Naruto: The Hyuga Mastermind

Chapter 132: Today, Konoha Rebels—Your Nation Shall Fall!

"What do you think you're doing?!"

In front of the Daimyo's palace, Kazuma stared at the Konoha ninjas who had completely surrounded the entrance. His face was grim as he demanded, "Are you planning a rebellion?!"

"We're just here for answers," Tsunade replied calmly.

Hearing this, Kazuma wanted to lash out in anger. However, as he looked at the unwavering, murderous gazes of the ninjas, a chill ran down his spine. He wanted to flee from this scene, but his loyalty to the Daimyo forced him to suppress his fear and confront them.

At the same time, he sent a messenger to ask for the Daimyo's instructions.

This was no longer a situation that Kazuma and the other Twelve Guardian Ninja could resolve.

---

Inside the Daimyo's palace, chaos reigned.

"Daimyo-sama, the capital's ninja forces are no match for Konoha. They've been defeated in an instant!"

"Daimyo-sama, Tsunade is leading Konoha's forces toward the palace. What should we do?!"

The ministers and nobles of the Land of Fire looked anxiously toward the Daimyo, who sat silently in his high seat.

One noble, his face twisted with fury, exclaimed, "This is an open rebellion! Those ninjas don't even respect you anymore! We should… we should…"

But after stuttering for a while, the noble failed to come up with any actual plan. His gaze helplessly shifted to the others in the room.

Never before had they imagined such a situation could arise.

A few rebellious individuals could be dealt with. But nearly the entirety of Konoha had turned against them—what could they possibly do?

Kill them?

That would require the power to do so!

The Daimyo sat silently, his expression unreadable as his thoughts churned.

He couldn't understand how things had deteriorated so quickly.

He also couldn't understand why Hyuga Fuji had ended up dead in Konoha.

He had indeed intended to kill Fuji, but he would never have done so in a way that openly provoked Konoha and ignited such a blaze.

When the birds are gone, the bows are hidden.

Hyuga Fuji had been a useful tool, helping him accomplish much. If left alive, Fuji could have gradually helped him solidify control over Konoha and bring prosperity to the Land of Fire.

But Fuji's influence in Konoha had grown too great, second only to the Hokage himself. The Daimyo wasn't foolish. He knew that if Minato was eliminated, Fuji would inevitably rise to become the next Hokage. And when that happened, how could Fuji possibly continue to serve him?

Fuji would inevitably develop ambitions akin to Danzo's.

Thus, the Daimyo had prepared to eliminate him.

The last time he invited Fuji to a meeting, he had arranged for mercenary ninjas hired through the black market to assassinate Fuji outside the palace, planning to frame the underground syndicates for the deed.

But Fuji had sent a shadow clone in his place, as if mocking him. That single act had further solidified the Daimyo's resolve to get rid of him.

However, killing a high-ranking Konoha official within Konoha itself? That wasn't something his forces could accomplish, nor was it something he had ordered.

"Who? Who framed me?!"

---

"Daimyo-sama!"

The sharp cry of a messenger jolted the Daimyo from his thoughts. Looking at the ninja before him, he tightened his grip on his ceremonial fan and stood up abruptly.

"I will go and speak with Tsunade myself!"

---

A few minutes later, the Daimyo led a group of ministers and nobles to the palace gates, where the Konoha forces waited.

Gazing at Tsunade, whose appearance seemed unchanged from their last meeting years ago, he sighed with forced nostalgia.

"It's been years, Tsunade. You haven't changed at all."

"…"

Tsunade remained silent, studying him carefully for any signs of transformation or deception. Only after confirming that he wasn't using a disguise did she speak.

"You've probably heard about what happened in Konoha. Let me ask you this—are you involved?"

"No!" The Daimyo shook his head firmly, feigning sorrow. "I, too, mourn the Fourth Hokage's death. I remember our conversations as if they were yesterday. It's such a pity—I had hoped he would lead the Land of Fire to new heights."

"I see…"

Tsunade closed her eyes briefly, as if the answer she received was exactly what she had expected.

A tense silence descended upon the scene.

