At the Daimyo Manor, in the study.
Arashi finished reviewing the last petition.
With a stroke of his vermilion brush, he signed both the Genius Training List and the Twelve Guardian Ninja list submitted by Minato.
As the signatures were completed, the future of Konoha was firmly within his grasp.
He set down the brush, leaned back in his chair, and lightly tapped his fingertips against the wooden armrest.
Unconsciously, whenever Arashi was deep in thought, he would make this gesture.
His mind drifted back to three days ago, to the Shimura Clan members who had knelt before him, to whom he had bestowed the name Kurokaze.
He had given them new life, turning them into his fangs.
"Disguise yourselves as rogue ninja and head to the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning," he had instructed.
"Act as bandits. Only plunder trade caravans from the Land of Lightning."
"Remember, not too often. I want the border trade routes of the Land of Lightning to be in a state of chronic blood loss, but not immediately fatal."
That was the first mission he had given them.
These directives would slowly eat away at the Land of Lightning, piece by piece.
A dormant chess piece had been placed.
Now, it was time to enjoy another game.
"Gen," Arashi called.
The butler, who had been standing nearby, quickly stepped forward and bowed, awaiting orders.
"Have the Department of Internal Affairs select an official to go to Konoha and disburse the funds," Arashi said. "The ceremony must be grand, and he must personally hand them out."
Gen bowed deeply. "Yes, my lord."
"Also, have the Twelve Guardian Ninja come here as soon as possible."
"As you command, my lord."
Having dealt with these matters, Arashi stood up and stretched, his joints cracking in a series of crisp sounds.
Outside the door, the etiquette officer in charge of the Internal Affairs Department had been waiting for a long time.
When summoned, he quickly entered and knelt to report.
"Reporting, my lord, the initial selection for the concubine candidates has been completed. There are a total of thirty-six qualified women."
"Today is their first day of palace training. Would you like to observe?"
Arashi's interest was immediately piqued.
Now that official business was done, it was time to relax. It was a good chance to see if there were any women who caught his eye.
"Lead the way."
...A secluded courtyard.
This place was temporarily being used as a training ground, isolated from the bustling areas of the manor. The air was filled with the scent of pine.
Arashi walked up to the second-floor corridor and sat in the main seat.
From here, his view was expansive, allowing him to observe everything in the courtyard below.
He could have appeared openly, enjoying their expressions of fear, awe, and devotion.
But that would have been too dull.
Rather than watching a performance meticulously choreographed for him, it was better to observe from afar.
What he wanted to see was not what they had learned, but their genuine reactions.
The maid understood, bringing him clear tea and setting up a gauze screen in front of him.
The screen blocked outside gazes, but it couldn't block his sharp scrutiny.
He lifted the teacup, his eyes cold and focused, watching the thirty-six "collectibles" below with great interest.
These women, from all over the Land of Fire, stood stiffly in several rows.
Each had changed into her finest clothes, faces devoid of makeup, showing their truest selves.
All were exceptionally beautiful.
There were noble young ladies of high birth and elegant bearing.
There were modest civilian girls who stood nervously among them.
And naturally, a few special "prey" were mixed in.
Mei stood among the crowd, her gaze lowered.
Her soft long dress had replaced her Hidden Mist combat attire.
Her delicate hands, once accustomed to holding kunai, now clasped helplessly before her.
She could feel many eyes on her, filled with scrutiny and hostility.
Especially from the young woman standing not far away.
That woman had long black hair, exquisite features, and wore the fan-shaped crest of the Uchiha Clan, identifying her as Uchiha Ragyō.
Ragyō's gaze swept indifferently over Mei, then moved away.
In her eyes, everyone here was nothing more than a stepping stone for her to become the Daimyo's concubine, and eventually the mother of the nation.
On the other side, Kurenai looked completely out of place.
She was unlike the others, who were either nervous or ambitious.
Her face showed only confusion and resistance.
Her father had roughly pulled her out of her ninja career and thrust her into this gilded cage.
To this day, she still didn't understand why her life had changed so drastically.
At that moment, an old woman with white hair and a ruler in her hand slowly walked into the courtyard.
She was the strictest female official in the palace; even the concubines of the previous Daimyo had been trained by her.
"From today onward, forget your past," the old woman said, her voice dry and sharp, grating on everyone's ears.
"Here, you have no names, only one identity: concubine candidate."
"For the next month, you will learn palace etiquette. Every word, every movement, every frown, every smile, must conform to the rules."
"First lesson: how to kneel."
"Kneeling is not prostrating. It is using your knees to feel the majesty of your sovereign."
She demonstrated, every movement as precise as if measured with a ruler.
"Knees together."
"Lower yourself slowly."
"Keep your upper body straight, hands placed on your knees."
"Head slightly bowed, to show respect."
"Now, repeat my actions. Begin."
At her command, the women in the courtyard all bent their knees.
Arashi watched them with great interest.
What a fascinating performance.
Down below, the old woman barked sharply, "You! As a noblewoman, your posture is improper, your legs are wide open. Are you trying to invite someone?!"
The ruler sliced through the air with a loud crack, striking the ground in front of a noblewoman.
Her face went pale, her body trembling uncontrollably.
The old woman's gaze shifted to another. "And you! Lift your waist! The Daimyo Manor doesn't need fawning servants, it needs women who can serve the sovereign properly!"
She knew her limits well. Her reprimands were harsh, but she would never leave scars.
Because among these women, a future concubine of the Daimyo might emerge.
Her strictness was an act, meant to instill discipline.
And discipline was the fastest way to smooth rough edges, more effective than physical pain.
The eyes of the civilian girl being scolded turned red, tears welling up, but she forced them back, not daring to let them fall.
Arashi's gaze eventually settled on Mei.
She bit her pale lower lip and forced herself to bend her knees, those same knees that once belonged to a ninja.
The moment they touched the soft cushion, her body trembled slightly.
Perhaps she had never knelt before anyone.
But now, to obtain the funds that could save her comrades, she had to kneel.
And she did so properly.
His eyes then moved to Kurenai.
Her movements were stiff.
Those legs that could walk upside down on trees struggled with this simplest of actions.
Those knees seemed to only kneel for the Will of Fire, to protect her comrades, not to please a man she had never met.
Arashi's smile deepened.
He hadn't expected Kurenai to be among the candidates.
In his previous life, he had actually liked her character.
But since she came, she had to follow the rules here.
Finally, his gaze fell on Ragyō.
Her movements weren't mere practice, but a deliberate performance.
Her slender waist curved gracefully, her kneeling posture exuding elegance and charm that invited pity.
When she bowed, her slender neck lowered slightly, revealing fair skin and a hint of cleavage.
Her exquisite face was calm and focused, showing neither humiliation nor resistance.
It was as if she viewed this training as a stage to display herself.
Beneath that calm exterior lay undisguised ambition.
She even took pride in it.
She used her body and demeanor to silently declare that she was the most perfect woman here, the one destined to win.
The old woman was clearly pleased with her. "Well done. It seems you've practiced diligently."
"Remember, everything about you exists to please Daimyo-sama."
"Your body, your smile, even every breath you take, must be just as he desires."
"Those who cannot learn, or learn poorly, will be eliminated directly."
"Do you all understand?"
"Yes!"
The responses were sparse, tinged with nervous tremors.
Arashi set down his teacup, the bottom clinking softly against the table.
Mei's endurance of humiliation.
Kurenai's silent resistance.
Ragyō's ambition.
All of them were striving to become his chamber guests.
And he would be the only admirer of their raw states.
(To be continued.)