"This is Warsaw City," Kakashi murmured to himself.
The Land of Fire was the most prosperous nation among the Five Great Nations. As a ninja from Konoha Village, Kakashi had naturally visited the capital of the Land of Fire. But compared to the Warsaw City before him...
In terms of extravagance and luxury, it was still a notch lower.
The fierce sunlight slanted across Warsaw City.
Tall buildings, gilded and iridescent, emitted a brilliant but not overly dazzling glow.
On either side of the city gate, two ten-meter-high white jade camel sculptures were placed. Water gushed from the humps of the camels, and the flowing water, rippling with the wind, formed two rainbows.
Coupled with the barrier light surrounding the entire city to ward off sandstorms.
Seen from afar, Warsaw City was like a dazzling jewel standing in the desert.
Linto thought of the dusty Sunagakure Village.
In the remote areas of the village, many houses were built with stones and mud.
Being able to eat their fill, suffer less from sandstorms, and even take a few more baths was a rare happiness for the villagers of Sunagakure Village.
Looking at Warsaw City now, the precious water resources of the desert were wasted like this, just to create beautiful rainbows.
Linto said to Rasa:
"I finally understand why you were so determined to rebel."
It was one thing not to see it, but the more they knew about the truth of Akatsuki, the more pain and unwillingness grew in their hearts.
Granny Chiyo fanned herself with a fan and said,
"Back in the day, my late husband rejected the First Hokage's suggestion to distribute the Tailed Beasts.
He didn't want Tailed Beasts; he wanted funds and land.
At that time, the Kage of the other villages didn't understand him; they thought he was crazy for money—hahaha, and indeed, we were crazy for money.
What good are Tailed Beasts?
Can they be eaten? Can they be drunk? Or can they help us farm and build houses?"
Linto looked at Granny Chiyo in surprise.
"Your husband?"
Rasa explained, "Granny Chiyo's husband was the First Kazekage."
Linto raised an eyebrow slightly.
When the First Hokage and the First Kazekage were mentioned, they always felt like people from hundreds of years ago. Upon closer thought, that era wasn't as distant from the present as imagined.
"It's not distant... yet many of the new generation have forgotten the goals that the various ninja villages once strived for."
This was the result of a historical disconnect.
Ninjas only cared about the inheritance of techniques, while the inheritance of spirit and will was superficial.
It was like the Third Hokage's Will of Fire.
Rasa had visited Warsaw City several times, and each visit refreshed his understanding. For example—
In the city center, if one's attire was inappropriate, or if they carried cheap drinks, samurai would question them and check their identification.
People would frantically pursue luxury goods, even going into debt or selling organs to chase the latest backpack.
There was conflict, comparison, discrimination, and betrayal between people... all for profit.
Amber, a simple and honest fisherman by origin, loathed such two-faced behavior the most:
"So, this is a city of hell?"
"You can't say that. It's more like..."
Rasa thought about his words.
Linto looked at the welcoming crowd waiting in the city ahead, cheering and jumping with joy, and said, "More like a speeding, never-ending mad train."
This was the nature of capital.
"Let's go."
Linto rode his camel down the sand dune.
"Don't keep the 'conductors' waiting too long."
...
Red carpet.
Royal honor guard.
Band playing music.
And a large contingent, over a hundred beautiful women from the Land of Wind, each elegant and unique, wearing short skirts and holding bouquets, welcomed Linto and his party.
Regardless of their respective positions, the Daimyo of the Land of Wind indeed received them with the highest protocol.
The official in charge of the reception was the Grand Minister of the Land of Wind.
The so-called Grand Minister was the highest official position under the Daimyo system. In the past, Oda Ieyasu had wanted to use this position to invite Linto to serve in Kyoto, corrupting him with fame, wealth, and power.
The Grand Minister of the Land of Wind was a withered old man in his seventies with white hair. To welcome Linto, he wore a heavy official robe, and beads of sweat covered his forehead.
