He was in Konoha, and his domineering aura was overflowing.

He forced a fawning smile: "Your Excellency has a good memory. Two years ago, I witnessed your brilliance and was greatly inspired. It is an honor and a great honor to meet you today."

Isogen didn't remember knowing him, but that didn't stop him from appreciating this handsome samurai.

Having just acquired a new shikigami and set his next goal, Isogen was in high spirits and didn't mind meeting his strategic partner.

As the most prestigious person in the Land of Fire, the daimyo's residence is extremely luxurious yet elegant.

The daimyo of the Land of Fire was a thin man.

Both parties have a certain understanding of each other.

Fragrant tea, burning incense, music, singing and dancing.

The luxurious and stylish series of actions left the group of people who had received combat training since childhood completely stunned, and even Minato Namikaze couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

Only four people were truly unaffected: Yuuka Igogaku, Sakumo Hatake, Kushina Uzumaki, and Mizuki Hyuga.

Hatake Sakumo is old and worldly-wise, Kushina is carefree, and the Hyuga family, where Hyuga Mizuki lives, teaches cultural literacy in addition to killing, arson, and boxing.

Fifty strings?

Ha, what kind of mansion is it if it doesn't have air conditioning, a computer, or a game console?

The daimyo greeted the fishy-gray dragonfly, displaying the magnanimity of a daimyo, and looked with a smile at the fifty-stringed melody that was adding to his belly.

"Isogen-kun, this should be our first formal meeting, right?"

Sakumo Hatake and the others were suspicious after hearing this.

Judging from their tone, are they very familiar with each other?

It's true that Isogen often goes out to blast mountains and fish, and the Daimyo's target is obvious, so others avoid him like the plague. But if it were Isogen, he might actually go looking for the Daimyo out of curiosity.

"Do you want to help take them down? Let's make it clear first, they provoked me first this time. If you can provide some assistance, we can split the spoils 90/10."

Um--

Is he trying to lure big names into the business world?

Sakumo Hatake looked astonished.

"Hehe, I'm quite tempted. Some people do indeed need some repair," Daimyo chuckled.

They actually responded!

I'm increasingly convinced that there's some shady deal going on between these two.

Daimyo was also exceptionally composed; he remained calm when Isogen discussed the matter on the spot.

The main reason he found the fifty-stringed instrument this time was because it caused too much of a commotion.

“Giving them a lesson would be fine, but now even the city lord’s mansion has collapsed.”

It's really frustrating to have such a big name.

If it's just to send it to the Lord of Rose City to pay respects to his ancestors, then the arsonist kingdom is a trivial matter.

Nobles aren't immune to death; many nobles have died in wars in the past.

Moreover, that city lord was only temporarily brought to the forefront by the Xiongnu to serve as a shield.

Dying would reduce trouble, and any normal nobleman would make the right choice.

But the man is dead, and the city lord's mansion has collapsed; the commotion is too great to be kept secret.

Most importantly, Rose City is not far from the capital.

Most nobles didn't have the leisure to travel far to admire flowers and enjoy the scenery; Rose City's location was roughly equivalent to that of a secondary capital.

The news spread throughout the capital at the slightest sign of trouble.

Upon hearing this, Isogen slapped his forehead: "Oh right! I forgot."

After saying that, he stretched out his hand towards Daming, palm up, with a righteous and confident air.

"Give me money, but don't give me money for the demolition!"

“…Isogen-kun, isn’t this a bit inappropriate?” Daimyo said helplessly.

Crunch, crunch.

The finger joints made a slight cracking sound.

The sound wasn't loud, but it just drowned out the music inside the palace.

Daimyo changed the subject: "The truth that labor brings reward is an age-old truth. What you say makes sense, Mr. Isogen. I will have someone settle the accounts later, so please wait."

Isogen nodded in satisfaction.

The lord raised his glass and laughed loudly: "It is a great honor to meet you all, so many young talents, today! Let's raise our glasses, let the music play and the dance begin!"

……

The wind whistled, rustling the hem of my clothes.

Minato Namikaze, influenced by the atmosphere, drank a small cup and now looked rosy-cheeked. He looked at Isogen and started talking.

“Yu Ge, the Daimyo is, after all, the most esteemed person in the Land of Fire. It’s best to show him some respect.”

"Even if that doesn't work, the daimyo still controls the village's finances."

Feeling that he was still young and had only drunk some flammable fruit juice, Igarashi replied nonchalantly, "If you don't have money, just go to the national treasury and take it yourself. There's no money there."

Makes sense!

We know there's money there.

