DAIMYO: Chapter 89/90

Chapter 89: Taking the Initiative

It was a chilly early morning in the Fire Capital, late autumn.

On the soft bed, Arashi opened his eyes.

Ragyō, beside him, was still sound asleep, her long eyelashes casting a faint shadow across her fair cheek.

Last night's indulgence had left her in a deep slumber, a satisfied smile still lingering on her lips.

Arashi's fingertips gently traced her smooth shoulder.

This kind of life was far more interesting than endless killing.

Just as he was enjoying the tranquility of the morning, a steady, restrained voice came from outside the bedroom door.

"My Lord."

It was the Shadow Guard.

His voice carried no emotion, yet the urgency behind it was unmistakable.

"Konoha's highest-level urgent report."

Ragyō stirred awake, her sleepy eyes opening as she looked at the man beside her in confusion.

Arashi patted her shoulder, signaling her to go back to sleep.

He rose, casually pulling on an outer robe and said, "Speak."

The Shadow Guard's voice dropped even lower. "The pursuit team led by the Hyūga Clan Head has failed."

Hmm?

Arashi's movements paused, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Failed?

Hyūga Hiashi, along with dozens of Konoha elites, chasing just over a dozen enemies, and they failed?

Without bothering to adjust his long robe, Arashi walked out of the room with his chest exposed.

"Continue."

The Shadow Guard immediately unrolled the intelligence report and read it aloud.

The content was brief.

The Kumo infiltration team showed no fear of death.

Four Jōnin among them forcefully delayed Konoha's pursuit through self-detonation.

The remaining nine had completely vanished.

Four Jōnin... self-destructed to cover the retreat?

Arashi repeated the words, his gaze growing increasingly cold.

This was far beyond the "small trouble" he had initially assumed.

At the end of the report was a deduction made by Minato in the name of Hokage.

For the infiltrators to pay such a heavy price, their objective must be significant.

Based on their escape route, their most likely destination was the Fire Capital.

The atmosphere instantly tensed.

Gen, who had been standing nearby, froze as he heard that line. His breath hitched, and his face went pale.

The Fire Capital?

Assassinate the Daimyo?

Gen immediately linked the two possibilities.

Those madmen from Kumogakure, how dare they?

The Shadow Guard added, "To ensure safety, the Fourth Hokage has urgently dispatched one hundred elite shinobi, who are currently en route to the Capital."

"Heh."

A short laugh escaped Arashi's lips.

But it was chillingly cold.

Konoha sending reinforcements was to be expected.

It would have been strange if they hadn't.

He slowly tied his sash, his expression terrifyingly calm.

"Is the Konoha messenger still in the mansion?"

"Yes, he's waiting in the side hall," Gen quickly replied.

"Bring him here."

"And bring a map."

"Yes."

Soon, a dust-covered Konoha messenger was brought before Arashi.

The moment he saw Arashi, he dropped to one knee and repeated the lines the Advisor Elders had drilled into him.

"Daimyo-sama, Konoha was negligent in allowing the rogues to infiltrate the heartland."

"Rise," Arashi replied flatly.

"Bring the map."

A large military map of the Land of Fire was quickly spread across the floor.

Arashi stepped over and focused on the eastern border.

"Mark the infiltration route and the last confirmed location."

"Yes."

The messenger stepped forward without delay, drawing a winding red line across the map.

The line began at the border swamp, then trailed westward through mountains and dense forests.

It finally ended in a forested area just seventy kilometers from the Fire Capital.

The path pointed straight to the Capital.

So they really were coming for him.

Arashi crossed his arms, fingers gently tapping against his bicep as he thought aloud.

"To buy a few minutes, they sacrificed four elite Jōnin."

"To issue such an order and have subordinates willing to obey..."

"The one leading this team is probably not just anyone."

He paused. His gaze turned sharp.

"I'm even starting to wonder."

"Could it be the Fourth Raikage himself?"

The room fell into silence.

Those present froze as if struck by lightning, their faces filled with disbelief.

The Raikage. Personally infiltrating?

A Kage, bringing only a dozen shinobi, sneaking into enemy territory to carry out an assassination?

This was no longer bold. This was insanity.

This was gambling the future of the Land of Lightning itself.

Arashi smiled. This time, it was genuine.

When the Third Raikage invaded the Land of Earth, he still needed to bring an army.

His son, on the other hand, dared to dive into the Land of Fire with only a handful of men.

In sheer audacity, the Fourth had surpassed the Third.

It seemed he had underestimated these muscle-bound hotheads from Kumogakure.

When pushed into a corner, they truly dared to bet everything.

Arashi quickly pieced together the enemy's plan.

First, they showed weakness at the negotiating table.

Then, they stirred up trouble at the border to divert attention.

And behind the scenes, they deployed a suicide squad to strike at the heart.

They had nerves of steel and strategy to match.

He had pushed them too far.

What he thought was a simple game of cat and mouse had escalated into an all-in gamble.

As Arashi thought, his smile turned colder.

