Chapter 34: Daimyo
As the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, he couldn't have remained in this position for so long if he were just an incompetent figurehead.
Look at the Twelve Guardian Ninja—each one of them is at least at the jōnin level.
Asuma may have returned to Konoha, but that didn't mean everyone had left. Serving as the Daimyo's guards provided excellent benefits, and not every shinobi would be willing to give that up so easily.
Not all shinobi were like Asuma, who had the Sarutobi clan to inherit, or like Chiriku, a monk from the Fire Temple with a wealthy background and no need to worry about money.
Most shinobi in this world were poor.
Take Zabuza as an example. A man capable of going toe-to-toe with Kakashi, yet he still had to work as a hired blade for Gato because of money.
With that in mind, it was only natural that the Daimyo had jōnin-level guards at his side.
"You can send a message to Danzo, tell him to come up with his terms quickly. Otherwise, I have no interest in entertaining his nonsense."
"Dismissed!"
The Root shinobi hesitated as if he wanted to say more, but upon seeing the Daimyo reclining sideways while a maid eagerly fed him grapes, he swallowed his words. This scene left the Root shinobi speechless, not knowing whether to curse out loud or stay silent.
"Yes, I shall take my leave."