"Okay, since you want me to be the Hokage, then listen to me."
Ryosuke spoke in an unquestionable tone, "From now on, Konoha will no longer obey any orders from the Daimyo. The Land of Fire is not the Land of Fire of the Daimyo, but Konoha's Land of Fire!"
Hearing his words, everyone present pondered for a moment before nodding.
"Ryosuke, how do you plan to start?" Tsunade asked.
"It's very simple."
Ryosuke clapped his hands together.
"Wood release: Wood Clone Technique!"
Boom!
Another Ryosuke appeared beside him.
"Go, bring the Daimyo under control, and eliminate anyone who resists. If the Daimyo is willing to be Konoha's obedient dog, let him live. If not, just support one of his sons or daughters in his place."
Ryosuke ordered his Wood Clone.
The clone nodded and disappeared from the Hokage's office in an instant.
The room fell silent.
This is your way?
So direct?
But given Ryosuke's strength...
It did seem like the simplest approach.
If it were anyone else, even a strong Kage-level ninja—they wouldn't dare to do this.
After all, capturing the Daimyo was easy.
But dealing with the political fallout?
That was another matter entirely.
"Alright, the Daimyo issue is settled. What's next?" Ryosuke asked, completely indifferent.
A mere Daimyo, just an ant, wasn't worth his concern.
A single Wood Clone was enough to handle it.
"If we don't need to inform the Daimyo, things will be much simpler."
Shikaku said, "Since Tsunade-sama wants to conduct the Hokage handover in three days, we should begin preparations now."
"Yes, we should prepare in advance."
Hiashi nodded, while secretly reflecting on his son-in-law's boldness.
Ryosuke didn't even consider the Daimyo. He outright declared the Daimyo Konoha's dog.
This kind of thing...
Even the most aggressive Kage from Kumogakure still showed respect to the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning.
But Ryosuke, who always seemed mild and easygoing...
Once he got serious, his dominance left no room for debate.
Be a dog or die.
He wondered how the Daimyo would choose.
"Then, I guess I have nothing to do for now?" Ryosuke asked.
Tsunade nodded and said, "Alright, take it easy for the next three days. After that, go straight to the succession ceremony. Then, you'll officially be Konoha's Sixth Hokage!"
'Finally, I'll be free!'
Tsunade thought with relief.
"Fine, just let me know in three days."
Ryosuke nodded and disappeared from the office in an instant.
"Tsunade, what now?" Shikaku asked.
"Shikaku, spread the news. Let everyone know." Tsunade instructed seriously.
"Hiashi, you'll handle the succession ceremony."
Both Shikaku and Hiashi nodded.
"Jiraiya, you... Never mind. I'll just have Kakashi come later."
Tsunade was about to say something but changed her mind.
Jiraiya immediately looked offended.
"What? Tsunade, what do you mean? You think I can't handle it?" He protested.
Tsunade smirked and sais, "You're too unreliable."
She bluntly dismissed him, not giving Jiraiya any face at all.
Jiraiya: "…"
Damn it!
This is unbearable. I should run away from here. Jiraiya sulked.
He decided he'd find Naruto later and scold him over something, just to vent.
After all...
Against Tsunade, he never stood a chance. He'd been afraid of her since childhood.
...
The capital of the Land of Fire was the wealthiest city in the region.
At its center stood a grand estate built into the mountains—the Daimyo's official residence.
Every day, the Daimyo met with officials to discuss national affairs.
Of course, most of the time, he simply indulged in pleasure within his residence.
The Daimyo had nineteen wives.
Except for his original, overweight wife, the rest were stunning beauties.
Beyond that, he kept three hundred maids, six hundred servants, numerous samurai and ninja and a thousand soldiers to guard the mansion.
Even a Kage-level ninja would find infiltrating this place difficult.
This morning
After a routine meeting, the officials left.
The Daimyo summoned his dancers and enjoyed their performance while listening to a minister's report.
Then, q shadow loomed over the mansion.
Ryosuke's Wood Clone hovered above, eyes gleaming with the power of the Rinnegan.
With a single glance, the entire Daimyo's mansion froze. Everyone stopped moving.
Then, one by one, they knelt. It was as if they had just witnessed a god.
Inside the mansion
The Daimyo, just moments ago basking in pleasure, looked around in horror.
His servants, his guards—everyone was kneeling.
"What's going on?! Nauma! Nauma!"
He shouted for his most trusted guardian ninja. But there was no response.
Nauma was the strongest of his Guardian Ninjas—an Elite Jōnin.
Not Kage-level, but still powerful.
And yet… nothing.
"Nauma! Where are you?!"
The Daimyo's voice trembled.
"Stop shouting. He can't hear you." A calm voice echoed.
A figure appeared before the Daimyo.
The Daimyo's face drained of color. Terror gripped his chest.
"Who… who are you?!"
His voice shook as he scrambled backward.
