Chapter 52- Economic War

Ren Uchiha POV

Ding!

Due to gaining experience, your Nature Chakra Skill has levelled up by 1!

Due to gaining experience, your Nature Chakra Skill has levelled up by 1!

Due to gaining experience, your Nature Chakra Skill has levelled up by 1!

He paused at the string of notifications and at the memories he gained from the Shadow Clones.

His Nature Chakra skill was now at Level 24. And he had a feeling that he'll unlock his Sage Mode once he reaches Level 25. That, or at Level 50.

Due to his high Intelligence stat, and the rapid pace of his thoughts, he was able to look through the notifications and absorb all the memories his clone sent him, without the girl in his arms even suspecting that he was distracted by something else.

"-and he told me, a woman's only lot in life is to serve a man. Can you imagine the gall of that bastard." Mei seethed, as she told him about her life back in her clan compound.

He hummed in agreement as he had no idea what else to say to her. He was really shit at this whole 'bonding' thing that girls did with one another, wasn't he?

Maybe he was just a shitty listener.

Or maybe, just maybe, Mei talked too fucking much.

But then again, if he was about to marry Mei, then it was impertinent that he knows at least this much about her life. Otherwise, they would be nothing but strangers sharing a bed.

Mei looked like she was about to continue on her tirade, but then the waitress arrived with their deserts.

"Thank you." He told the waitress, observing with mild amusement as she blushed crimson at his compliment before swiftly retreating.

It was… amusing. The kind of reactions he got from girls and women now that he was a 10/10 on the attractiveness scale. It made him realise the scant attention he received from women in his past life when he was merely average-looking.

"Are you done flirting with the waitress?" Mei asked, her eyes narrowed at him.

"Jealousy is not a good trait, Mei."

"I'm not jealous! I'm just-" She halted in the middle of her sentence as he put a hand on her thigh and started bunching up her dress until his hand was resting on her naked skin.

Mei licked her lips, her breath becoming heavier. "What are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing?" He asked back, using his Genjutsu to make sure that no one would notice anything amiss with them even as his finger reached closer and closer to the insides of her legs before eventually coming to over her slit.

She was hot, and getting wet at his admistrations.

"Eat your desert." He told her even as his fingers smoothly removed her underwear.

"Ren!" Mei hissed in protest, her cheeks ablaze as she obediently lifted her hips for him to remove her panties.

"Focus on your dessert," he reiterated, placing her panties neatly beside her plate.

Mei bit her lips at that and looked around to make sure that no one had noticed. "Oh Kami. Please tell me you've put a Genjutsu to cover us." She whispered urgently.

"Maybe." He whispered in her ears as his hands started wandering inside her dress once again, caressing her inner thighs.

Mei whimpered, her body trembling from his touch as she nodded, then obediently began to eat her dessert.

Allowing her a moment to taste it, he then lightly brushed his fingers against her moist folds. Mei froze, completely still, as he withdrew his hand, displaying his fingers glistening with her arousal. With a deliberate motion, he licked her essence from his fingers, all the while maintaining eye contact with her.

Mei's arousal surged at his actions, her breaths growing heavier as she rose from her seat, smoothing out the wrinkles in her bunched-up dress. "We're leaving," she declared.

"No, we're not," he countered, gently pulling her back down onto his lap. Wrapping an arm around her to prevent any hasty retreat in embarrassment, he rested his chin on her shoulder. "Finish your dessert."

Mei turned back to glare at him and then once again scanned the surroundings, making sure that no one was paying attention to them.

"Here, really?" She asked.

"Well, I did suggest a private booth, but you insisted on experiencing the life of an average Konoha shinobi," he teased, a playful glint in his eyes. "Not that I mind. In fact, I appreciate your effort to immerse yourself in my village and its culture."

"Then why tease me like this?"

"Because as your boyfriend, it's my prerogative to tease you whenever and wherever I please," he asserted, his hand daringly slipping beneath her dress and finding its way to her core.

