DAIMYO: Chapter 93/94

Chapter 93: Daimyo’s Tour, Using Himself as Bait

On the main road leading to Konoha, the Daimyo's motorcade slowly advanced.

However, their pace was unhurried, not at all like a group in a rush to travel.

Inside the spacious carriage, the scent of incense mixed with the faint fragrance of a woman's body, stirring subtle feelings in the heart.

Ragyō knelt beside Arashi, her slender hands gently pouring him a cup of warm sake.

"My Lord, please try this. I warmed it just for you."

Her voice was sultry, her breath as fragrant as orchids.

Arashi accepted the cup and downed it in one gulp.

His peripheral vision, however, landed on Kurenai, who sat across from him with her back straight.

The young girl was clearly uncomfortable in this extravagant atmosphere.

Her small hands were nervously clasped on her lap. Her gaze drifted toward the window, pretending to watch the passing scenery.

But the slight flush on her earlobes had already given her away.

"Kurenai, we're almost home. Why are you still so nervous?" Arashi's voice was gentle, tinged with amusement.

Kurenai's body trembled slightly. She quickly turned her head and met his smiling eyes, her cheeks growing even hotter.

"No... no, My Lord," she replied softly, her voice lacking confidence.

"Is that so?" Arashi chuckled, handing the cup back to Ragyō. "I thought you were already thinking about what you'd say when we return."

He still remembered how boldly she had asked to travel with him yesterday.

And he remembered the brilliant smile on her face after he agreed.

His teasing now was more like a harmless joke.

Having her thoughts exposed, Kurenai lowered her head even further. Her voice was so soft it was nearly drowned out by the sound of the carriage wheels. "You're teasing me, My Lord..."

"What's there to tease? It's only human."

Arashi waved his hand casually, toying with Ragyō's soft, delicate fingers. His gaze turned to the window as if admiring the scenery.

"When you get back this time, take the time to relax."

That simple sentence warmed Kurenai's heart, easing the tension in her body.

She could feel that this seemingly unreachable Daimyo was offering concern in a way she could accept.

"Yes. Thank you for your concern, My Lord." Her voice was still soft, but this time much more sincere.

Arashi nodded slightly, then leaned back against the cushion, closing his eyes as if taking a nap.

In truth, his perception had already spread out, monitoring everything within several kilometers — every tree and blade of grass.

Inside the carriage, silence reigned for a while, broken only by the steady clatter of wheels on the road.

Just as Kurenai thought this silence would continue, a cup of fragrant fruit tea was suddenly handed to her.

She looked up and met Ragyō's smiling, foxy gaze.

"Kurenai-san, don't be nervous. Have some tea." Ragyō's tone was warm, with an easy intimacy.

"Ah... thank you, Ragyō-san." Kurenai accepted the teacup, slightly flustered.

Ragyō took the opportunity to sit beside her. "What are you saying? That's nothing to thank me for."

She naturally linked arms with Kurenai and chuckled softly. "We're sisters, aren't we? We should support each other."

"After all, we both came from Konoha. That practically makes us hometown girls."

That one line instantly shortened the distance between them.

The mention of Konoha made Kurenai feel much closer to her, and the unease in her heart faded away.

Looking at the friendly and charming older sister beside her, she couldn't help but feel a good impression.

"Mm! You're right, Ragyō-san!" She nodded earnestly.

Arashi, resting with his eyes closed, curled the corners of his mouth slightly.

Smart women always knew what to do.

On the other side of the carriage, Ragyō leaned close to Kurenai's ear, softly sharing amusing stories from Konoha.

Every now and then, the thin-skinned girl would let out a suppressed giggle, and the atmosphere inside the carriage grew warm and pleasant.

The motorcade's slow pace, of course, did not escape the notice of the Twelve Guardian Ninja.

An hour later, Sarutobi Asuma finally lost his patience.

He moved forward a few steps, landing near Enmaru and walking alongside him.

"Hey, Enmaru-senpai, isn't this speed a little too slow?"

Enmaru glanced at the carriage ahead and replied in a low voice, "Have you ever seen a fisherman eager to haul in his net?"

Asuma immediately fell silent.

He reached for the chakra blade at his waist and silently returned to his position.

Enmaru watched him leave, then scanned the quiet forest around them. A bitter smile tugged at his lips.

Using oneself as bait to lure out the snake...

This man's boldness truly made one view him in a new light.

No wonder he dared speak so fearlessly.

Just then, in the corner of his vision, a shadow flitted through the trees, nearly indistinguishable from the surrounding shadows.

That figure flickered and disappeared deep within the forest.

A member of the Shadow Guard.

Enmaru's eyes narrowed.

What terrifying concealment.

As someone who knew about the unit, he was familiar with their existence.

But it was only upon seeing them move like ghosts in broad daylight that he truly understood how terrifying they were.

