Konoha Only Keeps Konoha Safe

Doto:

"That's not true. Konoha keeps the Land of Fire safe."

Shimada didn't even bother looking up from his nails. He blew off some imaginary dust before responding with a slow, dismissive tone.

Shimada:

"Oh, sure. Safe. When war comes knocking, then you show up. When bandits attack, then you intervene. But that's all you ever do, isn't it? React. You don't prevent. You don't root out the real problems. And even then, your so-called 'protection' only extends to certain parts of the country."

His eyes flicked up, sharp and unimpressed.

Shimada:

"Let's not pretend. The only places truly safe in the Land of Fire are Konoha and the Daimyo's court. The rest of us? We get scraps. My father, a ruling lord, has—what? Twelve backwater ninja to protect him? Meanwhile, bandits keep popping up conveniently, over and over again."

He tapped his nail file on the table for emphasis.

Shimada:

"You should be ashamed. Even when you do help, it's a one-time thing. Bandits just lie low and move somewhere else, and the cycle repeats. And to top it off? We pay you for that so-called 'protection.'"

His smirk widened slightly.

Shimada:

"Konoha keeps Konoha safe. The rest of us? We're just paying for the illusion of security."

A heavy silence fell over the room.

Doto's fists clenched at his sides, his jaw tightening. Kotetsu glanced at him, then at Hakui, who remained silent but attentive. Izumo's expression was unreadable.

This was turning into more than just a simple investigation.

And Kotetsu had a sinking feeling they were about to uncover something much worse.

Shimada's smirk widened ever so slightly, his amusement barely concealed behind his lazy posture. He tilted his head, letting the silence drag for a few painful seconds before speaking.

Shimada:

"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue? You were so eager to defend Konoha a moment ago, yet now… nothing?"

Doto's expression didn't change, but there was a sharp glint in his eyes. He inhaled slowly before replying, voice measured.

Doto:

"The Land of Fire is vast and wealthy. It's impossible to send shinobi everywhere. We do what we can."

Shimada scoffed, tapping his nail file against the table with a slow, deliberate rhythm.

Shimada:

"Impossible? No. Inconvenient? Yes. You could station ninja not just at the borders but at every village. Raise taxes slightly—nothing the people couldn't afford—and have ninja actually live among them, providing real protection instead of this reactionary nonsense."

He let out an exaggerated sigh, feigning disappointment.

Shimada:

"But of course, that's not how Konoha works, is it? It's more profitable to sell a faulty product—let a few 'incidents' happen so people need your services. Keeps your importance high in the Daimyo's eyes, doesn't it?"

His gaze sharpened, his smug smile deepening.

Shimada:

"I understand the game. It's good business. But let's not pretend you're heroes when you're just another company looking to maximize profit."

Doto's jaw tightened.

Doto:

"We do our best."

The words left his mouth, but even he knew it was a weak response. And by the way Shimada's grin widened, he knew it too.

But something else had caught Doto's attention—something subtle in the way Shimada spoke. My father.

That phrase, said so naturally.

Doto's mind worked quickly, piecing it together. The Fire Daimyo had many children, but only a select few were in line for true political power. The rest? They lived comfortably, playing at business or politics, never truly in control.

So that meant—

Doto's expression shifted slightly, his tone adopting a calculated edge.

Doto:

"Lord Shimada."

Shimada's eyes narrowed, the grin fading just a fraction. He recognized the shift. Doto wasn't groveling—he wasn't even fully acknowledging him as a true noble. Just a child of the Daimyo. One without real power.

Doto knew the truth: Shimada was dangerous, not because he was powerful, but because he was spiteful. A single complaint from him, a whisper in the wrong ear, and Konoha's military budget could be cut.

But… it was also an opportunity.

If they handled this well, they could prove their worth—perhaps even increase their funding.

Doto straightened, adopting a more formal stance.

Doto:

"If these bandits are such an issue, I will personally track them down and deal with them. A sign of Konoha's commitment to the Land of Fire's safety."

Shimada gave a dismissive wave, rolling his eyes.

Shimada:

"No need. We've already hired missing-nin for the job."

Doto's brow furrowed.

Doto:

"Your father wouldn't approve of that."

The atmosphere in the room shifted. Shimada's eyes flashed with something darker—irritation.

Shimada:

"You don't know a damn thing about what my father would or wouldn't approve of."

