Uchiha's personal opinion

Kaguya's breathing grew increasingly rapid, her eyes filled with a bloodthirsty killing intent.

"Just bear with it a little longer..."

Hozuki Masahiko patted Kaguya on the shoulder and officially stepped into the former daimyo's main hall.

"Kigakure! You are utterly rude!"

Upon hearing the news, the dignified lord, sitting upright and surrounded by a group of old-fashioned elders, maintained a similar demeanor, yet gave off an extremely decadent and decaying feeling.

Even though the high-ranking officials were dressed in their court robes and stood tall, their pale faces and the beads of sweat and tears that kept dripping down their faces betrayed their state of mind.

The only person to stand up and "criticize" the Hidden Mist ninjas was the second-in-command in the Land of Water's aristocratic bureaucracy—Grand Minister Konoe Atsushi.

"By order of Lord Tokumitsu, we have come to investigate the tyranny of the Daimyo of the Land of Water!"

Overwhelmed with emotion, Hozuki Masahiko slowly pulled out a royal decree and looked directly at the daimyo seated high above.

"Your Majesty of the Lai clan, kneel and receive the imperial edict!"

Upon hearing this, Daming swayed uncontrollably.

Kaguya, who had been waiting impatiently, strode forward and, in front of a group of nobles and hatamoto, pulled the daimyo down from the high platform and forced him to kneel on the ground.

"I was thinking that Daimyo might be a celestial being, but I didn't expect him to be so weak and frail!"

Kaguya's voice echoed throughout the palace, and the nobles standing on either side dared not even raise their heads.

"...The tyranny of the lord and the incompetence of the nobles plunged the people of the Water Country into an abyss of depravity."

After taking a deep breath, Hozuki Masahiko began to slowly read out the contents of the imperial edict.

"However, the tyranny of the daimyo has not diminished, and the arrogance of the nobles has increased day by day, causing the affairs of the state to fall into disarray and the people to suffer!"

"The Shogunate, out of benevolence, could not bear the suffering of the people, and thus dispatched a divine army to punish injustice; since taking over the government, it has diligently sought good governance, consulted wise counsel, and sought out virtuous and wise men, so that the common people may live in peace and prosperity! However, the deep-seated resentment of the wicked daimyo and nobles is so profound that it cannot be washed away even by the whole world. In order to vent the hatred of generations, it hereby orders the wicked ruler to abdicate to comfort the people who died unjustly; if anyone disagrees..."

Hozuki Masahiko looked around and slowly uttered the last two words:

"Execute them all!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Daming fainted.

The high-ranking officials on both sides were so frightened that they all knelt down.

"Lord Deguang has ordered the arrest of the abdicated Lai family member, to be imprisoned in the Water Temple for meditation!"

The former daimyo then collapsed to the ground like a dead pig and was roughly carried away by two ninjas, while Hozuki Masahiko slowly stepped onto the high platform.

Aside from a group of Kirigakure ninja watching the spectacle, the only person remaining standing in the palace was the pale-faced Atsushi Konoe.

"By order of Lord Tokumitsu, you shall succeed the next daimyo!"

Kito Masahiko pointed at Konoe Atsushi and said.

"I?!"

Konoe Atsushi was dumbfounded.

Those officials who had knelt and begged for mercy suddenly felt a renewed hope for survival.

"You've met Lord Deguang several times, so you'll be the one to sit in this prestigious puppet position!"

Hozuki Masahiko then shouted at the dignitaries below the stage, "What! You're not convinced?!"

"I'm completely convinced!"

"That's exactly right!"

The spineless officials immediately bowed down, causing the Hidden Mist ninjas to burst into laughter.

"And this, tomorrow outside the palace gates, you will personally read it aloud in the name of the new daimyo, and you must read it word for word!"

Hozuki Masahiko then pulled out another imperial edict and handed it to Konoe Atsushi.

"A Declaration of Humanity..."

Before he could fully process what was happening, Konoe Atsushi read out the four large characters of the imperial edict.

Immediately, his heart sank into an abyss.

Although he did not open the edict to read it carefully, he had a premonition that after losing military power and political power, the last bit of mystery of the daimyo's origin from mythology would be completely stripped away!

"That's right, that's right!"

Hozuki Masahiko patted Konoe Atsushi's shoulder repeatedly, laughing heartily: "Isn't letting you insects continue to live the purpose of the Human Declaration!"

Chapter 404 Flying Sand Turns in the Wind

Just as Uchiha Tokumitsu was stationed in Fubo Castle in the Land of Whirlpools and issued the "Sword Abolishment Order," Rasa, far away in the Land of Wind, was trying his best to persuade the treacherous Elder Ebizo.

