DAIMYO: Chapter 41/45

Chapter 41: I Want the World, and You Think I’m Interested in Your Girl?

Daimyo Manor, study.

Arashi listened to the messenger's report, and his expression froze for a moment.

His hand, holding the teacup, stopped midair.

The butler, Gen, standing by, immediately noticed the sudden silence in the air.

After reporting, the messenger also repeated Minato's question.

"Then… what about the concubine selection? Did Hokage-sama not mention it?"

Arashi blinked, his mind moving for a moment before he connected these two unrelated matters.

Then, he felt a sense of absurdity.

An indescribable sense of absurdity almost made him spit out his tea.

"You mean…" Arashi's tone turned a bit strange, "those people from Konoha, including their Fourth Hokage, all thought that my previous pressure on the Hyuga was to make their clan hand over a woman?"

The messenger lowered his head, not daring to reply, but silence itself was an answer.

Arashi was completely speechless and raised his hand to rub his temples.

He remembered very clearly that the edict for concubine selection was issued to the entire Land of Fire.

The true purpose was to take the opportunity to pressure and screen the old nobility, to see who was loyal and who had ulterior motives, and to carry out a power reshuffle.

As for Konoha… what he had prepared for Konoha, from the beginning, were only two choices.

One concerned the future, the Genius Cultivation Program.

The other concerned the present, the Twelve Guardian Ninja.

These two choices were his means to subdue Konoha.

Concubine selection?

That was, at best, a political reality show, meant for mortals to watch.

When had he ever considered this minor matter as a standard for testing Konoha's loyalty?

Did he need to use such a low method to covet a pair of Byakugan?

Ridiculous.

Now it seemed that the Uchiha Clan's overzealous attitude was probably the beginning of this huge misunderstanding.

They moved, the Hyuga moved, other clans followed, and as a result, the entire Konoha was plunged into a strange atmosphere where the Daimyo wanted to snatch the beauties of the ninja world.

Thinking of this, Arashi could not help but laugh out loud.

"Haha…"

The laughter was not loud, but it made Gen and the messenger feel their scalps tingle.

"It seems I overestimated them."

Arashi muttered to himself, his tone tinged with helpless self-mockery.

"I thought they really had backbone, but I did not expect their thinking to still be in the primitive stage of snatching people and territories."

Ninja were ninja after all.

Their worldview was firmly confined by Bloodline Limits, Ninjutsu, and clan legacy.

It was indeed a bit difficult for them to understand higher-level political games.

In the future, when issuing edicts, the wording must be rigorous, every word must be broken down and explained clearly, and there must be no phrases that could cause misunderstanding.

Arashi reflected on himself.

Although this misunderstanding was harmless, and he even got to watch a good show, it did slow down the progress of the plan.

He did not like this feeling of inefficiency.

"Never mind."

He waved his hand, regaining his regal demeanor. "Go back and tell Minato to relay my exact words to the Hyuga, word for word."

"Tell them to stop pondering over useless things."

"I am not interested in watching their tragic drama. I only want to see results."

"Yes, Daimyo-sama."

The messenger bowed and withdrew as if granted a great pardon.

Arashi picked up his teacup and took a light sip, his gaze deep.

A bunch of fools…

Hyuga Clan residence.

The atmosphere was oppressive.

Hiashi knelt in the main seat, his eyes bloodshot.

Several elders of the main family sat on either side, all with solemn expressions.

When Minato stepped into the room, everyone inside looked at him.

"Hokage-sama."

Hiashi's voice carried the resolute tone of someone who had given up.

"If you are still here for that matter, then please leave."

He thought this was the final ultimatum sent by the Daimyo Manor.

However, Minato simply looked at him silently, his expression complicated, carrying both sympathy and embarrassment.

"Hiashi," Minato said, "I am not here for the concubine selection."

Hiashi's tone was still stiff. "Then Fourth Hokage, what are you here for?"

Minato ignored Hiashi's bold declaration and stated the Daimyo's original intention.

He finally added, "If the Daimyo Manor does not receive your reply within three days…"

"Officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Internal Affairs will personally visit."

As his words fell, the room went silent.

Everyone was stunned.

They had anticipated countless possibilities, coercion, inducement, or even direct military encirclement.

But they had never expected such a message.

Hiashi's mouth opened slightly, and he subconsciously asked, "Just… this?"

"What about the concubine selection?" an elder could not help but press. "Hokage-sama… no longer wants our clan's Byakugan?"