The Wood Clone looked at him coldly and said, "Daimyo-san, I have only one thing to inform you. From now on, the Daimyo Mansion will submit to Konoha. You, the daimyo of the Land of Fire, will be nothing more than a loyal dog to Konoha's Hokage."
"What? You're Konoha's ninja? You bastard!!"
When the daimyo heard this, he immediately stood up and cursed.
"Oh~! It seems that you don't want to be a dog."
The Wood Clone nodded, then continued plainly, "Alright then, since you don't want to be a dog, I'll just find someone else."
"Let's see what heirs you have."
As he spoke, the Wood Clone raised his arm, and a red portal opened in front of him.
One by one, figures with vacant expressions walked out.
"What?!"
The daimyo stared in disbelief.
The ones who had emerged from the red portal were all his children.
The eldest was in their twenties. The youngest was only six or seven years old.
"Bastard, what do you want? Let them go!!" The daimyo roared furiously.
But he was too afraid to step closer to the Wood Clone.
"Heh~! Incompetent and furious."
The Wood Clone sneered, then pointed at the daimyo's children and said, "Daimyo-san, since you don't want to be a dog, then I can only choose one of your children. Which one do you think is most suitable?"
The daimyo glared at him and asked, "What the hell are you trying to do? Where's Konoha's Hokage? Where's Tsunade? Did she send you?"
"Oh~! Didn't I introduce myself?"
The Wood Clone slapped his forehead, then said, "Sorry! My mistake. Please allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Ryosuke, Konoha Elite Jōnin, and soon-to-be Sixth Hokage.
"Of course, to be precise, I'm a clone of him. The main body sent me here to deal with you."
Ryosuke?
The daimyo had heard that name before.
Many people had mentioned this man's feats, calling him the strongest ninja in the world.
An invincible warrior!
"You... you're Ryosuke?!"
The daimyo broke into a cold sweat. And this man also claimed to be Konoha's next Hokage.
So Konoha is going to rebel?
"Rebel? No, no, no. To be precise, the nature of our relationship is about to change."
Wood Clone shook his head.
What?
How did this guy know what I was thinking?!
"I didn't know. I just guessed."
Wood Clone smirked.
The daimyo's eyes widened.
You don't know?
Who are you fooling?!
"Alright, enough chit-chat. Make your choice."
Wood Clone folded his arms.
"No, I won't choose!"
The daimyo gritted his teeth.
"You won't choose? Then let them choose for themselves."
The Wood Clone shook his head and turned his gaze to the daimyo's children.
At that moment—
The daimyos' children, who had been in a daze, suddenly snapped back to reality.
"What's going on? Why am I here?"
"Father? What happened?"
"Brother, why are you here?"
"Sister, I'm scared!"
After regaining consciousness, the heirs looked around in confusion.
Then, upon spotting their father, they all began asking questions.
At this moment!
Clap! Clap!
The Wood Clone clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention.
"Alright, I have an announcement. This should be good news for you."
TheWood Clone said with a grin, "Your father, the Daimyo, is going to abdicate. He will pass the title to one of you. Who do you think is the most suitable to inherit it?"
What?!
The daimyo's children were stunned.
"Father, is this true?!"
"Father, are you really stepping down?"
"Father, I can do it!!"
Those with ambitions for the daimyo's seat grew restless.
Meanwhile, the daimyo's face darkened.
His children, who had always acted so filial, were now eager to see him abdicate at the first opportunity.
Ungrateful brats!
"Quiet!" The Wood Clone's voice echoed.
Under an invisible force, the room fell silent.
"Perhaps I forgot to mention… If one of you becomes the daimyo, you'll serve as Konoha's lackey from now on. You must obey every command from the Hokage. Can you do that?" The Wood Clone asked.
"What? Why?!"
"A mere Hokage is just a subordinate of the Daimyo Mansion! How dare you?!"
"You expect a daimyo to be a lackey? Bastard! Guards! Where are the guards?!"
The heirs cursed in anger. Some even tried to summon the guards. But no one answered.
"Hey~! Why are you all so disobedient?"
The Wood Clone sighed, then his expression turned cold.
Boom!
The loudest one exploded into a mist of blood.
Flesh and gore splattered everywhere—some even landed in others' mouths.
"AHHHHH!!!!"
"Killer!!!"
"Big brother!! Big brother is dead!!!"
The Wood Clone gazed at the terrified nobles.
After a moment, he spoke again, "Now then… does anyone still have a problem?"
They looked at the Wood Clone as if he were a demon. Frantically, they shook their heads.
The arrogance from earlier was gone.
"Good. Since there are no more issues… Who wants to be the daimyo?"
Daimyo?
The once-terrified children now had a different look in their eyes.
"Me! Pick me!"
A hand shot up as someone called out eagerly.
The Wood Clone turned to the speaker.
"Oh~! You want to be daimyo? Very well."