Behind Tsunade, the Konoha ninjas stared at the Daimyo with open killing intent, their gazes sharp and unrelenting.

The Daimyo's heart burned with anger as he noticed their hostility.

They dare disrespect me like this? If I survive this ordeal, they'll pay dearly!

Suddenly, a deafening explosion sounded in the distance.

The massive silhouette of the Three-Tails briefly appeared to the west of the palace before disappearing again, breaking the Daimyo's train of thought.

Following the commotion, a white-haired ANBU officer appeared, dragging a severely injured ninja behind him.

"Tsunade-sama, we've captured A-rank rogue ninja Hiruko!"

The Daimyo's pupils contracted sharply.

Hiruko…

Tsunade, however, paid no mind to the Daimyo's reaction. Walking up to Hiruko, her expression cold, she asked in a low voice:

"What were you doing near the Daimyo's palace?"

Hiruko, barely able to lift his head, looked at her with a complicated expression before breaking into a low, bitter laugh.

"You already know the answer, don't you? How pitiful, Tsunade. The Sannin are no more—only you remain. The Fourth Hokage and his advisor are dead, and Konoha's era of strength is over. Hahaha! It's perfect!"

Once, Hiruko had dreamed of standing alongside the legendary Sannin. But he wasn't a genius—he couldn't compare to them. Jealousy and rage had driven him to abandon Konoha in a desperate bid to prove his worth.

Now, seeing Konoha's downfall, he could only laugh.

"I asked why you were here!"

Tsunade's hand gripped his shoulder tightly, her furious gaze boring into him.

Hiruko's face twisted for a moment. Seeing the barely restrained rage in Tsunade's eyes, a plan formed in his mind. Laughing madly, he shouted:

"The Daimyo ordered me to join forces with Konoha and other nations to kill Hyuga Fuji! Pinning Fuji's body to the Hokage Rock was a mockery of you all—a joke at Konoha's expense! Hahaha!"

The Daimyo's face twisted in shock. He couldn't fathom why Hiruko would take responsibility for a crime he hadn't committed.

But when he turned to look at the increasingly enraged Konoha ninjas, the truth dawned on him. Panic set in.

"Don't listen to him! He's lying! He wants to drive a wedge between Konoha and the Land of Fire, to throw us into civil war and plunge Konoha into chaos!"

Boom!

Tsunade's fist came crashing down on Hiruko's head, splattering blood and brain matter across the ground.

The gruesome sight silenced the Daimyo mid-sentence, leaving him pale and trembling.

Tsunade turned her gaze back to the Daimyo, her voice cold.

"We want an explanation!"

The Daimyo stammered, "It wasn't me…"

"The people of Konoha demand an explanation!"

"I had nothing to do with it…"

"I want an explanation!"

As Tsunade—her body drenched in blood, her aura like that of a wrathful deity—strode toward him, the pampered Daimyo finally lost his composure. Realizing words were now futile, he screamed:

"Fine! Yes, I did it!

"The Fourth Hokage disregarded me! Konoha grows stronger by the day—am I supposed to sit idly by, powerless to stop you? Do you expect me to wait for you to kill me?!

"I am the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, the ruler of this nation! You ninjas are just tools, servants whom I provide for! If I want to kill you, I will!"

"Don't forget, Tsunade—you're the granddaughter of the First Hokage, the princess of the Land of Fire! Are you really going to kill me? Doing so would dishonor your grandfather's legacy! You should be on my side! With the Fourth gone, we can rejoice. The Land of Fire and Konoha can return to how things were!"

A flicker of motion.

In full view of the gathered ninjas, the Daimyo's head separated from his body, rolling to the ground like a broken doll.

Tsunade stood frozen, her mind blank for a moment. When she regained her senses, the Daimyo's lifeless corpse lay before her.

And yet… she felt no regret.

Hearing the panicked screams of the surrounding nobles, Tsunade closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Forgive me, Grandfather… I am not a worthy descendant.

Raising her hand, Tsunade commanded, "Today, Konoha rebels. And you… your nation shall fall!"

A murderous aura erupted behind her, soaring into the heavens.

(End of Chapter)