Mei's breath hitched, her body tensing as his fingers delicately caressed her folds, his expertise in the skill Fingering proving invaluable in this moment.

"What if someone ahh sees us?" Mei gasped, clutching onto the table for support. "Can't the Hyuuga see through Genjutsu?"

No, they can't see through 'his' Genjutsu. But that's not what he told her.

"Let them," he affirmed, sensing Mei's excitement surge through his emotion-sensing skill.

Mei wasn't exactly an exhibitionist, not in the truest sense. Even now, despite her worry, she was confident in his ability to conceal their activities. Yet, she was undeniably adventurous, always eager to indulge in daring escapades like this

He recalled their previous date vividly, where Mei had boldly pulled him into a secluded alleyway and indulged in a passionate make-out session, surprising him further by giving him a handjob right then and there.

Their encounter had nearly been interrupted by an Inuzuka woman passing by, who caught wind of their activities. Thankfully, he swiftly employed a Scent-based Genjutsu to avert disaster at the eleventh hour.

While the close call hadn't exactly heightened his libido, Mei's bubbling excitement at the prospect of being caught had enlightened him to her hidden fetish.

For the next few minutes, they remained in that intimate position, him exploring her body with his Medical Examination Technique and Emotion Sensing ability. Then, with a gentle stroke of his fingers on her sensitive nub, Mei squirted out an orgasm.

Moments later, Mei relaxed in his embrace, her head resting against his shoulder as she took deep breaths, slowly descending from her euphoric state.

"That was… *haah* good." She said before she turned toward him and kissed him on the cheeks. "Thank you."

"Thank me later, on your knees," he instructed, his semi-hardened member twitching beneath her soft ass cheeks.

Mei flashed him a teasing grin, nodding in agreement. "I will. But first, I'll need new clothes before we can continue our date," she remarked, glancing down at her drenched and crumpled dress.

"No, I'm not turning this date into a shopping spree," he declared, rolling his eyes. With a flick of his wrist, he manipulated water to remove the moisture from Mei's dress, tossing it out of the window and into a garden bed.

Mei observed the display in silence before letting out a sigh. "I've seen shinobi who've dedicated their lives to Water Jutsu in Kiri, but none of them have had control anywhere near yours," she remarked.

"Complements won't get you out of that blowjob." He teased with a smirk as they rose from their seats and headed towards the cashier to settle their bill.

"I wasn't attempting to," Mei retorted, slipping her panties into his pocket swiftly. With a mischievous grin and a wink, she sauntered out of the restaurant, swaying her hips enticingly with each step.

Among all the women in his life, Mei stood out as the most spirited and adventurous, even when compared to her juniors like Shisui and Itachi.

After settling the bill, he trailed after Mei. And for the next few minutes, they strolled through Konoha, hand in hand, as he pointed out the various changes in the village.

"That cosmetic shop is new."

"I want to take a look."

"No," he replied firmly. "You're already beautiful as you are. I don't want you to change who you are with makeup."

Mei pouted in response but didn't argue further as he tugged her along with him.

"That guy…"

"What of him?" Mei asked.

"He had lost both his legs in this recent war when he fell into a trap and got his legs crushed."

"And he now has both of them." Mei said, tilting her head curiously. "Is it because of that Greater Regeneration Fuinjutsu seal you showed us?"

"Yes," he acknowledged, observing the myriad changes in his village. "That park is also new. Just a year ago, it was nothing more than a deserted forest. Same goes for the nearby shops."

"Hmm... Kiri only had a handful of shops within its confines," Mei remarked with a furrowed brow. "And all of them were owned by the Mizukage and managed by retired shinobi who served in his faction."

"The more you tell me about your Mizukage, the more tyrannical he sounds," he mused. "Though, I'm surprised the clans didn't rebel against this. After all, having their own businesses and traders would provide an excellent source of revenue."

