120 What Kind of Waste that You’re Protecting

After dealing with the samurai assassins, Simu and his group finally arrived at the capital of the Land of Fire.

At the city gates, a group of guards bearing the crest of the Kamizuki clan awaited their arrival.

"This journey wouldn't have been possible without your assistance, Simu-sama," said the clan's elderly butler, bowing respectfully.

Simu nodded slightly. "Just doing my job." 

After all, this mission came with an S-rank reward.

The butler turned to Miss Haruko with a warm smile. "Miss, the master is waiting for you at home. Please head back quickly."

"I understand, Uncle Rei," Haruko replied with a polite bow.

She then turned to Simu and the others, bowing deeply. "Thank you all. Goodbye."

"Goodbye!" Obito and the others waved as Haruko and her entourage departed.

Once the Kamizuki clan left, Simu led Obito and his team toward the city gates.

Unexpectedly, they were stopped by the soldiers guarding the entrance.

"I'm sorry, but without a warrant from the Daimyo Mansion, no one is allowed to enter the capital," one of the fully armed soldiers said sternly.

Obito, pointing to the Konoha forehead protector he wore, argued, "We're ninjas from Konoha!"

Since Konoha is part of the Land of Fire, it didn't make sense for its citizens to be denied entry to the capital.

However, the soldier shook his head firmly. "Even Konoha's ninjas are not exception."

Simu, with his hands in his pockets, ignored the soldier's words and walked toward the city gates.

The soldiers quickly blocked his path. Just as Simu was about to act, a male voice interrupted.

"How dare you! This is Master Simu, Konoha's renowned Golden Flash!"

The man who spoke stepped forward, wearing a luxurious kimono. His sharp features and overly makeup demeanor made him stand out.

He was obviously a man, but his face was covered with rouge and makeup, making him look like a monkey.

"Get out of the way!"

This sissy's identity seems very unusual.

The soldiers immediately stepped aside, clearing the path without question, saving Simu the trouble of escalating the situation.

Simu nodded slightly to the sissy as a greeting.

Then he turned back to Rin and the others and said, "Let's go."

Now that he promised them to take a good stroll in the capital of the Fire Country, Simu will not break his promise.

The three followed Simu cautiously.

It has to be said that the prosperity here is indeed second to none in the entire ninja world.

Much better than Konoha.

The streets were bustling with activity, filled with people coming and going, and the shops offered an impressive variety of goods.

Here are the most beautiful clothes, the best food, and the most convenient service in the world.

The most important thing was the absence of worry or fear. 

The people here lived as though the Third Ninja World War didn't exist, their lives untouched by its shadow.

"It feels like the people here don't really welcome us," Obito muttered, his usual cheerfulness replaced by unease.

People passing by seem to be particularly concerned about the Konoha logo on their forehead protectors.

Kakashi seems to know more, and said coldly:

 "The relationship between the Fire Country Daimyo and Konoha hasn't been good recently."

"Because of the opening of the third ninja war, people here are required to provide enough supplies for Konoha, so it is normal to have some complaints against us ninjas."

Obito was puzzled when he heard this.

"But we're fighting for them! If it weren't for Konoha's ninjas, the other great nations would have already..." Obito trailed off as something unusual caught his attention.

The lively street suddenly fell silent.

All eyes turned toward the opposite side, and without hesitation, people dropped to their knees. They scrambled to the edges of the street, leaving the center path clear.

A heavy clanking noise echoed through the air as dark figures appeared in the distance.

"Are those... people?" Obito asked in disbelief, staring at the figures crawling on the ground like animals, chains rattling with every movement.

"To be precise, they're slaves," Simu clarified.

More than a dozen slaves lay sprawled on the ground, their necks bound by collars linked to the palanquin behind them.

A fat nobleman sat atop the palanquin, fanning himself lazily as he gazed down at Simu and the others with disdain.

Simu stood in the middle of the street, hands in his pockets, completely unbothered. His calm demeanor made him stand out even more.

"Konoha ninja, kneel before the noble! Don't get us all killed!" a trembling man nearby whispered urgently, his voice barely audible. 