Still, one thing puzzled him.

In the three previous Ninja World Wars, no one had ever dared to lay a hand on a Daimyo.

Did they truly have the nerve to attack him?

Or was there something deeper?

After all, breaking the rules came with consequences.

But quickly, he tossed aside that doubt.

Did it matter whether they dared?

He would know soon enough.

Coincidentally, the Konoha Chūnin Exams were just a few days away.

Maybe it was time for an early visit.

A plan was forming in his mind.

"Gen."

"Here."

"Prepare the carriage."

Gen asked reflexively, "My Lord, where are you going?"

"We leave tomorrow for Konoha."

"To observe the Chūnin Exams."

Gen's face turned pale.

He quickly protested, "No."

"My Lord, it's too dangerous to travel right now."

"Kumogakure's assassins are still in hiding. Leaving the Capital is exactly what they want."

"Attending something like the Chūnin Exams now is the same as walking into a trap."

Arashi raised his hand to stop him. "Gen, I understand your concern."

"But hiding indefinitely isn't a solution."

Gen tried to say more, but Arashi added calmly, "The Shadow Guard will accompany me."

"And don't forget, Konoha also sent a hundred shinobi to protect me."

Gen froze.

He had nearly forgotten that Konoha had already deployed a full escort.

"I am the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. I have a personal guard, and reinforcements from Konoha," Arashi said coldly. "If a few assassins were enough to scare me into staying indoors, I'd be a laughingstock."

Gen opened his mouth, but the words died before they could be spoken.

He knew all arguments were pointless now.

When his lord made a decision, no one could change it.

Finally, Gen bowed his head.

"...As you command."

He turned and left, his steps heavy with worry.

Once the room emptied, the gentle expression on Arashi's face slowly faded.

His eyes returned to their usual cold clarity.

He wanted to see for himself.

Did those desperate fools truly have the guts to strike at the Daimyo as he left the palace?

Returning to the bedroom, Ragyō was already awake, leaning against the headboard, watching him.

"Something happened in Konoha?"

"A small matter," Arashi said as he lay back down and pulled her into his arms.

"Perfect timing. I'm bored anyway."

"Come with me to Konoha. There might be a good show to watch."

"Okay." Ragyō nodded without asking further.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 90: The Eve of Departure

That afternoon, the news of Arashi's decision to go to Konoha caused an uproar within the Daimyo Manor.

Several senior officials rushed to advise him, speaking earnestly.

Their message was unanimous: with Kumogakure assassins lurking in the shadows, the Daimyo should not take unnecessary risks.

Arashi silenced them all with just one sentence.

"Konoha has a hundred elite shinobi, the Twelve Guardian Ninja, and my Shadow Guard... if a mere few people can still succeed in assassinating me, then the shinobi of the Land of Fire may as well commit collective suicide."

No one dared to respond after that.

The ministers could only bow and withdraw in silence, defeated by their monarch's unshakable will.

Afterward, Arashi sent orders for the Twelve Guardian Ninja to make immediate preparations to accompany him the next morning.

Once all major arrangements were in place, he returned to his study to handle the day's remaining government affairs.

After finishing the morning's work, Arashi found a rare moment of leisure.

The late autumn afternoon sun was warm and comforting.

He reclined on a lounge chair in the corridor. A pot of freshly brewed tea sat on the stone table in front of him, fragrant steam curling into the air.

At that moment, a guard approached and reported, "My Lord, Yūhi Kurenai requests an audience."

Arashi looked toward the courtyard entrance.

Kurenai stood just outside the gate, her posture slightly stiff.

She wore a light red kimono, elegant and modest, with her long hair draped gently over her shoulders. She looked far more like a gentle young maiden than a competent shinobi.

Her small hands were nervously clasped together. She seemed uncertain, even timid.

Arashi's eyes gleamed with faint amusement.

He knew full well that the girl before him had blood on her hands, that she could face life and death without flinching on the battlefield.

Yet here, inside this courtyard, stripped of her shinobi identity and facing him—her nominal husband—her youthful awkwardness and shyness as a sixteen-year-old girl could not be concealed.

The contrast was delightful.

"Let her in."

"Yes."

With permission granted, Kurenai stepped forward, her movements delicate and cautious, until she stood before Arashi.

"Something you need?"

Arashi asked lazily.

"I..." Kurenai stammered, her crimson eyes full of tension. "My Lord... I heard that you are going to Konoha tomorrow?"

"The news spreads quickly."

Receiving confirmation, Kurenai took a small step forward, summoning her courage.

Her voice was very soft but firm. "My Lord, I... I would like to go with you."

"Oh? And why is that?" Arashi looked at her with interest.

Her eyes held faint hope, but her hands were tightly clasped, betraying her unease.

When she didn't respond, Arashi chuckled. His voice held a trace of teasing.

"What's wrong, feeling homesick?"

Those simple words pierced straight through her heart.

Her face instantly turned scarlet.

