DAIMYO: Chapter 83/84

Chapter 83: Endless Spring

The night was as dark as ink, enveloping the entire Fire Capital.

In the Daimyo Manor's study.

Arashi leaned back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose.

The documents on the desk had been cleared, but his mind felt slightly swollen from excessive thinking.

"Gen," he said, getting up to stretch, "is everything ready on Uchiha Ragyō's side?"

Gen, who was attending him, immediately replied, "Reporting, My Lord, everything is prepared."

"Uchiha Ragyō spent the entire day personally arranging the courtyard, and she also oversaw the kitchen staff as they prepared each dish for dinner."

Arashi chuckled at the words, ignoring the unintentional flattery in Gen's tone.

"Mm," he hummed, stepping out of the study.

"Lead the way."

"Yes."

The newly bestowed courtyard was named Crimson Moon Pavilion.

It was serene and elegant.

Passing along a cobblestone path, one could hear the gurgling of flowing water.

When Arashi stepped into the courtyard, Ragyō, who had been waiting, curtsied gracefully. "Ragyō respectfully welcomes Daimyo-sama."

Her voice held both excitement and a deliberately suppressed hint of allure.

Arashi's gaze fell upon her.

Tonight, Ragyō had changed into a more daring black silk kimono, with a burning Uchiha fan crest embroidered in gold thread on the lapel.

Her long hair cascaded down her back, the ends slightly curled, adding a touch of charm.

She wore light makeup, her eyeshadow subtly upturned, and her crimson lips, full and luscious, gleamed alluringly under the lamplight.

She knelt there quietly, patiently waiting.

"Rise."

"Yes."

Ragyō rose with her head bowed, her lotus-like steps light as she led the way for Arashi.

A blend of floral fragrance and a woman's scent wafted into Arashi's nostrils with her movements.

Inside, dinner was already laid out on the low table.

After Arashi was seated, Ragyō did not sit down. She knelt beside him and picked up the sake flask.

"Daimyo-sama, this is sake that I personally warmed."

She poured a full cup but did not hand it over. Instead, she took a small sip herself.

Under Arashi's gaze, she leaned forward slightly, bringing the cup to his lips.

Her crimson lips parted slightly.

Arashi instantly became interested, did not refuse, and opened his mouth to receive it.

The sake was mellow, carrying the warmth and fragrance from her lips, sliding down his throat as if igniting a flame.

"You're quite bold."

Arashi pinched her delicate chin, his thumb caressing her soft skin.

Ragyō's body trembled slightly, yet there was no fear in her eyes. Instead, they shimmered with a watery light, full of allure. "To serve Daimyo-sama is my greatest fortune. I would dare to be even bolder."

Her voice was soft and gentle, with a hint of coquetry.

"Sit opposite me," Arashi said with a smile, releasing his hand.

"I fear the sake will cool if I am too far from Daimyo-sama." She not only did not leave, she moved even closer.

"I like to look at your face," Arashi said with a meaningful smile, "to see how many mischievous thoughts are hidden beneath this beautiful face."

"Daimyo-sama truly jokes. Aren't my thoughts written all over my face?"

Ragyō stiffened slightly, then chuckled, her laughter like silver bells.

However, she obediently sat opposite Arashi, her beautiful eyes meeting his gaze, bold and direct. "My only thought is to make Daimyo-sama… comfortable tonight."

Arashi picked up his chopsticks and did not respond.

The meal was enchanting and ambiguous.

Ragyō continuously served him dishes, sometimes teasing with words, sometimes enticing with her eyes, playing the role of a seductress to perfection.

Arashi watched her performance with great interest, enjoying the feeling of being flattered.

After several rounds of sake.

Arashi set down his cup and leaned back. "Not only is your dance excellent, you are also very interesting."

"To receive a compliment from Daimyo-sama, I can die without regrets," Ragyō replied immediately, her face full of joy.

Arashi raised an eyebrow. "Is that all your ambition?"

"A woman's ambition is simply to please the man she loves, isn't it?" Ragyō replied as if it were obvious.

As she spoke, she rose, walked around the low table, and knelt beside Arashi again.

Arashi looked at her, the playfulness in his eyes deepening. "Oh? So, you love me?"

This question caused Ragyō to pause slightly.

But she showed no panic. She looked up, met Arashi's gaze, and smiled radiantly.

Her smile was dazzlingly beautiful.

