He had been holding back his strength. If he had really gone all out, this entire district would have been reduced to ruins. Destroying just one road was nothing more than a scare tactic.
As for actually destroying the capital… He wasn't that insane.
For one, he just wanted to intimidate them. And secondly, someone who lashes out without thinking is just a madman. No one fears a madman… instead, they'd rally their forces and throw themselves at him relentlessly.
A gun's greatest deterrent is when it hasn't been fired yet… though machine guns with hundreds or thousands of rounds are an exception.
The scare tactic worked. The area was too cramped for a real fight, and Naruto had gotten what he came for, so it was time to leave. The Daimyo would obviously be released, but letting him go too easily would be a waste.
He figured he might as well shout a few more things to stir the pot and divert their attention further.
"I didn't come here for money… I came for justice! This is an act of vengeance. The ones at fault are these nobles, this entire Shinobi World."
"The Daimyo's treasures fill hundreds of warehouses, these nobles are drowning in wealth, yet countless people in the Land of Fire can't even afford a meal. Are they truly nobler? Since when did the Shinobi World become so absurd?"
He nearly got carried away and almost shouted, 'kings and nobles born to their thrones?'
Luckily, he held back, as that would've sounded way too out of place. This wasn't the time for unnecessary theatrics.
Pretending to be Sasuke was just a way to redirect attention and stir the pot, putting pressure on Kabuto's side.
"If no one is willing to change this world, then I hereby declare war on the Five Great Shinobi Nations! From this day forward, I will lead an army to crush them all and rebuild a new world!"
For a moment, he almost slipped and nearly yelled "Tatakae!" but managed to swallow it just in time.
With that, he tossed the Daimyo aside and leaped away. Who would dare chase a 30-meter-tall purple giant? At this point, the Daimyo's safety was obviously the priority.
As Naruto vanished in his towering purple Gundam, the crowd roared with fury… but they all rushed toward the Daimyo instead. Only an idiot would chase Naruto. What good would it do?
If they caught up but couldn't win, they'd just die. If they didn't catch up, they wouldn't get any credit, and they'd just end up as scapegoats.
Right now, saving the Daimyo was the smart move. Better yet, getting injured in the process would be ideal.
"Daimyo-sama!!"
"Let me… get out of the way!"
"I'll do it!"
They piled on like human cushions, carefully catching the unconscious Daimyo. A quick check confirmed he was still breathing, and they finally relaxed.
The news that the Daimyo had been kidnapped and a massive haul of treasure stolen couldn't be hidden. Word spread through the capital like wildfire, shocking some and leaving others numb.
Uchiha Sasuke had taken the Daimyo hostage, declared war on the Five Great Shinobi Nations, and vowed to destroy the Shinobi World. Reactions varied… some were stunned, others indifferent.
The ripple effect spread layer by layer, like a butterfly flapping its wings, slowly building into a potential tsunami.
…
"Sasuke kidnapped the Daimyo?" Kakashi's voice rose a few notches, "That doesn't sound right. Where did this news come from?"
"Rokudaime Hokage-sama, it's from the Land of Fire's capital. Too many people saw it, so it's definitely true." The messenger explained.
"Why would Sasuke kidnap the Daimyo for no reason?" Kakashi couldn't make sense of it, rubbing his chin as he paced the Hokage's Office.
"Well, he said something about the Daimyo being involved in the Uchiha Clan's genocide… and something about destroying the Shinobi World."
"Destroy the Shinobi World?" Hearing this, Kakashi stopped worrying and just sat back down.
If Sasuke had threatened to slaughter the nobility, Konoha would've had to take action… maybe sending a team to protect them. But destroying the Shinobi World? That wasn't worth worrying about.
The scope was too broad, and there are plenty of people threatening to destroy the Shinobi World… when was it ever Sasuke's turn?
'Might as well leave it at that. I'm tired.'
After dismissing the messenger, Kakashi leaned back in his chair and closed his eye. Destroying the Shinobi World was a big deal, so he'd sleep on it first.
"Kakashi-sensei, should we respond to this?" Shikamaru asked hesitantly.
Logically speaking, since Shikamaru had been assigned to the Hokage's Office, he should've addressed Kakashi as 'Hokage-sama' or 'Rokudaime-sama'. But Kakashi was grooming him as a potential successor, so he didn't mind the informal tone.
"If Sasuke had a specific target, Konoha would obviously step in. But destroying the Shinobi World? That's not worth our time," Kakashi said, eyes still closed.
"Why not?"
"If Sasuke can't actually do it, then getting involved is pointless… a waste of energy. Besides, Sasuke's a Missing-nin now. Konoha's stance should be one of condemnation."
"Our stance must be firm… we denounce this act strongly. But taking real action is a different matter. We'd need a solid reason, and we'd have to assess the situation first."
"None of this is simple. The best move is to wait and see. Only when Sasuke makes his next move can we decide how to respond."
"If Sasuke really intends to destroy the Shinobi World and has some unforeseen power, this won't just be Konoha's problem, or even just the Land of Fire's. We'd need to convene the Five Kage Summit with the other four Kage, and even Mifune of the Land of Iron would have to get involved. At that point, it's a matter of the entire Shinobi World's survival… not something Konoha can decide alone."
Hearing this, Shikamaru was stunned. Although he was smart, he still lacked experience.
"I understand, Kakashi-sensei."
"Mmm." Kakashi didn't open his eyes, continuing to rest with them closed.
Recently, Rin had been adjusting well. Tomorrow was Asuma's daughter's first meal ceremony. He'd ask Rin later what gift to prepare, as choosing one himself was too troublesome.
He hadn't even realized it himself, but he no longer felt any resistance toward Rin. They had always been trusted teammates, and reuniting after life and death was a rare blessing.
Even those in Konoha who knew Kakashi well didn't see anything wrong with the two of them being together.
They were past the so-called 'suitable age' for marriage, and wasn't the Hokage human too?
When it came to marriage, as long as both parties were willing, who would dare gossip about the Hokage? Besides, one was Konoha's model worker, a proper second-generation Shinobi with a spotless background;
The other was a Konoha's martyr… once a martyr, now alive again. With all these factors combined, it was nothing but praiseworthy. Who would even think of spreading rumors?
The only issue was Kakashi's own guilt, feeling like he had wronged Obito. But Rin had never actually been with Obito, nor had she ever expressed any romantic feelings for him.