Shinichi's hair stood on end, trembling as he stammered, "What… what are you trying to do? Aren't we under the system of one nation, one village?"
"There is no such thing anymore. From now on, you will submit to the power of Konoha."Tōshirō's tone was cold and sharp, his eyes icy as immense chakra surged from his body.
"Roar!"
Flames erupted from the Soul of Fire, exploding outward from its body in a blinding blaze. The scorching blue flames spread across everything around, life itself freezing still in that instant. The mournful wind howled over the frozen ground.
Among the guards, some still clung to blind loyalty. Even after witnessing such an overwhelming difference in power, one of them stubbornly refused to surrender. Trembling, barely able to walk, he stumbled forward toward Tōshirō."Damn it… I must… save Lord Daimyo…"
"Looks like you still want to dance."
Tōshirō's eyelids lowered, his eyes narrowing slightly before he suddenly opened them again—cold light piercing through the air."But you're far too naïve."
Their eyes met. Chakra flowed through the visual nerves straight into the man's brain. The guard with strong willpower collapsed helplessly to the ground, eyes closing as consciousness faded away.
Tōshirō pointed at the trembling survivors."If you don't want to die, call everyone in the mansion out here. Now."
"Y–yes, sir!"
The survivors, scared out of their wits, scurried away like frightened rats.
At that moment, Fugaku and Nara Shikaku arrived. Seeing the frozen bodies all around, they couldn't help sighing.Tōshirō really showed no mercy.
Shinichi saw Nara Shikaku and, like a drowning man grasping at a straw, cried, "Lord Shikaku! Please save me!"
Shikaku looked at the pitiful daimyo before him and felt a wave of sorrow.
Under normal circumstances, even if someone planned to seize power, they would do it step by step. But Tōshirō wasn't playing by any such rules—he found a random excuse and directly decided to get rid of the daimyo.
Shikaku sighed. "I'm sorry, Lord Daimyo. He's the Hokage now. I can't go against his will."
"What…?"
Shinichi felt as though he had fallen into an icy abyss, despair spreading through his heart.
Not long after, the surviving guards brought everyone out to the plaza. They lined up stiffly like soldiers at attention, waiting for Tōshirō's decree.
Tōshirō clasped his hands behind his back, pacing a few steps with deliberate calm before speaking:"The Land of Fire has grown weaker and weaker. Ordinary people suffer more each day. After my investigation, I found the problem lies with the country's monarch himself. The daimyo lives in luxury and excess. While the people gnaw on dry bread, he squanders their wealth without restraint. Government officials collude in corruption, and the very foundation of this country rots away under their greed. Society is in chaos, and the people live in misery."
"As the saying goes, 'If the upper beam is crooked, the lower beams will follow.' To fix this from the root, the ruler must be replaced."
His voice wasn't loud, but in everyone's ears, it resounded like thunder. Their faces changed dramatically.
Replace the daimyo?
He wanted to replace the daimyo!?
The daimyo had ruled the Land of Fire for hundreds of years. There had never been such a thing.
Tōshirō cleared his throat and declared proudly,"I propose that I, myself, become the new daimyo. I've said my piece—who agrees, and who opposes?"
The moment he finished speaking, the crowd erupted in chaos.
Was this a joke?
A ninja, becoming the daimyo?
Ignoring their shock, Tōshirō continued,"If there are no objections, then kneel before me to show your loyalty."
That triggered immediate resistance."I object!"
Tōshirō turned his cold gaze toward the voice.
A middle-aged man with graying temples stood there, face stern, his entire demeanor radiating pride.He glared at Tōshirō and barked, "Replace the daimyo? Who do you think you are! You covet his position and dare to speak of justice? You're just a mere ninja—a tool! What qualifications do you have to be daimyo?"
Shikaku looked at the man with surprise. He recognized him—one of the most respected ministers among the daimyo's court.
Instead of anger, Tōshirō smiled faintly. "So, you refuse to kneel?"
The old minister stroked his beard proudly. "I am old, my legs are weak—I can't kneel."
The moment he finished speaking, the sky above him darkened. He looked up—only to see an enormous claw descending.
"Wait—"
His pupils contracted sharply, but before he could finish his plea, the claw came down like a swatting hand.Smash!
Blood splattered everywhere. The old man was flattened into a gory mess.