This question immediately made Minato's expression turn strange.

He looked at the Hyuga, who were on high alert, and finally let out a long sigh.

"I think we all got it wrong."

Minato said somewhat helplessly, "From beginning to end, Daimyo-sama never linked the concubine selection with your Hyuga Clan."

"He does not care whether you send someone or not, and he certainly does not care about your Byakugan."

"That edict was for the whole country to see."

"Whether Konoha participates or not is simply not important to him."

Uh…

The Hyuga present felt a buzzing in their heads, speechless and choked.

Hiashi's face, taut with resolve, instantly froze.

What… did he say?

Does not care about the Byakugan?

Not important?

Then their struggle, which they had staked the lives of their entire clan on… their Bloodline Limit, which they wanted to protect at all costs… the clan-annihilation crisis that kept them awake at night… he said it was all a misunderstanding?

Hiashi's head buzzed, and the world spun.

Immediately after, what surged in his heart was not humiliation, but a burst of ecstasy.

The sword hanging over the Hyuga's head just… disappeared?

No.

That sword had never existed from beginning to end.

All this time, they had been scaring themselves.

This relief was so intense that Hiashi's tense muscles instantly relaxed, and cold sweat soaked his clothes.

But what followed was endless fear and shame.

He had almost, because of a foolish misunderstanding, personally buried the entire Hyuga Clan.

Hyuga's proud insight, that caution ingrained in their bones, now became a joke.

The Daimyo had never even coveted their Byakugan.

And they, for this, had almost sacrificed everything.

Just thinking about how his misjudgment had almost led them to a dead end, Hiashi's knees went weak.

His usually dignified face was now pale and ashamed.

He finally understood.

The Genius Cultivation Program… the Twelve Guardian Ninja… these were what the Daimyo truly wanted.

He did not want a woman, or a pair of eyes.

He wanted the Hyuga's unreserved loyalty.

That afternoon, Hiashi sent two lists to the Hokage's office.

One was the application for the Hyuga's Genius Cultivation Program, on which were prominently written the names of almost all the younger generation of Hyuga.

If he had children already, and if his brother's children were older, he would have wanted to include them as well.

The other was the candidate list for the Twelve Guardian Ninja, on which Hiashi had written his brother's name, Hyuga Hizashi.

The Hyuga Clan, with the most thorough gesture, offered their loyalty.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 42: The Monarch

The news of the Hyuga's retreat spread like wildfire throughout Konoha.

The Uchiha were the first to be taken aback.

Deep within the clan grounds, Mikoto had just finished a rigorous etiquette training session and was reporting her progress to her husband, the Clan Head.

When she heard the news he brought back, her mind went blank for a moment.

"So, Daimyo-sama never intended to force the Hyuga from the start?"

"Yes, it was us… we misunderstood."

Fugaku's expression was dazed for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "But it does not matter."

His eyes became resolute again, filled with undisguised ambition.

"Even if this was a misunderstanding, our choice will not change."

"Whether the Daimyo cares or not is not important."

"Before, we had no choice, we could only follow Konoha."

"Now, we must seize this opportunity to let the Daimyo see our loyalty and value."

"As long as we seize this opportunity, our Uchiha will soar."

He looked at Mikoto, his tone allowing no room for argument.

"Continue the training."

"Since those idiots from Hyuga backed down, we Uchiha must do this perfectly."

"For the Uchiha."

Mikoto always harbored a worry about such an extreme gamble.

But her husband's resolve made her suppress her anxiety, and she nodded solemnly. "Alright. For the Uchiha."

For them, the twists and turns of the process were meaningless.

As long as the Uchiha bloodline could truly integrate into the power core of the Land of Fire.

Even if this was just self-serving flattery, they would see it through.

Compared to the Uchiha's attitude of making the best of a bad situation, the atmosphere within the Ino–Shika–Chō clan grounds was much heavier.

Inside the house, Shikaku stared at the intelligence report in his hand, completely stunned.

Inoichi and Choza sat opposite him, their expressions equally dramatic.

After a long time, Shikaku finally let out a long breath, and his entire body slumped.

He looked dejected, his face showing self-contempt.

"We were all wrong."

"Terribly wrong."

As Konoha's recognized strategist, Shikaku was accustomed to calculating everything, accustomed to exchanging the greatest benefit for the smallest cost.

But this time, his proud mind played a fatal joke on him.

