"Do you think there's any chance the Leaf will discover our connection to Nanshi?"
Ryuji Ida leaned back in his chair. "Unlikely. Our direct dealings are with the nobles under Lord Heiji's influence. The equipnt we supply cos from the Land of Iron; we are, at most, re middleman rchants. The real concern is Nanshi himself."
Ichiro Kuroshaki shook his head. "Hard to say. I hear their losses were staggering, but Nanshi survived. Strangely... he hasn't reached out to our Lord."
Ryuji went silent for a mont before looking up sharply. "Go back imdiately. Report everything to our Lord. As fast as possible."
"And you?"
"I'm staying in the Leaf. I need to keep my ear to the ground. If Sakumo Hatake actually mobilizes, I'll find a way to get word to you."
Ichiro nodded and vanished into the bustling market crowd. Ryuji watched him leave and let out a long, weary sigh. Master, this is a real ss. Nanshi is a stubborn fool; is an ideal really worth all this? I gave up on being a noble a long ti ago.
Deep Within the Underground Palace
Shisui Abura listened to Ichiro's frantic report without changing his expression.
"Nanshi didn't contact us?"
"No." Ichiro kept his head bowed. "Mr. Ryuji suspects Nanshi... might feel he has no face left to et you."
Shisui was silent for a long ti before letting out a soft sigh. "So, he failed in the end." There was no anger in his voice, only a faint trace of regret. "Though, perhaps it's for the best that he recognizes reality."
He stood up and walked to a wall-mounted map of the Land of Waterfalls, tracing the lines of the major cities and noble territories. "Sakumo Hatake..."
The White Fang was a problem, but problems had solutions. "Ichiro, tell Ryuji to stay in Konoha. Keep a close watch on their movents."
Once Ichiro withdrew, Shisui didn't return to his insects. Instead, he sat in contemplation. Monts later, he closed his eyes and ford a series of hand signs.
In a city hundreds of miles away, Lord Heiji was processing paperwork in his study when he heard a faint buzzing. A small insect landed on his desk, its antennae twitching. He imdiately dismissed his guards.
"My Lord?"
Through the insect, Shisui's voice echoed in the room. "How is the progress with the nobility?"
Heiji took a deep breath. "Six-tenths of the country's nobles have been swayed by the 'Longevity Pills.' Furthermore, we have reached a preliminary cooperation agreent with the representatives of the Underground Six Families."
"The Six Families?"
Heiji's voice carried a hint of awe. "They control the exchange offices, the black markets, and the various shadow industries across the continent.
They don't fight for territory between the Great Nations, but in the smaller ones, their influence can be greater than that of a Daimyo. They are the rulers of the underground."
The communication insect was silent for a heartbeat. Then, Shisui spoke. "Good. Then let's move. We'll put you on the throne. The sooner, the better."
Heiji's heart hamred against his ribs. "My Lord, you an..."
"Overthrow the current Daimyo. You will take his place. Once you do, issue a public decree: the Daodao-Zhong has been granted amnesty and is now the official guard of the Daimyo's Ministry of Counsel."
Heiji's eyes widened. It was a masterstroke—pulling the rug out from under the entire conflict. "Can it be done?" Shisui asked calmly.
Heiji nodded fervently. "It can."
Days later, a bloodless coup shook the Land of Waterfalls. With the backing of sixty percent of the nobility and the shadow of the Six Families looming, the old Daimyo "voluntarily" abdicated in favor of the more capable Heiji Misugi.
The new Daimyo's first official act was to declare the Daodao-Zhong a legitimate military unit. All past grievances were pardoned, and the group was integrated into the state's official security apparatus.
The news sent shockwaves through the shinobi world. But for Sakumo Hatake, who had already led his team into the Land of Waterfalls, it created an absurd predicant.
His mission was to eliminate the Daodao-Zhong on behalf of the Daimyo for a hundred million ryo. But the man who issued the contract was no longer the Daimyo. The current Daimyo claid the "targets" were his own regular army.
"Captain, what now?" a team mber asked.
Sakumo looked at the official decree in his hand and sighed. "We withdraw."
Konoha: The Hokage's Office
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the report, caught between a grimace and a laugh. "This is..."
"The new Daimyo did this on purpose!" Koharu snapped.
Homura shook his head. "Intentional or not, we no longer have a justification to act. To attack now would be a direct invasion of a sovereign nation's military.
Furthermore, with the Six Families backing the new regi, the black market would make things very difficult for us if we crossed them."
The door burst open, and Danzo walked in, his face livid. "Hiruzen, Sakumo Hatake's hesitation led to the failure of this mission. Konoha has lost a hundred million ryo. There must be accountability."
"Danzo, you can't bla Sakumo," Hiruzen countered. "The situation changed completely. Withdrawing was the correct tactical decision."
"Correct?" Danzo sneered. "If he had struck before the decree was finalized, the Daodao-Zhong would be ash.
Would the new Daimyo have brought the dead back to life? Sakumo's indecision cost us our reputation and our gold."
Hiruzen remained silent. He knew Danzo was looking for a scapegoat, but he also knew that in the eyes of the village, a failed mission was still a failed mission.
Within days, rumors began to poison the streets of Konoha.
"Did you hear? White Fang failed his mission." "He didn't even draw his sword. He just turned back." "Why?" "They say he hesitated. He missed the window and let a fortune slip through the village's fingers."
The whispers spread like wildfire, fanned by an unseen hand.
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed. Claim early access on Patreon: Patreon/kazama677
🔓 You hold the keys to bonus chapters:💬 10 reviews ignite 1 bonus chapter🔷 100 Power Stones summon another
🔥 Your power determines how fast the tale unfolds.
User Comments
0 comments from readers