Daimyo Manor of the Land of Water.
Inside the council hall, over a dozen nobles huddled together, faces filled with panic.
"The granaries are empty!"
A butler knelt on the ground, trembling. "Last night, three more granaries were looted by rioters. The guards couldn't stop them at all."
"What about the Kirigakure?" The Daimyo of the Land of Water slumped in his seat, eyes bloodshot. "Tell Yagura to send people!"
"Mizukage-sama said..." The butler swallowed hard. "...the shinobi village does not interfere with internal affairs."
The Daimyo grabbed a teacup and smashed it against the wall. Shards of porcelain scattered across the floor. "Bastard! They take our money without complaint, but now that there's trouble, they hide?"
As soon as his voice fell, a wave of shouting erupted from outside the hall.
"Daimyo, come out!"
"Hand over the grain!"
"We want food!"
The butler's face turned pale. "Daimyo-sama, the rioters... they've already reached the manor gates!"
The council hall descended into chaos. The nobles jumped to their feet as if to flee.
"What are you panicking for?" a voice rang out suddenly.
"Fuguki?" The Daimyo's eyes lit up. "You're back? What did the Land of Fire say?"
Fuguki didn't answer immediately. Instead, he slowly scanned the room.
These nobles once held the lifeblood of the Land of Water. Now, they looked like lambs awaiting slaughter.
"The Daimyo of the Land of Fire gave two choices," Fuguki said calmly.
"First, remove Yagura from power and hand over the masked man who controls him."
"Second..." He paused. "Starting next month, the Land of Fire will not only cut off grain but also water."
The room fell deathly silent.
Ban water?
The Land of Water was surrounded by sea. How could they possibly ban water?
"The Aburame Clan will poison all freshwater sources. The Hyuga Clan will cut off underground water veins. The Land of Fire's fleet will blockade all sea routes," Fuguki said, clearly and forcefully. "Not even a fly will be able to escape."
One noble's knees gave out. He dropped to the ground.
"This... this is annihilation..."
"Yes." Fuguki nodded. "Chiba Arashi said, in this shinobi world, only he can allow you to survive."
The Daimyo trembled violently, from fear or rage, it was unclear.
"Then... what do we do?"
Fuguki's eyes glinted with scorn. "What else can you do? Choose the first option."
"But Yagura..."
"Yagura is nothing!" Fuguki suddenly bellowed. "He's just a puppet now. Can't any of you see that?"
"The Land of Water is on the brink, and he's still gathering troops at the border, obsessed with avenging Ao."
"Who is Ao? Just a dead shinobi!"
"Is he worth dragging down the entire nation?"
The nobles exchanged uneasy glances. None dared to respond.
"I'm going to Kirigakure." Fuguki turned to leave. "You all prepare yourselves and wait for my news."
"Wait!" the Daimyo suddenly called out. "What if Yagura refuses?"
Fuguki didn't even turn his head.
"Then let Terumī Mei... no, let Lady Shizumi's Resistance forces enter the city."
"In any case, Yagura Karatachi must step down."
...Kirigakure.
On the rooftop of the Mizukage Building, Obito stood by the water tank.
"This isn't going well," Black Zetsu emerged from underground. "The Daimyo Manor is already in chaos."
"Chaos is good." Obito sneered. "The more chaotic things get, the easier it is to implement our plan."
"But the Land of Fire..." Black Zetsu hesitated. "Chiba Arashi's methods are more ruthless than I anticipated."
"Economic blockade, cutting off food and water... he's pushing the Land of Water to collapse."
Obito was silent for a few seconds.
"It doesn't matter."
"Our goal is the Six-Tails. Nothing else matters."
"Once we've gathered all the Tailed Beasts, the fate of these countries means nothing."
Black Zetsu didn't respond. He simply stared at Obito.
"Right," Obito suddenly asked, "how is Terumī Mei?"
"Her Resistance forces have already taken two cities," Black Zetsu said. "The Land of Fire is providing her with secret support."
"Let her keep fighting." Obito spoke calmly. "Once she and Yagura wear each other down, we'll move in to clean up."
"By then, the Six-Tails will be ours."
