Daimyo Manor, side hall.
Incense burned quietly in the hall, a faint elegant smoke curling upward.
The sound of string and wind instruments echoed softly.
Arashi leaned lazily on a large, soft couch. His dark robe was loose at the collar, revealing his broad chest. His expression was one of contentment.
In the center of the hall, a group of dancers swayed gracefully.
The lead dancer had a slender figure and a narrow waist.
She wore only a thin pink gauze skirt, barely covering what needed to be covered.
Her movements were nimble, and the view beneath her skirt occasionally showed through.
Her snow-white skin gleamed with a soft luster, and her long, straight legs flashed in and out as her skirt swayed.
Each spin brought a faint scent of perfume.
Each backward glance was filled with charm.
Their dance was graceful and alluring, sometimes flowing, sometimes entwined.
Every movement was a silent temptation, every gesture testing the preference of the man seated above.
They were carefully chosen beauties, gifts for the new Daimyo.
In their eyes burned raw desire.
If they could earn even a trace of favor from that man, they could rise in rank and status.
That thought made their dancing more passionate and captivating.
Arashi watched, a satisfied expression on his face, the fire in his gaze growing stronger.
At his lower seat, Aono Saku sat upright and solemn, completely out of place in this atmosphere.
"Saku."
Arashi withdrew his gaze from the dancers, lifted his wine cup, and spoke casually.
"Yes, Daimyo-sama."
Saku immediately bowed respectfully.
Arashi drank the wine in one gulp. "Are your clansmen settling well in the Fire Capital?"
Saku replied, "Thanks to Daimyo-sama's kindness, our people have settled down."
"Just settling down isn't enough," Arashi said, putting down his cup. "The funds I gave you aren't meant to be hoarded. Tell them to open shops, start businesses, and fully integrate into the Fire Capital."
"Send the talented young ones to school to learn new knowledge. Don't just cling to Ninjutsu."
"You've already joined the Anbu, so your clan should be able to stand proudly in the sunlight, not hide forever in the shadows."
"If your children's faces aren't smiling, wouldn't that make me a failure?"
Saku looked up suddenly, shock flashing in his eyes. Then gratitude replaced it. He bowed deeply, his forehead touching the floor.
His voice was hoarse with emotion. "Thank you, Daimyo-sama. The Senju Clan will serve you loyally for generations."
"Get up," Arashi said with a faint smile. "I'm not a heartless person. With me, you'll only live better."
"Thank you, Daimyo-sama!" Saku kowtowed again.
Just then, Saku caught a glimpse of a shadow outside the hall. The person didn't enter, only gave him a subtle hand signal.
Saku immediately said, "Daimyo-sama, there is news from Jin's side. Please allow me to take my leave for a moment."
"Go."
Arashi waved his hand, his attention already back on the dancers.
Saku left the side hall quickly. In a deserted corner, an Anbu operative disguised as a guard knelt on one knee, presenting a small bamboo tube with both hands.
Without a word exchanged, the handover was complete. The Anbu vanished into the courtyard.
When Saku returned to the hall, the music and dance had stopped at some point.
The dancers knelt on the ground, their bodies glistening with fragrant sweat, not daring to lift their heads.
Arashi was staring at the lead dancer with interest, his gaze openly possessive.
"Daimyo-sama." Saku stepped forward quietly and offered the bamboo tube.
Arashi didn't take it, only asked, "From Konoha?"
"Yes."
"Tell me, what interesting news is there?"
Saku opened the tube, quickly read through the secret letter, and reported concisely, "Minato Namikaze has fully carried out your will, implementing the Genius Cultivation Program and the selection of the Twelve Guardian Ninja. The results are even better than expected."
"Oh?"
Hearing that, Arashi finally sat up straight, his eyes regaining their sharpness.
"Let me see."
"Yes."
Saku handed the note over.
The information was far more detailed than what Saku had summarized.
It recorded how Uchiha Fugaku spoke eloquently, how Hyuga Hiashi schemed in secret, and the attitudes of the Ino–Shika–Chō families. Everything was clearly written.
But what caught Arashi's interest most was the final paragraph.
It described the commotion stirred up in Konoha by the matter of taking concubines.
The Uchiha were preparing to select three of their most beautiful women.
Even clans like the Inuzuka and Aburame, usually indifferent to such things, were stirred into action.
Reading this, Arashi was first surprised, then burst out laughing.
He remembered.
At the court assembly that day, one minister had suggested the idea of taking concubines to curry favor.
He hadn't taken it seriously at the time, only thinking it a gesture to please the people, and casually agreed.
Unexpectedly, that seemingly trivial decision, which he had nearly forgotten, became the final spark that shattered Konoha's balance.
No wonder the changes in Konoha were so drastic.
The Genius Cultivation Program had sown division.
The Twelve Guardian Ninja consolidated power.
And those simple words, "taking concubines," struck directly at the lifeblood of every Ninja clan, bloodline and legacy.
It became the strongest catalyst, igniting all the conflicts he had already set in motion.
In this world, the hardest thing to resist is never some earth-shattering scheme.
It is the primal desires and fears that lie deep within the human heart.
This sword called Konoha.
He had thought it would take great effort to seize it from Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other elders.
Now it seemed it wouldn't take long at all.
Arashi tossed the secret letter aside. Saku caught it and destroyed it with a Fire Release technique.
Arashi rose slowly, pacing in the hall, lost in thought.
Then he walked to the lead dancer, crouched down, and lifted her chin, making her look up.
"Tell me, with your beauty, do you think you could enter my harem?"
The dancer, trembling, replied softly, "This concubine dares not speak presumptuously. It is for Daimyo-sama to decide."
"Hahaha."
Arashi burst into laughter. "Gen."
Gen hurried in. "Your subordinate is here."
"Since everyone is so enthusiastic about the matter of concubines, if I don't handle it properly, wouldn't I be letting down their goodwill?"
A faint smile curved Arashi's lips.
"Pass on my order."
"Announce it throughout the entire Land of Fire."
"All citizens of the Land of Fire, whether nobles, ninja, or civilians, if they have an unmarried daughter of good character and appearance, they may participate."
Gen's expression brightened, and he immediately accepted the command. "Yes."
That his lord was willing to take concubines was something that delighted him.
Because it meant that the future heir would soon be born.
Arashi stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze distant.
He didn't care whether the ninja clans would send their daughters.
What he cared about were the noble families of the Fire Capital. This would be a game of division and allegiance.
The internal situation was about to stabilize.
In that case, it was time to address matters concerning the Land of Lightning.
"Also, notify Minister of Finance Tanaka Shigeru to come to my study tomorrow morning."
"Yes."
Gen bowed and left.
Arashi gestured for Saku to sit, then called to the musicians and dancers still kneeling on the floor.
"What are you waiting for?"
"Keep playing the music and keep dancing."
(To be continued.)