Mei shrugged in response. "The clans had too much pride. They would rather send their shinobi out on dangerous missions to die than be seen as copper counters."

He snorted at his words. "The more you tell me about Kiri, the more grateful I am to be living in Konoha."

Mei smiled, nestling into his embrace. "Me too, Ren. But I can't help but wonder, how things would've turned out were born in Kiri instead of Konoha?"

He pondered for a moment before chuckling. "It could've been one of three things. I'd either be dead, a missing-nin, or the Fourth Mizukage."

"I wouldn't have minded seeing you as the Mizukage-sama," Mei replied with a sultry smile, pressing her soft body against his.

"Hm… maybe I would've given you the post of an anbu. To serve as my personal bodyguard." He mused. "Or perhaps a secretary serving from under my desk."

"I would've served you with all my heart and body, Mizukage-sama," Mei replied, causing him to chuckle, particularly amused by the irony of their conversation, given Mei's eventual ascent to the position of Fifth Mizukage in the canon timeline.

"Or you maybe you would've become the Mizukage and I would've become the silent anbu who protected you from all the hidden dangers, and served you in other ways." He offered teasingly.

"Me, the Mizukage? Hell no!" Mei said, seeming to be rather vehemently against this, which surprised him as she had willingly taken that post in canon.

He wondered what happened in that timeline that made her want to take that post.

"I disagree. I believe you would've been a capable leader," he insisted sincerely.

Mei merely scoffed in response, assuming he was still teasing her. Deciding not to press further on the topic if she didn't believe him, he let it drop.

"Where to next?" Mei inquired, having walked through the streets of Konoha hand in hand, engaging in conversation for nearly an hour.

"Home," he replied.

"But I wanted to try out that new hot spring," Mei protested, eliciting a chuckle from him at her playful demeanor.

"Perhaps next time," he responded, giving her soft, plump ass a gentle squeeze.

Some days, he just wanted to bend her over and take her virginity. Yet, both had agreed to wait until marriage, and he was resolute in honouring that commitment, no matter how strong his urges.

"Next time. You always say that." She complained.

"And you're always so greedy." He said tweaking her nose as they entered the Uchiha Compound, giving a nod to the guards who bowed ninety degree to him in respect. "You're like a pig. No matter how much I feed you, you're never full."

Mei shot him another glare. "Did you seriously just compare me to a pig?"

"Yes," he replied unapologetically. "You're my gorgeous, alluring little piggy."

"…you're such an asshole."

"Oink oink."

Mei attempted to punch him, but he effortlessly evaded her strikes, leading her in a playful chase until they reached their home.

There, he seized her fist and pressed her against the wall. Before she could protest, he captured her lips with his own, and they indulged in a passionate kiss for several moments before he reluctantly pulled away.

Mei huffed in exasperation. "You're still such an asshole."

He smirked at her remark, sliding his hand beneath her dress to caress her breasts, eliciting a soft moan from her. Then, he lightly pinched her nipple, causing her to gasp in a mixture of pain and pleasure. "I believe the term you're searching for is 'daddy'."

"I'm not calling you daddy," Mei asserted firmly.

"Is that a challenge?" he responded, a playful glint in his eyes.

Mei scoffed at his words but didn't say anything.

He smiled and released her arms. "Head back to our room. I'll join you shortly."

"You'd better," Mei retorted before departing. He then descended to his underground training area, where his Shadow Clones were honing their skills in controlling Nature Chakra.

He dispelled them and absorbed their memories before the notification rang in his mind.

Ding!

Your Nature Chakra skill has Levelled up by 1!

Ding!

Your Nature Chakra has reached Level 25!

New ability Unlocked!

Sage Mode!

He stared at the notification for a moment before he smiled.

Finally.

—————

Daimyo of the Land of Earth POV

"Those shinobi managed to escape once again." He said, his voice filled with fatherly disappointment as he stared at the Iwa shinobi he had sheltered after the destruction of their village. Now he wondered if doing that had been the correct decision. "This is the third mission you've failed this month, Haruki-kun."

