The Sixth Body
That night, Uchiha Tunan led a faction of the Konoha Military Police Force, targeting and eliminating all underground organizations operating in the northern district of Fire Capital.
In his pursuit of wealth and power, Uchiha Tunan showed no mercy. He had only one goal—to amass an immense fortune in a short period.
After a rough estimate, he had seized close to 300 million ryo in assets during this operation.
---
Justice or Manipulation?
By morning, the streets outside Fire Capital's magistrate offices were filled with the remnants of the underground organizations—captured criminals, their fates sealed.
Standing before the crowd, one of Uchiha Tunan's shadow clones delivered yet another passionate speech, denouncing the criminals' misdeeds. Some offenses were genuine, while others were fabricated or exaggerated to stoke public outrage.
The more severe crimes were stated matter-of-factly, but for the minor ones, Tunan embellished the details, ensuring the gathered crowd would feel righteous fury.
Whether or not these criminals deserved death under the laws of the Land of Fire was irrelevant—Uchiha Tunan executed every last one of them.
Their vast fortunes, instead of being confiscated by the state, quietly disappeared into Uchiha Tunan's personal coffers.
Many commoners witnessed the brutal purge.
For years, these underground syndicates had extorted and oppressed them. Now that justice—at least in appearance—had been served, the people erupted into cheers, hailing Tunan as a hero.
His name quickly spread throughout Fire Capital, gaining widespread recognition.
At that moment, his accumulated wealth had surpassed six billion ryo, marking a crucial milestone in his grand ambitions.
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Subtly Influencing the Fire Daimyo
Some time later, Uchiha Tunan resumed his duties, teaching the Fire Daimyo's two sons alongside the kingdom's magistrates.
With meticulous calculation, he found every opportunity to subtly influence the younger prince, feeding him words of flattery and manipulation.
Meanwhile, the Fire Daimyo, acting on Tunan's advice, kept the younger prince, Nabera, by his side at all times, nurturing him with warmth and favor. Nabera was granted privileges his older brother had never enjoyed.
Over time, those who observed the situation began whispering among themselves.
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A Kingdom in Speculation
"Lately, His Majesty has been showing unusual favor to the younger prince... It almost seems as if he intends to make Nabera his heir."
"That can't be right. Traditionally, the eldest son always inherits the title. Besides, the older prince is far more composed and scholarly."
"But have you noticed? Nabera may be impulsive, but he's independent, adaptable, and shrewd—qualities of a true ruler."
"Come to think of it… I haven't seen the older prince much lately."
"Rumor has it he's struggling in his studies."
"Nonsense! His academic prowess is well-known. What kind of 'struggles'?"
"I heard from an attendant at the Daimyo's palace—the eldest prince gets beaten by Master Jingming every day for failing in his lessons."
"Master Jingming? Harsh punishments, even for the prince?"
"And yet, despite all this, the older prince remains unharmed. Doesn't that strike you as strange?"
"Now that you mention it… The younger prince's temperament has changed recently. He's maturing rapidly."
"Perhaps he was hiding his true nature all along."
"If that's true… then his patience and cunning are terrifying."
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The Eldest Prince's Growing Despair
For years, the eldest prince had been seen as the inevitable heir. Many noble families aligned themselves with him, securing favor for the future.
But now, with Nabera suddenly rising in power, these same nobles began shifting their allegiances.
That evening, the eldest prince—his body still aching from the latest punishment—received a trusted confidant.
Confined within the palace, he could rarely leave and had to rely on others for information.
The confidant reported the nobles' discussions and the shifting tide of political support.
Hearing this, the prince's expression turned blank.
"I understand. You may leave."
The attendant hesitated before bowing and departing.
Now alone, the prince sat motionless in the vast hall, the emptiness around him mirroring his own growing despair.
Moments later, rage twisted his features. He violently kicked over a table, his breath ragged, his eyes burning with madness.
"So what Teacher Jingming said was true…"
Until now, he had refused to believe that his father—who once cherished him—could so easily cast him aside.
"I did everything right… Why?"
---
The Turning Point
At 3:00 AM, after hours of brooding in silence, the prince rose from his seat and made his way to the academy.
At 3:50 AM, Uchiha Tunan arrived, only to find the prince standing outside, eyes hollow and lifeless.
His lips were pale, his face numb with exhaustion as he slowly raised his gaze.
"Teacher Jingming… Am I too late to understand?"
Uchiha Tunan narrowed his eyes, his voice steady but calculating.
"Why do you say that?"
A flicker of madness crossed the prince's face, but his voice remained disturbingly calm.
*"My father changed too quickly. I always thought I was superior to Nabera in every way.
And yet, he still chose him.
No matter what I do now, he will never change his mind."*
Uchiha Tunan nodded slightly, reinforcing the thought.
"You finally see the truth."
A twisted, almost delirious smile crept onto the prince's face.
"My movements are restricted. I need my father's permission to leave the palace. It's almost impossible for me to gain public support."
"That's right," Tunan affirmed.
The prince clenched his fists, his voice dripping with bitterness.
*"The nobles who once swore loyalty to me have already pledged themselves to Nabera.
Had I acted sooner, I could have controlled them.
But now, that chance is gone."*
His expression contorted with fury as he recalled the nobles' past flattery, their smiles now directed toward Nabera.
*"All my life, I never truly understood how much being Daimyo mattered…
Because I was born believing it was already mine."*
His fists trembled.
*"Everyone said I was the future Daimyo. They told me that as long as I studied hard, my father would favor me.
But now, when everything is slipping away—only now do I realize its worth."*
Suddenly, he dropped to his knees before Uchiha Tunan, gripping the man's leg in desperation.
*"Teacher, guide me.
If you help me reclaim my birthright, I will give you whatever you desire.
Power. Wealth. Women. Name your price, and it is yours."*
Uchiha Tunan remained expressionless, but deep within, he smirked—everything was going according to plan.
He studied the kneeling prince and spoke in an enigmatic tone:
*"The old ways offer no solutions…
But there is always a path for those willing to pay the price."*
The prince's dead eyes flickered with renewed hope.
"I will pay any price."
After a moment of feigned hesitation, Tunan placed a hand on the prince's shoulder and whispered coldly:
*"The slumbering dragon stirs beneath the mountains…
Dare you call forth a new era?"*
Releasing the prince's grip, he withdrew a small scroll and Chakra test papers, placing them before him.
*"I have taught you everything I can.
I leave you now to ponder your future.
These may help."*
With that, Uchiha Tunan turned and left, his mission complete.
As dawn approached, the prince sat alone, whispering under his breath:
"Dare to… call forth… a new era."