On the surface, the Daimyo was protected by the Twelve Guardian Ninja.

But secretly, a web of surveillance had already been cast by the Shadow Guard.

And the Daimyo himself was the bait, drawing the snakes out.

From the start, this was a hunt.

At the rear of the procession.

Orochimaru extended his tongue to lick his lips, having also sensed the figures moving in the shadows.

A faint chuckle escaped his lips, and a playful glint appeared in his eyes.

The road ahead would certainly not be dull.

The bleak autumn wind stirred fallen leaves across the path.

The Daimyo's motorcade continued to move forward at a leisurely pace...

Konoha, Hokage's Office

Minato was discussing the reception arrangements for the Daimyo with two of the village's elders.

Just then, an Anbu appeared and knelt before them.

"Report. The Daimyo's motorcade has departed from the Fire Capital and is heading toward Konoha."

Minato nodded. "What about the guards? How many has the Daimyo brought?"

"On the surface, only the Twelve Guardian Ninja. I did not dare inquire further about others."

"Hm." Minato realized his question had been careless and quickly followed up, "How long until they reach Konoha?"

"At their current speed, at least two more days."

Minato's brow furrowed. He began pacing.

A normal carriage journey from the Fire Capital to Konoha wouldn't take that long.

He knew the Daimyo's goal was to fish out hidden enemies.

Even so, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.

"What about the shinobi we dispatched to meet them?" He stopped pacing and asked again.

"They should rendezvous with the motorcade by noon today."

"Understood." Minato waved his hand. "Continue surveillance. I want updates on even the slightest movement along the route."

"Report every hour."

"Yes!"

The Anbu's figure turned into a blur and vanished from the office.

Only then did Mitokado Homura speak up, his tone filled with concern.

"Minato, the Daimyo is shouldering a burden that should be ours. We must ensure his safety."

"Don't worry," Minato replied calmly. Then he asked, "Are all preparations for the reception complete?"

Homura nodded solemnly. "Everything is in place, all according to the highest standard."

"Good." Minato nodded, finally relaxing a bit after confirming everything.

His gaze drifted to the window. Under the sunlight, the village looked peaceful and calm.

But in the depths of his blue eyes, a cold gleam flickered.

He hoped Kumo wouldn't be foolish enough to make a move.

Otherwise... he, the Yellow Flash, would make them remember the horror of war.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 94: Carelessness, Still Carelessness!

The dense forest on both sides of the main road was deathly quiet.

Even the chirping of birds and insects had disappeared, leaving only the rustling of leaves stirred by the wind.

A black shadow descended silently from a treetop dozens of meters high, landing without a sound.

The moment he touched the ground, another shadow emerged from the darkness below.

No words were exchanged between them.

A set of complex hand seals was completed in an instant.

"Area Three is clear."

"Received. Maintain the perimeter."

As the hand seals ended, one figure sank into the earth while the other pressed against a tree trunk, once again blending into the surroundings.

They were part of Arashi's Shadow Guard.

And at the edge of their reconnaissance range, another group of shinobi maintained the same vigilant stance.

A member of the Hyūga clan stood atop high ground, Byakugan activated, his gaze penetrating layers of trees and foliage.

Beads of sweat dotted his forehead, his concentration at its peak.

"Captain, two chakra signatures detected to the west," a sensory-type shinobi reported.

Without turning around, the Hyūga replied calmly, "They're ours. Let them pass."

A moment later, two shinobi wearing Konoha headbands appeared before the squad.

"What's the situation?" the Hyūga captain asked.

"All clear."

"Good. Continue to search in a fan formation to the south. Stay alert."

"Yes!"

The Daimyo's convoy advanced slowly under such tight security.

The Shadow Guard and Konoha's Anbu.

They occasionally passed each other in the depths of the forest.

No words were spoken.

Only a glance or a faint guttural sound confirmed identities before they each vanished back into the shadows.

Cooperation, yet clearly defined boundaries.

Tense, yet orderly.

The entire forest was cloaked in an invisible aura of killing intent.

But inside the carriage, the atmosphere was completely different.

Arashi had awakened.

Ragyō quickly replaced the cooled tea with a fresh, steaming cup, the warmth of her breath lingering in the air.

"My Lord, your complexion doesn't look good," she noticed keenly. Arashi's gaze had grown much more serious than before.

Across from her, Kurenai, who had gradually relaxed under Ragyō's warmth and kindness, also noticed something.

As a Genjutsu specialist, she was even more sensitive to shifts in mood.

The man who had been smiling just moments ago now seemed heavy and silent.

Arashi leaned against the cushion, his fingers rhythmically tapping his knee.

Those familiar with him knew this was a habit he displayed while deep in thought.

It was almost noon.

The convoy was moving slowly.

According to plan, this stretch was the most dangerous section of the journey. Perfect for an ambush.

The terrain here began to rise, and the forest grew denser.

