Naruto-Start by eating the golden fruit

There was peace in Konoha Village. When shadow-level leaders from various nations gathered in Konoha to discuss peace, news arrived from the front lines—something had gone terribly wrong.

But it wasn't a matter between Konoha and Kumogakure.

Instead, it concerned the Land of Iron. The Daimyo of the Iron Kingdom, revered by its samurai as their benefactor and leader, was found dead in his residence.

The Land of Iron was in an uproar. During the war years, before the country became the neutral Kingdom of Iron, it was this very Daimyo who had used his wealth to support the samurai, a time when samurai had struggled to survive. Unlike ninjas, who became the cost-effective option in warfare due to their versatility, samurai often went hungry, overlooked in the chaos.

It was this Daimyo who had gathered the scattered warriors and formed the neutral Iron Kingdom, declaring that the samurai would remain uninvolved in ninja conflicts. His death sent shockwaves across the Land of Iron, a kingdom loyal to him both in principle and history.

Konoha and Kumogakure immediately began blaming each other. Both claimed the other was responsible for this assassination. However, after a thorough investigation by the Iron Kingdom's samurai, evidence surfaced that implicated both villages.

The situation escalated. Could it be that Konoha and Kumogakure, sworn enemies, had somehow conspired to assassinate the Daimyo? The possibility seemed absurd, yet the evidence spoke otherwise.

The news reached Konoha Village, where Yuya, a high-ranking figure, was left stunned. He thought to himself, This shouldn't have happened. It doesn't make sense.

The Iron Kingdom was a crucial buffer state between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning. It had always maintained neutrality, even giving up some of its western territories to keep the ninja villages from spilling their conflicts into its borders. And now their leader had been killed—a man who had brokered peace for decades.

Adding to the confusion was the fact that both Konoha and Kumogakure had dispatched representatives to the Land of Iron. They were there to negotiate neutral battlegrounds for the ongoing conflict, yet this murder occurred during their visit.

Both villages quickly ceased hostilities and pledged full cooperation with the investigation. It was clear that this assassination could not be ignored. If the Iron Kingdom, with its skilled samurai force, aligned with either village, it could tip the balance of power drastically.

Yuya sighed as he pondered the implications. The samurai, though lacking flashy jutsu, were highly skilled warriors. A samurai at the level of a Jonin would almost always outmatch a ninja of similar rank. If the Iron Kingdom abandoned neutrality, it would spell disaster for Konoha, especially if they sided with Kumogakure.

The next morning, Yuya decided to make the news public through Konoha's newspapers. Hiding the information wasn't an option—many ninja families had already sent word from the front lines. Preparations for war had to begin.

As he worked, Nara Shikaya burst into the room, visibly anxious. "Is the news in today's paper true? Was the Daimyo of the Iron Kingdom really assassinated?"

Yuya, calm despite the chaos, didn't look up. "Did you finish recording the turnover for the shops on East Street, as I asked?"

Shikaya hesitated, caught off guard. "Almost... I've recorded from the first to the ninth street, but I haven't included the Uchiha clan shops yet."

Yuya nodded and extended his hand. "Let me see what you have so far."

Shikaya handed over a scroll, and Yuya reviewed it briefly. "It'll do for now. Starting tomorrow, handle the household registration for East Street. Then, collect the candy gift boxes from the sugar factory based on those registrations. Finish it within the week."

Shikaya, still uncertain, agreed. "Understood, I'll get it done."

Before leaving, he turned back. "Is it true, though? About the Iron Kingdom?"

Yuya finally put his pen down. "Yes, it's true. But we still don't know whether it was Konoha or Kumogakure—or someone else entirely."

Shikaya's face paled. "Could the Iron Kingdom ally with Kumogakure?"

Yuya leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "It's possible, but I'm more worried about the Land of Earth. If the Iron Kingdom joins forces with Kumogakure, Iwagakure might see this as an opportunity to attack Konoha while we're vulnerable. Even if they just claim a small piece of our territory, it would weaken us significantly."

The room fell silent. Yuya's thoughts spiraled. Could it have been someone within Konoha? Unlikely. Senju Tobirama would never approve such recklessness.

Could it have been Danzo? In another time, perhaps. But at this moment, Danzo lacked both the resources and influence.

Then, a chilling possibility crossed Yuya's mind.

What if it wasn't Konoha or Kumogakure? What if it was a third party? Someone working in the shadows?

A name surfaced in his thoughts—Madara Uchiha. Or worse, the enigmatic Black Zetsu, manipulating events from the darkness.

If that were the case, the world might be heading toward a conflict far more dangerous than anyone anticipated.

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