"Of course, I love you," she answered without hesitation.

Her fingers lightly traced Arashi's arm, causing a faint shiver.

"From the first moment I saw Daimyo-sama, my heart was already yours."

Arashi looked down at her.

Under the lamplight, her face was flushed, her eyes hazy, and her breath was sweet.

She was like a ripe peach, just waiting to be plucked.

"You certainly know how to talk."

He smiled, reached out to embrace her waist, and with a slight pull, drew her entirely into his arms.

"Oh."

Ragyō gasped, falling into his embrace. "What I said is all from the heart."

She looked up, her arms wrapped around his neck, her breath like orchids.

Arashi gazed at her crimson lips, so close, and a flame finally ignited in his eyes.

He said no more, picked her up, and walked quickly toward the inner room.

"Daimyo-sama… mm…"

Outside the window, the moonlight was full.

Inside the room, endless passion unfolded.

Yet no one knew that at the eastern border, a dozen figures were moving rapidly, about to enter the Land of Fire.

In the swampy forest at the border of the Land of Water and the Land of Fire.

The chirping of insects and croaking of frogs were incessant.

The air here was humid, and even though it was late autumn, it remained muggy, and the decaying vegetation emitted an unpleasant odor.

"Raikage, ahead is the border of the Land of Fire."

A Kumogakure scout returned silently, reporting in a low voice.

A asked, "What's the situation?"

"The Land of Fire's patrols are very tight," the scout said gravely. "The density of patrol teams is much higher than in the intelligence, and their routes are meticulously designed."

"Just now, I observed over a dozen patrol teams."

A's brow furrowed instantly. "Are there any weaknesses?"

The scout replied, "Yes. Their forces seem insufficient to sustain such high-intensity defense."

"Moreover, there is a defensive vacuum of about three minutes between patrol teams."

"As long as we seize the opportunity, we can pass through."

"Three minutes?"

"Yes."

"That's enough."

Upon hearing this, A's brow relaxed, and a cruel smile appeared on his face.

It seemed the Land of Fire was just bluffing, a mere empty shell.

"Everyone, prepare."

A lowered his voice, giving the command. "Seize the next gap, full speed ahead."

"Yes."

The Kumogakure shinobi responded in low voices.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 84: Bloodstained Border

At the edge of the swamp, the stifling heat was vexing.

A four-person Konoha patrol team was resting against a tree trunk.

"Damn it, when will this cursed mission end?"

A young Genin, stuffing military rations into his mouth, grumbled in a low voice, "It's already the third day. We've been circling this damned place a dozen times every day, and my bones are about to fall apart."

"Exactly!" another Genin echoed. "I don't know what the higher-ups are thinking, suddenly raising the patrol rank to the highest level."

"If those madmen from the Land of Lightning really wanted to attack, they'd come from the northeastern border. Who would be so bored as to take the long way around and emerge from this swamp?"

"Shut up!" The Jonin leading the team opened his eyes, his gaze cold, and reprimanded in a deep voice, "Control your tongues during the mission."

Despite his words, a hint of weariness flickered in his eyes.

The Daimyo Manor's warning, Hokage-sama's orders, they had no choice but to obey.

But the entire Eastern War Zone had so few people.

They had to guard against potential movements from Kirigakure while also maintaining high-intensity patrols along this long border, so manpower was indeed stretched thin.

This seemingly impenetrable defense network was, in reality, pushing everyone within it to their limits.

"Rest is over. This is the last round tonight."

The Jonin stood up, brushing off decaying leaves and mud from his body, and the other three could only sigh and follow.

After clearing away any possible traces, the four figures once again disappeared into the dark, dense forest.

But none of them noticed.

Shortly after they left, more than a dozen dark figures flashed past the spot where they had rested, leaving no trace.

However, accidents always happen unexpectedly.

Just as the Raikage's team was about to pass through this patrol area, the Konoha patrol team, which should have already left, returned.

The Jonin leading the team suddenly stopped in his tracks while moving.

He looked back at the spot where they had just rested, his brows tightly furrowed.

The three team members immediately became alert but found nothing.

One of them asked in a low voice, "Captain?"

"Something's wrong." The Jonin's gaze was sharp, fixed on a broken vine in the distance.

"The mark there wasn't left by us."

As an experienced veteran Jonin, his control of details was excellent.

The break was too fresh, and the angle was tricky, as if it had been snapped by something heavy passing at high speed.

