"What is... going on here?"
On the towering walls, as high as a mountain face, a Hidden Sand Ninja, covered in scars, was tightly bound with ropes and hung in mid-air, becoming an extremely conspicuous sight.
The guard who came out in the morning immediately noticed this scene, his face showing an expression of shock.
Many onlookers gathered around, pointing and commenting on the Hidden Sand Ninjas hanging in mid-air, engaging in lively discussion.
"Disperse! Everyone disperse!"
The guard leader, holding a sword, instantly recognized the gravity of the situation.
He ordered the lower-ranking samurai to begin wielding their weapons to disperse the gathering crowd, keeping this as far away from the public's sight as possible.
After driving away all the bystanders, the guard leader immediately ordered the lower-ranking samurai to quickly lower these Hidden Sand Ninjas and sent someone into the inner city of the Daimyo's Mansion to report to the Daimyo of the Land of Wind.
Recalling the bizarre incidents that had occurred in the Daimyo's Mansion in recent days, the guard leader knew someone had set their sights on this place.
Yesterday morning, a team of guards had gone out, heading toward the Hidden Sand Village, yet now, someone had hung the Hidden Sand Ninja on the city walls. There was no way the guard leader believed there was no connection.
However, even if he guessed some things, as just a lowly guard, he did not dare to speak indiscreetly about it.
"Sir, there's also a letter here."
"A letter? Where did you get it from?"
The guard leader took the letter handed over by the lower-ranking samurai, showing a puzzled look.
"It fell out of Maki Jonin's pocket."
Maki, the Hidden Sand Jonin, was a well-known Jonin in the Land of Wind. He was also a trusted aide of the Kazekage of the Hidden Sand Village. Every time the Kazekage came to the Daimyo's Mansion for meetings, he would have Maki Jonin by his side.
Thus, the guards at the Daimyo's Mansion were not unfamiliar with this Hidden Sand Jonin; in fact, they were quite acquainted with him.
"Maki Jonin, huh? I understand, I'll take this letter to the Daimyo."
The guard leader did not open the letter but walked toward the inner city to present it to the Daimyo of the Land of Wind.
Soon, inside the Tenshu Tower, the slightly plump figure of the Daimyo of the Land of Wind seated on the main seat of the tower could be seen shaking slightly. His facial muscles quivered as if on the verge of bursting into flames, gripping the letter handed over by the guard leader, consumed with an intense rage.
Having thought he had passed a peaceful night and the situation would change from today, he did not expect the hidden scoundrels to be so brazen.
Not only had they attacked the Hidden Sand Ninjas rushing to aid overnight, they also captured them and hung them on the walls of the Daimyo's Mansion... This was an utter humiliation to the Land of Wind's incompetence.
"Unforgivable! Truly unforgivable!"
Clutching the envelope, he held a bill in his other hand.
Clearly marked with the Shion Flower emblem, it also included the amount owed and an exact repayment date.
It stated that if the Land of Wind did not promptly repay the debt, similar actions would continue to occur within its borders.
The guards and ninjas all kneeled on one knee, clearly feeling the immense anger emanating from the Daimyo of the Land of Wind. Such fury was a first for them, filling their hearts with tension.
"Inform them immediately to have the Kazekage of the Hidden Sand Village come to me as soon as possible for important discussions!"
The Daimyo's voice was icy, as he stuffed the paper back into the envelope, crumpling it into pieces and throwing it onto the ground.
"And about the situation here..."
"Report it truthfully."
"Yes!"
After the guards and ninjas dispersed, the Daimyo of the Land of Wind gazed out the window toward the open sky, directed at the Land of Demons, his eyes emanating a vicious cold light:
"It seems some have forgotten the terror that great nations can bring, it's necessary to let them experience once more the fear etched deep in their souls."
◎
Kazekage Rasa arrived at the Daimyo's Mansion faster than anyone had expected.
Accompanying Rasa were numerous Anbu from the Hidden Sand Village, responsible for Rasa's security.
Unlike Maki, Rasa encountered no attacks on his way to the Daimyo's Mansion, arriving without any hindrance.
Upon reaching the Daimyo's Mansion, Rasa did not immediately seek out the Daimyo of the Land of Wind, but first found Maki to inquire about the situation.
"Kazekage, I..."
Seeing Rasa, Maki's face was full of shame, momentarily at a loss for words, unsure how to explain himself to Rasa.
He was currently in a very sorry state, both hands wrapped in bandages, in a cast, with significant injuries to his thighs and abdomen, making it difficult for him to participate in any battles for the time being.
"It's alright, you were ambushed, that's why this happened. As long as you're okay."
"Yes, Kazekage, next time I won't fail."
Maki gritted his teeth and vowed that if he met those damned debt collectors from the Land of Demons again, he would make sure they paid dearly.
While recovering at the Daimyo's Mansion, he awoke to find out he and his colleagues had been hung on the city wall of the Daimyo's Mansion by the debt collectors from the Land of Demons while unconscious, observed and ridiculed by many.
Fortunately, he was unconscious at the time, or if he had been awake, he would have wished for death.
He had completely disgraced the Hidden Sand Village.
Rasa patted Maki's shoulder to comfort him.