint footsteps sounded in the corridor outside the guest room.
He opened his eyes and stood silently.
The shinobi world was not small, but a shinobi's pace was fast. A day's time to go back and forth between the Fire Capital and Konoha was ordinary.
Deliberately keeping him in the daimyo's residence to rest likely meant some words were inconvenient to say during the day.
The door opened without a sound. The Land of Fire's daimyo, wrapped in a dark cloak, quietly entered under the escort of four shinobi wearing waist sashes with the character for "Fire."
"Forgive the intrusion so late at night, Jōnin Shuji." Though the daimyo maintained his usual slow tone, it carried a trace of tension. "The matter is urgent. I hope you will understand."
"You are too kind. To come in person so late at night, it must be a matter that cannot be delayed."
The daimyo sighed lightly and waved for one Guardian Shinobi to stand watch outside the door. The remaining three silently spread out and guarded the key positions in the room.
"Things have reached this point. I cannot hide it any longer. This worry stems from the Guardian Shinobi Twelve." He lowered his voice. "How this situation has developed has already far exceeded my original expectations when I established the Twelve."
"At first, I recruited the Guardian Shinobi only to bolster my guard and handle small matters inconvenient to commission to Konoha."
"My younger brother Masamune has always assisted me in managing domestic affairs, so I allocated some personnel to him."
Shuji nodded to show he was listening and had even guessed what came next.
The daimyo's brow creased with deeper worry. "At first, everything was as usual. Masamune was dutiful, and the Guardian Shinobi were diligent."
"Only recently. My brother and some of the Guardian Shinobi have been associating too closely. Their movements are suspicious."
"What troubles me more is that among the Guardian Shinobi under my command, some have also begun to move erratically. Their execution of my orders is often delayed."
"Last month, I noticed Konoha had not dispatched a new guard squad on duty. I was about to send a letter to inquire. Unexpectedly, Masamune advised me that the Twelve's combat strength was already sufficient and there was no need for Konoha to dispatch new personnel."
"Kazuma, one of the Guardian Shinobi, also petitioned me, begging me to trust their ability and loyalty."
"Kazuma holds high prestige among the Guardian Shinobi. Most are close to him. I could only agree."
As expected, the next step in this development was a coup.
Thinking that, Shuji looked at the three Guardian Shinobi in the room. To attend at the daimyo's side tonight, they must be people the daimyo had confirmed were trustworthy.
"Why did you not dispatch someone privately to Konoha?" Shuji asked.
The daimyo hesitated and did not answer right away. Among the Guardian Shinobi, a man with a mohawk hairstyle said, "Because of Asuma."
"As the Third Hokage's son, he is also close to Kazuma. His attitude is ambiguous and unclear. Even Chiriku, who is friendly with Asuma, cannot be trusted."
"The daimyo could not confirm Konoha's attitude and dared not rashly dispatch any of us under such circumstances."
A female shinobi added, "The four of us and our jutsu are the reason Kazuma and his group have not dared act rashly."
Shuji was silent for a moment. Asuma's stance had caused the daimyo's trust in Konoha to waver as well.
At this, the daimyo said, "I believe Asuma is not a traitor. He has fought hard for my safety before."
"But the matter is so grave. I must be cautious."
His gaze locked onto Shuji. "Jōnin Shuji is one of Konoha's elite. The Third also stated in his letter that you can represent Konoha."
"So I wish to know whether Konoha still maintains the same position as before, ensuring my safety and the nation's stability."
"What is Konoha's attitude toward my brother Masamune and Kazuma's actions?"
Internal power struggles within the Land of Fire's daimyo residence had nothing to do with Konoha. Just as the succession of Konoha's Kage position theoretically required the daimyo's approval, in practice, Konoha nominated someone and the daimyo approved them.
What truly concerned Konoha was the Guardian Shinobi Twelve's power structure and the refusal of Konoha's dispatched squads.
The daimyo's brother wanting to rise was no problem. But if you relied on a powerful shinobi organization to stage a coup, and it was a non-Konoha shinobi organization at that, that was not acceptable.
Even showing an attitude of rejecting Konoha was even more unacceptable.
Shuji said with finality, "You are the Land of Fire's legitimate sovereign and the leader Konoha protects. Konoha's stance has never changed."
