The next morning, inside the Hokage's office.
"Danzo, have you thought of how to convince the Daimyo to approve the funding?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi asked seriously.
"If not, I have a document here."
Since this matter concerned the village's finances, it had to be handled with extreme care.
Worried that Danzo hadn't prepared properly, Hiruzen had stayed up late the night before to write up a proposal.
He believed that if it were presented to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, it would greatly increase the chances of securing the funds.
Shimura Danzo instinctively accepted the document and flipped through it.
The content detailed Konoha's recent development and construction plans, as well as a few promises meant to entice the Daimyo.
For example, offering dozens of elite jōnin to personally serve as his guards—free of charge.
Currently, the Daimyo's palace guards were all ordinary men.
If they offered trained ninja as bodyguards, Danzo believed the Daimyo would absolutely agree.
His eyes lit up; he thought Hiruzen's plan was quite solid.
Having jōnin guard the Daimyo would certainly be prestigious once the news spread.
And Danzo knew perfectly well that what the Daimyo valued most was face.
This would indeed raise the success rate of their proposal tremendously…
"Hiruzen, well done." Danzo carefully put the document away.
"What are you two talking about?"
At that moment, Renya pushed open the office door and stepped inside, noticing that only Danzo and Hiruzen were there.
"Just the three of us going?"
"That's right, the three of us are enough," Danzo replied.
They were only going to the capital of the Land of Fire, not infiltrating another hidden village—there was no need to make a big production out of it.
Keeping things simple was best.
If Hiruzen weren't the Hokage's assistant, Danzo would've preferred to bring only Renya along.
"Renya, when we meet the Daimyo, you must not speak carelessly!" Hiruzen warned him.
He still hadn't forgotten what happened at the Daimyo's mansion in the Land of Lightning—
Renya had been bold enough to threaten the Daimyo.
In their ingrained understanding of the world, offending a Daimyo was absolutely unthinkable.
After all, the Daimyo controlled the wealth of an entire nation.
Even powerful ninja relied on his financial support.
Even someone like Kakuzu, a bounty hunter who assassinated for money, had never once thought of targeting a Daimyo.
Ninja didn't produce goods; they earned their living by selling their strength.
If someone killed the Daimyo, the entire country would fall into chaos.
And when that happened, ninja would lose their source of income altogether...
"Got it," Renya replied carelessly, waving his hand.
Hiruzen and the others were the perfect example of ninja-bound thinking—that mindset was exactly why these weak Daimyo continued to live like emperors.
Anyone who could think beyond that narrow perspective would easily realize the Daimyo were useless.
Just walking, talking ATMs.
They had so-called authority, but no strength to match it.
In any other world, people like them would've been dead a hundred years ago.
If a Daimyo dies, just appoint another one—simple as that.
And if you're replacing him anyway, why not pick one who listens?
Renya planned to go to the Daimyo's palace and see for himself.
If the Daimyo of the Land of Fire was cooperative, all would be well.
But if he wasn't...
Then Renya would simply become the most powerful minister behind the throne.
Danzo gave Renya a meaningful look, as if he'd guessed his intentions.
But he voiced no objection.
Ever since the incident in the Land of Lightning, he had known Renya was different from them.
Renya had once given the Raikage a suggestion.
And just a few years later, Kumogakure had begun large-scale economic development.
Of course, development required vast financial resources—where the money came from didn't need to be said aloud...
That was precisely why Danzo had specifically asked Renya to come.
Even if having murderous thoughts toward the Daimyo might seem outrageous, he was willing to let Renya act freely for the sake of the village.
Everything was for Konoha.
If one day things went wrong and they were exposed, Danzo was ready to bear all the blame himself.
As long as it led to the village's prosperity, no method was too despicable.
Even underhanded tactics were perfectly acceptable!
"It's getting late. Let's head out." Danzo stood up and was the first to leave the office.
Renya and Hiruzen hurriedly followed.
After traveling all morning, the three arrived at the capital of the Land of Fire.
"Renya, when you see the Daimyo, you absolutely must not speak recklessly, and above all, do not show any disrespect!" Hiruzen warned again, still uneasy.
It was one thing for Renya to have been rude to the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning, but they couldn't afford such behavior toward their own Daimyo.
The village's development depended on the Daimyo's funding.
If Renya accidentally offended him, Konoha's growth would be severely hindered.
Hiruzen was worried that Renya might say something inappropriate—but he never even considered that Renya might lay hands on the Daimyo.
That was the limit of the ninja mindset.
"Enough already. You've been repeating that the whole way," Renya said irritably.
This guy Hiruzen just didn't trust him at all!
It wasn't like he was a child—was all this nagging really necessary?
Besides, wasn't it just a Daimyo?
The way Hiruzen was acting—
Anyone who didn't know better would think they were going to meet the Sage of Six Paths himself.
Renya had never liked Daimyo, and Hiruzen's endless caution only fueled his irritation.
He was eager to see whether the Daimyo of the Land of Fire was really as terrifying as Hiruzen claimed.
If he wasn't... then that man was done for.
Hiruzen had no idea that his words had, unwittingly, sealed the Daimyo's fate.
Danzo looked at Renya's darkened expression and knew this was as good as done.
Starting tomorrow, Konoha would never lack money again.
With financial support, the village could develop at lightning speed.
Soon, the other Hidden Villages would be left far behind.
The more Danzo thought about it, the more excited he became.
He could hardly wait for Renya to kill the Daimyo right now.
...
The three made their way to the Daimyo's palace.
Inside the palace, within the Daimyo's private chambers.
The Daimyo of the Land of Fire was cheerfully watching his courtesans dance.
Just then, a guard rushed in and knelt down to report.
"My lord Daimyo, the Third Hokage of Konoha requests an audience!"
"Hokage?" The Daimyo frowned in annoyance. "What does he want?"
He waved his hand to dismiss the courtesans.
Though displeased by the Hokage's visit, he couldn't refuse to receive him.
"Show the Hokage to the grand hall. I'll go after I've bathed and changed."
"Yes, my lord!"
The guard immediately turned and left.
"Prepare hot water," the Daimyo ordered.
At once, the maids bustled about to fulfill his command.
...
Inside the grand hall.
"Why isn't the Daimyo here yet?" Renya scowled.
The more he thought about it, the more irritated he became.
He'd never met the Daimyo of the Land of Fire before, but somehow, he already found him detestable.
"Renya, mind your words!" Hiruzen quickly cautioned.
"It's just a Daimyo," Renya muttered, ignoring him. "And he dares make us wait?"
Even Uchiha Madara wouldn't keep him waiting this long.
And yet this pompous fool—just a glorified banker—dared to act like an emperor?
He didn't like this Daimyo. In fact, he was already considering replacing him.
"Renya, stop talking," Hiruzen was nearly in tears. "Danzo, say something to him!"
"Danzo, say something!"
Danzo said nothing.
He merely sipped his tea calmly.
He wouldn't waste his breath on a man who was already as good as dead...