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The next morning.
Land of Hot Water, Posthouse.
A spacious conference room on the top floor.
In the center of the room, five low tables were arranged, representing the five great nations at the top of the shinobi world.
The three countries' daimyo (Land of Earth, Wind, Water) had already taken their seats, each with a different behavior, some closing their eyes to rest, others playing with their teacups, a relaxed expression of watching a show on their faces.
Shin sat in the main seat, his expression calm, but his gaze sharp.
The only one who seemed out of place was the Land of Lightning daimyo.
He sat upright, his back perfectly straight, attempting to maintain the dignity of a ruler.
But the fine beads of sweat on his forehead still gave away his inner unease.
Besides the five great nations' daimyo, there was no one else in the room.
This was a closed-door meeting belonging only to the five daimyo.
"Clang!"
Shin slammed his teacup onto the table, tea splashing out, the sound particularly harsh.
The Land of Wind daimyo, the Land of Earth daimyo, and the Land of Water daimyo's eyelids twitched slightly.
The show had begun.
The Land of Lightning daimyo's body went stiff for a moment, but he did not show panic. Instead, he slowly raised his head to meet Shin's gaze.
Shin looked around, finally settling his gaze on the Land of Lightning daimyo, his young face filled with anger.
"I'm very curious!" Shin's voice was filled with the energy and anger of a young man. "Land of Lightning daimyo, do you think that the Land of Fire daimyo should be replaced?!"
These words were like thunder.
The Land of Lightning daimyo's face instantly turned pale, and he forcibly held back the urge to stand up, his voice showing a fierce but inwardly weak question. "Lord Shin! What... what do you mean?!"
"What do I mean?" Shin sneered, his laughter full of mockery. "Thousands of Kumogakure elite shinobi, led personally by the Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails jinchuriki, ambushed Konoha!"
"What a grand gesture! What a display of power!"
"What were you trying to do? Destroy Konoha?"
His voice grew louder and louder.
The Land of Lightning daimyo tried his best to explain. "Absurd! Lord Shin, there must be a huge misunderstanding!"
"Misunderstanding?" Shin shot back. "I ask you! I myself was in Konoha at the time! Did Kumogakure know?"
"We... we didn't know you were in Konoha..."
"Hahahahaha!"
"Do you even believe that yourself?!"
"I set off for Konoha with great fanfare. If Kumogakure didn't even have that much scouting ability, it would have been destroyed countless times over!"
"Would it still be your Land of Lightning, ranked as one of the five great nations?"
"You!"
The Land of Lightning daimyo forced himself to remain calm, his fists clenched, trying to make his voice sound stronger, but the uncontrollable trembling of his body still gave him away.
"Kumogakure's actions were entirely the Fourth Raikage's decision made on his own!"
"He... he attacked Konoha to pursue a rogue shinobi. I was completely unaware of this!"
"Huh? Pursue a rogue shinobi?" Shin sounded as if he had heard the biggest joke.
"A kage, a jinchuriki, and thousands of elite shinobi deployed, just to pursue a rogue shinobi?"
"Is this excuse meant to insult me, or to insult the intelligence of everyone present?"
Shin sternly scolded. "Even if we take a step back, even if it truly was the Raikage's decision made on his own, then what is your Land of Lightning daimyo good for?"
"If you can't even control your own kage, what right do you have to sit here?"
"I..." The Land of Lightning daimyo truly couldn't find an excuse. His face, flushed with shame and anger, was no longer calm.
He wanted to argue back, but couldn't say a single word.
Shifting blame?
In front of the enraged Land of Fire daimyo, any defense seemed so pale and powerless!
Shin no longer paid him any attention, but instead turned to face the other three countries' daimyo.
The expression on his face changed from anger to one of deep sorrow.
"Gentlemen." His voice deepened. "In the past, when the shinobi world wars were fought, they were fought."
"It was shinobi who died, and money and land that were lost."
"But we remained high above, safe and sound."
"Why?"
"Because there was an unspoken understanding among us that everyone accepted..."
"War does not involve the daimyo!"
"This is the iron rule that allows our class to rise above everyone else!"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, and continued. "But now!"
"Kumogakure has broken this understanding!"
"They knew that I, the Land of Fire daimyo, was in Konoha, yet they still launched an attack."
"Today, their target was me, the Land of Fire daimyo!"
"Then tomorrow? Who will their target be?!"
"Will it be you? Or you?"
As Shin's hand pointed to each of them, the faces of the three countries' daimyo (Land of Earth, Wind, Water) also turned dark.
Although they all knew this was part of his performance, part of the plan, their hearts still felt a chill.
Yes.
Once this rule was broken, who could sleep soundly in the future?
Instantly, the way the three countries' daimyo (Land of Earth, Wind, Water) looked at the Land of Lightning daimyo completely changed.
Their eyes were no longer relaxed, but became angry.
Because this idiot had destroyed the basic rule that all daimyo relied on for their peace and stability!
Just then, Shin spoke again. "Today, I will only say one thing."
He slowly walked to his seat and sat down, but the aggressive presence coming from him only increased.
"I believe you all should be clear by now, I, the Land of Fire daimyo, single-handedly stopped Kumogakure's attack."
"You should have a general understanding of my personal strength."
His voice was not loud, but it made everyone present tense up.
Yes!
This was what everyone feared most, and also what they couldn't understand!
One person, stopping a kage and a jinchuriki, and thousands of Kumogakure elite shinobi!
Unbelievable...
"I can still sit at the negotiating table!" Shin snorted coldly. "This already shows my attitude. I have given you all enough face."
"Land of Lightning daimyo, today, if you don't give me an explanation for this matter..."
"If Kumogakure dares to come today, tomorrow, I will dare to visit the capital of the Land of Lightning."
After his words fell, Shin paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone.
"Anyway, the rule has already been broken by you."
"Isn't it just mutual harm?"
"Who's afraid of whom!"
As his words fell, the entire room immediately fell into silence.
Flipping the table!
This young Land of Fire daimyo was going to completely flip the table in front of everyone!
The three countries' daimyo felt an even greater chill in their hearts.
Today, the Land of Fire could fight back against the Land of Lightning with good reason.
But what about next time?
If someone made him angry next time, could he also visit others in the same way?
This example must not be set!
He must not be allowed to taste the sweetness of solving problems with force!
In an instant, the Land of Wind daimyo's expression became serious, and with a snap, he closed his fan and immediately stood up. "Lord Shin, calm your anger! This matter must not happen!"
"This rule must not be broken by us!"
"Right! Lord Shin, you absolutely must not be rash!" The Land of Earth daimyo also forced out a worried expression, hastily advising. "If you also do this, what's the difference from Kumogakure?"
"This will completely throw the shinobi world into chaos!"
They were scared.
They were truly scared.
This young man was different from other daimyo.
They were not afraid of his anger.
Rather, they were afraid that he would truly follow through and drag them down with him!
The Land of Water daimyo immediately spoke, his attack aimed directly at the Land of Lightning daimyo.
"Land of Lightning daimyo! Look at the mess you've made!"
"Kumogakure's actions are simply shaking the foundation of our five great nations! You must be held responsible for this!"
"Indeed! The nature of this matter is too terrible!"
For a moment, the three daimyo who had just been mediating immediately turned their attacks, launching a verbal assault on the Land of Lightning daimyo.
One after another, their words were sharp!
The Land of Lightning daimyo stood there. His forcibly straightened back finally couldn't hold up under the accusations of the three daimyo, and slowly slumped down.
His face was gray.