Amegakure;
The gloomy sky continuously released large droplets of rain.
White Zetsu emerged from the ground and looked toward Pain and Konan.
"What is it?"
Konan noticed him and asked.
"I've just received some intel."
White Zetsu reported truthfully, "Konoha intervened and ended the war in the Land of Fire. Shinho Aburame has temporarily assumed the position of daimyo."
The reason it was referred to as "temporary" was due to Shinho's reasoning— in theory, he would step down once a suitable successor was found.
"Daimyo?"
Konan's usually cold and elegant face showed a rare expression of surprise.
Even after the Akatsuki took over the Land of Rain, they hadn't appointed themselves as daimyo but had instead installed a puppet ruler.
"Truly bold."
Konan found herself unable to understand Shinho 's thought process.
Like the Akatsuki, he had deliberately placed himself in opposition to the shinobi world's system. But why?
She suddenly recalled a conversation she'd once had with Shinho.
When it came to peace in the shinobi world, he had a different path in mind.
Was this his way?
Did becoming a daimyo lead to peace?
But could a shinobi truly govern a country?
The Akatsuki had controlled the Land of Rain and Amegakure for years, yet it had still seen little improvement, despite vast amounts of funding they gathered.
"You may leave."
After White Zetsu left, Konan turned to Pain and asked, "What do you think?"
"In the face of these Rinnegan, it's all meaningless," Pain replied calmly. "We've rested long enough. Tomorrow, we will march on to Konoha."
Konan's expression trembled before she nodded lightly.
It had come to this, after all.
She knew that no matter what she said, Nagato wouldn't change his mind.
She could only hope that he would win.
No—
He would win.
Konan's gaze hardened with resolve.
…
Konoha, Hokage Assistant's Office.
"The Hokage became the daimyo?!"
Anko Mitarashi jumped to her feet in excitement.
"Why are you so worked up?"
Shizune flinched, slightly exasperated.
Anyone who had spent enough time with Anko understood her personality, that she was loud and exuberant.
She was so different from the cold and sinister demeanour one would expect from someone who had once been Orochimaru's apprentice.
Shizune often wondered if Anko was really his disciple at all, as she hardly seemed to fit the mold.
"If the Hokage becomes the daimyo, that makes us Grand Ministers!" Anko said with obvious pride.
The political system of the Land of Fire drew inspiration from ancient dynasties like those of the Sui and Tang.
The Grand Minister was effectively the prime minister, holding authority over all officials.
"..."
Shizune opened her mouth but didn't know what to say.
What Anko said made sense— but it was never going to happen.
The structure of Konoha and the Land of Fire was vastly different.
There was no way Shinho would make Anko the Grand Minister.
The most likely candidate was Nara Shikaku.
After all, he was exceptionally intelligent.
But Shizune decided not to crush Anko's dreams.
"Shizune, you knew about this already, didn't you?" Nara Shikaku asked, unable to contain his curiosity.
"Yes," Shizune admitted.
Nara Shikaku's jaw dropped in shock.
With his intellect, he quickly grasped the deeper implications.
From this day forward, the role of shinobi was bound to change.
He couldn't predict what kind of impact this change would have on Konoha.
Would the other villages unite to attack them?
Shikaku mulled it over and realized it was entirely possible.
If he were a daimyo, he wouldn't tolerate someone like Shinho either.
"Don't worry."
Shizune stood and said, "Shinho must have already considered the consequences of his actions."
"True."
Nara Shikaku nodded as he snapped back to reality.
"It just means we'll be busier from now on."
Shizune smiled. "Better prepare yourself."
"..."
Nara Shikaku's face stiffened.
If things kept going this way, his body might not hold up much longer.
"I'll be heading out. You two carry on," Shizune said as she excused herself.
Although she held the role of Hokage's assistant, her primary duties were as the head of the administrative and financial departments. She only stopped by this office occasionally.
The actual day-to-day operations were managed by Shikaku and Anko.
Most of Mikoto's attention was focused on managing the Uchiha clan.
Shizune left the Hokage's assistant office but suddenly stopped in the hallway.
Standing at the door of the Hokage's office was Uzuki Yugao.
This usually meant that Shinho was inside.
He's already back?
Shizune was surprised.
She thought Shinho would be delayed for several days. After all, the Land of Fire was much larger than Konoha and came with far more complicated affairs.
"Is Shinho back?" Shizune walked up and asked.
"He just returned," Uzuki Yugao replied.
Shizune nodded slightly and raised her hand to knock on the door.
"Come in."
Shinho set down his pen and looked toward the door.
As it opened, the familiar sight of high heels and black stocking-clad legs came into view.
