"Did Father have a falling out with Elder Danzo?"
In a courtyard located in the central area of the capital, a portly young noble was asking excitedly.
"Yes, Lord Kawahara."
Standing in front of the Daimyo's son was a man wearing a hannya mask.
His voice was muffled, sounding like that of a middle-aged man.
The "Lord Kawahara" he referred to was the third son of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire—
Enichigawa.
As a commoner by birth, he originally had no chance of inheriting the Daimyo's position.
Moreover, due to his dissolute character, lack of education, and unattractive, portly appearance, he did not win his father's favor.
Five days ago, he even angered the Daimyo by insulting one of his father's consorts.
The Daimyo, in a fit of rage, threatened to break this man's legs.
However, considering that the consort was just a commoner,
the Daimyo had the woman executed and then placed this son under house arrest.
As a result, the most likely future for this third son was that, upon reaching adulthood, he would go to his fief as a noble.
And because his father did not like him, his fief would most likely be in the remote and impoverished northern region of the Land of Fire.
This was a region that had just suffered a devastating war, with most households left in ruins.
It was in need of nobles who were not favored by the Daimyo to fill the void.
Such an outcome was clearly not what the third son wanted.
Fortunately, at this moment of disappointment, the man wearing a hannya mask appeared before him.
He claimed to be a descendant of the Forest Country.
This Forest Country was a small nation in the ninja world.
It had once angered the current Daimyo and was annihilated by Konoha ninjas sent by him.
Therefore, after undergoing rigorous training and hardships, the descendants of Forest Country formed the current Hannya Group.
They had come to seek revenge on the Daimyo and Konoha!
The method of revenge was assassination.
As for the targets,
one was the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.
The other was naturally the newly appointed Hokage of Konoha, Minato Namikaze, and the elder Shimura Danzo.
Coincidentally, Enichigawa, who harbored resentment towards his father and aspired to ascend to the position of Daimyo, hit it off with them and planned a conspiracy.
"Since that's the case, let's proceed according to the plan," Enichigawa said, his eyes filled with a terrifying intent to kill.
"I will bring you into the city. As for what happens next, it depends on your strength."
The man with the Hannya mask bowed his head and said, "Yes."
Soon, the man arrived at the forest outside the city.
There, hidden among the trees, was a group of assassins, all wearing Hannya masks, numbering about thirty.
"How is the situation?" asked the leader of the Hannya Group, a woman, with urgency.
The messenger nodded to her, saying, "Everything is going according to plan. I have obtained the token from the third son."
Hearing the name of the third son, the female leader of the Hannya Group's eyes flickered with disgust.
"After we succeed, let's kill that fat man too," she said, then quickly stood up.
"Everyone, get ready. Whether we can avenge the destruction of our country depends on tonight," she declared.
All the members stood up, disguised themselves using transformation jutsu, and successfully entered the capital with the token.
Once inside the city, these Hannya-masked assassins immediately demonstrated their ninja skills.
They moved like ghosts through the streets and houses.
Even when they encountered patrolling guards, they swiftly and cleanly dispatched them.
They were like flying night demons emerging from the darkness...
Watching the group approaching the Tenshukaku, the middle-aged member of the Hannya Group at the back of the group's eyes glowed with a faint crimson light.
"Lord Daimyo, the show is about to begin," he murmured.
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The shrill sound of an explosion shattered the silence of the night.
The powerful blast from the explosive tags tore apart the walls of the Tenshukaku.
The soaring flames acted like a torch, illuminating the thick clouds in the sky.
Figures resembling night demons flashed through the darkness, entering the Tenshukaku through the gap created by the explosion.
These terrifying night demons swiftly killed one warrior after another.
It wasn't that the Hannya Group from the Forest Country didn't want to act covertly.
It was just that the Tenshukaku, being the center of the capital and the location of many nobles, had such a high density of guards that they had no choice but to use this forceful method to break through.
————————
Meanwhile, the Daimyo's residence, which had been filled with song and dance, was interrupted by the sudden explosion.
"What is going on?" the Daimyo, seated above, looked quite furious.
He had just barely managed to escape the anger brought on by Danzo.
He was about to enjoy some music, watch a dance, and have a little drink.
The event had just reached its most crucial moment when it was interrupted. Who wouldn't be angry?
Seemingly sensing the Daimyo's anger, the two dancing girls straddling his lap quickly threw themselves to the ground to apologize.
They were afraid that the Daimyo, in his rage, might kill them as well.
Fortunately, a messenger rushed in from outside and said something that completely dissipated the Daimyo's anger.
