People from the Land of Water Daimyo are here!
Kakashi, who had rushed all the way from Konoha Village, stood in front of the Kirigakure gate, stunned by the grand procession before him.
Nearly three hundred people.
There were people clearing the way in front, and people playing drums in the rear, with nearly seventy percent being samurai guards.
Kakashi carefully looked at their sword-wielding hands. Every single one was the best of the best. Kakashi had even seen photos of a few of them, clearly famous swordsmen.
At the very front was a large palanquin with someone inside. The curtains were lifted, revealing a dignified and regal woman holding a four or five-year-old child.
Behind the palanquin followed five supply carts, their cargo covered with thick cloth, making it impossible to see what was inside.
After entering Kirigakure, the three hundred or so people didn't head to the Mizukage building, but went straight in one direction.
"That...isn't that the direction of Linto's school?!"
The procession bore the family crest of the Land of Water Daimyo. Even the most ignorant villagers knew why these people had come—
Linto!
One month ago, Linto had killed the Land of Water Daimyo in the street.
Now, they were here to demand an explanation!
The carriages rolled along the road, leaving deep tracks, showing that the cargo inside was very heavy.
The villagers gulped.
"Could there be explosives in the carriages?"
"To blow up the entire Kirigakure."
"Who is the woman sitting in the palanquin?"
The villagers whispered and discussed, getting more and more outrageous.
In the end, they even guessed that the carriages were loaded with five carts of explosives, intending to blow up the entire Kirigakure.
These samurai, maids, the woman and child in the palanquin were sacrifices, offered to the deceased Land of Water Daimyo.
Like visiting a grave.
But the common people didn't know.
The ninja of Kirigakure, the intelligence agents of various villages, including Kakashi who had just followed the procession into Kirigakure, recognized the woman in the palanquin:
She was clearly the wife of the new Land of Water Daimyo.
The child in her arms was the Daimyo's only son!
Kakashi's expression became as strange as Zabuza's. The newly appointed Land of Water Daimyo...
What exactly did he want to do?
It was strange how people are. Even though they guessed that the carriages might be loaded with explosives, the villagers not only didn't stay away, but followed the procession all the way to Linto's open-air school, driven by curiosity.
Linto sat on a chair.
Standing behind him were Sasuke and Momo-chan, along with Mayuri and Amber, and more than thirty people from Hope Village.
Ten meters away, the procession stopped.
The samurai were disciplined and silent.
An attendant helped the Daimyo's wife, Saito Ayatori, out of the palanquin.
The samurai made way, and she took her four-year-old son's hand and walked gracefully to Linto, then dropped to her knees—
Both of them knelt on the ground.
One was the wife of the Land of Water Daimyo.
One was the eldest son of the Land of Water Daimyo, the future Daimyo.
At this moment, the two of them knelt before Linto, expressing their respect to Linto in the most humble and pious position, saying at the same time:
"The previous Daimyo was foolish and cruel, disregarding human lives. He was a traitor who betrayed the people and our ancestors. Thanks to you, sir, for turning things around and saving the Land of Water from disaster!"
After they finished speaking, the attendants behind them, as if they had rehearsed in advance, lifted the tarpaulins on the cargo carriages.
There were exclamations from the crowd, and on the five carriages were:
One carriage of ancient books and classics.
One carriage of gold and silver jewelry.
One carriage of silks and satins.
One carriage of swords and armor.
The last carriage was very empty, with only an official robe and hat.
Kakashi's pupils contracted slightly when he saw the official uniform.
This was clearly the official uniform of the Land of Water Grand Minister.
The so-called "Grand Minister" assisted the Daimyo in managing national affairs. He was truly second only to the Daimyo, also known as the "Grand Tutor" or "National Teacher," with the title of a teacher of the country.
This position was not permanently filled. Most of the time, it was vacant. Only truly virtuous and talented people who could convince the public would be appointed as Grand Minister.
Kakashi swallowed.
"Could it be..."
Saito Ayatori looked up slightly and pointed to the five carriages behind.
"I know that you don't care about worldly possessions, but those who want to accomplish great things always need wealth. Consider these as a token of our appreciation. Also."
She pointed to the official uniform on the last carriage.
"I implore you to return to the capital with me. The Land of Water is in desperate need of rebuilding. We need someone like you with vision to work with the Daimyo to restore the Land of Water to its former glory."
Having killed the previous Daimyo, the current Daimyo sent his wife and children to kneel and invite Linto, obediently offering gold, silver, and jewelry, and bestowing the position of Grand Minister.
The scene before their eyes shocked the villagers and ninja.
This was money they couldn't earn in a lifetime, and a position they could never reach.
Pairs of eyes fell on Linto, full of envy and desire.
But there was no joy in Linto's eyes.
"Is this the tactic of the old bureaucratic group?"
Linto had been waiting for the new Daimyo to make a move.
Whether it was sending troops to attack, asking Kirigakure to assassinate Linto, or hiring assassins, it would become part of Linto's plan, and the contradictions would gradually deepen.
But the other side took the initiative to separate themselves from the previous Daimyo, sending gifts and official positions.
Once Linto accepted, in the eyes of the villagers, Linto would change from "us" to "them."
No matter how much Linto did, it would be something for "them," the officials.
