The night wind swept through the courtyard, rustling a few withered leaves.
The candlelight flickered, elongating Arashi's shadow.
Biwa Jūzō's presence had vanished.
The butterfly, which had appeared from nothing, dissolved into specks of light and faded away.
Arashi took a sip of the now-cold tea and suddenly spoke, addressing the empty moon gate.
"How long do you think Biwa Jūzō will be useful?"
There was no reply.
Only the whisper of the wind.
After a few breaths, the shadow of the dead plum tree in the corner seemed to stir.
A dark figure separated from the shadow and silently appeared behind Arashi.
He was dressed entirely in black, with no Chakra fluctuations, and even his breathing and heartbeat were imperceptible.
Then a hoarse voice broke the silence.
"His value depends on what you need him for, my Lord."
"As for how long he'll be useful…"
"I will keep an eye on him."
Arashi showed no surprise. He finished the cold tea in his cup.
The man in black was Aono Saku, his Anbu.
Publicly, he was only a steward managing several of the Daimyo Manor's businesses, an ordinary merchant.
But no one knew that this silent man carried a surname capable of shaking the entire ninja world.
Senju.
Arashi's gaze fell on Saku, and his thoughts drifted back several years.
Back then, the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, a man who embodied realism,
had planted a hidden piece when he established the alliance with the Daimyo's household.
He personally chose a branch of his clan with pure bloodline, erased their existence as ninja, and secretly sent them to the Fire Capital.
This group of Senju, named Anbu, carried a single mission: to protect the Daimyo line for generations, becoming his unseen eyes and deadly blade in the shadows.
However, due to the unexpected death of the previous Daimyo, the transition of command was interrupted, and this force was forgotten for decades.
It was not until Arashi, at the age of twelve, discovered a secret decree handwritten by Senju Tobirama in a hidden compartment of his late father's study that he awakened this dormant power.
Using that decree, he reactivated the lost Anbu.
After taking control of them, he began recruiting elite ninja from across the world, expanding the Anbu's reach, just as he had done today with Biwa Jūzō.
During the bloody succession struggle years ago, it was Saku and his Anbu who had blocked countless assassination attempts and crushed every conspiracy, allowing Arashi to emerge victorious.
The strength displayed during the delegation's arrival earlier was merely a fraction of his Anbu's true power.
This was his real foundation.
Even without the System, the absolute loyalty and terrifying strength of the Senju Anbu alone was enough to make any who underestimated him pay the ultimate price.
"Any new developments from Konoha?" Arashi asked calmly, pulling his thoughts back to the present.
"No movements," Saku replied, "but thirty people with suspicious behavior entered the capital this afternoon."
"From their actions, it can be confirmed they are Root ninja."
"After entering the city, they split up. Two of them went directly to the west side and have not returned."
"Did you send someone to follow them?"
"Yes. Jin is trailing them. Every one of their actions is under surveillance."
Arashi's expression did not change. "It seems Danzō still could not hold back."
He had expected this. Once the budget cuts were announced, Danzō would inevitably act, but even he had not thought it would be this soon.
There was no need to guess what a man with only ten points of loyalty would do.
He would naturally seek out the remnants who failed in the last power struggle.
"What about those rats?" Arashi asked. "Have they contacted the Konoha guests?"
"My Lord, they have," Saku said hoarsely. "It has been confirmed that their leaders are your third brother, Chiba Shu, and his uncle, Saionji Takashi."
"They have gathered around two hundred assassins and rogue samurai. They are hiding in the sewers beneath the city's west side, using it as a temporary base."
"As for those two Root ninja, during their meeting with Saionji Takashi, they handed him a scroll."
"A scroll... do you know what is inside?"
"Unclear. Jin did not dare get too close."
"Hm..." Arashi tapped his fingers lightly against the table.
He did not need to guess. The scroll no doubt contained Danzō's promise to support his useless brother once the deed was done.
To think Danzō wanted to trade a mere piece of paper for the life of the Daimyo.
He was still the same schemer.
But that was fine.
Everything was unfolding exactly as Arashi had expected.
"Should we eliminate them now?" Saku asked quietly.
With the power of the Anbu, erasing such a ragtag group would be effortless.
"No."
Arashi raised his hand to stop him.
"Fishing takes patience."
"Let them keep preparing. Whatever they lack, give it to them. I want them to grow arrogant, to believe destiny favors them and victory is in their grasp."
"I want every rat to crawl out of its hole that day."
Arashi turned, the moonlight casting half his face in silver light, his gaze cold and murderous.
"Issue the order. Keep them under close watch, but do not alert them."
"It is time for the delegations from the four nations and those people from Konoha to witness the true majesty of the Fire Daimyo."
"As you command."
Saku bowed lower, feeling the overwhelming and ruthless will emanating from his young lord.
"You may go."
"Yes."
As soon as the words left Arashi's mouth, Saku's figure melted back into the shadows and vanished.
The courtyard returned to silence.
The sky was beginning to pale.
A new day was about to dawn.
And what awaited him was the day after tomorrow, the grand coronation ceremony prepared just for him.
At the same time.
Fire Capital, west side, underground sewers.
The cold, damp air carried a nauseating stench of mold and decay.
A faint fire flickered over a dry stone platform, illuminating several twisted faces.
Saionji Takashi held a scroll, studying it carefully.
Beside him, a sallow-faced young man with sunken cheeks, Chiba Shu, watched impatiently.
"Uncle, stop reading. Ask them already how much support Konoha is offering."
Shu's voice was hoarse and trembling with excitement as he stared at the two masked Root ninja before him.
"Shu-sama, please calm yourself," Saionji Takashi said soothingly, then turned to the two Root operatives, bowing humbly.
"Gentlemen, we understand Danzō-sama's promise. But on the day of the ceremony, the defenses will be tight. With our limited manpower..."
One of the Root ninja finally spoke, his voice cold. "Our mission is to ensure Arashi dies at the coronation ceremony."
He did not answer the question, merely stated the command.
"The scroll makes it clear. Once Arashi dies, Danzō-sama will intervene personally, stabilize the Fire Capital, and recognize you, Shu-sama, as the sole legitimate Daimyo of the Land of Fire."
Shu roared, "I am asking if you will take action. Do not forget, that bastard Arashi also has ninja guarding him."
"Rest assured, Shu-sama," the Root ninja replied calmly. "Our presence here is the greatest assistance."
"When you strike, those ninja guards will be handled by someone else."
"Danzō-sama only cares about results. The process is yours to create."
Hearing that, Saionji Takashi let out a quiet breath of relief.
Shu, however, burst into wild laughter, his eyes gleaming with madness.
"Good. Good. Good."
He shouted the word three times, clenching his fists.
"As long as I can kill that bastard, I will do anything. I will take back everything I lost, the throne, the wealth, and that woman, Kiyotsuki Yui."
His voice was filled with jealousy and hatred.
The two Root ninja exchanged glances, saying nothing more.
A moment later, their figures blurred and melted into the darkness.
In the sewers, only Chiba Shu's crazed laughter echoed endlessly.
(To be continued.)