Right now, Senju Haruto's mind was filled with question marks.
What the hell kind of idiot just popped out of nowhere?
He had thought the Daimyō summoned him to recommend him as Hokage. But after all that build-up… this man was here to demand accountability?
Not only Haruto, even Sarutobi Hiruzen was caught completely off guard.
In truth, the Daimyō's information network on the Uchiha clan wasn't any weaker than Konoha's own high council.
He knew very well that the Uchiha had been plotting to overthrow the village through a coup.
So, when viewed in that light, the Daimyō's "accountability" was clearly loaded with ulterior motives.
"Ahem."
Sensing where this was headed, Hiruzen cleared his throat, ready to shoulder the blame himself.
But before he could even open his mouth, Haruto cut in flatly.
"War always brings death."
His voice was steady, calm — neither loud nor soft.
But the meaning behind his words was sharp as a blade: What, did you think a war ends with nobody dying? Did you think this was children playing house? Use some common sense. How does your brain even work?
No one had expected Haruto to respond so bluntly.
Even the Daimyō's expression darkened instantly, his face going pale with anger.
The room fell into silence.
Aside from Haruto and Nara Shikaku, everyone present felt the atmosphere turn unbearably awkward.
Shikaku, however, was unfazed. This whole conflict didn't really involve him — he had no need to take sides between the Daimyō and the Hokage's council.
In fact, he found himself admiring Haruto's unflinching honesty.
That's Senju Haruto for you.
Hiruzen's face was tight with embarrassment, but inwardly he couldn't help sighing in recognition.
From the moment he had first met Haruto, the young man had always been like this.
Whether it was the Hyūga Main Branch, Danzō, the Raikage, or anyone else — Haruto never spoke or acted with a shred of hesitation.
Of course, Hiruzen also understood very well: this wasn't reckless arrogance. It was confidence born from overwhelming power.
"Even if war is cruel, the Uchiha were completely annihilated. Do you mean to say you feel no guilt at all?"
At that moment, an old man seated at the Daimyō's right hand suddenly spoke up, pressing Haruto with biting words.
It was the job of men like him to protect the Daimyō's authority and enforce his will.
The moment he saw Haruto acting so brazenly, he wasted no time striking him down with "righteous" condemnation.
From his perspective, he was standing on the moral high ground.
After all, the Uchiha who perished weren't just numbers — they were lives.
If Haruto had even the slightest bit of compassion, he should have bowed his head in shame.
If he stayed silent, it would mean admitting defeat. And that would cement the Daimyō's authority.
But what the old man hadn't expected was that Haruto — just a shinobi of Konoha, even if he was leader of Root — didn't give the slightest damn about men like them, perched on their lofty thrones.
"No."
Haruto's voice wasn't loud, but it carried the weight of a hammer. Every single person in the room heard it clearly.
Not a word of explanation followed.
Because Haruto had no intention of wasting his breath on such a meaningless argument.
Even if he laid out reason after reason, what would it change?
Anyone with half a brain could see that the Daimyō was deliberately trying to make things difficult for him.
So that's what this is… worried I've grown too powerful, are you?
Haruto muttered inwardly. He hadn't expected the leaders of this world to be so petty.
Instead of recognizing his overwhelming achievements, they seized on trivialities, looking for excuses to suppress him.
If he guessed correctly, the Daimyō and his cronies were planning to use the Uchiha's destruction as a pretext to strip him of his command of Root.
But this wasn't the world without power he had once known.
Here, his strength was such that he could single-handedly face down an entire shinobi village.
In fact, Haruto had always thought the Daimyō system was… redundant.
In the early years of Konoha, when ninja were powerful but not absurdly so, having a Daimyō in the political structure still made sense.
But by the time of Shippuden — when shinobi hurled jutsu like natural disasters, when Tailed Beast Bombs leveled landscapes, when the strongest could shake the heavens themselves — what purpose did a powerless Daimyō serve?
If Senju Tobirama had wielded the same strength as Hashirama, there would never have been a Daimyō of the Land of Fire to begin with.
So naturally, Haruto felt no obligation to bow his head to these men.
If they wanted him as a Hokage candidate — fine. Everyone would benefit.
But if their aim was to suppress him, exploit him, demand unconditional obedience, to force him to acknowledge their so-called "supreme authority"…
Then sorry.
Senju Haruto wasn't about to play along.
He'd grown up in a world where everyone was equal.
"You—!"
The old man trembled with rage at Haruto's nonchalant attitude, jabbing a finger at him.
"Are you saying you bear no responsibility whatsoever?"
"Yes."
Just that one word. Calm, cold, absolute.
"Let me say something."
Hiruzen interjected quickly, not so much to defend Haruto as to protect the Daimyō's dignity.
If this confrontation dragged on, the Daimyō would lose face.
"The Uchiha clan volunteered for that mission," Hiruzen said gravely. "They gave their lives to protect the village, and for that they are undeniably heroes. But Haruto did not sit idle. He personally engaged the Mizukage on the front lines. If not for him, the battle would not have ended with only the Uchiha's sacrifice — the entire war front could have collapsed."
His words were solemn and deliberate.
Surely, after this explanation, the Daimyō's men would relent.
Indeed, both Haruto and Hiruzen noticed the old courtiers' faces twist in frustration.
Clearly, they hadn't expected Hiruzen to step in and say that.
Even the Daimyō himself sucked in a breath, visibly shaken.
He had been ready to abandon his ploy of using the Uchiha's deaths as leverage, prepared to pivot and instead issue a mission to bring back Tsunade.
But the old man beside him wasn't finished.
"Even so, you were the commander at the time," the man said, his tone cutting. "It was your failure to properly gauge the enemy's strength that caused this tragedy. No matter how you spin it, you must take full responsibility."
"I propose we immediately strip Senju Haruto of his position as leader of Root."
The room erupted in shock.
Even Shikaku blinked in sudden realization, finally understanding the true purpose of this meeting.
As for Haruto — he had expected this from the start.
The Daimyō might be the supreme ruler of the Land of Fire, wielding more authority on paper than even the Hokage.
But to hand over what was already in his grasp? Impossible.
The instant that old man bared his fangs, Haruto's gaze locked directly onto the Daimyō.
"…Is this your will?"