Chapter 13: Meeting with the Daimyo
After the Hokage Ceremony ended, it was time for meeting with the Daimyo.
Unlike much later on the Naruto series, where the Daimyo held enough power to interfere in the Hokage selection process, and going as far as forming his own 12 Guardian Ninjas with only one or two ninja from Konoha, right now, Daimyo is merely at the mercy of Konoha.
Every Samurais have been expelled from majority of the ninja villages. Well, the Fire Samurais were given the chance to join Konoha, but due to their stubbornness, they handed together with the samurais of other countries and went to the cold barren lands in the north.
Yet, many samurais' realised that they can't live on their samurai code alone in those barren lands.
Hatake clan once protected the Lightning Daimyo, and after finding the principles of Konoha the most ideal for Samurais to adjust to, they moved to Konoha. At this point of time, the Samurais still haven't found the chakra conductive iron deposits in the barren lands, so it isn't called the Land of Iron yet. They are currently barely surviving on the trees that First Hokage built for them when they decided that they don't want to join Konoha.
And, the entire Land of Fire is under the protection of Konoha. Even the security of the Daimyo and all nobles is under Konoha.
That's why, Daimyo can't act recklessly, or he might die in an accident and his relative who will be willing to listen to every demand from Konoha might become the next Daimyo.
First Hokage, while being soft, had immense strength that striked fear in everyone, with the cold face of Tobirama and the Sharingan of Madara in the background.
Second Hokage was the most ruthless Kage, who had no bottom line. Afterall, he literally revived people, sent them back to their camps, and exploded entire camps so viciously. For a man that was even doing experiments with his own brother's cells, Daimyo knew that he had no choice but to nod his head and agree to provide all the funds that Konoha needed in the war.
And now, it is the reign of Third Hokage. While he didn't know much about her, she is the niece of Madara and a student of Second Hokage.
As soon as she took office, she sent the smartest man in Konoha in terms of mind games and her teammate to 'guard him and escort him to Konoha, safely'.
Some foolish nobles who advised him to reduce the finding now that the war is over have had accidents, and were succeeded by their relatives.
Daimyo sat across the Third Hokage in her office, with a fan in front of his face to hide his nervousness.
Her Sharingan was constantly active, and he had to look at her in the eyes.
Afterall, Hokage is a 'subordinate' of the Daimyo, incharge of his military. No matter how scared he is, he has to look at her in the eyes.
"Daimyo-sama, I assure you that another Ninja War will not break out as long as I am alive."
"Yes, of course, Hokage-dono."
"Konoha has suffered many loses. I am planning to introduce a life insurance for all ninjas. So that the village will still be able to sufficiently provide for the protectors of Land of Fire."
"That's a good idea."
He doesn't have a clue what life insurance is.
"Chinoike clan will be joining Konoha soon. And since the war has ended, the population will increase. So, we will need to expand the village. How about increasing the radius of the village by three times?"
"That's a good idea."
He doesn't even know what a radius is!
"And the graduation age of the ninja academy will increase from 6 to 14 years. Afterall, not every kid has a clan to look after them, and jonins shouldn't have to teach basic things like walking on water."
"That seems practical."
She is planning to increase the military power beyond the clans!
"So, I think exempting Konoha from all taxes, and allowing Konoha itself to collect the taxes within the village will reduce the efforts Daimyo-sama has to put to do all the accounting."
...
"And, since we need to handle the insurance, we will need a bank. It will reduce our lord's worries. Afterall, Konoha exists to serve you."
Then what power he will have!?
If there is a Konoha bank, all the clans that keep their extra gold in his bank will put it in Konoha's bank.
Wouldn't this make Konoha totally independent of him?
Does she... want to take over the Land of Fire?
Madara had suggested doing it.
But she...
"... Hokage-dono, are you sure that another war will not erupt? Can you give me the guarantee? Then I will agree to your requests."
"Guarantee? Hmm, the war didn't erupt until First Hokage passed away. Because him sparring with Kazekage to build friendship between the first five ninja villages allowed the other Kages to see his sincerity.
Will me sparring with a Kage, give you the guarantee?"
During the first 5 Kage summit, Kazekage had been arrogant and demanded that Land of Fire to give Land of Wind some of its fertile land, and every village pay 30% of the money they are spending on buying the tailed beasts to him, since Sunagakure already had the One tails.
So, Tobirama had tricked Hashirama by telling him that friendship blossoms with sparring, like it did between Hashirama and Madara.
Hashirama believed the words of his smarter brother who didn't have a single friend, and since his sparring opponent was a fellow Kage, didn't look down on him.
He unleashed his second biggest Kaiju, the Wood Golem with a Wood Dragon connected to it.
Kazekage got tired by just trying to cut the golem with his wind style.
But, given that this was Hokage's second biggest Kaiju, of the same size as Madara's complete Susanoo, he striked immense fear in the hearts of all Kages.
They understood that the difference between Hokage and then is more than the difference between a Jonin and a genin.
While Akame's Susanno will not be the size of Madara at this time since her chakra reserves aren't at the peak yet, it will still be too big.
And with Susanoo, she can fly. If any village dares to attack Konoha, she will just fly to the attacking village and swing the sword at the attacking village directly.
Seeing Hokage's confidence, Daimyo nodded.
"Then please spar with Onoki."
Afterall, the Kages of Kiri, Kumo and Suna are kids. And Dust Release is something that can counter anything, if it hits.
"Alright."
Akame also wanted to test out the Yata Mirror.
According to her mother, when Madara defeated Mu and Onoki, the Uchiwa Gunbai could reflect even Dust Release. Afterall, it is made from a part of the Divine Tree, with ancient craftsmanship of the Sage of Six Paths himself. He had gifted it to Indra after making his decision to make Asura his successor.
Sadly, the Gunbai is taken by Madara, and she wanted to test the capabilities of the Yata Mirror against the most dangerous ninjutsu after Truth-Seeking Orbs.
And well, she wants the alliance with Iwagakure to remain strong.
Having a friendly spar between allies wouldn't hurt.