"I have been analyzing the Daimyo's motives, thinking he was using both soft and hard tactics to covet our Bloodline Limits, to create division within Konoha."

He gave a bitter laugh, pressing his throbbing forehead.

"Now it seems…"

"Our perspective was too small."

Inoichi swallowed hard and spoke with difficulty. "You mean, the Daimyo… did not even care about our bloodline?"

"It is not that he did not care."

Shikaku shook his head. "Rather, from the beginning, the Daimyo never wanted it."

"We were considering the gains and losses of one village and one clan, how to protect our own secret techniques and legacy."

"But the Daimyo was considering the entire Land of Fire, how to hold Konoha in his hand."

"The concubine selection was just a stone he threw to test the waters."

"Our waiting and watching was just being clever for our own good."

Hearing Shikaku's analysis, Choza broke out in a cold sweat and said with lingering fear, "Fortunately… fortunately, the Hyuga took this blow for us."

"If the Daimyo's ultimatum had been sent to our three clans…"

The consequences would have been unimaginable.

The Ino–Shika–Chō alliance was strong, but in the face of the Daimyo Manor's swift and decisive actions, how many more days could they have lasted than the Hyuga?

"We cannot wait any longer."

Shikaku slammed the table and stood up abruptly.

He made a decisive move.

"Inoichi, Choza, go back and select people immediately."

"The Genius Cultivation Program, the Twelve Guardian Ninja, we must participate in both. We must select the most outstanding juniors and clan members."

"Immediately."

"Right now."

He emphasized his words, his expression extremely serious.

"We absolutely cannot become the next clan to be singled out by the Daimyo."

"This time, not only must we participate, we must do it brilliantly."

…

On this day, not just the Ino–Shika–Chō.

All the clans in Konoha who were still watching began to move frantically.

Hokage Building, advisors' office.

The atmosphere was equally heavy.

Hiruzen silently puffed on his pipe, the smoke rising and obscuring his aged face.

Koharu and Homura sat opposite him, both with expressions of emotion and melancholy.

"We are all old."

Finally, Homura broke the silence, his voice desolate.

"Our thinking is still stuck in the era when the village was first established. We always feel that the Bloodline Limit is the most important foundation of a clan."

"To protect it, we would stop at nothing."

Koharu pushed up her glasses, her gaze behind the lenses complex.

"Yes, we always thought this new Daimyo coveted beauty and power."

"We did not expect that what he wanted was loyalty."

"That is all."

"And we are citizens of the Land of Fire. Giving loyalty is only right and proper."

Hiruzen exhaled a smoke ring and slowly said, "Danzō said before he died that this Daimyo was more evil than the Uchiha…"

"Now it seems, Danzō understood some things, but not completely."

"He is not evil."

"He is a monarch."

"A true monarch who views the entire country as his chessboard."

"And we ninja, our proud village and clans, are merely pawns on his chessboard."

He looked at the carved faces of the successive Hokage outside the window, his eyes dim.

"With such a Daimyo, the era of the Hokage…"

"Is truly over."

…

When Konoha's major clans threw themselves into the two programs launched by the Daimyo Manor with unprecedented enthusiasm, a corner of the village remained lifeless.

The Shimura clan grounds.

There was no bustling activity like in the Uchiha grounds, nor the solemn dignity of the Hyuga main branch.

Only desolation and decay.

The weeds in the courtyard were untrimmed, and the doors and windows of many houses looked old.

Every clan member walking within the grounds wore a gloomy and fearful expression.

Danzō's death was both a relief and a disaster for the entire Shimura clan.

While he was alive, he was Konoha's Root, a blade in the darkness, wielding immense power.

Yet he was extremely harsh on his own clan.

He treated the Shimura as his private source of soldiers and treasury, constantly siphoning off the most outstanding young ninja to send into Root.

He even continuously poured the profits from the clan's industries into Root.

For decades, the Sarutobi, Utatane, and Mitokado clans all flourished due to their close relationship with the Hokage.

Only the Shimura, far from growing, gradually withered.

Now, Danzō had been executed for treason, his corpse displayed in the city.

The Shimura name in Konoha had become synonymous with "criminal."

Inside the council hall, three white-haired elders sat opposite each other, their faces filled with gloom.

They were the Shimura's only remaining elders.

"Outside… what is it like?" asked Shimura Ken, the leading elder.

