The Daimyo entered the gates of Konoha with his procession just as the rebellion ended.
Sitting in his palanquin the Daimyo frowned softly when he smelled the distinct smell of blood. He recognised it because he remembered the man that Shisui Uchiha had killed in his room.
It had given him quite the fright back then, and now the smell of blood brought back those unpleasant memories.
He raised the curtain slightly and called out to his head guard, "Was there a fight here recently?"
"Yes, Daimyo-sama… it looks like it."
"I see…" The daimyo frowned in distaste, well at least he now had ammunition to fire at Danzo with, why did he have to go ruining the streets just as the Daimyo was about to arrive in the village?
After a while more of traveling, the palanquin was set down on a stand for which stairs were brought out and placed for the Daimyo to get down from.
The Daimyo got out and looked at the location.
Almost immediately he frowned.
A fight?
That was putting it lightly.
There was blood nearly everywhere in front of the Hokage building.
And given he had arrived, the streets had been emptied to prevent any lapses in security. Yet it seemed like no one had even cleared the streets for him.
"Tell Danzo I want to know who fought here first thing as soon as I enter his office. Has he started treating executing villagers as a sport?"
"Y- Yes Daimyo-sama." The guard said with a deep bow as he rushed into the Hokage office ignoring the delegation that was waiting at the stairs of the building to receive the Daimyo.
"""Long live Daimyo of the Land of Fire!""" The delegation cheered as soon as the Daimyo finally turned towards them.
"Hmpf." The daimyo grunted angrily, "I won't be pleased by such a show. Take me to meet the Hokage, immediately."
"Daimyo-sama, please follow us. We will lead you there." One soft spoken lady stepped out of the line and guided the Daimyo.
The Daimyo nodded with a frown and began following the lady into the Hokage building.
They walked through three flights of stairs before reaching a waiting room on the third floor.
"Please Daimyo-sama… the Hokage has prepared entertainment for you while you wait." the lady said gently while she opened the doors allowing the Daimyo to enter.
However as soon as the Daimyo sat down he simply waved his hand.
"I have enough entertainment at the palace, ask Danzo to come in immediately or I'm cutting funds from this year."
"Yes Daimyo-sama… I shall convey the message to the current Hokage immediately as per your wishes."
The Daimyo nodded with a frown and waved the lady away to sit in some peace and quiet.
His ministers would be having their own separate talks after his talks with Danzo, so he was quite impatient to hear about the village.
He had heard a little about it from Shisui, especially about how the Uchiha were being unfairly treated under Danzo's rule, so he intended to speak about that as well.
Perhaps he would truly do as Shisui suggested and bring the Uchiha under his wing in the capital.
After all, there were several more shinobi villages in the Land of Fire regardless of how small they were. The Uchiha could be introduced to one of them and everything would turn out fine.
'Too bad Shisui said he had to leave for home because of some urgent family matters…'
The Daimyo waited, and then waited some more until he became impatient.
Just as he was about to raise his voice to call out to his attendants who were waiting outside, the door opened.
"Huh? Who're you?" The Daimyo asked with a confused expression on his face.
The strange man with a short goatee much like Hiruzen, who he liked, bowed softly, just enough to show respect before he stood straight and spoke like this entire thing was a drag.
"My name is Shikaku, I used to be the ANBU Commander until recently. I am the interim Hokage Daimyo-sama."
"Huh?" The Daimyo made a surprised expression once again. "Is this a joke? Are you part of the entertainment crew? I told them I don't want to be entertained! I want to meet Danzo! Right now!" the Daimyo said, slamming his fist onto the low table.
He had had enough of whatever bullshit these shinobi people were feeding him.
He was already angry with Danzo for bringing violence to the streets, and now he was angry that his time was being wasted. Did these shinobi fellows really think they were so high and mighty?
Why couldn't everyone just be like Shisui?
Shikaku sighed deeply, "I am saying the truth Daimyo-sama. Danzo-sama has fallen ill due to a highly confidential experiment. In the meantime while another Hokage is chosen, I am to serve as the interim Hokage."
"What!?" the Daimyo fell back slightly from shock.
Then things suddenly clicked in his mind.
"A rebellion?" He mumbled just loud enough for Shikaku to catch.
But Shikaku vehemently shook his head, "It was an experimental accident that caused several shinobi to go rogue today Daimyo-sama… We had to enforce strict measures to control it which is why you have seen blood on your way here."
The Daimyo frowned and clenched his fist.
"Is Danzo dead?"
Shikaku gave him a wry expression.
"Well you can meet him, he is being treated in the Konoha Hospital… but it is best you don't Daimyo-sama… his condition is not the best right now."
The Daimyo frowned.
"Why? Is there something wrong if I want to meet the previous Hokage? I am concerned for his health."
Shikaku shook his head, "It's alright if you want to, I can have Danzo discharged temporarily and be brought here Daimyo-sama, but you'll have to wait a few minutes longer."
"Alright then… let's see if you're telling me the truth." The Daimyo nodded.
Shikaku bowed then vanished from the room using the body flicker jutsu before letting the Daimyo wait a little while longer and returning with a few people, one of which was Danzo.
"WHAT!?!? WHY'S HE TRYING TO SNIFF MY BUTT!?!? GET HIM OFF OF ME!! HOLD HIM!! GET THAT LEASH HE'S TIED TO!!!" The daimyo screamed almost instantly as soon as Danzo was brought into the room and Shikaku 'accidentally' let go of his leash.
Shikaku grabbed the Danzo's leash and controlled him again before speaking up.
"As you can see Daimyo-sama… Danzo sama and a few of his hoodlum- cough cough supporters lost their minds after an experiment and had to be controlled."
The Daimyo who was thoroughly disgusted by Danzo's deeds watched with twitching eyes as Danzo tried sniffing his own butt.
"What are the chances that he recovers from this? A Hokage of the leaf village… partaking in experimental research? There has to be a way to solve this right?"
Shikaku nodded and looked at Inoichi who he had brought along, allowing Inochi to step up and speak his practiced piece.
"Daimyo-sama… Danzo-sama's condition is currently quite bad as you can see… we have only managed to temporarily put him at ease from his condition with the help of Shisui Uchiha who you must know… however there is no permanent cure, yet."
The Daimyo's frown returned. "No way to cure him? Then how are you going to show your faces to the other villages!? What will I tell the other Daimyo's once I meet them this spring?! That my Hokage became a dog!?"
Shikaku smiled at that question as if he had been expecting it.
"Daimyo-sama… there's no need to worry… after all we have already gone through the failed experiment and mastered what has gone wrong…"
"Mastered what has gone wrong?" The daimyo repeated, wondering the meaning of those cryptic words when his eyes suddenly widened.
"No way! Don't tell me! You did not! Did you turn whatever happened to Danzo into a jutsu!?"
"Precisely." Shikaku lied as easily as breathing.
The Daimyo frowned.
With evidence of a rebellion at play and a powerful new weapon… he only had one option to choose.
"I want the new Hokage sent to the Capital to meet me." The Daimyo said.
***
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