"Shinho."
Shizune closed the door behind her and asked with some concern, "Is it really okay for you to return so early? Won't something happen in the Land of Fire?"
"With the Uchiha shinobi stationed there, no one can cause much trouble," Shinho said with a smile. "Don't give them too much credit."
Shizune's expression became slightly strange.
Daimyos and nobles had always been high and mighty, they summoned and dismissed shinobi as they pleased, rarely showing any respect.
Only Shinho would dare speak of them like this.
"They might not even be as good as dogs," Shinho said seriously.
"Such foul language!" Shizune glared at him.
"Hey, It's not like it's easy to become Konoha's dog," Shinho said, completely straight-faced.
"You're getting more and more outrageous."
Shizune noticed the documents on the desk and asked, "What are you working on?"
"Reforms for the Land of Fire," Shinho replied casually.
"It looks similar to Konoha's structure," Shizune observed, somewhat surprised.
"This is what's called 'seeing the big picture from the small details,'" Shinho paused and continued, "And after all, this is a world of shinobi, strength reigns supreme."
Shizune was momentarily speechles but understood his underlying reasoning.
No matter how chaotic the Land of Fire became, they were just ordinary people who couldn't pose any real threat.
Take the recent turmoil caused by the three generals for example. Shinho, accompanied by the Uchiha clan, resolved it in less than a day.
For governing the Land of Fire, any issue that arose could be handled with the overwhelming strength of shinobi as a safeguard.
Shizune felt dazed.
This logic sounded simple, but very few shinobi had truly grasped it, even the "God of Shinobi," Senju Hashirama, who had ended the Warring States period.
"Besides Kakashi-sensei, is there anyone else in the village skilled in Earth Release?" Shinho asked, changing the subject. "Yamato," Shizune replied after a moment of thought.
"Then let Kakashi-sensei handle it."
Shinho pondered for a moment before instructing, "Have the Anbu notify him to lead the Earth Release shinobi in road construction."
"Road construction?"
Shizune hadn't expected such an assignment.
"The number of trains and airships at the moment is limited, and they're more suited for long-distance travel," Shinho explained. "For shorter distances, ordinary roads are still necessary."
With their ability to manipulate the terrain, Earth Release shinobi could level the ground effortlessly, road construction was a simple task for them.
"This time, it covers the entire Land of Fire," Shinho added.
In his plan to develop the Land of Fire, he was following a similar strategy to Konoha, prioritizing the establishment of the Department of Commerce and the Department of Transportation.
Thanks to the Sharingan's ability to stabilize internal affairs, there was no need to worry about sabotage.
Of course, there were differences between the Land of Fire and Konoha.
Take the Department of Commerce, for example.
In Konoha, they could directly manage everything. But in the Land of Fire, they needed to integrate the various industries, set regulations, and more.
After all, commerce in a feudal society was often crude.
Many businesses survived solely due to their connections with nobles rather than fair competition.
Moreover, several industries didn't even exist yet.
"I'll inform them immediately," Shizune nodded and hesitated for a few seconds before asking, "Will you be staying in Konoha or in the capital of the Land of Fire in the future?"
Shinho shared his earlier plans with her.
"I see."
Shizune sighed in relief.
She had been worried that Shinho would remain in the capital permanently after becoming daimyo.
It seemed that he intended for them all to move to the capital instead.
"Anything else you'd like me to do?" Shizune asked.
"Not for now."
Shinho waved his hand. "Let me finish writing the reforms for the Land of Fire first."
"You're working hard, Shinho."
Shizune's lips curled into a soft smile as she looked at him, a sense of pride swelling in her heart.
This was her man!
In the shinobi world, no one was more unconventional than him.
He was truly different—
And she loved that about him.
Shizune bent down and kissed his forehead before leaving.
Shinho couldn't help but smile.
…
The next day.
In a forest far from Konoha,
Konan stopped walking.
Before her was Nagato, whose legs had been crippled, surrounded by the Six Paths of Pain.
Nagato's legs had been destroyed by Hanzo, the former leader of Amegakure.
Additionally, Rinnegan's immense burden on his body had further weakened him.
Due to his inability to move freely, he had created the Six Paths of Pain.
"This is the spot," Nagato said. "This distance is perfect for me to control the Six Paths of Pain flawlessly."
"Understood."
Konan nodded lightly.
Her role was simple, to protect Nagato's true body.
"Go, Yahiko."
Nagato gazed at the Deva Path and murmured, "Our dream is finally within reach."
The Deva Path, created from Yahiko's corpse, held a position of unparalleled significance to him.
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