"All the clans have gone mad," another elder replied bitterly. "The Genius Cultivation Program, the Twelve Guardian Ninja… I heard that the Uchiha and Hyuga submitted lists of their most core disciples."

"Even the Ino–Shika–Chō had their three Clan Heads personally lead the selection, afraid of falling even half a step behind."

Silence once again fell upon the council hall.

For other clans, it was a celebration.

For their clan, it was the end of days.

"Do we… still have a chance?" a younger clan member could not help but ask, his voice full of unwillingness.

No one could answer that question.

Danzō had committed the grave crime of regicide and rebellion.

That the Daimyo had not executed the entire Shimura clan was already an act of mercy.

To still want an opportunity?

It was simply wishful thinking.

"How will we know if we do not try?"

After a long moment, Elder Shimura Ken slowly stood up, a resolute look appearing on his aged face.

"The crime Danzō committed was his alone."

"Our Shimura have been loyal to the Land of Fire for generations. This has never changed."

"We cannot just sit here and wait for death."

He looked at everyone, his gaze becoming sharp.

"Prepare a small gift. I want to see the Fourth Hokage-sama."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 43: Trade Finalized

Hokage's Office.

Minato looked at Shimura Ken in front of him, then at the list he presented, his brow slightly furrowed.

On the list were the names of all eligible young shinobi of the Shimura, twenty-seven in total.

Next to each name, four characters were marked in vermillion ink, "At your disposal."

"Elder Ken, what is the meaning of this?" Minato's voice betrayed no emotion.

Shimura Ken's posture was very humble.

"Hokage-sama, Danzō… his sins are monstrous. He has brought indelible shame upon our clan."

"But the loyalty of the rest of the Shimura to the Land of Fire and to Daimyo-sama has never wavered."

"We… we, the Shimura, also wish to serve Daimyo-sama."

He suddenly looked up, his cloudy old eyes abruptly becoming sharp.

"Is there still a path for the descendants of a criminal to serve the country?"

"We beg Hokage-sama to show us a clear way."

Minato fell silent.

He looked at the old man, his thoughts churning.

The Daimyo had not issued any orders specifically targeting the Shimura.

But this silence was like a blade that could fall at any moment, making the entire Shimura live in constant dread.

Now, they could no longer bear it.

Minato was inclined to agree, for he was not blind. Everyone in Konoha knew what kind of life the Shimura led when Danzō was alive.

However, he could not make the decision on this matter.

"I will report your intentions truthfully to Daimyo-sama."

"As for whether Daimyo-sama is willing to give you a chance, I cannot guarantee it."

"Thank you, Hokage-sama. Thank you, Hokage-sama." Even a vague answer gave Shimura Ken hope.

He bowed respectfully, performed a deep salute, then tremblingly withdrew.

Watching Shimura Ken's hunched back, Minato picked up the weighty list with a sigh.

Once upon a time, the Shimura were also a prominent clan in Konoha. When had they ever been so humble?

He organized this application, along with the lists from other clans, and sent someone to deliver them to the Fire Capital at the fastest possible speed.

The fate of the Shimura would be decided by that monarch with a single word.

Meanwhile, far away in the Fire Capital, negotiations were underway.

Daimyo Manor, Auxiliary Hall for Political Affairs.

The hall was warm as spring.

But the atmosphere was tense.

Finance Minister Tanaka Shigeru wore a slight smile.

Across from him were the negotiating representatives from Iwa and Suna.

Iwa's envoy was a solidly built middle-aged man, but his face looked haggard.

Clearly, these seven days of negotiations had consumed a great deal of his energy.

He pointed to the draft trade agreement, which had been revised over twenty times, and said in a hoarse voice, "Lord Tanaka, we have felt the sincerity of the Land of Fire."

"We are very grateful that the Land of Fire is willing to open exports of white sugar, silk, and refined sea salt."

"However…"

He changed his tone, pointing to one of the clauses in the draft.

"Regarding the establishment of a trade transit station on the border of the three countries, led by the Land of Fire in construction, with Iwa and Suna jointly funding it…"

"This point, we cannot accept."

Beside him, Suna's envoy also nodded in agreement, his eyes narrowed, flickering with the unique vigilance and cunning of a desert people.

"Exactly."

"Trade should be free, with merchants carrying goods and traveling between their respective towns."

"Why must a fixed trade station be established?"

"This sounds less like trade."

"It sounds more like building a military fortress for the Land of Fire on the border."

This accusation was as sharp as a blade.

