The days of guarding the Daimyō were peaceful.
Because no one was stupid enough to assassinate him.
Which made Hyuga Arin… bored.
Today—
Arin followed behind the Daimyō as he strolled through his private garden.
After all, with a residence that occupied half of the Capital of Fire, having a garden was only natural.
"Arin-kun, what do you think of the Land of Fire as it is now?" the Daimyō suddenly asked again.
"What does Lord Daimyō think?" Arin replied perfunctorily.
His gaze swept past the lakeside.
A row of reeds grew there—but they subtly shifted along with the Daimyō's movements.
The guarding ninja were hidden among them.
The Daimyō smiled faintly and said nothing, continuing forward.
Before long—
A group approached, escorting a middle-aged man.
The somewhat gaunt man stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Father."
"Mm," the Daimyō replied indifferently. "What brings you here today?"
The man spoke in a low voice:
"Father, hasn't the recent tax increase gone too far? Many people are being forced to leave the Capital of Fire."
The Daimyō frowned.
He hadn't raised taxes.
Although he publicly blamed Konoha for "stealing" civilians, he knew the real reason—
Excessive taxation and rigid class divisions were driving people away.
"That is not your concern," the Daimyō said coldly, his gaze turning sharp. "What? Are you eager to take my position?"
"No, Father—" the man's expression changed as he tried to explain.
"Enough!" the Daimyō snapped, waving his sleeve. "I am still the Daimyō. It's not your place to interfere. Get out."
The man clenched his jaw but still bowed.
"Yes."
After he left—
The Daimyō turned to Arin.
"My apologies. You had to witness that."
"Hm?" Arin seemed to just come back to his senses.
The Daimyō's expression stiffened slightly, though he suppressed his irritation.
This ninja was far too rude.
But compared to Hatake Sakumo, this young man might actually be easier to win over.
Still—
After that display, the Daimyō lost interest.
"You may leave."
"Yes."
Arin's figure dissolved into blue-black flames and vanished.
Another reed appeared by the lakeside.
However—
Arin himself was still standing there.
No one could see him.
He looked toward the departing figure in the distance and curled his lips slightly.
A new idea had just formed.
…
The middle-aged man sighed heavily.
"At this rate… can the Capital of Fire even remain what it is?"
Those surrounding him remained silent.
In truth, they were partly responsible.
The increased taxation hadn't come from the Daimyō—
It was secretly imposed by the noble families behind them.
After all, who wouldn't want more profit?
Seeing that none of them offered any advice, he sighed again.
Unless he became the Daimyō himself—
He could not change the current state of the Land of Fire.
But his father held power too tightly, unwilling to delegate.
Worse—
He wasn't even the preferred heir.
After leaving the Daimyō's residence, he returned to his own estate.
It was modest, with few servants—
Which earned him a good reputation among the people.
"Huolongjie—the Daimyō's second son. Loved by the people, yet disliked by the Daimyō."
A calm voice suddenly echoed.
Huolongjie turned sharply.
A thin, white-haired man leaned casually against the wall.
Huolongjie quietly moved his hand beneath the table—
Toward a blade.
"Who are you?"
"Just a passing ninja," Arin said with a light smile. "You can call me… Satoru."
(A Gojo Satoru version of Arin appears.)
This evaluation came from memories he had read—after all, if he could erase memories, he could also see them.
This man had a good reputation, ability, and ambition.
He was simply suppressed by the Daimyō.
"Ninja…" Huolongjie repeated, his voice low.
As the Daimyō's son, he had no ninja protection.
Meanwhile, his useless elder brother—who had accomplished nothing—was favored.
"What do you want?"
"Do you want to become the Daimyō?"
The voice suddenly sounded right beside his ear.
He turned—
Arin was already behind him.
"You should know," Huolongjie said grimly, "my father is protected by Konoha's Flame Demon and White Fang."
"With just you… that won't be enough."
"Not necessarily," Arin chuckled. "Killing someone… is often easier than you think."
"So—shall we cooperate?"
Huolongjie hesitated.
He didn't know who this man really was.
Nor why he was so confident.
But—
He was tempted.
"If my father dies, the rightful heir would still be my elder brother—not me."
This was a family secret.
Even the nobles didn't know that the Daimyō favored the elder son.
The will had already been prepared.
"And what if both of them meet with accidents?" Arin asked.
"Aren't you afraid of Konoha? Of being hunted by the Five Great Nations?"
"If I were afraid, I wouldn't be here," Arin said indifferently.
If they wanted to hunt him—
They'd have to find him first.
Huolongjie took a deep breath.
"I need to see results first."
"As you wish."
Arin placed a hand over his chest and gave a slight bow.
Since he was already here—
How could he let things remain this peaceful?
His figure faded like an illusion.
…
Hatake Sakumo, hidden nearby while guarding the Daimyō, felt a faint unease.
He turned to look at Arin.
"You didn't do anything, did you?"
"I've been right under your nose the whole time. What could I possibly do?" Arin rolled his eyes, sitting on a beam and looking down at the Daimyō reviewing documents.
Sakumo frowned.
Arin had indeed been in his sight the entire time.
Unable to pinpoint the source of his unease, he suppressed it for now.
At that moment—
The Daimyō's eyes suddenly widened.
He clutched his chest—
—and collapsed onto the desk.
Instantly, all the hidden ninja appeared around him.
One rushed forward to examine him.
Then—
His eyes widened in shock.
"The Daimyō is dead!!"
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