Hokage: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 160: It’s Been a Long Time Since I’ve Slain a Daimyo

Chapter 160: It's Been a Long Time Since I've Slain a Daimyo

The Land of Waves, Naruto Bridge.

At dawn, this newly constructed bridge was already bustling with activity. Merchants from the mainland transported goods to the Land of Waves and then took local specialties back, creating a cycle that brought unprecedented prosperity to this once isolated island nation.

Standing at one end of the Naruto Bridge, Tazuna, the bridge's builder, regarded as a symbol of hope for the Land of Waves, smoked his pipe as he gazed thoughtfully at the "child" he had helped build.

Unbeknownst to him, a colossal object was floating above the Land of Waves. Its owner, descending leisurely like a pedestrian, soon stood beside him.

[Ding!]

[Main Mission: Operation in the Land of Waves]

[Mission Description: Team 7, who has been doing D-rank missions, finally took on a C-rank mission to escort Tazuna to the Land of Waves due to Naruto's persistence. Protect the mission target, Tazuna, and ensure the successful construction of Naruto Bridge. Mission rewards will be based on the host's performance throughout the mission.]

[Warning! The Seven Ninja Swordsmen, including Zabuza Momochi, are about to appear!]

[Hint! Haku, the Ice Release user, is about to appear!]

[Ding!]

[Side Mission: Unravel the Mystery of Gender]

[Mission Description: Haku is so beautiful and always in women's clothing; surely, he must be a woman. No! Officially, Haku is a man. Naruto fans are divided on Haku's gender. Since you're here, you can uncover this mystery.]

[Mission Reward: Unlock dual nature transformation of wind and water chakra (with a certain probability of awakening Ice Release).]

After completing the bell-grabbing mission on Mt. Katsuragi, Hagoromo Gengetsu's system refreshed the next main mission. However, he was too engrossed in training and research to pay attention to it until recently. With the imminent relocation of Lockfront Village, he decided to move the airborne fortress, the new Lockfront Village, to the Land of Waves.

This decision not only facilitated the completion of his system mission but also provided an excellent hiding place for the airborne fortress. The Land of Waves, lacking a ninja village and considered insignificant in the ninja world, was an ideal location for the Lockfront Village to remain concealed.

No one in the Hidden Leaf Village would suspect that the Lockfront Village, previously situated west of the Land of Fire, would relocate to the easternmost sea, within the Land of Waves, a territory traditionally under the Land of Fire's influence and presumed secure.

For the Lockfront Village, the Land of Waves was not far from the mainland, with its extensive, virtually undefended coastline. Compared to its previous geography, surrounded by numerous nations, the new location was safer and suited their covert operations.

With the plan proceeding smoothly, the Lockfront Village had already arrived. Leaving the village's leaders to handle the relocation's complexities, Gengetsu descended to the surface, first laying eyes on the impressive Naruto Bridge. 

This steel-structured bridge, even in his previous world, was an achievement few nations could accomplish alone, yet the Land of Waves had managed it, demonstrating the ninja world's skewed technological advancements.

Gengetsu observed Tazuna, his system's mission target, now a successful man with the bridge already in use. Zabuza and Haku, who posed threats, had long been deceased.

Turning his attention to the side mission, "Unravel the Mystery of Gender," Gengetsu recalled his curiosity but dismissed the idea of digging up Haku's grave to inspect his body—an act too perverse to consider.

Maintaining his character was crucial. With Ice Release already in his possession, the side mission's reward was irrelevant.

Returning to the main mission, the tasks for the Land of Waves had been completed by Team 7 two years prior. However, with him now beside Tazuna, the system would likely consider the mission ongoing regardless of his actions.

Noticing Tazuna's complex expression as he watched some people collecting tolls at the bridge's entrance, Gengetsu inquired, "Who are those people?"

Startled by the sudden question from the stranger beside him, Tazuna instinctively felt wary but soon opened up, eager to vent his frustrations. "The daimyo's tax collectors," he explained with a sigh.

"The daimyo of the Land of Waves?"

"Yes," Tazuna replied, his expression heavy with unspoken resentment. "Since Kado's death, the daimyo regained control. Initially, things were fine, but seeing the bridge bring prosperity, he began raising taxes relentlessly. The tolls on the bridge have increased several times over, causing hardship for our people and complaints from merchants."

"If the daimyo continues this unchecked exploitation, the hard-earned prosperity of the Land of Waves will vanish!" Tazuna's fists clenched in frustration.

The phrase "When the wolf leaves, the tiger comes" aptly described the Land of Waves' current plight. They had hoped for better days after Kado's fall, only to find the daimyo following the same path of exploitation.

Gengetsu had witnessed similar scenarios before. People believed a change in leadership would bring relief, but nothing fundamentally changed. A certain Zhao dynasty ruler once summarized it aptly: "It's not about corrupt officials; it's your internal power struggle."

It was the same everywhere. But now, with Lockfront Village here, true relief had arrived.

"Ever thought about getting rid of the daimyo?" Gengetsu asked nonchalantly.

"Get rid of the daimyo? No, no, we could never...," Tazuna stammered, nervously denying the thought. Yet, in a low voice, he added, "The daimyo has hired ninja for protection."

Impressed by Tazuna's concealed boldness, Gengetsu patted his shoulder, then vanished in a flash.

"It's been a long time since I've slain a daimyo," he thought. "Time to see if I'm still sharp."