Unlike the joy on Gekko Chizan's side, things were far more bleak in the Daimyō's mansion.
The Daimyō sat in his seat, his whole figure sunk in gloom.
After returning, Yukimura exchanged a glance with Masaki, then finally spoke:
"Daimyō-sama, even though Kazuma lost, his opponent was Gekko Chizan. Losing to him isn't shameful."
"We only need to focus our goal on Gekko Chizan. As long as we can win him over…"
Yukimura didn't continue, because the Daimyō's disappointed gaze had already fallen on him.
It was a look that had lost all drive.
"Yukimura, someone with Gekko Chizan's level of strength… do you really think he'd let us buy him?"
"Hmm? The strength and demeanor he showed at the end… heh… don't tell me you two didn't notice."
"And add in what that Uchiha disciple of his said."
"He doesn't even put the Daimyō's mansion in his eyes, does he?"
"Sigh…"
Yukimura and Masaki suddenly didn't know what to say, because they knew all too well that everything the Daimyō said was true.
After all, Uchiha Obito had shouted his words so loudly—how could anyone miss it?
"But Daimyō-sama, we can't give up our own plans just because the Leaf has powerful strength."
"The ninja corps has already been recruited. If we disband now, how will that look to the people under us?"
"Kazuma and the others have been serving the Daimyō's mansion wholeheartedly."
Masaki's hoarse voice made the Daimyō regain some clarity.
Yes… things had come this far. Could he overturn everything and start again? Impossible.
The ninja corps was already established, and many had been recruited. If he canceled it now, it would be a worldwide joke.
"I know. But we shouldn't target the Leaf anymore."
"The ninja corps is my direct faction. From now on, you two will arrange their missions."
"As for the Leaf… restore things to how they originally were."
The Daimyō sounded disheartened. After all, his supposedly mighty corps hadn't even gone into battle before suffering a humiliating defeat.
And not just a defeat—more like rolling straight down a mountain to the bottom. For a proud Daimyō, the blow was enormous.
Masaki and Yukimura looked at the dispirited Daimyō, not knowing how to comfort him. They could only bow and prepare to leave.
Little did they know, their entire conversation had been overheard by two people.
Standing on the rooftop, Kazuma and Suirai both had dark expressions.
Especially Kazuma.
"Suirai, do you think we're really inferior to the Leaf?"
"The daimyo of the Land of Fire is our lord, yet he still chooses to restore support to the Leaf?"
"Just because I lost?"
Kazuma's tone was filled with resentment and fury. He didn't understand—Konoha was just an armed force under the Daimyō's mansion, the same as them.
So why, just because he failed, would the Daimyō turn his gaze back to the Leaf?
Were they all disposable merchandise?
Suirai let out a sigh.
"Konoha has existed for too long. Replacing them is easier said than done."
"But I really didn't expect the Daimyō to be this fragile."
"Is a leader like this… even worth following?"
Hearing that, Kazuma froze for a moment, then a hint of madness flashed across his face.
"Yeah… if such a lord isn't worthy of our loyalty, then why not replace him?"
"Hmm? Kazuma, what did you say?"
Suirai looked at him in shock.
Those words… Kazuma, you—
"It's nothing. Anyway, the Daimyō's mansion is the true authority of the Land of Fire. Since we joined the mansion, we're the real ninja."
Leaving those words behind, Kazuma vanished.
Suirai watched him go. The shock on his face slowly faded, returning to calm.
He understood—since Kazuma had said such words, it meant he already had a plan.
Whether that decision would be good or bad… no one knew.
...
Daimyō's mansion, gambling hall.
"Ahahaha! Obito, your luck is absolute garbage!"
"You actually managed to lose this badly!"
Gekko Chizan laughed gleefully, his hands moving so fast they left afterimages as he swept all the money on the table to his side.
Uchiha Obito, sitting on his left, had already gone dark in the face.
After finishing the hot spring, they came straight to the gambling hall. Gekko Chizan had literally dragged Shisui along.
Of course, Shisui had used a Transformation Technique to enter.
Originally, Shisui strongly opposed this, but under Gekko Chizan's iron intimidation, he could only surrender.
"Sensei, are you sure you're not… you know?"
"I really don't believe your luck is this good."
Obito was about to activate his Sharingan—after all, for as long as he kept losing, his sensei kept winning. Something was definitely wrong.
Hearing that, Gekko Chizan grabbed a banana and threw it at him.
"Idiot! You're unlucky, and you still blame me?"
"Shisui, tell me—doesn't he just have terrible luck?"
Shisui had zero interest in gambling. Wanting to leave early, he nodded repeatedly just to get things over with.
Seeing Shisui's utterly lifeless expression, Gekko Chizan muttered:
"Not bad. Facing a gambling table and not reacting at all."
"Looks like I need to find you some other new experiences."
"Shisui, what kind of women do you like? Uh—no, girls?"
The sudden question left Shisui completely stunned.
What? Women? Girls?
Shisui had no idea how Gekko Chizan's mind jumped to that, and he froze.
"Sigh, still just a kid."
"Forget it. I'm done. Let's go sleep. After we finish the mission tomorrow, we'll return to the village."
He said "return to the village," but Gekko Chizan had no intention of going back so easily.
He had suddenly taken a strong interest in this kid Uchiha Shisui.
He needed to seize the opportunity to probe the kid's inner thoughts.
Men always have one or two weaknesses. He didn't believe this Uchiha prodigy was truly perfect.
Just like the Three Legendary Sannin—one loved women, one loved gambling, one loved poison.
Even the God of Shinobi, Senju Hashirama, loved gambling, didn't he?
As for the stern Senju Tobirama—even though he didn't like any of those three things, he had his own weird hobby: catching fish.
So he was curious—what would a boy like Uchiha Shisui like?
"Ah? Sensei, we're leaving already?"
"I still want to play. What if my luck turns?"
Hearing they were leaving, Obito protested loudly.
Seeing him so reluctant, Gekko Chizan couldn't be bothered.
He called Shisui and left.
...
The next day, Daimyō's mansion.
"Daimyō-sama, I'm here this time on official business."
"I wonder if you have any requests regarding the village sending ninja?"
"So I can report properly to Hokage-sama."
Gekko Chizan smiled at the Daimyō, waiting for his answer.
He believed that after yesterday, the Daimyō would definitely make some changes.