Hearing this, the daimyo smiled. "If that is so, I am relieved. Please, Jōnin Shuji, return to Konoha at once and report the situation here to the Third."
"I need Konoha to dispatch personnel to the Fire Capital as soon as possible to guard against the unexpected."
"I entrust everything to you. Please be careful."
Shuji said no more. He knew what needed to be known. Staying longer served no purpose. He bowed and withdrew.
As for Asuma's problem, that was a family matter for the Third Hokage to handle.
Just after leaving the capital, passing through a stretch of dense forest, Shuji stopped.
Two figures slowly walked out from the tree shadows.
Both wore the Guardian Shinobi emblem at their waists, though he had not seen them at the daimyo's residence during the day.
One wore a mask, and one had long hair. The two blocked Shuji's path.
"A brat in his teens," the long-haired Guardian Shinobi said, looking at Shuji with contempt. "Promoted to jōnin for the meager achievement of being an envoy. It is because of a Konoha like this that the Land of Fire has fallen to this state."
"That jōnin sir, the daimyo's orders were for you to wait in the residence and leave tomorrow after receiving the reply," the masked shinobi said in a low voice. "To leave like this is far too rude. Please return."
In a private residence, En Masamune paced back and forth. His rich robes dragged on the floor, rustling softly, which only made the room's silence more oppressive.
"What do we do? What do we do? The envoy from Konoha arrived. My brother dismissed me during the day. Now the envoy is staying overnight in the residence. What should we do now?"
Masamune's gaze swept over the four people standing or sitting in the room and finally settled on the young man at their head.
Kazuma met Masamune's eyes. "Things have reached this point. Hesitation is defeat. Lord Masamune, decide now."
"I have already sent Teppei and Enjishi to lie in wait outside the city to prevent the Konoha envoy from escaping."
"The four of us will strike at once and take control of the daimyo. Then you will succeed him and hold the righteous cause. Konoha will be powerless."
"Tonight?" Masamune's face paled half a shade. He shook his head instinctively. "Asuma and Chiriku's positions are still unclear. If they side with my brother, it will be over."
"Asuma... Chiriku..."
Kazuma chewed on those two names. He had not wanted to move this early either, but the Konoha envoy's arrival was ill-timed. Asuma was wavering, but he was almost convinced.
Dealing with Asuma would deal with Chiriku. As for the remaining four, the Raijin Raijin no Jutsu was indeed powerful, but he already had a plan.
Only now, though the timing was not optimal, they had no choice but to act early.
"They will not be a problem," Kazuma said coldly.
"You've already convinced them?" Masamune asked.
"No. But our side has absolute power. Though it is not entirely under control, we still have the ability to keep Asuma and Chiriku too occupied to interfere."
Masamune did not understand. He did not know his side had even greater strength.
A trace of fervor appeared in Kazuma's eyes. "Do you know of the Nine-Tails?"
"Of course..."
"That is a force capable of destroying Konoha. A few years ago, the Fourth Hokage died because of it. At that time, I happened to be in Konoha..."
"In the chaos, I collected some of the Nine-Tails' chakra."
En Masamune stared at Kazuma in disbelief, even stepping back half a pace.
"I sealed it and stored it. Now, the vessel holding the Nine-Tails' chakra is at the Fire Temple."
"I also have comrades in the temple. As long as we release that power and create chaos, Chiriku will have to return to the Fire Temple. Asuma is close to him and will surely follow."
Masamune's face lost all color bit by bit. He murmured, "But that is the Nine-Tails' power. If it goes completely out of control..."
"I can seal it again," Kazuma said, eyes burning as he looked at Masamune. "This is the only chance, Lord Masamune."
"If Konoha sends reinforcements and the daimyo regains control of the situation, he will certainly execute you."
"Please make your decision, Lord Masamune."
"This is for the Land of Fire's future. Only you can lead the Land of Fire to its peak."
With that, he led the other three Guardian Shinobi and knelt before Masamune.
"I beg you. Only by breaking free of the incompetent daimyo and Hokage will the Land of Fire stop falling into constant warfare as it does now."
"Everything depends on you."
En Masamune's chest heaved violently. Cold sweat soaked his undershirt. Finally, he nodded heavily. "Do it."
Chapters in advance there: patreon.com/Thaniel_a_goodchild