Tanaka's smile remained unchanged.

Instead, a young man beside him stood up.

The young man was barely in his early twenties, with a handsome face, and his brand-new official uniform made his posture appear upright.

Facing the envoys of the two countries, he was as steady as a mountain.

This man was Asaba Toru, a trusted confidant who had followed Arashi throughout his rise.

He bowed slightly, then spoke in a clear voice, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Sirs, I believe you have misunderstood."

"The reason for proposing the establishment of a trade transit station is not to restrict freedom. On the contrary, it is to ensure the freedom and safety of traveling merchants."

He analyzed issues such as banditry on the border, trade route security, and tariff barriers one by one.

He also compared the long-term expenditure of issuing missions with the one-time investment of establishing a transit station.

In his words, he painted a blueprint of efficiency, safety, and mutual benefit.

His words were watertight.

However, the envoys of the two countries were clearly well-versed in this and did not fall for it.

"Easy to say."

Suna's envoy snorted coldly, placing his teacup down heavily. "Young man, your eloquence is good. But we are discussing national interests, not empty promises."

Iwa's envoy added, "Construction led by the Land of Fire is inherently unfair."

"By then, whether the trade station contains shops or barracks will probably not be up to us to decide."

"We cannot accept this proposal."

The negotiations instantly reached a stalemate.

The air seemed to solidify, and Asaba's brow furrowed slightly.

Just then, Tanaka who had been silent, finally spoke. "Envoys, please do not get angry."

He looked at Asaba, feigning reproach.

"Asaba, your idea is good. It is for the common prosperity of our three countries."

"But you are still too young. When considering issues, you cannot only approach them from the perspective of our Land of Fire. You must also understand the concerns of the two envoys."

These words sounded like criticism, but they also eased the tense atmosphere.

The expressions of the two envoys improved somewhat.

Tanaka then continued, "Since you both have doubts about this point, then… why do we not both take a step back?"

"The trade station still needs to be built. For everyone's safety and interests, this point cannot be shaken."

"However, the method of construction can be changed."

Looking at the surprised and uncertain gazes of the two envoys, Tanaka presented his plan.

"How about this, the construction of the trade station will be jointly supervised by representatives from our three countries. The number of garrison shinobi must also be completely equal. No one can have more, and no one can have less."

He paused, looking at the increasingly serious envoys, and continued to add weight to his proposal. "Furthermore, the highest administrative officer of the trade station will not be appointed by any one country. Rather, a management committee composed of representatives from our three countries will jointly manage the trade station."

"In this way, it will be open and transparent, with equal power. You two should be reassured, right?"

In the secret room just a wall away.

Arashi observed with interest through the specially made one-way crystal.

Excellent.

This good cop, bad cop routine was perfectly executed.

First, throw out harsh conditions to test the bottom line and draw fire.

When the other side strongly reacts and negotiations reach a stalemate, then voluntarily make concessions and propose a plan that has already been prepared.

This will give the opponents the illusion that it was their strenuous struggle that forced the other side to make concessions.

Indeed, the older ginger is spicier.

As expected.

In the auxiliary hall, after a brief moment of stunned surprise, the eyes of the two envoys immediately showed delight.

Joint supervision, equal shinobi numbers, joint management.

Was this not the most ideal plan they had in mind?

Unexpectedly, it was proposed by the Land of Fire itself.

Iwa's envoy said with unconcealed excitement, "Is this true?"

"Naturally, it is true."

Tanaka acted righteously, waving his hand. "For peace, for the lasting friendship of our three countries, what are a few gains and losses. Our Land of Fire concedes."

"Good."

Iwa's envoy slapped his thigh. "Lord Tanaka is highly principled. On behalf of Iwa, I agree."

Suna's envoy also nodded repeatedly. "Our Suna also agrees."

Next, naturally, the representatives of the three parties signed the trade agreement.

A seven-day trade negotiation concluded in an atmosphere of universal joy.

Arashi contentedly put down his teacup and stood up, preparing to leave.

Just then, Gen suddenly entered and whispered in his ear, "My Lord, the Fourth Hokage's proposal just arrived."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 44: Doomsday Journey

Daimyo Manor, study.

Arashi sat at the table.

A top-secret report, urgently sent by Minato, lay open before him.

The report meticulously detailed the reactions of various Konoha clans to the two plans.

The Uchiha were fanatical.

The Ino–Shika–Chō were vigilant.