The shinobi remained on his keeping position, utterly still and no sign of his true feelings. "I know of my failures, Daimyo-sama."

"And yet, you stand here before me, as if you bear no responsibility," he remarked before addressing one of his Samurai guards, a loyal companion for as long as he could remember. "Asahi, my old friend, tell me, what would a Samurai do if he failed me so egregiously in a single month?"

"He would commit Seppuku to restore his honor, Daimyo-sama," came Asahi's swift response, his tone unwavering. He then cast a disdainful glance toward the kneeling shinobi. "Though, I suppose a shinobi wouldn't comprehend the concept of honor, given the actions of their brethren in the Land of Lightning."

Yes, the Land of Lightning event. A truly dreadful situation, and one that he was glad didn't befell his own Kingdom.

It was one of the reasons why he had joined the Daimyo alliance. To ensure that his kingdom wouldn't suffer the same fate as the Land of Lightning.

Those Konoha bastards had become too strong and overreached their boundaries. He and the other Daimyos will put those upstart killers in their place soon enough. But for now, he has his own problems to deal with.

"I suppose a shinobi who has honour is not a very good shinobi, considering their profession." He said, advancing toward Haruki. "However, that doesn't excuse you from your recent failures, Haruki-kun. What explanation do you have for this latest setback?"

Haruki shifted uneasily but maintained his silence.

"Speak." He ordered, sternly this time. "Or have you forgotten how I sheltered, fed and protected your people these past few months?"

"I… remember, Daimyo-sama." Haruki said. As he should, since Haruki was the leader of the remnants of the Iwa shinobi under his care.

This man was the last Elite Jounin from Iwa, who had taken it upon himself to gather other shinobi and civilians fleeing from Iwa when it was attacked by Konoha.

Or that's what he had been told. Now, he was doubting whether the man was even a Jounin, given all his failures.

"Then explain." He said simply.

"The bandits you sent me after. They were… from Iwa."

"So? What does that have to do with anything? They've gone rogue and are now wreaking havoc within my territory. The only fitting punishment for such actions is death. Death that you failed to deliver," he stated firmly.

"…they used to be my comrades, Daimyo-sama."

"Are you telling me that you have sympathy for the bandits harming my people, destroying my properties?" He asked sternly

The shinobi remained silent for a long moment before he let out a heavy sigh. "No, Daimyo-sama."

He glared at the shinobi for a long moment, watching him squirm under his gaze before he continued. "Tell me, Haruki-kun, what punishment do you believe is fitting for your failures thus far?"

With Haruki's silence persisting, he proceeded. "Dismemberment would render you crippled and diminish your worth. I could confiscate your lands and possessions, but you have none. However, I can hold your people accountable for your errors. Would that work for you, Haruki-kun?"

"Please, punish me for my mistakes, Daimyo-sama. Not my people," Haruki pleaded.

He tapped his staff on the ground, feeling mildly irritated by the situation, when the hall's door swung open, and a messenger rushed towards him, only to be intercepted by one of his Samurai guards.

The Samurai accepted the scroll from the messenger, deftly examining it for any signs of traps or poison before handing it over to him.

He unfurled the message and perused its contents, his expression growing grim as he reached the end of the scroll.

"What does the message say, Daimyo-sama?" Asahi asked, only daring to question him on account of their long years of friendship.

He let out a heavy sigh as he glared at the scroll, wishing that it would burn to pieces in his grip. It didn't, nor did glaring at it change the words written in it.

"The Daimyos of the Land of Grass, Rain, Claw, Fang, Mountain and Bear have declared war on us." He said with gritted teeth.

"Those minor kingdoms. They dare!?" Asahi asked, looking as enraged as he felt within his heart.