"Scorpion isn't that kind of person!"

With a livid face, Ebizo smashed five or six cups in a row, resolutely refusing Rasa's request to summon and interrogate his grand-nephew, Sasori, the genius puppeteer of Sunagakure.

"Then... may I ask, Elder, do you know exactly where Scorpion went after the Third Generation Lord entered the Devil's Desert?"

Although Luo Sha was displeased, he still patiently persuaded her, "Besides, this is just suspicion. As long as Scorpion is innocent, we can talk to him, find some evidence, and that will be the end of it. This way, it won't have any impact on Scorpion..."

"Who wrote this utterly ridiculous censorship report? The writing style doesn't seem to be from our Wind Kingdom at all!"

Ebizo snorted coldly, picked up the report that Rasa had delivered, flipped through it casually, and then condensed a wind-style chakra in his palm, instantly shredding it into scraps!

Luo Sha's expression instantly turned ugly.

He is the number one ninja of Sunagakure, bestowed the title of "Child of the Wind" by Uchiha Tokumitsu, the strongest ninja in the world! He is also the first commander of the joint anti-terrorism force, which has the strong support of the shogunate! Ebi Yuki is just an old man with nothing but some fame and supporters. His behavior shows that he doesn't respect me at all!

Luo Sha grew angrier the more he thought about it, and his fingers began to twitch involuntarily.

"What! You're not convinced?"

Ebizo slammed his cane down hard and demanded menacingly, "I'm asking you, who wrote this utterly absurd report!"

"It was sent by the Shadow Guard!"

Luo Sha decided to hold back one last time.

No rush, no anger... I'll deal with this old guy after I ascend to the position of Wind Shadow...

With this thought, Luo Sha's anger gradually subsided.

"You fart!"

The next second, with Ebizo's merciless rant, Rasa's defenses crumbled instantly.

"This is something those illiterate Shadow Guards couldn't possibly have written!"

With a wave of his hand, Ebizo unleashed a wind blade that cleaved the low table in front of Rasa in two. The shattered teacup on the ground splashed water onto Rasa's white robe.

"You dare to lie to me before you've even become the Kazekage!"

"What if you became the fourth generation? That would be terrible!"

"I still supported you despite the injustice! I summoned you back from afar! I even supported you in front of all the powerful factions! And this is how you repay me?!"

Ebizo's roar grew louder and louder, while Rasa's face grew darker and darker.

This makes it sound as if Rasa was able to run for the position of Fourth Kazekage because of his own generosity.

"Speak! Who fabricated this report?!"

Ebizo questioned him again.

"The report was issued by the Shadow Guard, but during the investigation, my deputy, the Uchiha from the Allied Forces..."

"Kill him!"

Before Rasa could finish speaking, Ebizo interrupted him.

"……What!"

Luo Sha could hardly believe his ears!

I already said, it's the Uchiha clan!

"He is Uchiha Shikiho! He is a ninja from the Uchiha clan! He is a member of the Uchiha Tokumitsu clan! Moreover, he was a criminal investigation instructor at the Konoha Police Preparatory School!"

Luo Sha didn't even know what kind of expression he should make at this moment.

"Kill him! Otherwise, I'll go and support Yekura!"

Ebizo's tone remained as stiff as iron.

"Elder...do you wish for the destruction of Sunagakure?"

Luo Sha was so angry he laughed.

He never expected that the Grand Elder, who was considered extremely calm by the Sand Village ninjas, would act so irrationally in this matter!

Ebizo stopped talking and just stared intently at Rasa.

"It's just an inspection and questioning. At worst, the Shadow Guards will just go through the motions! What impact can it have on Scorpion?"

Luo Sha took a deep breath and decided to endure it a little longer.

“All my family members have served the Sand Village loyally, and now only Sasori remains…”

Ebizo spoke again, his voice hoarse and choked with emotion: "He was just an innocent child."

Luo Sha didn't say anything more, but silently got up.

"That Uchiha... Uchiha Shihuo, right!"

Just as Rasa was about to leave, Ebizo's voice came from behind him: "If you don't take action, the patriots of Sunagakure will do it for you!"

"Then let's wait for the war to begin!"

Luo Sha uttered a vicious threat and slammed the door shut as he left.

"Lord Luo Sha..."

As soon as he stepped out of Ebizo's residence, two of Rasa's trusted men and a Kageshiro Jonin came to greet him.

Although they didn't hear anything due to the soundproof barrier inside the mansion, judging from Luo Sha's expression, they knew that the communication process and outcome were far from satisfactory.

"Stone Fire Lord..."

Rasa pondered for a moment, then said to his trusted confidant Uchiha Shihō, "When you return to the ninja army later, gather everyone and prepare!"