"Daimyō?"
Kiyo Hyuga frowned slightly and asked, "How many people in total? And how many of them are shinobi?"
Kamizuki Izumo replied, "A little over a hundred. Not sure how many are shinobi, but a few of them look like ANBU… masked faces, short blades, and tool pouches like ANBU gear. But they're not wearing ANBU uniforms or tags."
"ANBU?"
"Yes. Masks covering their faces, and the equipment matches. Just no ANBU attire or insignia."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses. "It might be Danzo. No wonder Root has been unable to track him down. If he's been hiding in the Daimyō's residence, that would make perfect sense."
Only Kabuto and Kimimaro had been told by Tsunade that Danzo was still alive, though recently Kiyo Hyuga and Kurenai Yuhi had learned of it too.
"Danzo? What's he doing coming to Konoha with the Daimyō? Don't tell me he still wants the Hokage position." Kiyo found the thought ridiculous. Konoha and the Sand Federation were about to merge. The future of the Hokage and even the Daimyō positions was uncertain. And that fool Danzo thought bringing the Daimyō along would make him Hokage?
Who in Konoha would even acknowledge the Daimyō now?
Kiyo immediately ordered, "Let them in. Tokuma, gather the Police Force and have the residents around the Hokage Building prepare for security lockdown."
"Captain Kiyo… are you planning to fight the Daimyō here?"
Kabuto was shocked. He didn't expect Kiyo to be this decisive—planning to eliminate the Daimyō's entire group right here?
"This is a rare opportunity. We'll eventually swallow the entire Land of Fire. Removing the Daimyō now saves us trouble later." Kiyo gave a cold smile. "If Danzo's the one who advised him to come, then he's even dumber than I thought."
"Understood, Captain. I'll notify Kimimaro, Kakashi, and Kurenai."
Kabuto left to gather people. As one of Orochimaru's subordinates, he understood clearly: Kiyo was also part of their organization now and was set to marry Hyuga Mirai—his status far above Kabuto's.
And Kabuto appreciated Kiyo's decisiveness. In some situations, she was even bolder than Tsunade—once she chose something, she left no room for hesitation. That, to him, was what a true shinobi should be.
Izumo went to the village gate to let the Daimyō's convoy through. A Hyuga clansman went with him to observe using the Byakugan and report the number of shinobi present.
Kabuto worked methodically. He summoned Kakashi, Kurenai, Kimimaro, and dozens of Root shinobi, cleared civilian staff out of the Hokage Building, and stationed two barrier teams outside.
If fighting broke out, the barrier teams would immediately contain the battlefield. And the smaller the battlefield, the more devastating Kimimaro's Shikotsumyaku became.
Once Kiyo's orders were received, Izumo returned and had Kotetsu open the gate.
As the convoy entered halfway, the Daimyō lifted the curtain of his carriage and asked Izumo, "The Fifth Hokage is absent. Who is currently in charge of the village?"
It was indeed the Daimyō. Izumo recognized the face—he had seen him during the Fourth Hokage's inauguration ceremony.
"Currently, matters are managed by Kiyo Hyuga, Captain of the Police Force, with assistance from the Hokage's aides and Root."
"Kiyo Hyuga? From the Hyuga clan? So the elders Homura and Koharu are gone?"
Hearing those names, Izumo answered, "They committed grave crimes. One has been executed, and the other is imprisoned."
What happened on the night of the Uchiha massacre had been sealed. Only the official announcements from the Hokage Building were known to lower-ranking shinobi.
"I see... grave mistakes, then…"
The Daimyō said no more and lowered the curtain again.
On a distant rooftop, a Hyuga shinobi observing the convoy frowned. "So many shinobi… and most have chakra levels comparable to jōnin. I must report this to the clan leader."
He immediately rushed toward the Hokage Building.
Over seventy shinobi in a convoy of just over a hundred—this wasn't a diplomatic visit. Nothing in the Land of Fire required so many shinobi guards.