Before the words had fully left his mouth, both their expressions shifted.
They immediately concealed their presence.
A moment later, Fuguki appeared inside the Mizukage's office.
"Mizukage-sama." He knelt on one knee, tone respectful. "The Daimyo Manor sent me to deliver a message."
Yagura Karatachi's dull eyes shifted. "Speak."
"Daimyo-sama hopes Mizukage-sama can suspend military activity." Fuguki lowered his head. "There's a severe food shortage in the country. Public unrest is growing. This is no time for war."
"Food?" Yagura scoffed. "That's the Daimyo's business. What does that have to do with me?"
"But..."
"No buts." Yagura cut him off coldly. "Ao was a shinobi of Kirigakure. He died. I must give him justice."
"If I don't, who would dare sacrifice themselves for Kirigakure in the future?"
Fuguki clenched his teeth. "Mizukage-sama, forgive my bluntness."
"The people of the Land of Water can't even feed themselves. What justice are you still talking about?"
"If the country falls, will Kirigakure still exist?"
Yagura didn't reply. He just stared at him silently.
Fuguki felt his scalp go numb. Cold sweat drenched his robes.
"You..." Yagura's tone turned frosty. "Are you instructing me?"
"I wouldn't dare!" Fuguki quickly lowered his head. "I'm just... just conveying the Daimyo's message..."
"Go back and tell the Daimyo."
"The affairs of Kirigakure are none of his concern."
"If he can't handle the rioters, I'll take care of them for him."
Fuguki trembled. "Yes... I'll report back at once."
Once he had gone far, Obito and Black Zetsu reappeared.
"Now the Daimyo Manor will completely side with the Land of Fire."
"So what?" Obito sneered. "This country was going to fall sooner or later."
"I only want the Tailed Beasts."
Black Zetsu was silent for a few seconds.
"Have you considered that Chiba Arashi might come in person?"
Obito was taken aback.
"He's a Daimyo. Why would he come to the Land of Water?"
"I don't know." Black Zetsu shook his head. "But I have a bad feeling."
Obito said nothing more. He simply looked out at the sea in the distance.
...Three days later.
Outside the Daimyo Manor of the Land of Water, the number of rioters had exceeded ten thousand.
They carried hoes, wooden sticks, even kitchen knives.
"Charge in!"
"Grab the grain!"
"There's food in the Daimyo Manor!"
The guards couldn't hold them back and were quickly overrun.
The rioters surged in like a tide, attacking anyone they saw, looting everything in sight.
The Daimyo cowered in a hidden chamber, shaking uncontrollably.
"It's over... it's all over..."
The butler knelt, face pale. "Daimyo-sama, please escape! If you don't go now, it'll be too late!"
"Escape? To where?" The Daimyo slumped to the floor, eyes blank. "The entire Land of Water is surrounded by the Land of Fire. Where can I go?"
At that moment, the secret door creaked open.
Fuguki stepped in, flanked by several armored samurai.
"Daimyo-sama." He knelt calmly. "It's time."
"Time for what?"
"Time to make a choice." Fuguki looked up. "Wait for death, or submit to the Land of Fire?"
The Daimyo trembled.
Surrender?
How could he live with that shame?
"I... I can't surrender..." he muttered. "I am the Daimyo of the Land of Water..."
"Then stay here and let the rioters tear you apart." Fuguki stood and turned to leave.
"Wait!" The Daimyo suddenly shouted. "I... I surrender!"
"I'll agree to anything!"
"As long as I can live!"
Fuguki paused, a trace of mockery on his lips.
"Wouldn't it have been better to say that earlier?"
He pulled out a scroll and tossed it in front of the Daimyo.
"Sign it."
"This is the Land of Fire's vassal agreement."
"From today on, the Land of Water will be governed by the Land of Fire."
The Daimyo shakily picked up the scroll. Each clause weakened his authority.
Each clause carved away the Land of Water's interests.
But he had no choice.
Hand trembling, he picked up the brush and signed his name.
The moment he did, it felt like all strength left his body.
He collapsed.
Fuguki picked up the scroll and nodded with satisfaction.
"Very good."
"Now it's time to deal with Kirigakure."
(To be continued.)