The fear in his tone was clear—if the noble was displeased, everyone present could suffer.

Obito, Rin, and Kakashi were stunned, unaccustomed to such a scene. They looked to Simu for guidance, unsure how to act.

"Mr. Simu, should we kneel?" Rin asked hesitantly, her voice filled with uncertainty.

Kakashi's face remained unreadable, but his hand had already crept toward the Short Sword White Fang strapped to his back.

As for Obito, his expression was filled with defiance, his reluctance to submit plain for all to see.

"No need," Simu said calmly.

"I just want you to see the kind of trash Konoha is protecting." His voice was steady but loud enough for those nearby to hear.

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Even the noble on the palanquin caught every word.

"What did you just say, boy?" The noble shot to his feet, fuming. He pointed his paper fan at Simu and roared, 

"How dare you not kneel before me, your lord!"

But before he could finish his tirade, Simu's sharp gaze locked onto him.

A wave of immense pressure radiated from Simu, silencing the street in an instant. 

The force of his Conqueror's Haki swept through the area, causing the noble's guards to collapse where they stood.

The noble himself staggered, his fan slipping from his trembling hands. His knees buckled as he crumpled under the sheer weight of Simu's presence, powerless against the overwhelming aura.

The noble was so terrified that he rolled off the palanquin, landing awkwardly at Simu's feet.

A foul-smelling yellow puddle formed beneath him, and Simu glanced at him with clear disgust.

"Was there really a need for such a grand gesture?" Simu muttered sarcastically.

Turning to Kakashi and the others, he said, "You've bought everything you need. Let's go. No need to dirty your eyes here any longer."

With that, Simu led Kakashi, Rin, and Obito out of the capital of the Fire Country. No one dared to stop them.

Word of the incident reached the daimyo after they had left.

"Hanyu Simu... it seems he's becoming more and more arrogant," the daimyo remarked, his tone laced with annoyance.

The daimyo, an elderly man with long hair, wore a crown resembling a paper fan, adorned with flame patterns. 

He was the pinnacle of power in the Fire Country, holding both financial and political control.

Gathered below him were other nobles of the Fire Country, their expressions a mixture of concern and indignation.

"My lord, this Hanyu Simu isn't just insulting the nobles—he's insulting you!" 

"If a mere Jōnin from Konoha dares act this way, what would happen if the Hokage himself came? Would the entire capital be reduced to rubble?"

"We must restrict Konoha's military power! At this rate, people will only know Konoha and forget the authority of the Fire Country!"

The ministers continued their complaints, their voices blending into a heated chorus.

The daimyo understood their concerns. The problem wasn't ignorance—it was the lack of military strength.

While the daimyo controlled political and financial power, his available combat forces were meager. Samurai were competent, but ninja forces were scarce.

Suddenly, one of the ministers fell to his knees.

"Lord Daimyo, I humbly propose the establishment of a ninja army loyal solely to you!"

"Wouldn't this worsen our relationship with Konoha?"

The minister's tone grew serious. "My lord, the ongoing Third Ninja World War presents a golden opportunity."

He explained, "We can use our control over supplies—food, weapons, and resources—to pressure Konoha into aiding us in building a strong, loyal ninja force. Once the war ends, it won't be so easy to use supplies as leverage."

Since Senju Hashirama had introduced the system of one country, one village, such drastic measures hadn't been necessary—until now.

In large countries, financial and military power are often divided. The daimyo holds the financial power, while the military strength lies with the Kage. 

Over the years, both sides have tried to undermine each other's influence.

Konoha's strength, shown in the recent battle, had a significant impact on the entire ninja world, including the daimyo of the Fire Country. This left him increasingly worried about his position.

If he didn't build his own ninja army soon, with Konoha's growing power, he feared he might become irrelevant in the Land of Fire.

After much hesitation, the daimyo reluctantly agreed to the proposal.

"Prepare the ninja army as you suggested,"

"We'll call it the 'Guardian Ninja.'"

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TO BE CONTINUED

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