Chapter 171

Inside the palace of Hi no Kuni Daimyo, the Daimyo himself, Shinji Ren, felt his legs growing weak as he looked at the old man with white hair and a white robe in the center of the grand hall, a look of terror on his face.

Within the expansive palace, samurai guards lay sprawled on the ground. The Shinōbi responsible for protecting the Daimyo were also motionless, as if in a deep slumber.

Strangely, not a drop of blood stained the palace. It seemed as though the fallen guards were not knocked unconscious but were rather in a state of deep sleep.

"Daimyo-sama, would you consider my suggestion?" Madara's mischievous gaze made the Daimyo's legs feel even weaker, and he felt a dampness in his crotch.

"I really don't understand what Hashirama was thinking, allowing such a failure to rule the world. It's utterly foolish," Madara sneered in his heart, harboring deep disdain for Senju Hashirama and the Daimyo.

"Kaze no Kuni seems to be your favorite," the Daimyo blurted out, his mind racing with an impulsive idea. He had received news that Kaze no Kuni Daimyo had amassed a fifty thousand-strong samurai army during his tour and was planning to challenge the Sāndaime Kazekage.

"Yes, yes, I instilled him with confidence and showed him a path. As Uchiha Madara, a participant in the one country, one village system, I possess a better understanding of Shinōbi than anyone else," Madara swiftly responded, sensing that the Hi no Kuni Daimyo was taking the bait.

The Hi no Kuni Daimyo fell silent, contemplating Madara's words. Indeed, Madara had a questionable reputation, but as he had claimed, he possessed a profound understanding of Shinōbi. In the Daimyo's eyes, Madara was a powerful figure in the Shinōbi world, and his name held considerable weight.

"Why are you helping me?" the Hi no Kuni Daimyo, not entirely naive, asked cautiously, still unaffected by the subtle Genjutsu Madara had secretly cast on him.

"To seek revenge against Senju Hashirama, to make him witness the collapse of the system he personally established," Madara passionately declared, the flames of vengeance burning in his eyes, causing the Hi no Kuni Daimyo to squint.

"Very well, I believe you. But I require power," the Hi no Kuni Daimyo stated solemnly after a brief moment of hesitation.

"No problem," Madara responded, his smile fading as he retrieved a white pill and tossed it to the Hi no Kuni Daimyo. "If you consume this pill, you will gain Chakra. It's a unique recipe of mine that I've recently developed and haven't shared with Kaze no Kuni Daimyo."

Without a second thought, the Hi no Kuni Daimyo swallowed the pill. Instantly, a fiery heat surged within his abdomen, and a powerful force coursed through his body. Acting on instinct, he clenched his fist, striking the table in front of him, shattering it. Satisfied, the Hi no Kuni Daimyo smiled.

Likewise, Madara smiled upon witnessing the pill's effect.

Q: Did Uchiha Madara create the pill?

A: No.

So, where did the pill come from? It was casually taken from White Zetsu.

"Your Excellency Daimyo, as a bonus, I have used Genjutsu to brainwash these Konoha Shinōbi. They are now under your command. I wish you success, and you can always find me if needed. Just stomp your foot," Madara casually remarked, observing the Hi no Kuni Daimyo with a pleased expression.

The Hi no Kuni Daimyo, caught up in his newfound strength, had no time to spare for Madara's concerns. He busied himself with testing his newfound power, feeling that he was now capable of accomplishing great feats, even overpowering opponents seven times his size.

Intent on putting his strength to the test, the Hi no Kuni Daimyo headed towards his backyard, leaving behind his thoughts on Madara's foolish quest for revenge.

"What a foolish man, willing to sacrifice his own nation for the sake of revenge," the Hi no Kuni Daimyo privately scoffed as he walked along the path to his backyard.

"What a gullible fool, easily swayed by my words. I've never encountered such idiocy. This will be quite a spectacle," Madara, who had already left, also held contemptuous thoughts in his heart.

"Next, it's time for the Earth, Thunder, and Water countries. The upcoming events fill me with anticipation," Madara mused, realizing that he had found enjoyment and amusement in deceiving people.

Previously, Madara's life had been dull, but now he found joy in playing tricks and deceiving others, a newfound source of entertainment. Most satisfying of all was witnessing the expressions of those fooled, followed by the moment their hopes were shattered.

Madara had already planned it all. Upon his return, he would ask Uchiha Mina for a few video recorders and hand them to White Zetsu, allowing him to capture the desperate expressions of the Daimyos of the Five Great Countries at any given moment.

The mere thought of it overwhelmed Madara with excitement. Motivated, he swiftly put his plans into action.

In less than ten days, following Kaze no Kuni Daimyo's Parade, the Daimyos of the other four countries in the Five Great Countries each held their own tour activities.

By the time the Four Great Hidden Villages received the news, it was already too late.

Ultimately, after much chaos, the Four Shadows issued the same order as Hitoshi: dispatch experts to protect the Daimyos and ensure their safe return.

Once the Daimyos returned, further decisions would be made.

However, another decision was made as well.

Inside Kirigakure, within Mizu no Kuni...

"Go, summon the member of the Kaguya Clan back to me. I need that brat to do something for me now," the Third Mizukage snarled with a sinister expression in front of a group of high-ranking individuals.

The high-level members of Kirigakure observed the Third Mizukage's sinister face, their expressions turning solemn as they dared not speak too loudly.

"Inform that madman from the Kaguya Clan that if he enjoys fighting so much, he can fight to his heart's content this time. Simultaneously, send a letter to Yagura and instruct him to turn back. Mizu no Kuni could erupt into war at any moment."

The orders to deploy troops were issued.

Mizu no Kuni, secluded overseas, housed a deranged Daimyo who lacked common sense. Unlike the Hi no Kuni Daimyo, who possessed wild ambition but retained a modicum of rationality due to Konoha's constant battles, the Mizu no Kuni Daimyo had no sense of reason. Whenever provoked, he acted without hesitation.

Imagine the Mizu no Kuni Daimyo amassing a ten thousand-strong samurai army within a matter of days. It demonstrated a deep-seated mistrust in Kirigakure.

How many weapons, resources, and personnel had been secretly accumulated beforehand?

Kirigakure was not the only village facing such circumstances.

Both the Kaminari no Kuni Daimyo and Hi no Kuni Daimyo initiated their own tours and made preparations for a samurai army.

Although the conflict between Konoha and Kumogakure had temporarily ceased, both sides were now reorganizing their Shinōbi forces, ready to retaliate at any moment.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and the Third Raikage were both formidable individuals.

The Third Raikage's intellectual capacity might not be exceptional, but he understood the limits of what could be tolerated.

The animosity towards Konoha might not be small, but it was an external matter.

Within Kaminari no Kuni, the Daimyo understood the importance of stabilizing the country as quickly as possible. As long as Kumogakure existed, there was always an opportunity for revenge against Konoha. If Kumogakure were to be eradicated, revenge would be impossible, and Konoha would have no obligation to retrieve their bodies.

Thus, in the eyes of the Third Raikage, stabilizing the country swiftly took precedence over everything else.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's mindset was simpler.

Anything could be sacrificed, but not Konoha and his own power.

Setting aside the truce with Kumogakure, even if it meant relinquishing land, his primary concern was resolving internal issues.

With the Hi no Kuni Daimyo spiraling out of control, it posed a significant threat to him.

Other potential problems were looming, and strict control was necessary.