The Hyuga were submissive.

Everything was as expected.

As long as the correct instructions were given, these ninja reactions were clearly predictable.

Then, his gaze fell on the end of the dossier.

It recorded the situation of the Shimura clan.

Arashi had not really decided how to deal with this clan.

Perhaps Danzō's death had put pressure on them.

Looking at the words "at your disposal" on the list, Arashi could not help but smile.

There was one more sentence at the end of the dossier.

""Is there still a path for the descendants of a criminal to serve the country?"

This made the amusement in Arashi's eyes grow even deeper.

Interesting.

Those pushed to a dead end, it seemed, could see their place more clearly than those affluent clans who had enjoyed smooth sailing.

Gen beside him noticed his lord's change in mood and immediately lowered his head, softening his breathing.

Whenever the lord showed such an expression, it meant that someone's fate was about to be rewritten.

"Gen."

"Your servant is here."

"Tell me, how should I deal with them?"

"Your servant is dull-witted and dares not speak rashly."

"Speak when I tell you to, I pardon you of any offense."

Gen dared not delay and quickly said, "Replying to my lord, according to the law, although the principal offender of treason has been executed, his clan should also have its titles stripped, its property confiscated, be demoted to commoners, and be permanently barred from employment."

A very standard answer.

"Demoted to commoners?"

Arashi thought for a moment, then shook his head. "That is too wasteful."

Cultivating a ninja required many resources, let alone a ninja clan.

He walked to the giant ninja world map, his gaze lingering on the Land of Fire region for a moment.

A concept had already formed.

If the Anbu were to be the eyes, then someone needed to be the blade.

He could not let the Anbu be both eyes and blade, otherwise it would easily become too powerful to control.

The Shimura, these ninja burdened with sins and stripped of their future, were undoubtedly the best materials to be a blade.

He would not tell anyone this idea.

After all, if a ruler is not discreet, he loses his ministers.

Thinking of this, Arashi walked back to the desk, picked up his calligraphy brush, and took a blank scroll.

The brush tip fell, with only a few words.

He sealed the scroll and handed it to an Anbu nearby.

"Send someone to Konoha, give it to Minato, and have him personally read it to the Shimura."

The Anbu took the scroll, and his figure vanished.

From beginning to end, Arashi did not explain a single word to Gen.

…

Konoha, Hokage's Office.

Minato slowly unrolled the Daimyo's letter.

The content on it made him completely stunned.

The entire letter contained only one sentence, "The entire Shimura clan is hereby ordered to depart within three days for the Fire Capital, to await judgment."

There was no reprimand.

No disposition plan.

Only this one sentence.

Await judgment?

Was this to execute the entire clan as a warning to others?

Or was there another purpose?

Minato could not completely guess the young lord's thoughts.

Forget it, he would not think about it anymore.

He just needed to be a messenger. Thinking too much was useless.

He quickly composed himself and had Anbu summon Shimura Ken.

Soon, Shimura Ken was brought in.

The old man looked uneasy, with hope in his eyes. "Hokage-sama, Daimyo-sama, he…"

Minato did not speak. He just pushed the Daimyo's letter in front of him.

Shimura Ken took the scroll with trembling hands.

When he saw the sentence on it, his aged body swayed violently, and his face instantly drained of color.

Go to the Fire Capital… await judgment… It was over.

Everything was over.

The last shred of luck, the last glimmer of hope, was completely crushed at this moment.

He seemed to already see the men, women, old, and young of his clan being beheaded in the execution ground of the Fire Capital.

"Thud."

The scroll in Shimura Ken's hand slipped, his cloudy old eyes filled only with despair. "Hokage-sama…"

"Is there… no other way?"

He stammered, his voice like a murmur.

Minato watched him in silence, finally only able to shake his head gently.

The light in Shimura Ken's eyes was completely extinguished.

He did not wail or beg for mercy. Supported by his clansmen, he left the Hokage Building.

He looked like a walking corpse.

After the news spread back, the entire clan was instantly shrouded in despair.

No wailing.

No cursing.

Only an extreme, suppressed silence.

A young ninja suddenly drew a kunai, seemingly wanting to end his life.

But his father beside him slapped the kunai away.

"If we go, we go as an entire clan," the father roared hoarsely.

They knew that in the face of absolute power, any struggle was futile.

That afternoon, the Shimura began selling off their property.

They did not choose to flee.

Instead, they exchanged all their valuables for dry rations and clean water.

