Establishing a Guarantee
A few days later, Shinnosuke finally completed his mission and rushed back from Konohagakure to the capital of the Land of Fire.
The moment he returned, he made his way straight to the residence of the First Prince.
"Your Highness, I have delivered the letter," Shinnosuke reported, kneeling before him.
The prince nodded, his expression calm and composed. "You've worked hard. Go inform the attendants to summon Nahara. It's time to fulfill my promise."
Shinnosuke's eyes brightened with excitement. "Thank you, Your Highness!"
Shortly after, the Second Prince, Nahara, arrived with an air of arrogance. His recent experiences had been nothing short of surreal—countless nobles and officials had been showering him with flattery. Even their father, the daimyo, had been unusually generous and accommodating toward him.
Nahara had convinced himself that he was destined to inherit the title of daimyo.
For years, he had lived under the shadow of his elder brother—the supposedly brilliant and studious First Prince, who had always been favored by the court. Nahara had grown to resent him.
But now, the tables had turned.
As he stepped into the room, Nahara sat down without courtesy and scoffed. "What do you want, Nara?"
The First Prince felt a surge of anger. How dare this fool address him so casually? If Nahara truly became daimyo, the first thing he'd likely do would be to eliminate him.
Still, he knew he had to suppress his emotions. Taking a deep breath, he forced a humble smile.
"Nahara, this is about Shinnosuke. He has served me loyally, and I know his character well. He is a righteous and capable ninja—someone truly fit to be the next Hokage."
Nahara raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "And why should I care? I don't even know him."
The First Prince concealed his disdain and personally poured Nahara a cup of tea.
"I've never been as smart as you," he said with a self-deprecating chuckle. "Now that it's clear you will be the next daimyo, I simply wish to ask for a small favor. Shinnosuke is dear to me, and I'd like you to guarantee your support for him in the next Hokage election."
Nahara smirked at his brother's submissive posture. The once-proud First Prince was now reduced to begging him. It was a satisfying sight.
Lifting the teacup, he casually blew on it. "Fine. It's just the title of Hokage—it doesn't matter to me. I agree."
He took a sip—too hastily—and burned his tongue.
The First Prince rose and retrieved paper, ink, and an official seal, setting them before Nahara.
"As the future daimyo, your word carries great weight. But to reassure Shinnosuke, I think it would be best to put this in writing."
Nahara, enjoying the flattery, puffed out his chest and grabbed the pen. "Hmph. No big deal."
Without hesitation, he wrote the guarantee, then stamped it with his fingerprint.
The First Prince swiftly secured the document, his expression unreadable.
Nahara, now bored, stood up. "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave. Father is expecting me for dinner."
The First Prince followed him out with exaggerated deference. "Allow me to escort you, Nahara."
"Hmph."
As Nahara left, the First Prince's polite smile stiffened into a grimace. He watched his brother's retreating figure with cold eyes.
He despised him.
Why was this fool being showered with opportunities while he was cast aside?
The moment Nahara exited the courtyard, Shinnosuke emerged from the shadows. His gaze locked onto the guarantee, filled with longing.
The First Prince smirked and handed him the document.
Shinnosuke clutched it to his chest as if it were a priceless treasure. "Your Highness… thank you."
The prince waved a hand dismissively. "Think nothing of it. Just fulfilling my promise. But this guarantee is invaluable. Don't carry it on you—hide it somewhere secure."
Shinnosuke nodded firmly.
Once he left, the First Prince shut himself in his study.
As he practiced hand seals from a forbidden scroll, he muttered to himself:
"The throne… belongs to me alone."
His teacher had been right.
In the face of ambition, trust is a weakness.
---
Meanwhile, at Uchiha Tunan's Manor
Time passed, and Uchiha Tunan had trained a group of orphans in chakra refinement. Though they lacked the natural talent of Konoha Academy students, they were diligent and determined.
By nightfall, Uchiha Tunan sat in his study, reading. Yoshihara Cang stood by, silently pouring tea.
Suddenly, Tunan's Sharingan flared to life. He stood abruptly, then vanished into the courtyard.
Over the daimyo's palace, colorful fireworks illuminated the sky.
It has begun.
Closing his eyes, he expanded his sensory jutsu, scanning the entire palace grounds.
Moments later, he smirked.
Turning to Yoshihara Cang, he ordered, "Summon all the attendants."
"Yes, my lord."
Soon, the mansion's staff assembled, anxiously awaiting his command.
Seated at his desk, Tunan rested his sheathed chakra-infused short blade beside him. His voice was calm but chilling:
"You have all served me well… but I have reason to believe someone has been leaking information about me."
The room tensed.
The attendants fell to their knees, terror on their faces.
"My lord! We are loyal! We would never betray you!"
Tunan activated his Sharingan, scanning their expressions. No one stood out.
His gaze softened, and he sighed apologetically. "Perhaps I was mistaken. My apologies."
A collective sigh of relief filled the room.
"Good. That puts my mind at ease."
In a flash of movement, Tunan gripped his blade and vanished.
Shhk—
By the time he returned to his seat, all the attendants lay lifeless on the floor.
Tunan calmly wiped his blade clean, his expression void of emotion.
A faint smile played on his lips.
"Time to close the net."
A shadow clone materialized, tasked with handling the aftermath. Meanwhile, Uchiha Tunan's body shifted and morphed—his appearance seamlessly transforming into that of Abe Kyaki.
The next phase of his plan was set in motion.
---
Key Improvements & Fixes:
Corrected awkward phrasing and grammatical issues.
Clarified character roles and relationships.
Incorporated Naruto lore (e.g., Hokage selection, Uchiha Tunan's methods).
Strengthened dialogue and emotional depth.
Improved flow and readability.