The scent of blood in the Land of Fire's Royal Palace had not yet dissipated, but it was already filled with armored soldiers and nobles.
The four princes gathered around a large map of the Land of Fire's territory, and the air was thick with the tension of power division.
Hiruzen's body had just been carried out of the bedchamber when the "loot distribution meeting" officially began.
The Second Prince Tsuyoshi spoke first, "Now that big brother is no longer here, his nine cities should be divided among us brothers. I want the two cities in the north, do you have any objections?"
He was burly, his armor still stained with the blood of battle. His gaze swept over the cities marked on the territorial map with an undeniable assertiveness.
Behind him stood dozens of nobles, including supporters sent by the Land of Earth's Daimyo, which gave him even more confidence.
Third Prince Takashi sneered, pointing his finger at the territorial map. "Second brother is rather impatient, but dividing cities must follow rules. You can't just decide it with a single word, can you? I also have the support of the Land of Lightning's Daimyo behind me, so these two cities near the east should rightfully belong to me."
He was lean, but his eyes were exceptionally sharp, clearly having planned this in advance.
Fourth Prince Rito spoke unhurriedly, "Both brothers make good points. Dividing cities also requires considering the actual situation. My mother is the Princess of the Land of Wind, so the two cities in the west should belong to me."
He wore a brocade robe embroidered with the Land of Wind's totem, and his tone carried a touch of elegance.
The three princes each held their ground, pointing back and forth at the cities on the territorial map. Only Fifth Prince Ko stood in the corner, his expression calm, as if this struggle had nothing to do with him.
Second Prince Tsuyoshi's tone carried a hint of probing, "Fifth brother, why aren't you speaking? You also have a share in these nine cities."
Upon hearing this, Ko bowed, adopting a very humble posture. "My situation is clear to the three brothers. I know I lack ability and have never thought of contending for the position of Daimyo. No matter which brother becomes the new Daimyo in the end, I will assist him wholeheartedly."
He pointed to the map and said, "These two small southern cities are remote and the land is barren, offering little help to the three brothers' great endeavors. If the brothers don't mind, please allocate these two cities to me. I only seek a stable life. In the future, my five cities will contribute 30% of their monthly taxes to the three brothers in exchange for their protection."
At these words, the three princes were slightly stunned.
They hadn't expected Ko to be so humble and to voluntarily withdraw from the Daimyo contention.
Tsuyoshi was the first to react, his vigilance instantly dropping. After all, one less competitor and a free share of resources each month was a good thing for him.
He laughed heartily. "Fifth brother is sensible. Since you say so, these two cities are yours. Develop well in the south. With us here, no one will dare to bully you."
The Third and Fourth Princes also nodded in agreement.
In their view, Ko's voluntary concession not only removed a threat but also earned them a reputation for "brotherly harmony", why wouldn't they?
Moreover, those two barren small cities had no impact on their struggle for core power.
Ko bowed again in thanks, a humble smile on his face, but a fleeting, imperceptible glint flashed in his eyes.
He clearly knew that the Land of Fire was now a place of turmoil. The three princes, each backed by a major power, would sooner or later erupt in greater conflict over power.
Although the south was barren, it was far from the sphere of influence of the three great nations, making it perfect for him to develop in secret.
Soon, Ko, with his small retinue, left the capital for the two small southern cities. His early departure made the atmosphere in the main hall even more tense.
"Now, there's only one city left."
Third Prince Takashi's gaze fell on the Land of Fire's capital in the center of the territorial map. This city was not only the political center of the Land of Fire but also a symbol of power. Whoever controlled it would have the legal basis to become the new Daimyo.
Second Prince Tsuyoshi slammed his hand on the table, his tone forceful. "The capital should rightfully belong to me. I have the support of the Land of Earth, the strongest military, and only I can defend the capital."
Third Prince Takashi immediately retorted, "Why should it be yours? The Land of Lightning has promised to send troops to help me stabilize the Land of Fire's order. The capital should be given to me to gain the trust of all nations."
Fourth Prince Rito was not to be outdone and said, "You have people behind you, do you think I don't? The Land of Wind's Daimyo is willing to fully assist me."
The three princes each held their ground, their arguments growing increasingly heated, even beginning to accuse each other of "coveting power and disregarding the Land of Fire's safety."
Their supporters also spoke up, defending their respective princes, and the atmosphere in the main hall instantly dropped to freezing point.
Seeing the deadlock, Second Prince Tsuyoshi drew the long sword from his waist, pointing its tip at the ground.
He said, "More talk is useless. The capital belongs to whoever has the hardest fist. If you have the guts, let's meet on the battlefield."
Third Prince Takashi was not to be outdone, summoning his Ninjutsu squad. Instantly, Chakra fluctuations spread throughout the main hall.
"Fight, then. Do you think I'm afraid of you?"
Fourth Prince Rito quickly advised, "I propose that the capital be jointly managed by us three parties, with profits equally divided among us. After we determine a winner, we will then make the final decision on the ownership of the capital."
Second Prince Tsuyoshi gritted his teeth and said, "Joint management? That's also a method. Third brother, what are your thoughts?"
Third Prince Takashi nodded, sheathing his weapon. "Alright, I agree. After all, if we were to fight in the capital, the destruction and losses caused by the war would ultimately be heartbreakingly immense."
The three princes exchanged glances, then began to divide the capital and deploy troops in the surrounding areas.
In the Land of Water's Royal Palace.
Shun observed the changes among the Daimyos of various nations through Divine Eye.
A glint flashed in his eyes as he said, "It's getting more and more interesting. The turmoil in the Land of Fire has attracted the attention of the Ninja World's nobles, so none of them have obstructed the release of 'The Legend of Madara and Hashirama' movie. This has made the promotion of our unified ideology much smoother."
Shikaku stood by, nodding in agreement. "This might be destiny. However, Fifth Prince Ko is a smart man, withdrawing from the contention early to secretly accumulate strength. Perhaps he will become an important chess piece in our subsequent plans."
Hiashi's expression was solemn, his voice steady. "Indeed, let them be chaotic for a while. When the people grow tired of war, we will make our move. By then, the time for us to unify the Ninja World will be ripe."
Shun raised his eyebrows, deep in thought. "The turmoil in the Land of Fire alone is probably not enough. The Ninja World needs a major villain to highlight that the unification of the Ninja World is the salvation awaited by the masses."