He shouted at the Third Raikage, "Raikage! Lord Daimyo has always supported you! Is this how you repay him?"
Hearing this, the Third Raikage felt conflicted. He began to speak, "Yuzuru, should we first..."
Crack!
Before he could finish, Uchiha Yuzuru had already snapped the envoy's neck.
"Third, you heard what he said just now. In their eyes, we have always been nothing more than tools."
"Their so-called support is only because you can bring them greater benefits. Once those interests conflict, they will turn against us without mercy."
"We merely released a Chinoike clan that was once falsely accused, and look at how violent their reaction was. If one day we fail to obey their orders, what will they do then?" Uchiha Yuzuru said indifferently.
It was just like the capitalists of his past life; no matter how benevolent they appeared on the surface, they were essentially ceaselessly exploiting the workers beneath them. Being grateful to them for a scrap of kindness was the height of stupidity.
"Third, remember, we aren't playing house. This is a life-and-death struggle. If we're going to do it, we absolutely cannot be soft-hearted."
Hearing Uchiha Yuzuru's words, the Third Raikage sighed. "I know. Otherwise, I wouldn't have supported your decision from the start."
"It's just that when it comes time to actually face it, I still can't help feeling a strange hesitation in my heart."
"But rest assured, Yuzuru. I won't lose the greater goal for small matters."
He was also dissatisfied with the current system. Those who followed him were brothers who had gone through life and death together; they were flesh and blood, people with feelings. Yet those high-and-mighty nobles treated them as tools, ready to discard them at will to achieve their ends. As a Kage, he had seen far too much of this.
Now that such an opportunity lay before him, he absolutely could not miss it!
"Don't worry about this matter. I will make a trip to Kyoto personally."
Having said this, Uchiha Yuzuru turned and left. The Third Raikage was simply that kind of person—valuing emotion and loyalty—so Yuzuru naturally wouldn't force him to dirty his hands personally.
After leaving the Raikage Building, Uchiha Yuzuru found A, Hatake Sakumo, and Uchiha Fugaku.
When he explained the situation to them, their jaws nearly hit the floor.
Overthrowing the Daimyo... Was such a thing really doable?
"No wonder..." A took a deep breath, then grinned broadly. "I don't want to think too much about it. Since you and my father have decided, then let's just do it!"
Uchiha Yuzuru then turned his gaze to Uchiha Fugaku.
Uchiha Yuzuru nodded with satisfaction. Uchiha Fugaku's greatest flaw was his indecisiveness and hesitation. However, as a subordinate, he was quite excellent.
Uchiha Yuzuru patted Uchiha Fugaku on the shoulder, then placed his gaze on Hatake Sakumo.
"Very good." A smile appeared on Uchiha Yuzuru's face.
Hatake Sakumo was somewhat like a traditional samurai; once he decided to pledge his loyalty, he would obey orders unconditionally. To Hatake Sakumo, Uchiha Yuzuru ordering him to kill the Daimyo was no different from ordering him to kill a dog. Of course, that was provided his faith in the person he served didn't collapse.
After understanding everyone's thoughts, Uchiha Yuzuru waved his hand grandly. "Set out!"
"Yes!"
Land of Lightning.
Kyoto.
The Daimyo's Mansion.
The Land of Lightning's Daimyo sat at the head of the room, speaking to the ministers before him. "I have already sent someone to Kumogakure to have the Raikage reimprison the Chinoike clan. I believe news will return before long."
Hearing this, a minister spoke in a deep voice. "Lord Daimyo, this matter isn't that simple. Their release of the imprisoned criminal clan without seeking your approval signifies that they simply do not hold you in their eyes."
"We must also cut financial support to Kumogakure to let them know the price of acting recklessly."
"We should also demand the Raikage come to Kyoto personally to apologize!"
"You have been too lenient with them in the past, which is why they are so fearless."
"Those ninja must be suppressed constantly. I feel we should act like the Land of Wind; only after letting them starve will they know who their benefactor is."
Listening to the suggestions of his ministers, the Daimyo hesitated. "There is nothing wrong with what you say, but what if the Raikage rebels? That fellow has always had a violent temper."
Silence fell over the room.
Then, all the ministers couldn't help but burst into loud laughter.
"Hahahaha... Lord Daimyo, surely you jest. How could those lowly ninja have the gall to rebel against you?"
"Indeed, you are being a bit too alarmist. You are the master of the Land of Lightning."