"It appears that the fall of Iwa and our inability to restore peace to our lands have emboldened these weaklings into thinking we're vulnerable," he remarked with a disdainful scoff, though inwardly he was consumed by worry. The situation was dire—very dire.

"Do you wish for me to raise the banners, my lord?" Asahi inquired.

"Hold off until we convene a war council and determine the best course of action against these insolent foes," he instructed before turning his attention to the still-kneeling shinobi. "Rise, Haruki-kun. It seems an opportunity has come for you to atone for your past failures."

—————

Daimyo of the Land of Wind POV

He laughed and laughed and laughed as he heard about the full on assault on the Land of Earth from its nearby neighbouring Kingdoms.

"The Land of Earth has indeed grown weak, if minor Kingdoms can attack them with such impunity." He said, taking great amusement in the predicament of his supposed 'ally'.

They might have been friends now, but he never forgot how those Iwa fuckers invaded the Land of Wind during the 3rd shinobi war. He also remembered the incompetence of the Sand shinobi, who failed to protect his wife, dear Kimiko. She had gone out to meet her family and tragically became collateral damage in their conflict. It was something he'd never forgiven Suna for.

Upon learning of Iwa's eventual destruction, he had celebrated with seven days of feasting. Now, it seemed he would have to prepare for another celebration once the Land of Earth was destroyed and absorbed by its neighboring kingdoms.

For even an idiot could see that there was no way the Land of Earth was winning this war.

Indeed, by the end of this war, the Land of Earth would be lucky to be left as a Minor Kingdom itself instead of being completely wiped out.

"Daisuke, prepare the castle for another celebration!" he instructed his minister and spymaster, who had delivered this news to him.

"Would that be wise my lord? After all, you are still part of the Daimyo Alliance, no matter who flimsy that Alliance might be."

He scoffed at Daisuke's words. "Worry not my friend. Those bastards need me far more than I need them. After all, I've always had a good relationship with Konoha, even going as far as to send my missions to them, instead of Suna. The other Daimyos might fear Konoha's retaliation but I hold no such fear. So go, prepare my castle for another feast. This is an occasion to rejoice and make merry, not brood silently within our castles."

"As you wish, Daimyo-sama," Daisuke acquiesced with a bow before departing, leaving him to his solitude in the chamber.

He went over to the window and stared out at the beautiful capital city of his Kingdom. It stood as a beacon of prosperity amidst the vast expanse of desert that stretched as far as the eye could see.

He heard the rustling of clothes behind him and turned to find a tall figure standing by his bed.

"You're late, Kakuzu. I feared that you had failed in your mission." He said.

"I would never fail on such an easy mission." The supposed Immortal said in his raspy voice. "Now, my payment."

"Already deposited into your account. Here's the receipt," he stated, passing a piece of paper to Kakuzu, who perused it before nodding in approval. "I trust you're prepared for your next assignment?"

"As long as you're prepared for the subsequent payment," Kakuzu retorted, eliciting a smile from him.

He liked this guy. A brute, and a killer he might be, but he was a simple creature at the end of the day. Throw a few ryo his way, and he would be willing to do anything and everything for him.

"Of course. I would not dare to filch from the man who fought the God of Shinobi himself." He said, his voice only a fraction away from becoming mocking. He then took out a scroll from within his sleeves and threw it at Kakuzu. "That's your next mission."

Kakuzu went through the contents of that scroll and then tilted his head. "Are you sure about this?"

He raised an eyebrow at that question. "What? Are you unable to do this mission. As someone who has fought the great Hashirama himself, you shouldn't have a problem assassinating a weak Kage, right?"

"Yes. But this is the first time I've seen a Daimyo assassinating his own Kage. I just want to be certain that you won't get cold feet once I accomplish my mission."

"Cold feet..." He chuckled, a dark undertone lacing his voice. "Cold feet? No. Those bastards took my beloved Kimiko from me. And now that they're vulnerable, it's time to wipe that worthless Hidden Village off the map once and for all."

