Night fell.
The palace was ablaze with light.
Before Uchiha Ren, tables overflowed with exquisite dishes—one table wasn't enough, so another stood beside it.
Extravagance, in its purest form.
Of course, this wasn't just for show.
Daimyō was an ordinary man, not a shinobi. Every dish was sampled lightly—one or two bites at most. Even if an enemy shinobi poisoned something, the odds of him eating that specific dish were low.
Unless—
His luck was truly abysmal.
"Music!"
A plump attendant clapped his hands.
The musicians surrounding the hall immediately began to play—strings, flutes, drums blending together. Ren couldn't identify the tune, but it was… pleasant enough.
Then—
The dancers entered.
Rows of young girls in light, flowing attire moved gracefully into the hall.
Song.
Dance.
Laughter.
A scene of absolute indulgence.
In any ordinary era—
A ruler living like this was either already doomed…
Or soon would be.
"…Wait?"
Ren blinked.
The Daimyō had joined them.
Actually joined the dancers.
After exhausting himself, he returned to his seat—effortlessly pulling two beauties into his arms.
"Lord Hokage, you've come a long way."
"Relax a little."
The Daimyō's eyes narrowed lazily.
"The palace has fine soil and water… the girls here are especially well-nurtured."
Ren remained unmoved.
The Daimyō watched him for a moment.
Then—
Clapped again.
Two figures entered.
Twin girls.
Blue-tinted hair.
Delicate features.
About Ren's age.
They approached without hesitation—
And sat beside him.
"Lord Hokage."
The Daimyō smiled.
"A small gift."
"Feng. Ling."
"Tonight, take good care of our honored guest."
Ren's gaze flickered.
…Again?
Just like Hyuga Takuma.
Another attempt at "arrangement."
This time—
Twins.
For a brief moment—
He hesitated.
Not because of the girls.
Well…
Not entirely.
The real temptation—
Was elsewhere.
Ten draws.
Ten.
That was what truly mattered.
Power.
If he had enough power—
Everything else would follow.
Women?
Status?
Influence?
Others would deliver them to him willingly.
But—
If he walked into the capital alone…
And returned to Konoha with a pair of twins—
What would people think?
Ren remained silent.
The Daimyō's eyes narrowed slightly.
Inside—
A faint disappointment.
Another one?
Just like the Senju brothers?
Always refusing.
Always pretending to be upright.
Shinobi…
Were truly insufferable.
The thought passed through his mind—
But never reached his face.
Then—
Ren spoke.
"Daimyō."
"This gift…"
"I accept."
For a moment—
Something inside him shifted.
Like a thin layer—
Quietly breaking.
Dignity?
Morality?
He pushed it aside.
Power came first.
Everything else—
Was secondary.
Even Orochimaru could abandon his humanity.
What was this, compared to that?
The Daimyō's expression brightened instantly.
"Good! Good!"
Much easier than the Senju.
The Uchiha…
Were far more agreeable.
After all—
No one here was truly virtuous.
Why pretend?
The atmosphere grew even livelier.
Daimyō rose from his seat and moved closer, sharing the table with Ren.
Wine flowed.
Laughter echoed.
Time passed.
Until—
Ren set his cup down.
Enough.
It was time.
The real purpose of this trip—
Money.
"Daimyō…"
Ren rubbed his fingers lightly.
"Konoha's finances are… strained."
This was the moment.
When the sponsor was most relaxed—
Most receptive.
The Daimyō laughed.
"Rest assured."
"Three hundred and ten billion ryo will be delivered to Konoha on schedule."
Ren glanced around the hall.
The gold.
The jewels.
The excess.
Then—
He shook his head.
"Not three hundred and ten billion."
"Four hundred and ten billion."
Silence.
The Daimyō froze.
"What?"
Even he hadn't expected this.
Three hundred and ten billion—
Was already a massive sum.
If not for Konoha's sacrifices in the war—
He would have reduced it back to two hundred billion, as in previous years.
Did this man think money grew on trees?
The Land of Fire had suffered too.
War.
Famine.
Refugees everywhere.
Bandits rising.
Even local officials were becoming harder to control—hoarding land, evading taxes.
Scraping together three hundred and ten billion—
Was already pushing the limit.
And now—
He wanted more?
"Lord Hokage… you jest."
The Daimyō forced a smile.
Then waved his hand.
The music stopped instantly.
The dancers withdrew.
The hall emptied.
Only the two of them remained.
Now—
They would speak properly.
"You should understand," the Daimyō said slowly.
"Konoha already receives the largest funding among all villages."
"The Land of Fire is struggling as well."
"Disasters. War. Taxes harder to collect each year."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Do you know why Sunagakure withdrew from the war so early?"
Ren shook his head.
Back then—
He had been focused solely on survival.
On fighting.
He hadn't cared about such details.
The Daimyō smiled coldly.
"Because the Wind Daimyō cut their funding in half."
Ren paused.
That was…
Ruthless.
Even dangerous.
Shinobi were tools—
Yes.
But they were also people.
Killing machines.
Cutting their pay like that—
Was courting disaster.
"That's practically asking for—"
Ren stopped himself.
The Daimyō continued.
"And yet… what choice did they have?"
"The Land of Wind is barren."
"Sand and nothing else."
"If they didn't cut funding…"
"The civilians would starve."
His gaze sharpened.
"Without civilians—"
"Who feeds the shinobi?"
The meaning was clear.
Blunt.
Final.
Sand Village had its funding cut.
Konoha's had increased.
And yet—
Ren still wanted more?
Impossible.
"Three hundred and fifty billion."
Ren adjusted his stance.
A concession.
After all—
This man was the client.
The one holding the purse.
The Daimyō said nothing.
Not even a reaction.
Ren's expression tightened slightly.
"Three hundred and forty."
Silence.
"Three hundred and thirty."
Nothing.
"Three hundred and twenty."
Still nothing.
The air grew heavy.
Ren's eyes darkened.
He had given ground.
Again.
And again.
And yet—
Not even acknowledgment?
Enough.
If words didn't work—
Then perhaps…
A different approach was needed.
And the line between negotiation—
And threat—
Began to blur.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read chapters ahead on Patreon → patreon.com/c/MythArcStudio