The Plan (22)

One day later

Land of fire

Capital City

In the busy capital city of the land of fire, there was a constant flurry of activity. People hurriedly went about their daily routines. shop owners eagerly awaited customers and tried to take advantage of unsuspecting individuals. Mothers strolled along with their children, navigating through the crowded market stalls in search of goods. Meanwhile, unemployed men idled their days away, drowning their sorrows in alcohol at the local bar. Amidst all this commotion, five hooded figures roamed the streets, skillfully blending in with the bustling crowds to avoid detection.

These hooded individuals were Yamamoto and his group. After enduring constant running and only taking a few breaks, Yamamoto and his group of four finally reached the capital city just in time for their important meeting.

"Yamamoto-sensei, i'm confsued. Why are we wandering around like this instead of heading straight to the palace to meet the Daimyo?" Akiko asked in a hushed tone, although the rest of the group could still hear her. With her improved chakra control and constant training from Yamamoto, Akiko was now able to master the transformation technique, allowing her to appear as an adult woman with long orange hair and dark pupils. it was a simple and inconspicuous disguise, but sadly she still had yet to perfect the clone jutsu.

Yamamoto, his head completely covered by a grey cloak and hood, fixed Akikio with a stern gaze. He spoke with a serious tone, "Our purpose in doing this is to avoid any encounters with the Shimura clan. Even though I am unsure if they will be in the capital city, I believe it is best to proceed with caution. It has been a full week since I encountered the Shimura ninjas and I am certain they have had ample time to discover my involvement in their clan ninjas death. Therefore, they will undoubtedly be pursuing us."

After wandering aimlessly for about ten minutes, they finally arrived at the daimyō palace. They stopped in front of the palace gates where four guards were stationed.

The group stood before the imposing gate, their faces filled with determination and a sense of urgency. But as they approached, a guard stepped forward, his spear pointed at them with a fierce warning.

"Stop! This is a restricted area, no one is allowed in without permission. State your business now or leave immediately," the guard barked, his voice commanding and unwavering.

Yasuke, The appointed spokesperson of the group, spoke up confidently. "We are the Hima clan ninjas, and we had an appointment with the daimyō fixed a week ago. We have come to fulfill our duties," he declared, removing his hood to reveal the signature orange hair of the Hima clan, a clear verification of his identity. The guard's demeanor softened as he recognized the clan.

"Ah, yes. The daimyō did inform me of your visit. But if I may ask, weren't you supposed to meet with him three days ago?" he inquired, his suspicion still lingering.

Yasuke's expression turned serious as he explained, "We encountered an unexpected obstacle on our journey and had to postpone the meeting. But we must see the daimyō immediately. Time is of the essence."

Yasuke, noticing the guards' hesitation, decided to speed up his decision by giving them a fierce glare. The guard, along with the other three, began to sweat in fear and their hands shook as they clutched their weapons.

"Allow them to enter,The daimyō is awaiting their presence in the meeting room" a proud and arrogant voice interjects, causing Yasuke's intense gaze to soften. He and his group turn their attention to the source of the voice, curious to see who it belongs to.

The speaker was standing on top of the gates, it is a man dressed in typical warring state armor, with a sword hanging at his side. However, what sets him apart is the waist cloth adorned with the fiery symbol of the land of fire making Yasuke and the rest know that this man was one of the twelve guardian ninjas. These elite warriors brought from all around the land of fire are tasked with protecting the Daimyo, and the cloth serves as verification of his status.

Seeing one of the twelve guardian ninja here and hearing the daimyō had wanted to meet them the guard didn't push any forward and stepped aside opening the gates for them

Without hesitation, Yamamoto and his group swiftly pass through the gates and enter the palace. However, before fully entering, Yamamoto glances back at the man who is one of the twelve guardian ninjas. The two lock eyes for a tense 10 seconds before Yamamoto finally breaks his gaze and continues into the palace. The man cannot help but mutter to himself, "He's strong," as he watches Yamamoto's back with a conflicted expression.

The daimyō Palace was the epitome of opulence and extravagance. Everywhere you looked, there was gold, adding to the overall luxurious ambiance. However, the grandeur of the palace also made it quite overwhelming for Yamamoto and his group to navigate through. Thankfully, they had a guide to help them find their way to the meeting room where the daimyō was eagerly awaiting their arrival

"Just a friendly reminder," Yamamoto cautioned Akiko and Yasuke, "we may not be fond of the daimyō, but we must remember his importance to our mission. And Yasuke, please refrain from glaring at anyone. It may only cause more trouble for us."

As they stepped into the room, the contrast was evident. Unlike the grand halls of the daimyō palace, this room was humble and unassuming. There were only four couches and a simple table in the center, adorned with basic and modest decorations. The daimyō himself sat on the left couch, with two of his twelve guardian ninja standing guard behind him, their eyes fixed on Yamamoto and his team.

"Finally, after longing for so long, I have the opportunity to meet the famous and rising Hima clan," the daimyō exclaims with a laugh. He gestures to the couch in front of him, inviting the group to take a seat and they do exactly that.

Yasuke, trying to flatter the daimyō, lies through his teeth, "It's a pleasure to meet the esteemed daimyō. You are just as beautiful as the rumors say."

The daimyō chuckles, "Oh, really? Well, I have been working out recently, so I'm sure you must have noticed." He shamelessly pats his pot belly.

Curious about the Hima clan's purpose for the meeting, the daimyō asks, "So, what business does the Hima clan have with me?" He drops his playful demeanor and studies the group.

"Well, we were hoping that you could assist us with a mission, as our clan is currently facing a shortage of funds," Yasuke says, hiding their true intentions.

The daimyō's face contorts into a sly and cunning smirk as he hears Yasuke's request for a mission. He looks at the group of ninjas with a mixture of amusement and disdain. 'How dare you, a mere drop of dirty water, come to me for a mission after standing me up and arriving late?' he says in his mind, his tone dripping with sarcasm. 'But if a mission is what you seek, then a mission is what you shall receive.'

"Hey, I have a mission that I got yesterday but I couldn't send it to another clan. Can you help me out and take it?" The daimyō asked with a sly grin still on his face, as he gazed at the group.

"Of course, We're happy to help. So, what exactly is the mission?" Yasuke inquired, his face remaining neutral, but feeling excited that their clan had received a mission.

"Oh, we need to chase the four tails beast away from our farming lands," the daimyō explained, his smirk growing wider as he noticed the grave expression on Yasuke's face. However, before he could revel in his own cunning plan, a sudden murderous gaze fell upon him. The room's temperature rose rapidly, causing the daimyō and his two guarding ninjas to break out in a sweat and feel paralyzed.

As the rest of the group felt the heat intensify, they turned to see Yamamoto glaring ferociously at the daimyō. This sudden change in his demeanor surprises them, as they recall his previous advice against giving anyone such a look 'Weren't you the one who said we shouldn't be glaring at anyone' Those were the thought that went simultaneously through the group