The road was narrow. If attacked here, maneuvering would be difficult.

It was an ideal ambush location.

But strangely, nothing had happened.

Those Kumo rogues had seemingly vanished into thin air.

Something was wrong.

Arashi's brows furrowed.

He ran through the chain of clues in his mind once again.

Kumo had rerouted through the Land of Water to stage a long-range infiltration, sacrificing four Jōnin in the process, just to sneak in a small squad of barely a dozen.

Such a high cost couldn't be for a minor mission.

Judging from their route, their target should have been him.

But they hadn't shown up yet.

Besides him, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, who else would be worth such an operation?

Minato?

Impossible.

Even if they somehow succeeded in killing him, it would only ignite a full-scale war. Konoha wouldn't rest until vengeance was exacted.

It wouldn't benefit the Land of Lightning, already under attack from three fronts.

Only by killing the Daimyo and throwing the Land of Fire into political chaos could they collapse the Three Nation Alliance from within.

That was their only hope of turning the tide.

The logic was sound.

The strategy was plausible.

But why hadn't they moved yet?

Had they given up?

Even more unlikely.

After paying such a steep price, they hadn't come all this way just to sightsee.

What were they waiting for?

Arashi's finger-tapping suddenly sped up, his mind racing.

From the moment they left the capital until now, the convoy had been guarded only by the Twelve Guardian Ninja and Shadow Guard. This was the weakest point in their entire defensive formation.

Once they rendezvoused with Konoha's support force, their security would increase drastically.

Trying to assassinate him then would be suicide.

Which meant the best time to strike was now, before the rendezvous.

And yet, Kumo hadn't acted.

Unless…

Arashi's breath hitched.

Unless he was never the target.

That infiltration squad wasn't sent to assassinate anyone.

But for something else.

What mission was worth exchanging four Jōnin lives?

What objective required a small team to infiltrate deep into the Land of Fire?

Attack Konoha?

A dozen shinobi assaulting a Hidden Village guarded by Namikaze Minato, Tsunade, and Sarutobi Hiruzen?

That was a death sentence.

Then only one answer remained.

That squad wasn't the main force.

They were the vanguard.

Their silence was essential for a much larger plan.

A plan that would allow Kumo's main force to bypass all lines of defense and appear directly in Konoha.

His so-called grand tour, far from luring out hidden threats, had instead become a smokescreen helping the enemy conceal their true objective.

Crack.

Arashi's eyes snapped open, cold and sharp. The teacup in his hand had already shattered.

This conclusion was outrageous.

Nothing like this had occurred in the original timeline.

But when all impossibilities are eliminated, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

Just then, a voice from outside the carriage broke the silence.

"My Lord, Konoha's rendezvous force has appeared ahead."

"Understood."

Arashi's tone was calm, with no visible fluctuation.

He lifted the curtain.

In the distance, hundreds of Konoha shinobi stood in formation.

At the front was Shiranui Genma, senbon in his mouth, with a laid-back expression.

Upon seeing the Daimyo's carriage, Genma stepped forward and knelt on one knee.

"Konoha Jōnin Shiranui Genma, under the orders of the Fourth Hokage, I lead this unit to escort you, Daimyo-sama."

Behind him, a hundred elite shinobi knelt in unison, their formation tight, their presence overwhelming.

Lowering the curtain, Arashi turned to the two women beside him.

"We're speeding up now. Hold on."

Just then, the carriage curtain was suddenly pulled aside.

Arashi stepped onto the carriage shaft, looking down at the kneeling crowd.

"Thank you for your efforts." His voice wasn't loud. "Since we've made contact, proceed at full speed. Destination, Konoha."

The order stunned everyone.

They had just been advancing slowly. Now, suddenly—

"Daimyo-sama." Genma looked up, puzzled. "If we increase our speed now, our formation will be disrupted, and there will be gaps in our defense. The assassins haven't even..."

He didn't finish his sentence.

He stopped himself.

Arashi simply looked at him.

That calm gaze alone made Genma feel as though he had plunged into an ice-cold abyss.

He immediately lowered his head and shouted, "Understood."

Enmaru, watching from the side, instantly grew serious.

He realized something had happened.

They, the Guardian Ninja, understood the point of this journey.

For this man to suddenly abandon all arrangements.

A terrifying possibility surfaced in Enmaru's mind. His entire body trembled.

Something big had happened.

"What are you all standing around for?" he barked at the other Guardian Ninja nearby. "You wanna be collecting corpses in Konoha? Move."

The word corpses struck like a hammer.

A chill ran through everyone.

The entire convoy immediately accelerated.

The Guardian Ninja flanked both sides of the main carriage.

A hundred Konoha elites led the vanguard.

The Shadow Guard no longer hid in the shadows but guarded the rear of the formation in full view.

The wind howled.

The forest filled with the rumble of wheels and the rapid passage of countless shinobi through the air.

(To be continued.)