Because they knew countless eyes outside were staring intently at them.

The only thing they could do was pack their belongings, take their women and children, and embark on this journey toward death.

Three days later.

Just as dawn broke.

A procession of over three hundred people silently walked out of the Konoha gate.

In the procession, there were ninja, ordinary people, old folks, and even infants still in swaddling clothes.

Everyone's face was ashen.

This was a procession heading to the execution ground.

On the official road leading to the Fire Capital, the procession moved slowly forward.

The atmosphere was so oppressive it was suffocating.

No one spoke.

Only the heavy footsteps and the sound of cartwheels grinding over dust.

The occasional cry of an infant gradually subsided under the mother's soothing.

They were the entire Shimura clan.

At the very front of the procession was the white-haired Shimura Ken.

He wore a brand-new plain white robe, and his usually straight back was now hunched.

Every step he took was incredibly heavy.

Because he was leading his entire clan toward an unknown, but very likely destructive, end.

The clansmen behind him had vacant eyes.

Fear had long been worn away by the long journey, leaving only the numbness of resignation.

Finally, the majestic city walls of the Fire Capital appeared on the horizon.

Upon entering the city gate, the guards checked their documents and waved them through.

Once inside the city, they were stopped by an official.

"The Shimura clan?"

"Yes, sir."

"Daimyo-sama has ordered. Follow me."

The official spoke, then led them through the bustling streets.

They were not taken to the administrative office where criminals were judged.

Nor was it the prison where offenders were held.

Ultimately, they were led to a spacious training ground on the outskirts of the city.

The training ground had high walls on all sides, and the only entrance was a heavy iron gate.

When the last Shimura clansman walked into the training ground,

"Boom."

The iron gate slammed shut behind them, cutting off everything inside and out.

A tremor came from the ground, startling a baby into wailing, its mouth quickly covered by its mother, leaving only whimpers.

Everyone's body stiffened.

Their last retreat was completely cut off.

They huddled together, over three hundred people, confined in this empty space, awaiting an unknown judgment.

Time passed bit by bit.

The sun overhead grew fiercer, sweat drenched their clothes, but no one dared to move.

After an unknown period, a small door on the other side of the training ground creaked open.

The door was pushed open.

A figure walked in, silhouetted against the light.

He wore a simple black everyday robe, without any ornaments, his steps unhurried.

But the moment he appeared, the entire training ground fell silent.

The man slowly walked to the center of the field and stopped.

He did not speak, just calmly scanned everyone present, his handsome face devoid of any expression.

An indescribable pressure descended upon them.

Wherever his gaze swept, the Shimura lowered their heads, their breathing becoming cautious.

His dignified presence made it impossible to look directly at him.

It was him.

The Daimyo of the Land of Fire, Chiba Arashi.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 45: The Black Wind Rises

"Thump."

When Arashi's figure appeared, Shimura Ken could no longer support himself. His knees buckled, and he fell heavily to the ground.

Behind him, hundreds of Shimura clansmen knelt in unison, burying their heads deep in the dirt.

Among the crowd, young mothers desperately covered their children's mouths, fearing they might make a sound.

They wept silently, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.

Beside them, a newly adult ninja clenched his fists, his fingernails piercing his palms, oblivious to the blood flowing out.

That face, which should have been full of youthful vigor, was now only filled with humiliation and despair.

No one dared to look up.

No one dared to speak.

The entire training ground was deathly silent, with only the wailing of the wind.

Arashi slowly walked down from the high platform, his boots crunching on the gravel.

He stopped in front of Shimura Ken.

He looked down at the old man prostrate on the ground.

"Shimura Ken."

"The sinner is here."

"Raise your head."

Shimura Ken dared not disobey, slowly raising his face, which was filled with despair and fear.

But he did not dare to look directly at the other party.

"Does your Shimura know its crime?" Arashi asked indifferently.

Shimura Ken's lips trembled, each word incredibly difficult to utter. "The sinner… knows his crime. Danzō was treasonous and deserves death ten thousand times over. My Shimura failed in its discipline and is unforgivable. Please, Daimyo-sama… mete out punishment."

After speaking, he closed his eyes, awaiting the death sentence.

Arashi's gaze passed over him, slowly sweeping across the ashen-faced Shimura clansmen.

"The crime is Danzō's alone."

He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears.

What?

All the prostrate bodies trembled violently, and countless people instinctively raised their heads, their faces full of disbelief.