Her bright red pupils darted away, avoiding Arashi's gaze. Her lips parted slightly, but she couldn't speak.

That shy and flustered expression was genuinely endearing.

"Mm..."

After a while, she let out a hum barely louder than a mosquito's buzz.

Her head lowered even further, almost burying itself in her chest.

Seeing her like this, Arashi was suddenly reminded—

Kurenai, though already a capable shinobi and a genjutsu prodigy, at her age, many ordinary girls were still being doted on by their parents, enjoying carefree days.

But she had left her hometown, coming all the way to this deep palace to become one of his consorts.

Though he had never mistreated her, no amount of material comfort could replace her longing for home.

With that in mind, Arashi's expression softened, and his tone became more gentle.

"It's only natural to be homesick."

He sat up from the lounge chair.

Kurenai's body stiffened further at his movement.

But Arashi didn't tease her anymore.

"Go prepare. Tomorrow morning, you'll ride with Ragyō in my carriage."

The refusal she had braced for never came.

Kurenai's eyes widened in shock, her crimson pupils sparkling.

"M-my Lord, you agree?" Her voice trembled slightly.

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

Seeing her elated expression, Arashi's mood inexplicably improved.

"Thank you, My Lord! Thank you!"

Overjoyed, Kurenai forgot all restraint. She bowed again and again, her smile blooming bright and innocent.

"Alright." Arashi raised his hand to gently stop her. "It's a small matter."

As his fingertips brushed against her skin, Kurenai's entire body tensed.

Her smile froze, and a wave of heat surged from the point of contact through her entire body.

Her face flushed instantly.

"I... I'll take my leave now!" she said in a panic, turning to flee, completely forgetting court etiquette.

Watching her slightly flustered figure retreat, the smile on Arashi's lips deepened.

Such a simple, sincere girl.

He leaned back into his lounge chair again, lifted the now-lukewarm tea, and drained it in one go.

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the courtyard, casting his shadow long across the ground.

...Late night.

Daimyo Manor study.

After completing the last of his duties, Arashi was just about to rise.

Suddenly, a shadow emerged from the darkness of the room without a sound.

The figure had barely taken form.

Clang! Clang!

Several barely audible metallic clicks rang out.

In the next moment, an icy killing intent surged through the room from every direction, locking firmly onto the intruder.

The light seemed to dim.

Faint reflections of blades shimmered in the candlelight, each one aimed at Orochimaru's vital points.

Orochimaru's snake-like pupils contracted sharply.

He could clearly feel it. If he made another move, a thunderous strike would come without mercy.

"Withdraw."

Arashi didn't even turn his head. He simply raised a hand and said two words.

The killing intent immediately dissipated.

The room fell silent again, as though nothing had happened.

Only then did Arashi turn to look at Orochimaru, who had fully stepped out of the shadows.

He said nothing.

"Daimyo-sama."

Orochimaru forced a smile, his eyes still filled with dread.

He had truly sensed death just now.

"The vaccine is ready." Orochimaru handed over a thick research report. His smile was stiff. "As expected, science can always give a perfect answer, heh heh..."

"Your efficiency isn't bad." Arashi took the report, skimmed a few pages, and tossed it onto the table.

"Begin a small-scale rollout in the southern towns with the mildest outbreak. I want to see flawless results before it goes nationwide."

"Of course." Orochimaru licked his lips, trying to mask his earlier panic. "Such a large-scale clinical trial... just thinking about it excites me. I'll personally oversee it."

After business was done, Orochimaru didn't seem eager to leave.

He continued, "Daimyo-sama, I heard... you'll be heading to Konoha tomorrow for the Chūnin Exams?"

Arashi raised an eyebrow. "What, you want to come too?"

"Hehehehehe..." Orochimaru chuckled lowly and lowered his head. "I have a request."

"I have some old experimental equipment and data stored in Konoha... I wonder if you might allow me to retrieve those items?"

So that's what he wanted.

Arashi stared at Orochimaru's calculating expression and suddenly smiled.

"You may."

"I'll assign Saku to accompany you."

Aono Saku?

Orochimaru's smile twitched.

A flash of dread passed through his eyes.

He had clashed with Saku several times in private.

Even without going all out, the man had proven to be quite a troublesome opponent.

"Whatever you want to take, just have him help you." Arashi's tone remained calm. "With him there, no one in Konoha should dare to interfere."

"Hehehehe... Daimyo-sama is truly generous. Then I shall not refuse."

Orochimaru expressed thanks, though he cursed inwardly.

This wasn't assistance. This was surveillance.

"Go." Arashi waved his hand, dismissing him.

This time, Orochimaru didn't dare use the Body Flicker Technique.

He bowed respectfully and turned toward the door.

But just as he reached it, Arashi's voice sounded again.

"Orochimaru."

His body froze instantly.

"Just now, my guards already gave you a warning." Arashi's voice was low and icy. "This study has a door."

"As my chief researcher, I suggest you learn some manners."

"Next time... I'll personally rip out your tongue."

(To be continued.)