Naruto Birdcage

"Has he arrived?"

The curtain of the carriage was lifted, revealing a middle-aged man dressed in luxurious attire radiating nobility.

This was an opulent procession, with several hundred attendants in tow.

Surrounding the most extravagant carriage were twelve individuals dressed as shinobi, each with a cloth bearing the kanji "Fire" tied around their waists.

The middle-aged man stepped down from the carriage, using a footstool to alight, and looked at the gates of Konoha before him.

Compared to ordinary towns, it indeed exuded a grandeur of its own.

"Lord Minamoto."

The Third Hokage, accompanied by a group of shinobi, had been waiting at the gate.

Upon seeing the middle-aged man, Hiruzen immediately stepped forward to greet him.

"Third Hokage, it's been a while," the man said with a faint smile.

"The Daimyo personally visiting Konoha brings us great honor," Hiruzen replied respectfully.

This middle-aged man was none other than the current Daimyo of the Land of Fire.

The news of the Daimyo's visit to Konoha took Hiruzen by surprise, but he quickly prepared to welcome him.

"No need for such formalities," Lord Minamoto said with a wave of his hand, holding a folding fan.

He turned to the entourage that had accompanied him and said,

"Konoha's finances are tight, so there's no need to host all of you. Go rest at the nearby town."

This remark left Hiruzen feeling a bit awkward.

Apart from the Twelve Guardian Ninja, the rest of the entourage promptly altered their course and departed the area.

"Come now, Third Hokage, you must give me a proper tour of Konoha," Lord Minamoto continued.

"Of course," Hiruzen replied courteously.

The news of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire visiting Konoha quickly spread throughout the village, sparking curiosity and speculation among many.

Why would someone as esteemed as the Daimyo visit a remote place like Konoha?

He claimed it was to pay respects to the heroes who had sacrificed their lives for the nation, but such an event was unprecedented.

For most of Konoha's clans, the Daimyo remained a distant and untouchable figure, a monarch presiding over the vast Land of Fire and governing its affairs.

Few outside the Hokage and a small number of the village's upper echelon had the opportunity for direct interaction with him.

However, gaining the Daimyo's favor was undoubtedly beneficial for Konoha, especially during such a critical period.

At the Daimyo's request, the Third Hokage personally escorted him to the Memorial Stone.

Standing amidst the surrounding graves and gazing at the countless names engraved on the monument, Lord Minamoto seemed deeply moved.

He stood silently with his hands behind his back, his folding fan opening and closing intermittently.

"Third Hokage," he finally spoke.

"Lord Minamoto," Hiruzen responded.

"I've heard that during the war with the Iwa-nin, Konoha initially held the upper hand," Lord Minamoto said.

Hiruzen was startled by the remark, a sense of unease creeping over him.

He could only reply cautiously,

"Lord Minamoto must understand that the tide of battle shifts constantly.

A temporary victory or defeat doesn't signify much."

"Is that so?" Lord Minamoto turned to look at Hiruzen, a faint, inscrutable smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Yet, I've heard that Konoha has suffered repeated defeats because of the actions of an internal traitor," he added.

Hiruzen could no longer sense any goodwill in the Daimyo's tone.

Forcing himself to remain composed, he replied,

"Lord Minamoto, your insight is truly unparalleled."

Lord Minamoto pressed further,

"Third Hokage, tell me, if those who sacrificed their lives knew they died because of this, how do you think they would feel? And who should bear this responsibility?"

Hiruzen's heart sank.

After a moment of contemplation, he responded,

"It is due to my failure to govern effectively, so the responsibility lies with me. Once we have repelled Kirigakure, I will step down as Hokage. At that time, I will accept whatever punishment Lord Minamoto deems appropriate."

Lord Minamoto observed Hiruzen taking all the blame upon himself.

After a pause, he suddenly laughed and said,

"Third Hokage, you are far too harsh on yourself. The occurrence of a traitor is something no one wants to see. How could we punish ourselves for the enemy's schemes? That would only play into their hands."