"Lord Daimyo, a group of ninja wearing hannya masks, claiming to be descendants of the Forest Country, have broken in!"
This sentence made the Daimyo's face turn pale instantly, and his legs trembled.
"Forest Country?"
Clearly, he had not forgotten the small country that he had ordered to be destroyed.
But it was Konoha that had carried out the destruction, not me!
Why are they attacking me?
The Daimyo's face turned a bit panicked, and he suddenly remembered something and asked anxiously:
"What about the guards? Where are the samurai that I paid a fortune for?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the servant who came to report immediately had a bitter expression on his face.
"Lord Daimyo, those good-for-nothings are no match for the Hannya Group!"
"They are all ninja, incredibly powerful, and the samurai are no match for them!"
"Many of the nobles inside the Tenshukaku have already been killed."
"You should leave quickly, or they will soon be here."
This sentence made the Daimyo's face extremely ugly, and his legs couldn't stop trembling.
"Ninja, those damn ninja again!"
At this moment, the Daimyo was both terrified and furious.
He was terrified because his life was threatened.
He was furious because these damn ninja dared to attack the noble Daimyo!
Aren't they afraid of being hunted down by the Five Great Nations?!
But now, the only option left before him was one.
"Hurry up and invite Elder Danzo from Konoha!"
At this moment, the Daimyo finally remembered Konoha.
Unfortunately, before the servant could run out of the Tenshukaku, a flash of snow-white blade light emerged from the night.
With one strike, the servant was beheaded, and after running two steps forward due to inertia, he collapsed to the ground.
Seeing this, the Daimyo's face immediately showed a look of despair.
But soon, it turned into disbelief.
Because among the Hannya Group, a portly figure emerged.
It was his third son, Enichigawa!
"Enichigawa, what are you doing?!"
The Daimyo's eyes were bloodshot, as if flames were about to burst out.
Enichigawa, who was being questioned, had a contemptuous smile on his face and patted his round belly, saying:
"My esteemed father, haven't you realized yet?"
He grinned, his facial fat all bunched together.
"These guys are the killers I hired."
"And the target I want to kill is you, Father!"
A trace of madness flickered in Enichigawa's eyes.
"Oh, and you're so fond of Enichihyou, aren't you?"
"Don't worry, I won't let him off either!"
Enichigawa's words plunged the Daimyo into complete despair.
But he still tried to persuade him, saying:
"Kawa, if you put down your weapon now, I can pardon your crimes and make you the heir, how about that?"
Hearing this, Enichigawa burst into laughter.
"Pardon me?"
"My esteemed father, please understand clearly now, the one who is going to die is you!"
A ferocious look appeared on Enichigawa's face, and he waved his hand fiercely:
"Hannya Group, kill this old man for me!"
As soon as the words were spoken, the Hannya Group beside him did not move.
Enichigawa was about to scold them when he felt a pain in his abdomen.
He looked down and saw a snow-white blade tip protruding through his body!
"Die, fool."
The clear female voice of the Hannya Group's leader rang out.
As she twisted the blade, the third prince, who attempted treason, died in a pool of blood.
If they hadn't wanted the Daimyo to feel the pain of being betrayed by his son, the Hannya Group would have killed this man long ago.
After killing Enichigawa, the female leader shifted her gaze back to the Daimyo.
"Now, it's your turn, Lord Daimyo."
The Daimyo, sensing the killing intent, was so scared that he sat on the ground, pleading:
"Please, don't kill me!"
In response, the female leader's cold laughter echoed.
"That year, my father also pleaded with the Konoha ninja like this."
"But the Forest Country still perished."
"Your esteemed Lord Daimyo, do you think I will spare you just because you beg for mercy?"
The female leader dragged her sharp blade and walked closer step by step.
The sound of her footsteps was like a series of heavy hammers smashing into the Daimyo's chest.
The Daimyo was completely panicked.
Growing up in luxury, he had never felt so close to death.
"If you stop now, I can give you anything you want!"
"Anything!"
The Daimyo could only keep promising.
But the female leader remained unmoved.
Seeing this, the Daimyo had to give up the temptation and turn to threats.
"I am the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. If you kill me, Konoha will never let you..."
Before he could finish his sentence, the Hannya female leader swung her blade and pierced the Daimyo's shoulder!
"Ah!!"
A scream of agony rang out.
As the Hannya female leader twisted the long knife in her hand, the Daimyo's screams continued to rise and fall.
Hearing these screams of agony, many members of the Hannya Group felt a sense of relief.
Just as the female leader was about to deliver the final blow, a hoarse voice finally emerged.
"It's about time to stop."
A figure leaning on a cane slowly emerged from the shadows behind.