Shikaku turned away, unable to bear the sight.
Tōshirō's voice boomed, "Louder! I can't hear you!"
Terrified by his brutality, the rest of the crowd dropped to their knees all at once, trembling in submission.
Tōshirō sat casually in a chair, pointing at one of the guards."You. Get up."
The guard froze, panicking as Tōshirō beckoned him over.
"How much do you earn a month?"
"Uh… about one hundred thousand ryō…"
Tōshirō pointed at one of the frozen guards. "And for that small salary, you risk your life? For what?"
"Uh…"
"Come closer," Tōshirō gestured.
The guard leaned in.
"Slap that man." He pointed to the bound daimyo, Shinichi. "I'll give you ten thousand ryō."
Shinichi's eyes widened in horror. This was humiliation beyond death itself—to be struck by a mere soldier!
The guard trembled. "My lord, I—I can't… He's the daimyo!"
Tōshirō sighed. "If you make another sound, I'll kill you."
The guard instantly fell silent.
"I'll ask you another question," Tōshirō said evenly.
"Y-yes, sir, anything—as long as it's not slapping the daimyo."
"This man—is he strong?"
"Uh… not really."
"Then why are you so afraid to slap him? He's already a prisoner."
The guard blinked.Right… why was he still afraid?
"Because he's the daimyo… God's representative. If I strike him, I'll be punished by the gods!"
Tōshirō sneered. "If he's God's representative, why did I defeat him so easily?"
"Uh…"
"Kings and nobles aren't born different from you. They're just people who learned how to decorate themselves."
The guard's mind went blank, his worldview shaken.Yes… the daimyo was just a man—maybe even less than him.
Shikaku was astonished.
He had always thought Tōshirō was just a tyrant with brute strength, but this… was a calculated dismantling of the entire divine authority the daimyo had built over generations.
Tōshirō stood, walked up to the trembling Shinichi, and slapped him across the face, drawing blood."Daimyo, from this day forth, only one cloud will hang over the Land of Fire—the Cloud of Uchiha Tōshirō."
He turned to the guard. "See? No divine punishment."
The guard hesitated. "Does that offer still stand?"
Tōshirō smiled. "Of course."
The guard approached the daimyo and, after a moment of hesitation, swung his hand—Slap!
The crisp sound echoed loudly.
"You bastard!" Shinichi screamed, face swollen with rage and humiliation.
The guard looked down at his trembling hand in disbelief. He had just struck the daimyo—and it felt… good.
"How does it feel?"
"Honestly… better than winning a bet."
Tōshirō grinned like a devil. "Want to do it again?"
"Huh?"
"One slap, ten thousand ryō."
The guard's eyes sparkled like stars. He stared at the daimyo—not as a ruler, but as walking money.
"Forgive me, Lord Daimyo! I'm just following orders!"
Slap! Slap! Slap!
The sound of slapping filled the square rhythmically—if someone had walked by, they might have mistaken it for something else entirely.
At first, the guard was hesitant, but soon, exhilaration took over. Each slap was harder than the last.
Tōshirō finally stopped him. "Enough! You'll kill him at this rate."
Panting, the guard bowed repeatedly in apology.
"How many times did you hit him? I'll pay you."
"I… lost count. But forget the money—it's an honor to serve you, my lord!"
Tōshirō chuckled. "You've got a smooth tongue. From today, you're promoted three ranks."
The guard's face lit up, dropping to his knees to thank him profusely. He suddenly felt that this new leader wasn't so bad after all.
Tōshirō continued calmly, "I have a task for you."
"At your command, my lord. I will serve you with my life."
"Spread the word. In three days, I will publicly behead this daimyo before everyone."
The guard froze. This new Hokage was truly ruthless. But he quickly nodded—after all, it wasn't his head on the line.
"Oh, and one more thing," Tōshirō added. "Anyone who wants to watch must pay a ten-thousand-ryō entry fee."
The crowd gawked.
"What? Waste not, want not," Tōshirō shrugged.
"Besides," he smirked, "the Land of Fire is under my rule now. What's wrong with earning a little to fill the treasury?"
The crowd fell into stunned silence.
End of Chapter)
────────────────────────────────────
"If you want early access to nearly 60+ chapters, join my patreon:- patreon.com/BaDwYGaMeR"