Chapter 66.6- One Thousand Hands

“So what would you ask of me, Shorirama-dono. A victory like this must be rewarded, yes?” He asked, giving me a look.

“Father, I highly doubt that there is any need to depose the shinobi for doing his job. Does their village not exist here at your will? Their continued existence is enough of a reward” The man from earlier cut in again. This time, I did not flick my eyes towards him. Instead, I catalogued his appearance. This was the Prince, there was no doubt about it. The crown prince Matsuhito, heir to the throne of Fire Country. I could already tell that Konoha would have to move against him sooner or later. A subtle assassination in a year or so would probably work best. There was no need to risk becoming like Suna had in canon. Like Granduncle Tobirama always said, As a village, we must fear the Daimyo, but as a man, the Daimyo must fear us. There was veery little the Daimyo could do to me as a person, but he’d have an easy time starving and cutting off Konoha. And there was little we could do to the Fire Country as a whole without harming ourselves, but the Daimyo had everything to fear from us. It seemed the Daimyo had failed to impart the same lesson on his son. A shame.

“Daimyo-dono, we have done our jobs as your swords. As your blades in your sleeve. All the reward we need is knowing that the Country as a whole stands safer now” I said.

“And does that mean that you will be changing your strategy?”

“Yes. With Iwa knocked out of the war effort, we will be moving to confront Kumo sooner rather than later. They spend their time training and raising new levies on our border with Frost so if we do not want to be drowned in bodies then it would be for the best if we moved to deal with them before they manage to compete their efforts” I said.

“Indeed. Very wise, Shorirama-dono. Very wise, indeed. This must surely mean that I can cease supervising your efforts from here soon?” He asked, pressing the official reason for his stay. There was no need to cause a mass panic by telling the people that their Daimyo had so little faith in the security of his own palace in his own capital. There would hav been riots in the streets of the Capital.

“Yes, Daimyo-dono. It does indeed mean that you can return to the Capital as you have been eagerly anticipating. Thank you for lending your boundless wisdom to our war effort” I said.

“Will that be all then?” He asked. I wondered if I’d already lost his interest now that I’d explained that we’d gone back to winning the war.

“There is more, but it is a highly sensitive matter, Daimyo-dono” I said, not so subtly asking for a private audience.

“Very well, then. I will grant you my ear as a boon for your efforts.” He replied.

“Leave us” This time, his words were directed to the dozens of Courtiers crammed into the throne room— nobles, servants, guards, even his own son. Everyone but his shinobi shadows and two samurai guards left the room, leaving the two of us alone. Well, as alone as a Shinobi like me could ever be with the Daimyo of all people.

“Now what is the matter?”

“Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, is awake now” I said. He looked at me. Really looked at me.

“Fascinating. Shall I be plain with you Shorirama?” He asked.

“Always, Daimyo-dono”

“Call me Tengen-dono when we are alone. But back to the matter, I ind myself surprised that you allowed him to wake” He said with a gesture at one of the Samurai. The man moved to the side and began to pour some wine for his Lord.

“Dai— Tengen-dono, my apologies. I don’t know what you mean” I said, because surely he couldn’t be saying what I thought he was saying.

“I mean why did you not kill Hiruzen Sarutobi when it would have been easiest to” He said, holding out a hand for the cup.

A/N: Is that a good way to end a chapter? Who knows? It’s what I’ve gone with though. Sue me.