As the new year began, the Second Great Ninja War, larger in scale and longer in duration than the First, came to an end with the Hidden Mist Village's declaration of a ceasefire.
Compared to the post-war landscape of the First Ninja War, this time the entire ninja world underwent significant changes.
The Third Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village's proposal for a Ninja World Alliance did not receive unanimous approval from the Five Great Nations; only the Land of Wind, Land of Rain, and Land of Rivers expressed support, while powerful nations like the Land of Lightning, Land of Earth, and Land of Water remained silent, indicating that a full-scale Ninja World Alliance could not be established.
Thus, Fumori Masaki began contacting the supportive nations, such as the Land of Wind and Land of Rivers, proposing the formation of a Southern Alliance, comprised of nations in the southern part of the ninja world.
This Southern Alliance would implement the principles of the Ninja World Alliance as a trial, with the aim of promoting it throughout the entire ninja world if successful in the future.
Under the leadership of the Hidden Leaf Village, the details of the alliance were finalized one by one.
Its purpose was to protect the peace achieved after the Second Great Ninja War, maintain friendly relations and cooperative exchanges among member nations, and promote common progress and development.
On this basis, the nations within the Southern Alliance would unify their defense forces, considering any future aggression against one nation as a declaration of war against the entire alliance—this was the military aspect.
Economically, each nation's market demands would be adjusted for trade based on their unique characteristics and strengths, standardizing certain criteria as the Southern Alliance's standards to collectively promote market prosperity.
Politically, it went without saying that nations would share alliance seats, with rights and obligations commensurate with their strength.
Stronger nations would have more rights and responsibilities, but they could not bully weaker nations based on their power.
The rights of large and small nations would be clearly defined, and future decisions on seating would be made through coordination and exchange, maintaining stable development, common prosperity, and contributing to peace in the ninja world.
Among them, the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind held permanent seats and could not withdraw from the alliance.
While other nations could withdraw, they would need the alliance's consent, which, given the dominant voting rights, was almost impossible.
Additionally, there was the unification of ideology, culture, and so on.
Because the Southern Alliance was a new entity, even with initial planning, Fumori Masaki could not formulate a complete plan, and with the passage of time, certain situations would change, requiring policy adjustments rather than rigidity.
Several months had passed by the time the allied nations reached a consensus.
During this period, the Hidden Leaf Village continued its efforts to rebuild and resume trade with the southwestern nations.
As these nations slowly recovered, the Land of Fire also reaped various benefits; even if some were temporary losses, they would surely be recouped in the future.
The dedication shown by the Hidden Leaf Village was evident to all other nations; regardless of whether some suspected ulterior motives, the vast majority believed in the Hidden Leaf Village's sincerity.
Thus, the Southern Alliance agreement was signed in the Land of Rain, designated as the alliance's headquarters, coinciding with the Ninja World Peace Victory Day.
On this historically significant day, the Southern Alliance, bearing the mission of ninja world revival, peace, and unification, was formally established.
In the subsequent first session, Fumori Masaki was elected as the first leader of the Southern Alliance, following its voting guidelines.
After the Southern Alliance's formation, economic trade, political coordination, and military adjustments between nations slowly progressed.
For most people, this marked the beginning of better days, but in the eyes of some, it was a different matter, including not only the Land of Earth and Land of Lightning but also certain individuals within the Land of Fire.
The Daimyo of the Land of Fire sat in his bedchamber, his face grim as he read the newspaper in his hand.
This publication had spread throughout the Land of Fire, allowing anyone who bought it to see the latest national news and changes.
In this issue, it stated that the Fourth Kazekage of the Hidden Sand Village in the Land of Wind would soon visit the Hidden Leaf Village to discuss the future of the alliance and peace in the ninja world.
In addition, there were various other pieces of news that raised the Daimyo's blood pressure, such as the Hidden Leaf Village acquiring land and laborers cheering.
The Daimyo indignantly tossed the newspaper aside, took a deep breath, and said to his attendant, "Look, this Fumori Masaki is increasingly disregarding me.
He used to ask for approval, but now he just does as he pleases, acting first and reporting later.
What exactly does he want?"
"This..." The attendant had no idea how to answer.
Although he was close to the Daimyo, there were some things he couldn't say too much about.
As the Hidden Leaf Village's power expanded, the Daimyo's outbursts became more frequent.
At this point, even a slight hint of overstepping would make the Daimyo suspect he was siding with the Hidden Leaf Village.