Linto dismounted his camel and shook hands with the man. Just then—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The thunderous sound of salutes erupted.
Linto and Amber and the others weren't particularly bothered. Gaara, who had never experienced such a scene, shivered, thinking an enemy had attacked.
He drew a kunai and, using standard ninja evasion tactics, hid behind a camel.
There was no threat. All eyes fell on Gaara. The sight of a child trembling and dodging alone looked quite comical.
There were three types of people responsible for Linto.
The first type were performers, i.e., the honor guard and the scantily clad beauties. They appeared enthusiastic but were actually extremely nervous and naturally did not smile.
The second type were reception officials. They had years of experience in official circles and excellent emotional control, and they also did not smile.
The third type were the family members of dignitaries, meant to make the scene appear warmer, including women and young people.
Some of them chuckled.
Not only did they chuckle, but some also whispered, haughty words like "country bumpkin," which were not very pleasant.
They thought their voices were low, but everyone present was a ninja with keen hearing and sharp eyesight, so they naturally heard clearly.
Gaara's little face turned red. Influenced by the One-Tail Shukaku, anger emanated from his eyes.
Seeing this, the officials standing in front changed their expressions.
Before they could speak, a group of samurai stepped forward and pushed all the scolding noble scions to the ground.
The Grand Minister drew a sword from a samurai's waist and handed it to Linto.
"Lord Linto, I apologize for their offense. Do you wish to handle it yourself, or shall we?"
Linto did not take the sword, but looked at the noble scions who were pressed to the ground like quail.
"To laugh is to kill? Are the lives of the Land of Wind's official children so worthless?"
The Grand Minister smiled and said, "What are you saying?"
From the moment they mocked the One-Tail Jinchuriki, causing the Jinchuriki's emotions to fluctuate, risking a berserk state, and making your companions unhappy.
They became 'negative assets' to the Land of Wind and to their behind families.
Timely clearing out negative assets is a compulsory lesson for every resident of Warsaw City."
The Grand Minister's eyes quietly looked at Linto, appearing humble, but actually containing a hint of testing.
He was testing Linto's character to pave the way for Linto's subsequent conversation with the Daimyo.
Linto looked at the fair or tanned thighs of the beautiful Sand Village girls, then at the trails of smoke left by the salutes in the sky, and finally at the noble scions kneeling on the ground, trembling.
No matter how much Rasa and Granny Chiyo had told him before, it was not as impactful as seeing it with his own eyes in just a minute or two.
"This is... Warsaw City."
Linto casually tossed the sword he was holding.
"Let them go. What's the point of killing a few noble scions?"
With that, he no longer paid attention to those kneeling on the ground and walked forward along the red carpet.
Watching his retreating figure, a hint of disdain flashed in the Grand Minister's eyes.
"In the end, he's still someone who 'respects life'."
"In that case... there will be many bargaining chips for negotiation."
The Grand Minister thought, and then smiled, following Linto's steps.
Rasa asked, "Why didn't you kill them? Those second-generation officials are mostly scumbags."
"Relax."
Linto patted Rasa, whose shoulders had been tense since entering Warsaw City.
"Indeed, most are scumbags, but there are a few innocent ones here and there.
I don't have the time to distinguish, nor do I want to take the knife offered by others and kill within boundaries they've set.
Doing so would fall into their rhythm."
The Grand Minister, who was walking beside them, had his smile freeze for half a second. Suddenly, he felt his previous deduction might be incorrect.
"Linto... wasn't he described as a reckless brute who only knew how to kill?"
The Grand Minister wiped his sweat and pretended not to hear.
Linto continued, "Besides, I didn't come to Warsaw City to kill a few second-generation officials.
I came to dig up their roots.
Even if I were to kill, what's the point of killing a few noble scions?"
The Grand Minister felt increasingly uneasy.
Upon hearing about killing, Rasa became interested. "Then who is interesting to kill?"
Linto smiled and turned to look at the Grand Minister.
"What do you think?"
The Grand Minister was drenched in sweat.