Over the next three days. Tensions in our clan were rising. We knew that the Kurokami were prepared to leave. The Hokage had given them permission when the Princess had argued their case. The Daimyo was the Lord of the Nation. They had been preparing to leave in two sets. An advanced party under Rei and 2 elders was to go and set things up first. His father and the rest of the elders, along with the families, will follow with the Princess and the Daimyo's soldiers.
But we hadn't been sitting idle either. I called my best fighter.
"Daichi, are we ready?"
"Yes, Lord Ren. A basic tunnel has been established to the location of our lab outside the village."
"And the barrier?"
"Sayuri found records of its construction prints from when we looted -"
"Ahem! Ahem!"
"I mean, when we commandeered resources from the Fuinjutsu vault. It took them some time. But the Winter figured it out."
"Good."
"Sir?
"Yes?"
"You know I am the one guy who loves fighting the most among the commanders. And I certainly hate them no less than anyone here. But is this really okay?"
"Did you post the bounties?"
"Yes"
"Then it's okay."
I had been told that once, during the period of the Warring States in China, during the battle of Hangu pass, during the Lao Ai rebellion, before the rise of the first Emperor Qin Shi Huang. They had used the king's copied seal to recruit loyal troops to march on the capital. It had seemed foolish during the show. But now that I can see the effects in reality. I understand how they did it.
Haruto must have reached the capital yesterday. By tonight, his activities would have gathered attention. But unless someone uses a ridiculous amount of resources on summoning scrolls and jutsus. The news won't get here before tomorrow. It will be carried by Hawks. After all, Politics is a slow-moving beast.
I could have expedited the process. But I didn't. I was following the advice of all those chess masters. Never stop an enemy from making a mistake.
In my discussions with other clan leaders. I had asked their views on this. I had met with the Akimichi, the Gekko, the Aburame, and a few midling clans so far. I was saving the troublesome ones for later. The Nara, because of that dead Jonin. The Yamanaka, because of their closeness to the Hokage. And the Uchiha, well, because they are the Uchiha.
But my point was, they had all agreed that the princess was making a grave mistake. The move would be a master stroke against a civillian clan, but a blunder against a military one. Sure, they all had their own traps in their advices. But all of them helped them benefit when the Daimyo's position weakened. The Princess was trying to hit a home run in Cricket. Both games have a bat and ball and involve running. But try saying they are same in front of a fan. You'll find the consequences quite entertaining for weeks.
So I had decided to use it. Especially since I realized that all the ones I considered troublesome were in the advanced party of 50. The clan had voted in favor unanimously when I proposed the attack. I didn't even need a speech. I could see Naotora's thinking. He was sending them away first because he did not want a fight to break out in Konoha's vicinity. Which had been becoming a very real possibility over the last 3 days. I am sure his instructions would be to run like hell and not get caught up in our traps.
They expected us to attack. They were our meat snatched from between our teeth.
I think it was foolish. Wouldn't it be better for everyone to go with the princess? That way if I blew them up, I'll be directly in the Daimyo's crosshairs.
But then, as I moved towards the tunnel. A chilling thought surfaced. If I let them go or a deal is cut. They will reach the capital. But if my hate won. The problem people will be dead, and the Surrendering faction that Naotora led will be able to use the incident to maneuver the surrender. Was he hedging his bets?
But could a man really gamble his son's life that way?
I had used the last three days to reaffirm my promises to the other clans. Showing that I paid my debts and gratitude. This was not just vengeance, but also a statement to those who planned to go up against us. We are no pushovers. And we pay our grudges too.
I halted. A chill going down my spine as I realized something. "My God!. What have I become?"
I was no saint and I killed a lot of people before. Hell I had achievements for it. But this, this was a first. Before I was either fending off attackers or completing missions. Those pieces of shit were dead. If not by my hand than by someone else's. But this. This was me choosing the death of 50 people by weighing the pros and cons. Emotions were part of it yes. But majorly, at least for me, this was calculation.
But I guess it was in someways better than me killing them over emotions. That would make me no different than an insane Uchiha right? At least I wasn't insane.
Or at least I was not that version of insane.
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