Kakuzu stared at him for a long moment before he said. "I want half payment beforehand."

"Done." He said.

"Understood. I'll either accomplish the task within a month or refund your payment," Kakuzu declared before exiting the room, leaving him in solitude once more.

He released a sigh as he approached the head of his bed, fixing his gaze upon the portrait of a stunning woman—a sight he beheld every night before retiring.

"Kimiko, just wait. I'll avenge you," he vowed, gently caressing the portrait, unaware of the tiny scorpion lurking in the room's corner, eavesdropping on all his conversations.

—————

Daimyo of the Land of Water POV

He stared at the corpses laid on his feet, a dark, satisfied smile on his face as he confirmed the end of the Hozuki clan.

"Was that all of them?" He asked, counting the corpses of the children and babies to make sure that none escaped. They matched the number he'd been told. But you can never be too sure of such a thing.

"Yes, my lord." Juzo Biwa replied, feeding the blood from the corpses to his sword.

A sword that he intended to take after the Kiri swordsman dies on an 'unfortunate mission'. Just as he had claimed everything else from Kiri following its devastation by Konoha.

He would kiss Konoha's Hokage for ridding him of this problem if not for the looming threat of Konoha's power, casting a shadow over them all like an imminent guillotine.

Being the weakest of all the Daimyos, he would have no choice but to surrender his recently regained freedom if Konoha came knocking.

Yes, freedom, because unlike the other Daimyos who had a good if not favourable relationships with their Hidden villages, his own relationship with the Mizukage, and Kiri in turn, could only be described as antagonistic.

As in, they hated each other guts. Or well, he hated the Third Mizukage at least. Why wouldn't he, when that bastard was the one behind his father's assassination.

Given that the Mizukage and his forces wielded far greater strength than his own, they had little recourse but to bow their heads and turn a blind eye to the atrocities committed by Kiri's shinobi against his people.

It wasn't even as if he cared for his people. But they were his people. His property. His to do with what he wants. Not Kiri's.

With Kiri finally eradicated, having received divine retribution for their transgressions, he would be foolish not to seize this opportunity to wipe out the last vestiges of that cursed village.

"When will Kisame return from his mission?" he asked tersely, irritated by the necessity of conversing with these Kiri shinobi. They would have their reckoning soon enough, he vowed to himself.

"Once he's fulfilled the mission, my Lord," Juzo Biwa retorted, his tone lacking any semblance of respect.

Indeed, their time would come soon enough. Once he had purged all remnants of Kiri, he would set about reclaiming complete authority over the Land of Water, and then turn his attention to addressing the situation with Konoha.

—————

Daimyo of the Land of Lightning POV

Boom!!!

The dust cleared and he watched as the X mark in the mountain was destroyed, replaced by a ten feet wide and three feet deep crater.

The crowd surrounding him immediately started cheering at the result and he held back a sigh at their foolishness. This is what he gets for surrounding himself with nobles who had no idea about how powerful shinobi can truly be.

That attack, was comparable to an A-class Jutsu at best. Nothing compared to the power he had been promised.

He stared at the Fuinjutsu enhanced cannon whose blueprints his shinobi had taken from one of Kumo's hidden labs that survived Konoha's purge.

As far as his knowledge went, the cannon originated as an experimental weapon design crafted by the Uzumaki—a design later appropriated by Kumo following the destruction of Uzushio.

For the past few months, they had diligently toiled on creating this cannon, aiming for its power to rival and ultimately surpass that of a Tailed Beast Bomb.

He recalled the surge of hope he had felt when his men first presented him with this design—a hope that he would finally possess a weapon capable of exacting revenge upon those tree fuckers who ruined his beautiful Kingdom.

So much for that.

"Is this the best you've accomplished with all the funding I've provided?" He demanded of the project's chief scientist, his dissatisfaction evident on his face.