Even if Linto didn't accept, the villagers were used to compromise. They would think that the new Daimyo seemed okay, and they would make do for now.
The intensified thoughts under the D-rank trade would gradually calm down.
Linto sighed softly.
"When it comes to scheming, ten of me can't compare to this group of politicians who have been dealing with people their whole lives."
Linto walked over and helped Saito Ayatori up.
Looking only at her features, she wasn't very beautiful, only considered proper.
But the temperament between Saito Ayatori's eyebrows was too special. More than a Daimyo's wife, she was like a chess player skilled in the game of human hearts.
"This move of yours...is quite interesting."
Linto said, "However, my personality is not suitable for being an official. On the second day of my appointment, half of the people in the court might have to die."
Saito Ayatori smiled and said, "Those you kill, sir, must be evil people. It's fine to kill them."
"Even your husband?"
"If the Daimyo does evil, he is guilty like the common people. As long as the evidence is solid, why can't he be killed?"
Linto nodded.
This was the response of the bureaucratic group.
After the previous Daimyo accumulated wealth, the people's hearts fell to a low point, and a demagogue like Linto even appeared.
Letting this trend continue to grow would lead to more and more people gathering around Linto.
When that moment came, it would be a change of world, a reshuffle.
Therefore, the bureaucratic group had two ways to respond:
First, co-opt.
Second, arrange for a "wise ruler" to stabilize the people's hearts, and after a generation or two, when the people were prosperous, conduct the next round of exploitation.
Linto believed that if he wore this official robe and returned, he would definitely enjoy lifelong wealth and glory, and under the rule of the wise ruler, the world would be peaceful, the people prosperous, a prosperous era.
Maybe Linto wouldn't be able to find any faults until he died.
But that would be a fake prosperous era.
The world structure would remain unchanged, just a cycle, a period of compromise.
Moreover, if he were to return with them, where would he go to earn soul fragments, extract Stands, and continue to become stronger?
The ninja of the Hokage world would only become stronger according to the plot logic.
The Masked Man wasn't dead yet. There were other Tailed Beasts, and even more powerful opponents after the Tailed Beasts.
Linto couldn't give up the pace of getting stronger.
Most importantly...
"A real man should live between heaven and earth. How can he live under another's thumb?"
Linto had already traveled through time and had a system.
Was he here to be someone's grandson?
"Please go back, I don't want any of it."
As soon as these words came out, the whole place erupted in an uproar.
This was enough to make an ordinary person a financial magnate and leave a mark in history. He abandoned it without even thinking!
Everyone was so shocked that they couldn't speak. Only Saito Ayatori and Linto, who were standing in the center of the crowd's gazes, remained calm. This woman seemed to have expected Linto to refuse. She nodded slightly and said again:
"In that case, I have another gift for you."
A thin swordsman wearing a bamboo hat and a gray and white kimono walked out from behind.
He wore a long and short sword at his waist, with a calm expression and gray eyes, like...
A sword hidden in its scabbard, yet to be drawn.
"Mr. Miyamoto is the best swordsman in the Land of Water. He has heard that you, Mr. Linto, are proficient in swordsmanship and wants to learn from you.
If you win, I will waive all taxes in all towns and villages within the Land of Water. What do you think?"
Miyamoto... Kakashi suddenly thought of someone and couldn't help but remind him:
"Linto! Be careful of his sword!"
"The long sword can cut through steel, and the short sword can cut the soul!"
The strongest swordsman in the Land of Water.
Linto understood Saito Ayatori's plan.
If the first round of bribery failed, she would use the exemption of taxes as a condition to force Linto to take action and see how strong the so-called "invincible" really was.
If Linto refused, he would face the complaints of the common people. Accepting meant taking a risk.
However, Linto had long wanted to fight the strong among the samurai, and since Star Platinum had unlocked time stop, he didn't have a suitable opponent to test the application of time stop in battle.
"Is it point-stop" Linto asked.
Before Saito Ayatori could speak, Miyamoto said in a calm and dry tone, "No, they give me the job is, if there is a chance, I will kill you with one blow... so you don't need to hold back."
Linto silent, then laughed out.
It was a straightforward person.
"To fight" Miyamoto asked.
"Of course." Linto said.
Miyamoto frowned slightly: "Then where's your sword?"
"No need yet."
A hint of anger appeared in Miyamoto's eyes. He had heard of Linto's record and had accepted Saito Ayatori's invitation to come and fight Linto, but the other side didn't even prepare to take out a sword.
"You are...a little too arrogant!"
"Sorry, I'm not insulting you, it's just that my sword is being repaired and recast, and—"
Subtle flickering golden ripples appeared on Linto's skin.
Star Platinum appeared behind him, and both the man and his Stand raised their hands and pointed at Miyamoto:
"Don't forget, you're the challenger."
The surrounding streetlights flickered, and natural energy swept a whirlwind, crushing the hazy fog.
Everyone felt like they had been doused with a bucket of cold water, or like a knife had been pressed against their throats.
"This is... the pressure when Linto enters battle mode!"
Kakashi stared at Linto, his mouth half-open.
How long had it been since they parted? Linto had become stronger again?!
"You have three chances to swing your sword. After three times, you will lose."
Linto waved to Miyamoto.
"Come on, let me see what a so-called 'samurai' is."
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