Since Konoha's founding, the nobles of the Land of Fire had benefited greatly from its protection. Now, with Konoha subduing the ninja world, the Land of Water submitting, and all nations paying tribute, prosperity had reached an unprecedented peak.
Yet I find myself inadequate, lacking both virtue and ability. Faced with the burdens of governance, I hesitate with pen in hand, unable to act decisively.
Before his passing, the Hero of Shinobi appointed the daughter of Namikaze as the next Hokage—an unprecedented act in history.
Her name is Kaoru, known as the Golden Flash.
Now, as the Fourth Hokage prepares to assume office, fortune has favored us. During the Third Great Ninja War, the Golden Flash achieved victory in her first battle against Sunagakure, triumphed in a surprise assault on their village, and, alongside Uzumaki, defeated multiple Tailed Beasts.
Three months ago, she led Konoha forces in Rōran, crushing Akatsuki's core leaders—Uzumaki Nagato, Uchiha Hikari, and Uchiha Yuma—eliminating a great threat.
Her strength is beyond words, and she is equally adept in governance and the welfare of the people.
Moved by this realization, I acknowledge my unworthiness.
Thus, I hereby decree: the position of Daimyo is but an outdated relic of history.
I relinquish all authority to the Hokage.
The Daimyo system shall be abolished.
May the Hokage govern diligently. The people of the Land of Fire are entrusted to her. The noble system shall likewise be abolished. I lead by example—Hokage, do not refuse.
May the Land of Fire endure for ten thousand years.
When this decree spread across the Land of Fire—
The entire nation erupted.
A thousand-year-old system—
Gone.
Not only abolished—
But all nobles stripped of status.
It was like kicking a hornet's nest.
Uprisings broke out everywhere.
All in the name of eliminating the most ambitious Hokage in history.
But without exception—
They were nobles.
Only a handful of opportunists tried to join the chaos.
—
Konoha.
"Kaoru!"
"What are you doing?!"
Jiraiya stormed into the Hokage office, ignoring all attempts to stop him.
The new Hokage Tower stood tall—nineteen floors high, the tallest building in Konoha, symbolizing the peak of authority.
From the top—
One could overlook the entire village.
"Hmm?"
"Sensei, what's wrong?"
Kaoru looked at him calmly.
"How could you do this?!"
"You've overturned the entire relationship between ninja and nobility!"
"If this continues—!"
"Has what existed always been correct?"
Kaoru interrupted softly.
Jiraiya froze.
"…This was Kyusei's idea, wasn't it?!"
"Where is that brat?!"
He suddenly felt uneasy.
"Kyusei?"
"He's suppressing the rebellion."
Kaoru sighed.
Jiraiya was half right.
It wasn't just Kyusei.
It was also Tobirama.
And—
She had approved it.
"You…!"
"Kaoru… you've truly disappointed me!"
Jiraiya left in anger.
"Shouldn't you go after him?"
"Fourth-sama."
A figure stepped out from the shadows.
Yamato.
"Leave it."
Kaoru replied calmly.
"How's your task going?"
Yamato scratched his head with a smile.
"Completed."
This Yamato was from the second parallel world.
Kyusei had borrowed him—
To use Wood Release to enhance crop seeds.
With Tobirama and Orochimaru—
After three months—
Rice and wheat yields reached two to three thousand jin per mu.
Other crops—
Even higher.
This was their foundation.
The reason they dared to overturn the system.
Because—
Food security meant stability.
The Land of Fire was rich—
But nobles hoarded everything.
Lavish estates—
Modern luxuries—
While peasants still plowed fields with oxen.
After taxes—
They kept barely twenty percent.
Bandits were endless—
Because people were starving.
No food.
No survival.
When disaster struck—
They either died—
Or became thieves.
Ninja protected the system—
So no one could resist.
Until now.
Kaoru nodded.
"Good work, Yamato."
"Continue cultivating."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Yamato bowed.
This wasn't ambition.
It was—
Reform.
—
"Kyusei… is this really right?"
Kurama asked, looking at the battlefield of corpses.
Kyusei stood amidst rivers of blood.
"Do you remember my first mission?"
"Yes."
"Eliminating bandits."
Kyusei smiled faintly.
"You asked why people still became bandits despite regular suppression."
He pointed at a trembling "corpse."
"Because of them."
"Nobles."
"If not for exploitation—"
"People could survive."
"No one chooses crime willingly."
"They were forced."
"These people created bandits."
"They corrupted the innocent."
"They deserve this."
Kurama fell silent.
"…I see."
Kyusei stepped forward—
And drove a golden spear through the trembling survivor.
The so-called nobles—
Were nothing but parasites.
Decadent.
Useless.
Under absolute ninja power—
They couldn't resist.
Within five days—
Kyusei and Tobirama crushed the rebellion.
Tens of thousands of nobles—
Gone.
Only the armed ones were killed.
The rest—
Stripped of wealth.
Redistributed to the people.
The crimes uncovered—
Were beyond imagination.
Even sympathetic ninja—
Turned cold.
—
Land of Water.
Daimyo Residence.
"Rebellion!"
"Rebellion everywhere!"
The Water Daimyo trembled in fury.
"My lord… Fire Country has changed."
The attendant said nervously.
"Of course I know!"
The Daimyo snapped.
He would cancel all agreements.
Form alliances.
Destroy Konoha.
Restore order.
"Where is Yagura?!"
"Bring him to me!"
"He's already outside."
"…Outside?"
The Daimyo frowned.
The attendant stepped closer—
Then—
Stabbed him.
Blood soaked his robes.
"You—!"
The Daimyo staggered.
"Adapt to reality."
"This world belongs to ninja."
The attendant sneered.
The Daimyo stumbled to the door—
Opened it—
And saw Yagura.
"Mi—Mizukage… assassin…"
Yagura looked at him coldly.
"Well done."
He said to the attendant.
"For the Hokage."
He corrected.
The attendant beamed.
"Then die."
A blade pierced his back.
A white-haired boy appeared.
Hōzuki Mangetsu.
"Let's go."
"Yes, sensei."
—
Within half a month—
Fire and Water Countries were transformed.
Nobles—
Erased.
History—
Rewritten.
Meanwhile—
Wind, Earth, and Lightning received the news.
Their Daimyo trembled.
And turned—
Toward their own ninja.
"Attack Konoha."
"Destroy them."
"Immediately."
The world—
Was about to erupt.
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