The Daimyo clearly didn't wait for the attendant's reply, his breathing heavy, as he muttered, "Damn the Hidden Leaf Village, and those fools seduced by these ninjas, they're all scoundrels!"
The Daimyo was referring to the local lords who had close ties with the Hidden Leaf Village.
After the Second Great Ninja War, Fumori Masaki accused the nobles who had shown signs of failure and clearly dragged their feet during the war, demanding that the Daimyo punish them.
These local lords also submitted petitions in support.
Under such pressure, the Daimyo had no choice but to agree to punish these nobles.
After these nobles lost power, their lands were divided up by the local lords and the Hidden Leaf Village through various means, and the nobles close to the Daimyo did not benefit much from it.
This was why the Daimyo felt that the Hidden Leaf Village was becoming increasingly presumptuous; now they were even starting to expand their own land.
Yet, he had no way to punish the Leaf, because the Hidden Leaf Village was now the most powerful local lord in the entire country.
Although they had no direct political participation, their connections with other local lords still allowed them to exert political influence.
Coupled with the prestige of their victory in the Second Great Ninja War, the Daimyo found no way to restrict them.
"Tell me, is the Hidden Leaf Village planning treason?" The Daimyo grew angrier with each thought, asking again.
This made it even harder for the attendant to answer.
The Hidden Leaf Village was indeed presumptuous, but to say they were treasonous seemed a stretch.
They had made very important contributions to the Land of Fire, and while they were somewhat unrestrained in other areas, their previous assertiveness was directed at clearly guilty nobles.
However, they still showed considerable respect for the Daimyo and other nobles, sharing some commercial dividends and profits with them.
Through its connection with the Hidden Leaf Village, the Daimyo had enjoyed a considerable amount of commercial profit, which the attendant had witnessed.
However, for the Daimyo, such respect was not truly respectful enough.
The Daimyo was a very ambitious man; when he ascended the throne, he had ideas of unification, only to be thwarted by reality.
But that didn't mean he became disheartened; his inner spirit remained strong.
And for a strong monarch, such powerful local lords who weren't entirely obedient were clearly a source of conflict.
If the Daimyo were strong enough, he could suppress the Hidden Leaf Village and force them to obey him.
But if the Daimyo wasn't strong enough, he would be like this now, only able to complain a few times about the Hidden Leaf Village's presumptuousness, but unable to take much overt action.
Although he spoke of them potentially betraying him, as if he intended to punish them, in reality, it was just talk.
If he were truly to turn against them, he genuinely feared the Hidden Leaf Village's betrayal.
If the Hidden Leaf Village truly betrayed them, just suppressing the rebellion would lead to civil war, and the various commercial benefits gained through the Hidden Leaf Village would likely be lost.
The attendant did not believe the Daimyo could manage and operate commercial ventures as well as the Hidden Leaf Village.
The Daimyo, receiving no answer, glanced at the attendant and snorted, "Useless thing! You can't even make a sound, what good are you?"
The attendant merely bowed in apology, and the Daimyo, having vented his frustration, said no more, no longer wanting to look at the irritating newspaper.
He stood up to go for a walk, and the attendant quickly followed, looking at the Daimyo's back and secretly thinking, "Sigh, serving such a master is truly exhausting."
The attendant knew such thoughts were somewhat rebellious, but they were indeed his true feelings.
He had read some theories from the Ninja Sect Revival Movement over the years, which made him less rigidly adhere to traditional notions of loyalty to the monarch, and instead had some of his own ideas.
After leaving his residence, the Daimyo took a palanquin outside.
The capital had changed quite a bit from the past; a new atmosphere was gradually sweeping through, and some new things from the Hidden Leaf Village had become the fashion here.
Officials and nobles loved them, and honestly, the Daimyo himself liked them.
However, the thought that he couldn't control that village made him dislike them, no matter how much he initially enjoyed them.
—Would he have to live his entire life in the shadow of that Hidden Leaf Village?
The Daimyo couldn't turn against the Hidden Leaf Village because he understood the consequences, but his heart couldn't accept it.
This conflicting emotion constantly festered within him, affecting his health.
Just as the Daimyo was sighing, he suddenly felt the palanquin shake.
He frowned and, somewhat displeased, said to the people outside, "What's wrong?"
The attendant's nervous voice rang out, "Your Highness, please be careful! Someone is blocking the way, it might be an assassin!"
The Daimyo's heart thumped.
He slightly parted the curtain and saw his samurai guards and the ninja-monks dispatched by the Land of Fire blocking the front, and in front of them stood a man dressed as a ronin.