"If they dare disobey your orders, the entire shinobi world will have no place for them. The Raikage isn't that stupid."
After listening to his subordinates' discussion, the Daimyo's mood relaxed slightly.
True. He was indeed being too alarmist. Throughout history, he had never heard of a ninja daring to disobey a Daimyo's orders.
Thinking of this, the Daimyo gave a light laugh and said indifferently, "Everyone makes a valid point. This time, I will properly punish those ninja."
"Especially the Uchiha clan."
"We gave them shelter, yet not only are they ungrateful, they even dare to commit such treasonous acts..."
"They must be severely punished!"
Just as the Daimyo's voice fell, the door to the room flew inward.
Uchiha Fugaku, A, and Hatake Sakumo charged in. Following closely behind, a youth with black hair and black eyes slowly walked into the room.
The Daimyo and the others were stunned at first, followed immediately by looks of rage.
"You bastards! Who let you barge in here?"
A, Uchiha Fugaku, and Hatake Sakumo remained silent. Uchiha Yuzuru spoke slowly. "I am Uchiha Yuzuru, the ninja who released the Chinoike clan from the Valley of Hell."
Hearing Uchiha Yuzuru's words, a minister stood up and scolded coldly, "Are you here to admit your guilt and accept punishment?"
Even if he was stupid, he already knew—the ninja of Kumogakure had revolted!
Following the Daimyo's shout, over a dozen ninja appeared in the room, instantly surrounding Uchiha Yuzuru's group. Since the decline of the samurai, the Daimyo of every nation would hire ninja to protect their safety. They obeyed only the Daimyo's orders, their strength varying. In the original history, Sarutobi Asuma had once served as a Guardian Shinobi for the Land of Fire's Daimyo.
"Fugaku, A, Sakumo. You handle them."
Uchiha Yuzuru spoke indifferently, then walked slowly toward the Daimyo.
The dozen Guardian Shinobi immediately launched attacks at Uchiha Yuzuru, but Hatake Sakumo and the others were faster.
Amidst scream after scream, Uchiha Yuzuru walked up to the Land of Lightning's Daimyo.
Looking at the exquisite fruit platter placed before him, Uchiha Yuzuru took out a Kunai.
Feeling the chill radiating from the Kunai, the Land of Lightning's Daimyo gulped.
Only now, with death descending, did he realize how foolish his and his ministers' words had been just moments ago. No matter how high and mighty they usually acted, once their subordinate ninja rebelled, they were reduced to pigs and sheep waiting to be slaughtered.
Having realized this, the Daimyo trembled. "Can... can we reconcile?"
Uchiha Yuzuru raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Are you joking?"
With that, the Kunai slashed directly across the Daimyo's throat. The Land of Lightning's Daimyo clutched his neck tightly, yet he could not stop the flow of life slipping away.
Before his consciousness plunged into darkness, only one thought remained in his mind—
Why provoke these desperadoes over an insignificant ninja clan?!
"They killed the Daimyo! These lunatics!"
"No, don't kill me! I'll give you whatever you want!"
"Publicly murdering a Daimyo... you have violated the ancient treaties! Kumogakure is finished! The Land of Lightning will be plunged into misery and suffering because of you!"
"That's right! From today on, you are the enemies of everyone in the shinobi world!"
When Senju Hashirama established the ninja village system, he defined the relationship between Daimyo and ninja. The Daimyo was the master of the nation, holding the power to decide all national affairs. This concept had been deeply rooted in people's hearts for decades.
Now that Kumogakure ninja had publicly murdered a Daimyo, other Daimyo would not sit idly by. Once they dispatched armies, both the Land of Lightning and Kumogakure would be done for!
Ignoring the ministers' roaring, Uchiha Fugaku walked up to Uchiha Yuzuru and asked, "Yuzuru, what do we do next?"
Uchiha Yuzuru scanned the crowd in the room and spoke slowly. "Select a girl from the Daimyo's offspring who is willing to proclaim that the Daimyo submits to the Kage, and have her succeed as the next Daimyo."
"Tell our plan to the ministers willing to submit to us. Kill all those who refuse."
The concept of the Daimyo's supremacy was deeply ingrained. Making ninja the ruling class wasn't as simple as killing the Daimyo; people had to accept the idea of ninja supremacy. That would require a period of transition.
After all... having the original rulers actively promote this would be far more effective than saying it themselves.
Hearing this, Uchiha Fugaku glanced at the ministers in the room and asked, "And if they all refuse?"
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