Kushina didn't really feel the respect for the daimyo; she was just curious and asked why Isogen seemed to know the daimyo quite well.

"A little bit of interaction in the industrial chain."

"That daimyo seems to be trying to persuade me to stop. What if he tells the village?" Kushina was quite worried about this.

Isogen looked puzzled: "I'm not a ninja, why should I listen to the village?"

"...Yes, that's me!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Lord Daimyo, why did you..." Below, a retainer of the Daimyo, a samurai with Jonin-level combat power, wore a humiliated expression.

On the stage, the daimyo of the Land of Fire gently fanned himself with a folding fan, his eyes expressionless. Instead of answering, he asked, "Do you know whose image I saw in Igogen-kun?"

The samurai shook his head.

"Uchiha Madara." The name, practically taboo, escaped the daimyo's lips.

The samurai was horrified: "How is this possible!"

Do you think you can defeat him?

The samurai remained silent.

Victory was a possibility that never existed from the beginning.

The keen senses honed through battles were a constant reminder to Isogen the moment he stepped into the palace.

The difference between them is so vast that it cannot be described using human terms.

He was already the most powerful single force protecting the Daimyo.

In a direct, head-on confrontation, those Onmyoji and priests who manipulate shikigami and talismans would be hastily killed by him.

“He’s not a true ninja, nor an ordinary commoner, and he wouldn’t look down on noble bloodlines.” The daimyo sighed softly, raised his head slightly, and slowly closed his eyes.

"He is a complete madman."

The ninja world is already accustomed to the existing system. The only difference between the current ninja world and the past is that a few new nobles have been added and a few electrical appliances have been installed.

The sun and moon may revolve countless times, but the ninja world remains the same.

However, the fifty strings defied the existing rules.

He didn't care what anyone thought.

He could indiscriminately attack nobles at any time, bringing death upon them.

Is it feasible to kill him before he fully matures?

The daimyo once asked this question.

The result was the Great Onmyoji's reply after a long silence.

"Lord Daimyo." At some point, the Grand Onmyoji of the Onmyo Bureau quietly arrived, his eyes still filled with fear, unease, and bewilderment at the Daimyo's skills.

"The divination results remain the same; no one can see the hexagram for that person."

After a long while, the daimyo of the Land of Fire seemed to be relieved yet helpless, and let out a long sigh.

He, the daimyo of the Land of Fire, believed in destiny...

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Chapter 117 A Clear Shot

Wu Shigen never lets a matter linger overnight.

The previous slow pace of travel was merely to allow the nobles to gather more fighting power; now that everyone is present, the nobles are no longer of any use.

Arriving brazenly atop a noble mansion, Wuxian, with a thought, summoned the Tenjaku shikigami hidden in the shadows, which transformed into a deadly demon and silently intruded into the mansion.

Then he looked at the group of people who were eager to try.

"Clean it up."

Inuzuka Satoru and Sarutobi Shikatoka led the charge, howling and charging forward.

Not one hesitated. On their way here, they had witnessed firsthand the plight of commoners struggling to survive under the oppressive power of the nobility.

They rarely lingered there before, because ninjas needed to be quick, and the ordinary life of Konoha Village was a beautiful sight in the ninja world.

Those who accept offerings should assume the responsibilities that come with them.

This is what Fifty Strings said when he wiped out a noble family.

They wholeheartedly agreed.

For example, when Yu Ge of the Fifty Strings personally 'instructed' them, he felt pain all over his body, worked hard and was tired, but the benefits were real.

With guidance in cultivation, one's strength will increase.

Give money directly, and your wealth will grow.

To put it bluntly, how do you get the audacity to compare someone who spends 3,000 yen to someone who spends 300,000 yen?

Is that all the other party is worth?

Then the work you made them do should be worth that price!

Today is destined to be a tragic day for the nobles of the Land of Fire.

It is undeniable that nobles possess a great deal of power, but a large portion of that power is intangible, such as political influence.

This largely depends on the daimyo's will, but the current daimyo...

Anyway, Ichigen thinks his current name is pretty good, very nice.

The strongest person he could acquire through wealth and employment was Kakuzu, and now Kakuzu is his subordinate.

What will be the future of microorganisms?

Indeed, the Akatsuki organization will also work for others for money in the future, especially Iwagakure Village, where that dwarf Onoki loves to hire mercenaries.

But while he may make money, Nagato wouldn't show his face for such a small profit.

Sakumo Hatake stood on high ground, his sharp eyes warily observing every move around him.

He had no objection to the operation.

As you can see, not long ago even prominent figures subtly expressed their moral support for their actions.

Now we have both the strength and the legitimacy.