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The sudden noise outside the town made the three daimyo move to the window together.
In the distance, a luxurious group was slowly entering the town.
Golden carriages, magnificent banners, a well-organized guard, and numerous officials.
The wealth and power of the Land of Fire were fully displayed by this group.
However, none of this was the most eye-catching.
Everyone's gaze was fixed on a huge and sturdy prisoner cart behind the golden carriage!
Inside the prisoner cart, three figures were in a sorry state.
It was Fourth Raikage A, Eight-Tails jinchuriki Killer Bee, and the Raikage's secretary Mabui!
The Raikage was imprisoned in a cart, displayed as a war trophy, all the way!
"Hiss..."
A collective gasp of cold air echoed in the reception room.
If parading three thousand Kumogakure shinobi was a harsh slap to the Land of Lightning's face, then imprisoning a kage of a village in a cart for display was directly peeling off the Land of Lightning's face, throwing it on the ground, and stepping on it!
The three daimyo exchanged glances. Even if they regarded shinobi as tools, they would never do such a thing.
"He is truly young and full of energy!" The Land of Earth daimyo said with feeling.
"Indeed!"
Meanwhile, Onoki gnashed his teeth, his beard trembling with anger.
This Land of Fire daimyo clearly did not view them, the shinobi, as human beings.
"Father..."
Kitsuchi, standing nearby, also looked extremely grim.
Today, Kumogakure lost, and the Raikage was imprisoned in the cart.
What about tomorrow?
Could it be their Tsuchikage?
Kazekage?
For a moment, a sense of shared sorrow spread among all the shinobi of the shinobi villages.
Just as everyone had different thoughts and the atmosphere in the room grew heavy, they saw four people suddenly gallop from the moving Land of Fire group.
A middle-aged man who looked like an official, escorted by three guards, separated from the main group and headed straight for the inn.
"Hmm?"
Onoki's old eyes narrowed.
Rasa also frowned tightly.
What was this about?
Under everyone's gaze, the official got off his horse downstairs from the inn and exchanged a few words with the inn's guards.
A moment later, the guard hurried upstairs and reported, "Sirs, Minister Tanaka, the Minister of Finance of the Land of Fire, requests an audience!"
Minister of Finance?
Why bring such an important minister?
The daimyo exchanged glances.
The Land of Fire daimyo himself hadn't arrived yet, but he sent his money bag first?
"Let him come up."
The Land of Earth daimyo, who was closer to the door, waved his hand, his voice calm.
"Yes!"
Soon, footsteps echoed in the hallway.
Minister Tanaka straightened his attire and walked upstairs with three guards.
Each of the guards held an exquisite brocade box.
As soon as he entered, Minister Tanaka bowed deeply to the three daimyo, his voice neither humble nor overbearing. "Tanaka of the Land of Fire greets the Land of Earth daimyo, the Land of Wind daimyo, and the Land of Water daimyo."
"Minister Tanaka, there is no need for such formality."
The Land of Wind daimyo opened his fan, speaking with a forced smile. "May I ask why the Land of Fire daimyo sent you ahead?"
Minister Tanaka straightened up, his face full of smiles. "The daimyo is on his way, but he was concerned about keeping the three of you waiting for too long, and felt guilty."
"Therefore, he specifically ordered me to present some small gifts as an apology."
With that, he waved to the guards behind him.
The three guards immediately stepped forward and presented the brocade boxes in their hands to the attendants beside the three daimyo.
"These are specialty teas from our Land of Fire, along with a few trinkets that are not much, but we hope the three of you will not dislike them."
Gifts?
The daimyo's faces showed playful expressions.
He just used the Raikage's dignity to give everyone a warning, and then immediately sent someone to give gifts and apologize?
This tactic didn't seem like it belonged to a young man.
The Land of Earth daimyo signaled for his subordinate to open the brocade box.
A refreshing tea scent instantly filled the air.
The tea leaves in the box were thick and plump, with a vibrant green color, clearly of the highest quality.
Beside the tea, there was also a warm, exquisite jade pendant, carved with great detail and quite valuable.
The gifts for the Land of Wind daimyo and Land of Water daimyo were largely similar.
All were precious and elegant items, yet not overly practical.
The etiquette was impeccable.
"Haha, the Land of Fire daimyo is very thoughtful." The Water daimyo's impatience faded somewhat, and he spoke slowly.
One does not hit a smiling face.
Since the other party had shown such respect, they, as the current daimyo, naturally couldn't appear petty.
"Please thank the Land of Fire daimyo for his kindness on our behalf." The Land of Earth daimyo also said. "We will await his arrival here."
"Yes, I will certainly convey your words."
Minister Tanaka bowed again, then left with his guards.
With his departure, the atmosphere in the reception room eased a bit.
Onoki pouted, saying nothing.
But Rasa's gaze grew even more serious.
This Land of Fire daimyo, who could switch between threats and rewards, strength and courtesy, with such ease, he was a hundred times more terrifying than a pure tyrant!
Just then, the noise downstairs grew louder again.
The group had arrived below the inn.
Shin got off from the carriage, fully escorted by the Guardian Shinobi Twelve.
Upon seeing his figure, the three pairs of eyes in the prisoner cart behind him almost spat fire.
Powerless rage!
Shin ignored the three failures and, surrounded by a crowd of guards, strode into the inn.
Steady footsteps echoed up the stairs, one by one.
Soon, his figure appeared at the entrance of the reception room.
Shin's gaze swept across the room.
Finally, it rested on the three daimyo, a perfectly appropriate smile on his face.
"I apologize for keeping the three of you waiting." He bowed slightly, giving a small salute.
"Not at all. The Land of Fire daimyo has traveled a long way. You must be tired." The Land of Earth daimyo returned the bow with a chuckle, stepping forward to greet him.
"Lord Shin, what splendid bearing you have." The Land of Wind daimyo also returned the bow and chimed in.
A greeting filled with false politeness and testing thus began.
The kage stood behind their respective daimyo, silently watching the scene, their emotions churning.
Was this young man, who was chatting and laughing, truly the same person as the tyrant who had paraded the Raikage like livestock just moments ago?
After they had all taken their seats, the Water daimyo was the first to lose patience.
He put down his teacup, looked at Shin, and asked directly. "Lord Shin, you proposed this daimyo meeting, and by rights, all Five Great Nations should be gathered."
"But why did you choose to meet with us privately before the official meeting?"
As his words fell, the entire reception room instantly fell silent.
Onoki and Rasa's ears perked up.
This was the main topic of today!
Everyone's gaze came together on Shin.
"Because..." Shin smiled slightly and said, "some things are not suitable for losers to hear."
"I invited the three daimyo to come early because I wanted to share the fruits of victory with the three of you... no, with the Land of Earth, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Water."