A Brewing Conflict in the Land of Wind
At the same time.
In the Land of Wind.
Within the grand hall of the Daimyō's palace, the ruler of the Land of Wind sat behind an ornate silk curtain, his presence concealed. On either side, his closest advisors and strategists knelt in silence.
"The latest intelligence reports that Master Chiriku of the Fire Temple is traveling to the Hot Water Temple to engage in a Buddhist discourse," the Daimyō's deep voice resonated through the chamber. "What do you make of this?"
An elderly advisor, Gongji, positioned at the front, furrowed his brows in contemplation before speaking.
"This situation is concerning, Your Excellency," Gongji said gravely. "At first glance, it appears to be nothing more than a religious exchange. However, in reality, it is the Land of Fire extending an olive branch to the Land of Hot Water."
The Daimyō raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "How so, Gongji?"
Gongji stroked his beard, his gaze sharp. "To the common people, this may seem trivial, but to the devout Buddhists scattered across the ninja world, it is a momentous event. They will gather en masse, driven by their faith. And where people gather, commerce thrives. If this debate is captivating enough, it could establish Yuno Temple as a major pilgrimage site for years to come.
"With the Land of Fire providing even minor economic support, the Land of Hot Water will experience rapid growth. Once they taste the benefits, their allegiance may shift entirely to Fire Country."
The Daimyō sat in thoughtful silence before sighing. "I had not considered it in such depth. The bond between the Land of Fire and the Land of Hot Water is indeed strengthening." He exhaled heavily. "And to receive such ill news at the start of the day... Gongji, what do you propose?"
A subtle smirk played on Gongji's lips. He coughed lightly and straightened his posture. "Your Excellency, do you believe that the monks of Yuno Temple can match the wisdom of Master Chiriku?"
"Of course not," the Daimyō responded immediately. "Master Chiriku is unparalleled in his discipline."
"Then," Gongji said with a knowing smile, "I have a simple yet effective plan."
He rose, clasping his hands behind his back as he spoke. "If Yuno Temple suffers humiliation in the debate, their reputation will be in shambles. And then… we ensure that Master Chiriku never leaves the Land of Hot Water alive."
Silence fell over the chamber. Some of the younger advisors exchanged uneasy glances.
"But that's..." one of them finally spoke, fidgeting nervously. "It would be an obvious ploy. Anyone with discernment would see through such an attempt to frame Yuno Temple."
Several others murmured their agreement, emboldened by the young man's words.
Gongji, unfazed, chuckled softly. "That is precisely why we must be strategic. The truth hardly matters, gentlemen. Even the most absurd lie will find believers—especially among the fervently religious."
The Daimyō leaned forward. "Go on."
Gongji bowed slightly before continuing, his voice steady. "After Master Chiriku is eliminated, we spread two rumors:
1. The monks of Yuno Temple, envious of Chiriku's superior Buddhist practice, acted out of jealousy and had him assassinated.
2. The Land of Lightning, unwilling to see an alliance between the Land of Fire and the Land of Hot Water, orchestrated the assassination to sow discord between the two nations."
The chamber grew still as the weight of Gongji's words settled in.
"With only one rumor, skepticism may arise," Gongji elaborated. "But when presented with two conflicting rumors, people will instinctively choose the one that appears more plausible. Thus, we pit Fire and Lightning against one another, all while keeping the Land of Wind's hands clean."
The Daimyō erupted into laughter. "Hahaha! Excellent. Let them tear each other apart while we watch from the shadows." His tone shifted to command. "Jiafeng, go to Sunagakure immediately and post an S-rank mission."
"Wait," Gongji interjected, raising a hand. "It would be unwise to involve Sunagakure directly. Instead, we should issue the bounty through the underground network. Let rogue ninja handle the matter—no trail will lead back to us."
The Daimyō nodded approvingly. "Make the arrangements."
---
Shadows Behind the Throne
As the advisors departed the Daimyō's palace, a seasoned staff member caught up to Gongji.
"Master Gongji, was that… truly necessary?" he asked in a hushed tone.
Gongji halted, glancing around cautiously before smirking. "Ah, you mean to say I exaggerated the threat?"
The man hesitated before nodding.
Gongji clasped his hands behind his back, his expression unreadable. "My friend, you are well aware of the shifting tides. His Excellency has begun favoring younger advisors, and our influence wanes. If we do not create a crisis—one only we can solve—we may soon be discarded."
The other man fell silent, realization dawning on him.
"The younger generation is too idealistic," Gongji continued. "They lack the foresight to navigate politics. You saw how that young fool challenged me today? Soon, he will be a danger to us."
The advisor frowned. "So what do you suggest?"
A sinister glint flickered in Gongji's eyes. He leaned in and whispered, "Inform Sunagakure that the young man is guilty of corruption. Have their ninja 'investigate.' I will personally contribute 500 million ryō to their military funding once they provide the necessary… evidence."
The advisor's breath hitched.
Gongji patted his shoulder lightly before walking away. After a few steps, he paused and turned back.
"Oh, and one more thing," he added with a smile. "It doesn't matter if the evidence is real or fabricated—so long as it's convincing."
---
Arrival at the Fire Temple
Two days later, Minato Namikaze and his team arrived at the entrance of the Fire Temple.
A young monk sweeping the courtyard noticed them and pressed his hands together in greeting. "You must be the Konoha shinobi assigned to this mission?"
Minato nodded and retrieved the mission scroll. "Yes, here is our documentation."
The monk inspected it briefly before returning it with a nod. "Master Chiriku is in the meditation hall. Please, follow me."
The team followed the novice monk through the temple grounds to the rear courtyard, where Chiriku sat in deep meditation.
Suddenly, Chiriku's eyes snapped open, his brows furrowing. He muttered to himself, "Such overwhelming malice…"
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Master Chiriku, the Konoha shinobi have arrived," the monk announced.
"Let them in."
Minato entered first, bowing respectfully. "It is an honor to meet you, Master Chiriku."
Chiriku smiled warmly, pressing his palms together. "No need for formalities. I must thank you for undertaking this journey."
"It is our duty."
"You may rest here for the night," Chiriku said. "We will depart at dawn."
"Understood."
Chiriku's gaze then fell upon Uchiha Tunan, and a glint of curiosity flickered in his eyes. Reaching into his robes, he pulled out a small, aged scroll and handed it to the young Uchiha.
"You, the one with glasses," Chiriku said. "I have a Buddhist scripture for you. If you wish, you may read it. It may bring clarity to the soul."
Uchiha Tunan accepted the scroll respectfully, mimicking Chiriku's gesture. "Thank you, Master. I will study it carefully."
But inwardly, Tunan's thoughts churned.
Another Kushina? What exactly does this old monk see in me?