"My lord, our most skilled Fuinjutsu experts perished in Kumo, and the materials we managed to acquire for the cannon were subpar," the scientist groveled. "I assure you, prior to Kumo's downfall, the cannon prototype showed potential to rival the might of an S-class Jutsu."

"An S-class Jutsu." He sighed. "Are you talking about the same Jutsu that our enemies from Konoha spammed without any reservation to destroy our ports, mines, industrial bases, and bridges. Are you talking about that same level of power?"

"Yes, my lord." The scientist replied and he held back another sigh of disappointment.

Not enough. Even if they managed to develop a weapon capable of unleashing destruction on par with an S-class Jutsu, it wouldn't suffice. Not when his adversaries possessed far greater capabilities.

Perhaps, if he sustained this project for several more decades, he might witness the Tailed Beast Bomb's level of power as promised by the Uzushio scrolls.

However, as it stood, he lacked both the patience and the resources necessary to continue financing this project. Not anymore.

He would need to seek other means to exact his revenge on those tree fuckers. Yes, he would ensure they regretted the day they dared to lay waste to his realm, even if it kills him.

—————

Daimyo of the Land of Fire POV

He perused the report brought by his spy master, his jaw clenched tight in simmering anger.

Another betrayal, this time from a noble he had considered trustworthy—the father of one of his concubines, no less.

"Why would Lord Wakatabe betray us like this?" he demanded of his spy master.

"It appears that Lord Wakatabe's heir was afflicted with a severe medical condition. Konoha promised to provide medical aid in exchange for his support," came the response.

His face twisted with anger, and he struggled to contain the urge to shred the paper into pieces.

"You're dismissed," he curtly ordered his spy master, sinking into his seat as soon as the man departed.

This economic war, this silent conflict, was not unfolding in his favor at all.

He had hoped that by rallying all the other Daimyos into a unified faction, they could effectively challenge Konoha, even if only through economic means.

However, things did not unfold as he had anticipated.

Overnight, it seemed as if Konoha had become an economic giant, selling raw metal ingots in large quantities at prices significantly lower than what his own people could afford to sell.

Moreover, they began selling wood, glass, food, road construction services, medical services, and a myriad of other smaller services, not to mention their highly sought-after shinobi services.

And compared to Konoha, that was prospering, his Land of Fire was facing problems from all sides.

Once Konoha withdrew its protection, border towns and cities became vulnerable to attacks from neighbouring minor kingdoms. While none of these smaller kingdoms dared to launch a full-scale assault like they'd done wtih Land of Earth, it didn't mean that his border lords were spared from trouble.

The border lords were furious with him, and many had begun to align themselves with Konoha in exchange for protection.

And this was only the beginning of his troubles.

In recent months, an increasing number of his lords had begun siding with Konoha. The power base he once relied on was slowly eroding with each passing day. He had initially believed that pooling their wealth and resources through the alliance would strengthen their position while weakening Konoha.

However, that plan had failed miserably. Now, he found himself in an even weaker position than when he first formed the alliance.

Even worse, the Land of Earth was now under attack, marking the loss of one of his four major allies. And now he was getting reports that the Daimyo of the Land of Wind never stopped supporting Konoha from the dark.

This… was bad. There was no other way to put it. This was really really bad.

Two of his major allies won't be supporting him if a war broke out with Konoha. And the other two were… unreliable, to say the least.

'Are we, the five Daimyos, the five most powerful men in the Elemental Nations, really going to lose to a shinobi village?' He asked himself, having trouble believing that this was really happening.

But it was happening, and he saw no way to reverse this situation. No way to win this war.

—————

AN: An overarching view of what is going in the rest of the Elemental Nations. With the major Kingdoms having grown so weak, the minor Kingdoms are rising up. Not to mention the Major Kingdoms are still dealing with internal strifes, unlike Konoha, which is far more united than it'd been in canon.

That's it for this chapter. Hope you guys enjoyed reading it.

8 advanced chapters in Patreon.

Have a nice day.