Soon, the Daimyō's group reached the Hokage Building. Seeing the sheer number of people he brought, Kiyo frowned.
"Daimyō… the Hokage Building cannot accommodate this many people. They should stay in the designated quarters."
The Daimyō slowly stepped down from his carriage. "No, no, have them stand guard outside. It's dangerous these days. Even in the capital, assassins are active. Without these guards, I wouldn't feel safe."
"So you're saying that inside the Hokage Building, we can't protect you? Or are you implying there are assassins among us?"
Kiyo's voice grew cold, her pale eyes carrying a pressure that made the Daimyō avert his gaze.
"N-no, of course not. I'm only saying—"
The impostor Daimyō stumbled over his words under Kiyo's stare. Even if he knew the real Daimyō's behavior patterns, facing a powerhouse like her was intimidating.
The real Daimyō, even if afraid of shinobi, would never show weakness when standing before Konoha's ninja. After all, in his eyes, a tamed dog—no matter how fierce—would never bite its master.
"The Daimyō is simply concerned for his safety. There's no need to press him so hard," an official tried to smooth things over, but one look from Kiyo made him tense up too.
"Tokuma. Bring the Police Force. 'Protect' the Daimyō's attendants."
Kiyo ignored the Daimyō's group entirely. With Konoha about to merge with the Sand Federation, the Daimyō's faction was effectively their enemy.
"The rest of your guards stay outside. The building can't hold them."
She walked inside, and the others followed. With the Hokage gone, the Police Force Captain handled village affairs. Kiyo's decisiveness resembled Tsunade's—instinctively commanding respect.
"What outrageous disrespect… treating the Daimyō like that…"
The Daimyō's officials finally vented their anger once she was out of sight—along with their fear.
Once a shinobi no longer feared nobility, no one knew what might happen next.
They hesitated to enter the building. It felt like a beast's open mouth—stepping inside might mean death.
"Daimyō, we…"
The officials looked to the impostor Daimyō. If he insisted, they had no choice but to follow.
He glanced at the masked man beside him, took a deep breath, and said, "Let's… go. We'll follow."
Kiyo had pressured them so heavily, it felt like she might kill them at any moment.
Only thirty people—including officials—were allowed inside.
When they reached the conference room, Kiyo and the others had been waiting.
"Daimyō, arriving unannounced—do you have urgent business? Typically you send notice. Has the Daimyō's office forgotten basic protocol?"
Her words made the Daimyō tense again.
He followed the plan and said, "This matter is extremely important, so we didn't have time to notify you. But… could you summon the other clan leaders? What I must announce should be said before all of them."
"Hm?"
Kiyo frowned. Something felt off. Even though she had never met the Daimyō, the reports never portrayed him as timid. Someone who could collaborate with other nations to start a war shouldn't be this meek.
"Summoning clan leaders is a privilege only the Hokage holds. But since you insist you have something important, we'll proceed as you ask."
Kiyo also wanted to see what the Daimyō was plotting—and soon she would declare open separation between Konoha and the Daimyō's government.
The war at the front was nearly over. Those remaining in Konoha needed to contribute too—and the Daimyō had walked right into their hands.
Soon, the Police Force gathered the clan heads remaining in Konoha.
Inuzuka, Aburame, Kurama, Tenkaku and others—thirteen clan leaders in total—arrived, along with Kakashi, the lone heir of the Hatake clan, and Kiyo herself.
"Everyone present except those on the front lines. Daimyō, speak plainly."
Kiyo's tone was sharp, making some minor clan heads uneasy.
"Since everyone is here… I'll say it. Regarding Konoha's Hokage… the Daimyō's office received word that the Fifth Hokage may be colluding with the Sand Federation. So a new Hokage must be selected. Until Tsunade's actions are fully investigated, someone else must act as interim Hokage…"
"Heh."
Kiyo laughed before he could finish. Her white eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at him.
"Daimyō… that's all you came to say?"
(End of chapter)