His fingers drummed against the table before he leaned back, voice thick with condescension.

Shimada:

"But one thing I do know? My father would be very interested to hear how far Konoha has fallen. How the so-called 'greatest' shinobi village can't even protect its own nation from a handful of pesty bandits."

Doto held his gaze, but he knew they were losing ground.

Shimada turned to Goro, the lazy smirk back in place.

Shimada:

"You wouldn't mind if I used the missing-nin as bodyguards after this, would you?"

Goro barely glanced up from his game, his tone indifferent.

Goro:

"As long as they do their job and protect my business until I return home, you're free to use them however you want."

Shimada chuckled.

Shimada:

"Perfect."

Then, with an exaggerated flick of his gold fan, he waved toward the shinobi.

Shimada:

"Shoo. You've outlived your usefulness."

A muscle in Kotetsu's jaw twitched. Hakui's fingers curled into a fist. Izumo crossed his arms, exhaling sharply.

But they all knew—this wasn't a battle they could fight. Not here. Not now.

Without another word, the four turned and left, stepping out into the cool air of the night.

They had been dismissed. Insulted.

But this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

The four shinobi walked through the dimly lit streets, their footsteps barely making a sound. The tension from the encounter with Shimada still clung to them like a second skin.

Izumo let out a long, frustrated sigh, rubbing the back of his head.

Izumo:

"Well, that sucked."

He kicked a loose stone, sending it skidding across the dirt road.

"I swear, that arrogant, pudgy bastard has no idea what he's talking about. Sitting there in his silk robes, acting like he knows how the world works."

Hakui gave a tired nod, arms crossed.

Hakui:

"Agreed. But we can't do anything about him. Not unless you want to be labeled insubordinate for disrespecting a noble."

Izumo scoffed.

Izumo:

"A minor noble."

Hakui sighed.

Hakui:

"Doesn't matter. He still has connections, and he knows it. That makes him more dangerous than he looks."

Izumo muttered something under his breath, probably an insult, before turning to Doto.

Izumo:

"So what now? Do we just head back?"

Hakui opened her mouth to respond, but Doto shook his head.

Doto:

"That won't do. We need to stick around."

Izumo frowned.

Izumo:

"What for? We already lost that pissing contest. You really wanna spend more time around those smug assholes?"

Doto's expression was serious, his mind already working ahead.

Doto:

"It's not about them. It's about what comes next. Shimada and Goro are expecting another merchant shipment. If bandits hit the last one, there's a good chance they'll target this one too."

Hakui immediately saw the logic in that.

Hakui:

"And you want to be there when it happens."

Doto nodded.

Doto:

"More than that. We need to see who these 'missing-nin' are. Konoha has an obligation to track all ninja activity within our borders. If we let a hostile force get too comfortable here, it won't just be a security issue—it could be seen as allowing a faction to settle within the Land of Fire."

A shadow passed over his face.

Doto:

"That's the kind of thing that turns small conflicts into civil wars."

The weight of his words settled over them. Konoha was already balancing too many threats—rising tensions with the Uchiha, the fallout from the war, Danzo's ever-growing schemes. The last thing they needed was a rogue ninja faction setting up shop under their noses.

Hakui:

"And then there's Shimada himself."

Doto glanced at her.

Hakui:

"Noble or not, he's still a subject of the Daimyo. He can't just form his own military force within the country. If we let this slide, he might start thinking he can build his own little empire."

Doto gave a firm nod.

Doto:

"Exactly. So we wait, observe, and when the time comes, we make sure Konoha's interests are protected."

Izumo exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders.

Izumo:

"Great. More babysitting."

Kotetsu, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke, his voice lower than usual.

Kotetsu:

"It's not just about watching. It's about knowing when to act."

He glanced at Doto, then Hakui, his expression serious.

"If things start moving in the wrong direction, we make sure we're the ones pulling the strings—not them."

For a moment, the group stood in silence, each of them turning over the weight of the situation.

Then, Hakui clapped her hands together, exhaling.

Hakui:

"Well, guess that settles it. We stay. We watch. And if things go sideways…"

She smirked.

"We make sure we're the ones writing the ending."

Doto gave a small, approving nod. Izumo grumbled, but he didn't argue. Kotetsu crossed his arms, eyes sharp with quiet determination.

The game had just begun. And they weren't about to let some noble brat tip the board in his favor.