"Let's go back and check."

The four returned the way they came.

And so, on a narrow, dark forest path, two groups of people suddenly met.

The air solidified in that instant.

The pupils of the four Konoha shinobi suddenly constricted.

What did they see?

The man at the head was so powerfully built he seemed inhuman, explosive muscles beneath bronze skin, and that distinctive light yellow hair… Fourth Raikage, A.

Behind him, the dark-skinned man carrying seven long swords and wearing sunglasses looked at them with a mocking gaze… Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Killer B.

And more than ten Kumogakure elites with condensed Chakra and cold eyes.

A bone-deep chill rose.

"Run!" The Jonin instinctively wanted to shout a warning, his hands already forming seals rapidly. "Enemy attack! Earth Release…"

However, his shout and Ninjutsu stopped abruptly in an instant.

Splat.

A blue electric flash passed, and A's figure didn't even leave an afterimage before he appeared in front of him.

That muscled arm easily pierced his chest, crushing his heart along with it.

Warm blood gushed down A's arm.

"Too noisy."

A withdrew his hand expressionlessly, letting the body fall limply.

All of this happened in a flash.

"Yo, sending you on your way, idiot, fool!"

Killer B's strange cadence sounded, and seven swords were already unsheathed.

A death vortex formed by blades instantly twisted the remaining three patrol members, who hadn't reacted at all, into it.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

There were no screams.

Three heads flew into the air, blood gushing, staining the dense forest crimson.

From encounter to annihilation.

Less than two seconds.

A massacre of completely unequal strength ended swiftly and cleanly.

A glanced at the bodies on the ground, his eyes devoid of warmth.

"Don't bother cleaning up, speed up."

"We'll hide once we reach the designated location."

He didn't linger, his figure flashed, and he led the team, disappearing deeper into the swamp.

Half an hour later.

The temporary camp on the border of the Land of Fire was brightly lit.

A Jonin in charge of dispatch looked at the mission board on the wall, his brows tightly furrowed.

"Why isn't the Third Patrol Team back yet?"

"They're twenty minutes overdue."

A premonition of ill omen rose in his heart, and he immediately reported to the commander.

"You, take three teams and check their assigned area!" Hearing the news, the commander immediately assigned a Jonin. "If there's an emergency, sound the alarm immediately!"

"Yes!"

The news came back quickly.

Bad news.

In the dense forest at the edge of the swamp, the bodies of the four members of the Third Patrol Team were found.

The shinobi who conducted the on-site investigation brought back their analysis.

Inside the command tent, the atmosphere was extremely heavy.

"All four were killed with a single blow, the wounds clean and precise, indicating the work of top-tier Taijutsu and Kenjutsu masters."

"The residual Chakra at the scene was very faint, but it can be confirmed as Lightning Release Chakra… The preliminary judgment is that it was done by Kumogakure."

"Based on the traces left at the scene, the enemy's numbers were between ten and fifteen people."

After compiling all the intelligence, the Jonin in charge of the investigation reached a final conclusion.

"A Kumogakure elite squad, numbering around ten to fifteen people, has torn through our defenses and infiltrated the Land of Fire."

This news instantly made the commander's face turn ashen.

He knew very well that a patrol team led by a Jonin could be silently eliminated.

The strength of this infiltrating team was absolutely extraordinary.

"Damn it." He roared in a low voice, not daring to delay in the slightest, and immediately ordered, "Organize ten teams to track them."

They were already in the Land of Fire, who would play one-on-one with you now.

Immediately, he took out a scroll and wrote down an urgent military report.

"A team numbering approximately ten to fifteen people, suspected to be Kumogakure elite, has infiltrated our territory."

"Extremely strong, target unknown."

"Hokage-sama and all departments are urged to pay close attention to defense."

After writing, he sealed the scroll as quickly as possible and handed it to the communication shinobi.

A ninja hawk soared into the sky, flying toward Konoha at maximum speed.

However, no one knew.

This seemingly accurate intelligence was, from the beginning, based on a fatal error.

They thought the infiltrators were just an elite team of a dozen people.

But they didn't know that this team's goal was to pave the way for a large Kumogakure army in the heart of the Land of Fire.

The clouds of war had already gathered.

Meanwhile, on the distant northeastern border, a small-scale skirmish was also unfolding.

Among those involved was the four-year-old Uchiha Itachi.

(To be continued.)