What did this mean? Could it be… could they still have a way to live?

"But the shame is your entire clan's."

This turning point shattered the glimmer of hope that had just risen within them.

"The Shimura name, from today onward, will no longer be an honor, but a joke."

"A brand of shame etched on each of you, and even on your descendants."

"It will remind everyone that your clan produced a traitor to the Land of Fire."

"Tell me, bearing such shame, how do you intend to live on?"

Arashi's tone held no trace of mockery, yet it was more heart-wrenching than any insult.

He calmly pronounced their social death.

"Daimyo-sama."

Shimura Ken suddenly roared, slamming his head against the ground with a dull thud, blood instantly flowing.

"We… we are willing to be slaves, to be servants."

"We are willing to toil like oxen and horses for Daimyo-sama, to reclaim barren land, to build city walls. We only ask, Daimyo-sama… we only ask that you grant the children a path to survival."

He cried out desperately.

At this moment, dignity had no meaning.

All they had left was this humble body and that tiny glimmer of hope to continue their bloodline.

"A path to survival?"

Arashi looked at him. "Do you only wish to live like livestock?"

"I thought a ninja's bones would be harder."

He shook his head, a hint of disappointment in his voice.

Just as everyone thought hope was lost, Arashi's voice suddenly rose, reverberating throughout the entire grounds.

"I give you a choice."

The entire place fell silent, everyone's breathing pausing in that moment.

"The first path, I revoke your status as ninja, demote you to commoners, and exile you to the frontier."

"You can live, but the shame brought by the Shimura name will accompany you for generations, until your bloodline is severed."

"The second path…"

He paused, his sharp gaze sweeping over everyone.

"Bury your past, forget your names."

"I will grant you a new identity, a new mission."

"You will delve into the darkness, becoming the sharpest claws of the Land of Fire."

"You will execute the dirtiest missions. Your names will never be recorded in history, your achievements will remain unknown."

"You will live for me, die for me. Your lives, your souls, belong only to me."

These words were filled with blood and cruelty, yet they rekindled a faint light in the eyes of some young ninja.

Rather than die in shame, better to perish in battle.

"In return…"

Arashi's gaze fell upon the children protected behind their parents.

"Your children will no longer have to bear this shame."

"They will, with new identities, enter the best ninja schools in the Land of Fire, receive the most excellent teachers, the most abundant resources, and the strongest yet harshest training."

"They will become the sharpest swords in my hand, to earn their own glory, and let their names resound throughout the ninja world."

"Now, make your choice."

Arashi's voice returned to calm, yet it contained an irresistible power.

"To cling to life in shame, never to rise again?"

"Or to burn yourselves out in the darkness, to exchange for a bright future for your descendants?"

Silence.

Within the training ground, a pin drop could be heard.

Everyone was stunned by these words, their hearts pounding.

They… still had a choice?

And one of the options was to exchange for a future for their descendants?

The mother holding her child suddenly looked up, her eyes brimming with tears.

The young ninja who had clenched his fists began to tremble uncontrollably, not from fear, but from an unspeakable excitement.

Immense euphoria overwhelmed everyone's reason.

This was not a judgment.

This was a gift.

It was salvation.

It was this great monarch, in their most desperate hour, granting them a glimmer of hope, a path of atonement paved with blood and life.

Shimura Ken was the first to react. He was incoherent with excitement, his entire being coming back to life.

"Your subordinate chooses the second path. Your subordinate is willing to die for Daimyo-sama."

His roar ignited the entire grounds.

"Willing to die for Daimyo-sama."

A shout like a mountain and a tsunami erupted from hundreds of mouths.

The young mother placed her child beside her, bowing deeply, her forehead leaving a bloody mark.

The young ninja knelt, shouting, his voice hoarse, but with unprecedented fervor.

The shouts converged into a fervent wave of sound, soaring into the sky, making the entire training ground hum.

There was no more fear or despair, only endless fervor, gratitude, and a yearning for the future.

Arashi watched all of this with satisfaction.

What he wanted was precisely a group of warriors willing to sacrifice everything for hope.

"Very good."

"From this day forward, there is no more Shimura in the world."

"You shall be called the Kurokaze Clan."

At this moment, a ninja clan that had existed for hundreds of years, along with its glory and its sins, was completely buried.

In its place was a new ninja clan, hidden in the shadows, ready at any moment to draw its blade for its monarch.

(To be continued.)