Chapter 184

One might ask, how foolish is Daimyo to be subconsciously planted in Genjutsu by Madara? The answer is, not much smarter than pigs.

Having been acquainted with Hidden Villages for several decades, I am well aware of the Shinōbi's expertise in concealing and stealing information. Knowing that we are at war with the Hidden Villages, it is clear that they have control over the borderlines. How can we be confident that our messengers can sneak past the borderlines to deliver information? It is an audacious move, one that even the Hidden Villages can't endure any longer.

At the border of Iwagakure Village, Onoki, accompanied by a group of Iwa Shinōbi, hovers in midair, observing the scene below with a cold gaze. In the cover of darkness, Tsuchi no Kuni Daimyo and his Hundred Men Squad samurai leave under the impression that they are above us.

"He underestimates us greatly," commented Kitsuchi, who was following Onoki.

"He can underestimate us all he wants. As long as he continues to do so, we'll have the opportunity to clean up the trash," Onoki's eyes burned with madness that could no longer be suppressed.

"Father, what should we do?" Kitsuchi respectfully inquired.

"Don't concern yourself with that. Our hunters will take care of it. You just keep an eye on the borderlines and watch over the Daimyo," Onoki responded, giving his son a stern look.

In Tsuchi no Kuni, the cities that support the Daimyo's rule are currently under terrorist attacks. A group of samurai, known as the Daimyo's guards, wield Chakra weapons and forcefully invade towns, looting from both nobles and commoners.

"What is the meaning of this?" the town mayor angrily shouted, standing before a samurai in traditional attire amidst a town engulfed in flames.

"What do you think? We're here to rob," the samurai chuckled, before swiftly ending the town mayor's life with his sword.

"Why? We are the ones who support the Daimyo," the town mayor protested with his dying breath.

"Why? Because I stand against the Daimyo," the samurai replied, his eyes cold as he sheathed his sword.

Who could understand the town mayor's feelings?

Similar scenes were playing out throughout Tsuchi no Kuni. But it wasn't just Tsuchi no Kuni experiencing these events. For the first time in the entire Shinōbi World, Shinōbi were disguised as samurai. Even Sunagakure had taken the opportunity to deceive the Daimyo. However, the cruelest deception came from Kirigakure, known for its blood mist.

The Third Mizukage, dissatisfied with the Daimyo, sent his top enforcer, a member of the Kaguya Clan. The Kaguya Clan excelled in Taijutsu and resembled samurai, especially those who wandered. However, not all members of the Kaguya Clan possessed the delicacy of Kimimaro. The most similar to playing samurai, of course, was Konoha's Hatake Sakumo.

In Hi no Kuni, a loyal Sword Hero, amidst the raging flames, coldly surveyed the Konoha Shinōbi before him.

"You are no noble samurai, you're just rats in the gutter. What do you intend to do?" he exclaimed, his fiery gaze falling upon the fallen nobles surrounding him.

"We may not be samurai, but how do you know we aren't? Look at my traditional attire and the sword's aura when I wave it," Mitokado Homura responded, glancing at Hatake Sakumo.

Hatake Sakumo, affording him a fair amount of respect, summoned a massive wave of sword aura between his hands, slicing a path through the flames.

Feeling provoked by Mitokado Homura's gaze, the Sword Hero felt insulted. After all, Hatake Sakumo's purpose was to challenge samurai groups.

Fueled by his sense of insult, the Sword Hero lunged forward, fiercely attacking his opponent.

When words fail, fists are the answer. The principles of physics can make anyone obedient. There is no reason that can't be understood through physics. If there is, it simply means your fist isn't strong enough and you lack understanding of physics.

Observing the samurai rushing towards Hatake Sakumo with their blades, Mitokado Homura had no intention of intervening. The others in the Shinōbi group shared the same sentiment. They watched the spectacle unfold with expressions of amusement.

With a swing of his blade, the Samurai Hero's head was separated from his body. In an instant, his body began to grow cold, leaving no final words.

"The so-called Sword Hero, the so-called samurai spirit, exists only to be a source of mockery," Mitokado Homura joked, appreciating the dramatic scene.

"Thank you for your kind words, Consultant Lord. These individuals preach benevolence and morality, yet their actions speak otherwise," Hatake Sakumo expressed his disdain, as such actions contradicted his principles and values.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was wise to know that principles and values could be exploited. He presented evidence to Hatake Sakumo, showcasing how Daimyo nobles and the Samurai Group had embezzled Konoha's military expenses and defamed Shinōbi and Konoha from within.

Hatake Sakumo read and listened to the evidence in silence. He then changed into traditional samurai attire, took up a standard samurai blade, and followed Mitokado Homura as they departed.

Hatake Sakumo couldn't tolerate the misappropriation of military funds and the deliberate reduction of Shinōbi numbers, all while instigating war within the Shinōbi World. He sought justice for his fallen comrades.

No one's family should experience the loss of a child. It was abnormal for Shinōbi children to enter the battlefield at such a young age. Hatake Sakumo detested the idea of children being sent into battle.

As war approached, he knew he would be called upon once again.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was a deceitful individual, insinuating that the Daimyo might have initiated the war. Hatake Sakumo couldn't bear it.

As the saying goes, one might not fear doing wrong, but fear not encountering someone virtuous.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was far from virtuous.

Unaware of the events unfolding behind the scenes, the Daimyo remained oblivious due to the news being blocked by the Hidden Villages.

Blocking news was a trivial matter for the Five Great Hidden Villages, as it was their duty. Failing to fulfill their duty would warrant the destruction of the Five Great Hidden Villages.

As for Tetsu no Kuni, nobody could discern the Daimyo's true intentions when he set the meeting place in Tetsu no Kuni. Perhaps it was an attempt to emulate the Five Kages' talks. However, there were more Daimyo meetings than just the ones attended by the Five Kages.

Even Daimyo from smaller nations were summoned. The objective was to amass the world's power and wage war against the Shinōbi. Most importantly, the Daimyo discovered that in terms of samurai, Tetsu no Kuni possessed the most authentic warriors, including a Kage Level Samurai Admiral.

They had been concerned about how to manage the samurai under their command, but now they needn't worry. With the Admiral from Tetsu no Kuni, they could rest assured of having a capable leader.

As the discussion meeting had yet to begin, the Daimyo were already swelling with pride, believing their plan to be ingenious. They also experienced, for the first time, the true usefulness of the Five Kages' meeting.

Gazing at the Daimyo beside them and considering the abilities of their own men, they calculated that they could gather an army of forty to fifty thousand soldiers. Though they were all ordinary individuals, their numbers alone were formidable.

Despite their disbelief, they were ready to engage in battle, confident that their forces would be sufficient to exterminate the Shinōbi.