"Three months ago."
Even though the Uzumaki Naruto on the screen clearly hadn't opened his mouth or even moved his lips, his voice resounded clearly from the bottom of everyone's hearts.
"The winter here freezes the elderly to death, and the children here can't even get a mouthful of hot soup."
"For many years, you were told to endure, to swear allegiance to the Daimyo, and even when shivering in the cold wind, you were expected to be grateful for the charity leaking through the fingers of those nobles."
"But who can tell me—"
"During those long winter nights, when your children cry out because there is no food, and when your parents freeze stiff because there is no coal—"
"Where are those lofty big shots?"
The entire venue was dead silent; not a single sound could be heard.
Tears shimmered in everyone's eyes, a resonance with past suffering and a sense of gratitude for the present.
"I don't like making empty promises."
"I only believe that seeing is believing."
Naruto's voice was gentle yet full of strength.
"Look at the cotton-padded clothes you are wearing now, look at the food in your hands, and feel the surrounding temperature."
"The Mutual Aid Society is not your ruler; we are providers of services."
"I have only one purpose—to establish a new order free from exploitation, free from hunger, and relatively fair."
"Here, effort is rewarded, and labor ensures survival; this is my promise!"
"Long live Lord Naruto!!"
It was unknown who first shouted it with a tearful tone.
Immediately following, cheers like collapsing mountains and roaring seas instantly drowned out the entire square.
However, just as this fervent atmosphere reached its peak...
"Nonsense!!"
"He is a huge liar!!"
An untimely shout abruptly came from the edge of the crowd.
Tattered in rags and covered in dust, Sandayu Asama, having somehow broken away from his guards, rushed into the square like a madman.
Stumbling as he pushed the crowd aside, he pointed at Naruto and Koyuki Kazahana on the high platform, roaring at the top of his lungs.
"Wake up, citizens!"
"He is an invader!"
"He is a demon!"
"He killed the Daimyo and imprisoned the princess!"
"He is buying your souls with these petty favors!"
Sandayu rushed to the bottom of the high platform, raised his old face stained with dirt and tear tracks, and looked despairingly at Koyuki Kazahana on the stage.
"Princess! Say something!"
"Tell everyone the truth!"
"Tell everyone you were coerced!"
"You are the orthodox heir to the Land of Snow, you cannot—"
The cheers in the square stagnated for a split second.
Countless gazes looked at this crazy old man, and then looked at the dazzling Princess of the Gale on the stage.
Upon the high platform...
Koyuki Kazahana looked at the old minister down below, who had watched her grow up and served the Kazahana family loyally all his life.
Her hand trembled slightly beneath her skirt.
But that was all.
The next second, she recalled that generous contract, the unprecedented stability of the past few months, and the relief of no longer having to flee.
Subsequently, Koyuki Kazahana maintained a perfect smile on her face and gently waved to greet the audience as if she didn't see the crying old man at all.
The light in Sandayu's eyes completely went out.
At this moment, Naruto merely pushed up his glasses quietly on the screen without uttering another word.
Nor did he need to.
"Where did this crazy old man come from? Shut up!"
"How dare he disturb Lord Naruto's speech?"
"Drag him out! Don't let him ruin our celebration!"
Angry voices instantly erupted from the crowd.
For these commoners who had finally started living a good life, whatever Daimyo or orthodoxy existed was utterly worthless compared to being able to eat one's fill.
They only cared about whether they could continue living the kind of life they had now.
To them, anyone who tried to destroy this wonderful life was a mortal enemy.
Countless hands reached out as fists, spittle, and curses rained down upon Sandayu.
"No... this country... is hopeless..."
The moment before being engulfed by the fervent crowd, Sandayu let out his final wail.
Soon, two expressionless members of the Security Force stepped forward and carried away Sandayu, who had been beaten half to death.
Had Naruto not hinted beforehand, the angry masses might have torn him to pieces on the spot.
But keeping him alive was more useful than him being dead.
He would serve as a living specimen, displaying the laughable and powerless struggle of the old-era nobles.
From beginning to end, Naruto's expression did not change in the slightest.
Not until Sandayu completely vanished did he speak again, acting as if nothing had just happened.
"As everyone sees, the ghosts of the old era are always unwilling to exit the stage of history."
"However, what is even more terrifying are not these pieces of trash."
Naruto changed the subject, his tone becoming solemn and low.
"In this world, there are always people who envy our prosperity, want to take away our bread, and want to tear down our houses!"
"For instance—certain robbers who boast themselves as Great Nations!"
The imagery on the huge screen abruptly changed.
A meticulously edited video began to play.
Within the frame, wind and snow intertwined.
A group of ninjas wearing Kumogakure combat uniforms, with ferocious expressions, sprinted across the snowfield in a well-trained manner.
And their direction was precisely the prosperous Kazahana City.
"It's Kumogakure! Kumogakure, one of the Five Great Nations!"
"Are they coming to kill us?"
Fear spread among the crowd.
However, the next second, the scene shifted.
Directly opposite the Kumogakure ninjas appeared an iron army.
A group of iron warriors wearing heavy armor, led by an even larger iron man, rushed forward like a torrent of steel.
There were no screams, only crushing suppression.
Those normally lofty ninjas of the Great Nations were like fragile pieces of paper before this iron legion, easily torn to shreds.
"So strong!"
The commoners let out exclamations of shock.
Immediately following, the scene became oppressive once again.
A massive two-tailed monstrous cat appeared, its entire body burning with dim blue flames.
With majestic momentum, every step it took shattered the earth.
It even cruelly killed several warriors guarding the defense line.
"That is... a monster!"
Screams rose one after another, and despair enveloped the square.
They couldn't imagine how anyone could deal with such a behemoth.
However, passionate music swelled, and the scene flipped once more.
The previously overbearing blue behemoth was knocked down with a single punch and ruthlessly suppressed.
In the end, only the unyielding iron warriors remained on the screen, along with the figures of Kumogakure's remnants discarding their armor and fleeing in panic.
The image froze.
This video did not leak too much intelligence, but it perfectly displayed a reassuring military might.
Hiding backstage, the director saw the emotions of the people stirred by the video and couldn't help wiping away tears of emotion.
"This editing... I am simply a genius!"
The light of the screen shone on the faces of every dumbfounded commoner.
Their fear dissipated, replaced by an unprecedented sense of security and fanatical worship.
Naruto spread his arms, his passionate voice ringing out once again.
"In this cruel ninja world, weakness is the original sin."
"But there is no need to fear, nor is there a need to panic."
"Because we are with you!"