Chapter 169

"Tsk, such a despicable method, but unfortunately, the larger the scale, the more effective these methods are."

Hitoshi looked disdainfully at the information from various sources in Kaze no Kuni.

Currently, Hitoshi was in the conference room of the Kazekage building, accompanied by the high-ranking officials of Sunagakure.

One month ago, the Daimyo of Kaze no Kuni suddenly embarked on a tour of the region. Under the protection of elite samurai from Kaze no Kuni, the tour commenced. As an expression of gratitude to the people of Kaze no Kuni, the Daimyo recruited additional individuals to serve as guards.

"Let's discuss how to handle this situation," Hitoshi said, intertwining his fingers playfully.

"Nobody seems to know what to say. The Daimyo has unexpectedly become resistant and disobedient. We need to find out where the Shinobi we assigned to protect him have disappeared to," Hitoshi continued, his tone turning dangerous.

The actions of the Daimyo caught them all off guard. It took them ten days to receive the news of the Daimyo's tour, and another twenty days to confirm it. They only learned about it when the Daimyo arrived in a town under their control.

This indicated that the Daimyo possessed a unique influence, one they were unaware of. Furthermore, the Shinobi they had deployed to protect the Daimyo had either been killed or bribed. In short, they had lost control over the Daimyo.

The high-ranking Suna Shinobi sitting below lowered their heads in silence.

"Do not underestimate people and act carelessly. That is the Daimyo, not some ordinary person. On paper, he controls this country," Hitoshi reminded them, feeling a sense of exhaustion.

"The Shinobi assigned to protect the Daimyo have been killed, which is why the news spread slowly. Our focus has been on developing overseas islands this past month, neglecting our management here. It was a vulnerability," Ebizo raised his head and reluctantly admitted.

"We are aware of that. Now, the Daimyo has acquired some influence, and his strength is not weak. Moreover, he is attempting to form a samurai army to threaten us. Tell me, what should we do?" Hitoshi gradually calmed down, realizing that getting angry was futile. The situation had unfolded unexpectedly, and they had no choice but to accept it.

Furthermore, blaming their subordinates wouldn't solve anything. If they were capable of preventing such incidents, there would be no need for a Kazekage.

"We can assassinate the Daimyo and seize the opportunity to unify all of Kaze no Kuni," a battlefield Shinobi suggested ruthlessly.

"But then we would be stuck dealing with endless rebellions. It's not worth it," someone quickly retorted.

"What do you suggest then?"

"We wait. Since it has already happened, we must accept it. Send an expert to protect the Daimyo and wait for him to return safely to the Daimyo Mansion in Shuo."

"But that will take too long."

"We have no better options at the moment. We can only wait and adapt. Besides, I believe this won't be the first or last incident of its kind."

"Indeed, you're right."

"Agreed."

The high-ranking officials of Sunagakure raised their spirits and engaged in a heated discussion, considering various possibilities based on the information available to them. Hitoshi joined in, contemplating the best course of action.

"What a troublesome situation. The majority of this world consists of ordinary individuals," Hitoshi lamented.

Hitoshi was certain that an unfamiliar influence had emerged around the Daimyo, someone who sought to provoke the Five Great Hidden Villages. As others had said, there would likely be second and third incidents of this nature.

"It's a cunning move, perfectly timed. However, it doesn't matter. The game has just begun," Hitoshi concluded.

He understood that to change the entire situation of the Shinobi World, they couldn't solely rely on the Daimyo of Kaze no Kuni. Moreover, using him as an example wouldn't yield the desired results. The other Hidden Villages had varying degrees of control over their respective Daimyos. Hitoshi suspected that it wouldn't be long before other Hidden Villages encountered similar situations with their own Daimyos touring and forming samurai armies.

As time passed, Hitoshi quietly observed the high-ranking officials of Sunagakure engaged in their discussions, while they utilized their strategic thinking to devise solutions.

Eventually, realizing it was dinnertime and unable to bear the situation any longer, Hitoshi made a decision.

"Silence! Bunpuku will lead a team of Shinobi to protect the Daimyo and investigate the whereabouts of the previous guards. The rest of you, loosen up on the outside but be vigilant on the inside. Pay attention to the situation in Sunagakure and monitor Kaze no Kuni. If anyone fails to recognize themselves, eliminate them. Lastly, prioritize your own safety and avoid unnecessary complications."

"Yes, Kazekage-sama!"

With Hitoshi's decisive decision, everyone became more focused. They weren't afraid of many things as long as Hitoshi was there; his presence alone gave them the confidence to act.