Chapter 59.1- One Thousand Hands

“The Daimyo?” I asked Uraume as we stepped into my office with Uzume by our side this time. She hadn’t left since the ight ended, and considering that was the most fun I’d had n a long time, I ain’t much opposed to having her around.

“Looked into it, spoke to a few of the ministers that he came with that the Hyuga have business with. Offer him a place in Konoha, the security of our walls, promise him that nothing will touch him here, and he will be your man till he dies” She said with a wry smile.

“So it was all about saving his own hide then” I scoffed and tossed a ryo coin over to her. She caught it deftly with a smirk.

“It always is”

“Betting on our poor Daimyo?” Uzume asked.

“We bet on everything. Uraume seems unwilling to accept that I occasionally have good ideas”

“For good reason, last I checked you’ve lost six of these so far” She said, pocketing the coin with a proud little smile.

“I take this to mean that you lot are finally letting me in” Uzume pressed.

“We never intended to have you on the outside, Uzume. You just didn’t seem to have the interest in this kind of thing, you know?”

“Subterfuge and sleuthing? Miss me with that. But being informed would be nice. My clan looks to me to have answers and I’m supposed to be your best friend so how do I explain it to them that I have no idea what you are doing?” Her tone was only slightly aggravated so that was a good thing.

“You know exactly what I am doing. I’m increasing our forces by training the older genin. I’ve brought the reserves out of retirement and convinced the clans to commit more men to the fight” I said.

“You know what I mean. I’m not stupid, Shori. You know what I don’t see here? What I haven’t seen anywhere in Konoha recently? Shikahime’s dry smirk. We both know there’s only one reason she would be away from you at a time like this. You’ve sent her somewhere” She accused. Uraume tapped her fingers against her leg in the Hyuga sign language— No, and not for the first time I decided to ignore her advice.

“Not just her. Kizuru, Toshiro, Inojin, and Shiba. They’re on a mission” I said.

“What kind of mission?”

“The kind that either wins wars or loses them” I said. She scoffed.

“Am I going to have to drag it out of you?”

“Kumo has no jinchuriki. I killed one of Iwa’s. Whispers in the wind say Kiri has made a new six-tails. Shika’s job is to kidnap both these Jinchuriki while posing as Kumo shinobi” I said.

“That’s— that’s…”

“Insane? Stupidly risky? Guaranteed to kill four of the few friends we have left? A sign of his fading faculties? Try all of the above. I told him it was stupid when he sent them in but he’s certain this gambit will work” Uraume cut in when Uzume struggled to find words.

XXXXXX- SHIKAHIME