"Konoha still needs your leadership, and the war with Kirigakure depends on you, Third Hokage."

"Thank you for your understanding, Lord Minamoto," Hiruzen said, bowing.

Lord Minamoto stepped closer to Hiruzen, his face still wearing a kindly smile.

"However, the matter of the traitor must be resolved as soon as possible.

If it continues to impact the war with Kirigakure, the consequences would indeed be unforgivable."

"Rest assured, Lord Minamoto. We are conducting a thorough investigation into the traitor," Hiruzen replied.

"That is good to hear," Lord Minamoto said, nodding in satisfaction.

He stood there, surveying the scenery around him.

The expanse of graves was surrounded by dense, lush forests, and looking further back through the red torii gate led to Konoha's main thoroughfare.

"Third Hokage, I've decided to stay in Konoha for a few days. What do you think?"

"Lord Minamoto, you jest. Konoha is under your rule, and you are welcome to stay as long as you please. There's no need to seek my opinion. My only concern is that our humble village might not befit someone of your stature."

"Haha, it's settled, then," Lord Minamoto replied with a laugh.

The arrival of this "Great Buddha" in Konoha left Hiruzen filled with intense unease.

He couldn't fathom why the Daimyo would leave his state affairs behind to visit this small village.

Yet, Hiruzen dared not show even a hint of neglect.

After all, the ongoing war with Kirigakure relied heavily on Lord Minamoto's logistical support from the rear.

As for the matter of the traitor, Hiruzen still had little to go on.

What he could ascertain was that this individual held a position of considerable influence within the village, and all traces of their actions had been meticulously concealed, leaving him at a loss.

He had mentally gone over the names of high-ranking individuals in the village countless times, placing and removing certain names from his list of suspects as his suspicions ebbed and flowed.

Some had privately hinted to Hiruzen about who might be involved in the matter, but without concrete evidence, he was unwilling to believe it.

Now that even the Daimyo had come to apply pressure regarding this issue, Hiruzen knew he had to produce results quickly.

News arrived from the front lines: Minato's unit had encountered Kirigakure forces. However, it was only a small detachment, which they easily defeated.

Minato took the initiative to lead a team in search of the enemy, but the Kirigakure ninja played a game of cat and mouse, deliberately avoiding direct confrontation with Konoha.

Unlike Iwagakure, Kirigakure had the ocean at its back, which prevented Minato's forces from pursuing them deeply.

The conflict devolved into a game of hide-and-seek along Konoha's borders.

While the Kirigakure ninja continued to evade them, they weren't without their dangers.

The infamous Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist caused significant trouble for the Konoha shinobi.

Minato had tried numerous times to confront them, but they always slipped away.

Ordinary squads fared much worse when facing these seven.

They were no match for the legendary group.

This situation left Minato feeling frustrated, as though his strength was being wasted.

He sent a letter back to the village, stating his intention to establish a temporary base at the border and requesting support from Konoha.

The letter reached the Daimyo, and Lord Minamoto didn't hesitate to immediately dispatch his ministers to prepare the necessary supplies.

This made Hiruzen feel a bit sentimental.

Perhaps the Daimyo's visit was a blessing in disguise.

Previously, when requesting resources, he always felt hesitant to ask directly in his letters.

Now, he could explain the situation to the Daimyo face-to-face.

The Daimyo did not involve himself in Hiruzen's command of the war or the internal affairs of the village.

In Konoha, he merely played the roles of a financier and a figurehead.

However, when bored, he would occasionally summon theater troupes, geisha, and dancers into the village.

Sometimes, he even invited Hiruzen to join him in enjoying these performances of singing and dancing.

At such times, Hiruzen couldn't help but sigh at the decadence of the ruling class.

What a life.

---------------

End of chapter

Exclusive access : All novel on paetron

Genshin impact 270+ch, Naruto birdcage 180+ch, Overlord Complete novel

From the apocalypse 100+ch, Fairy tail Destiny 10+ch

Join now : patreon*com/DeCakraWnloverz

Check out newest novel : Naruto Birdcage, Fairy tail Destiny