The crowd's murmurs swelled. As Shigeo's impostors, they knew their work was dangerous.
In just this past year, two or three hundred had died when their identities were exposed. Business was harder too—too many frauds, and common folk no longer fell for it.
If this went on, they'd all be out of work. And what sort of people were they? Outlaws, scoundrels, trash of the shinobi world. No man of conscience would join Blue-Gate as a swindler.
If not for the fact that they only ever contacted scattered posts across the shinobi world, East Secret Island would have been exposed long ago.
"Boss, what do you mean by 'stepping up a few levels'?" someone asked.
Lute had been waiting for that. Hearing the question, he rose, face gleaming with oil, eyes bright. He boomed: "It means I will take back what is mine!"
He clapped. Massive doors opened on both sides of the underground hall. Thousands of shinobi poured in.
The three or four hundred in the chamber shrank back in fear—but soon saw these shinobi meant no harm. They were here to support the boss.
Some wore forehead protectors of missing-nin, some were nameless rogues, some carried only weapons. They surrounded the hall, cheering.
Lute's grin widened. He shouted twice, and silence spread.
"You see? This is my army. And this is only East Secret Island's force. I have troops in the Land of Hot Water, in the Land of Lightning. At my command, thousands will march. They'll flatten the Land of Lightning and seat me as daimyō!"
What madness? Daimyō?
Shigeo stared in disbelief. Was this fat man senile? With these rabble, he thought to seize the Land of Lightning?
Shigeo frowned. East Secret Island was far deeper than he had assumed. He thought it was only a fraud ring. But the more he dug, the more he found.
On the ship, it was "a celebration." Here, he found mass production of goods with his name. Now, in this manor, he heard of war.
And with these men?
"Sir, what do you mean by thousands? Why haven't we heard of them in all our travels?" someone asked.
"They are Shigeo's fans, of course! If we raise his banner, the masses will rally to me!" Lute shouted, face glowing with confidence.
Shigeo could not bear it. "If you wave Shigeo's banner, shouldn't the daimyō's seat be his? Why do you claim it?"
The butler, who had been silently watching him, stepped forward, eyes sharp. "Because of our lord's identity! You don't know, do you? He is the younger brother of the Land of Lightning's current daimyō. Years ago his brother usurped the seat, and to secure it, cast his sibling overseas. Our lord endured, gathered wealth, waited for this day. Now, with Shigeo's name to lend weight, the whole shinobi world will support him."
Applause thundered. Whether brainwashed or swept up, they ignored the gaping holes in the story and cheered blindly.
"And if you fail?" Shigeo asked coldly.
"Then Shigeo will take the blame. The Land of Sky and he don't mind one more misunderstanding." Lute stepped forward, sneering.
At once the hall chilled, as if frost had spread. Voices dimmed.
"How do you know he doesn't care? Aren't you afraid he'll come to settle the debt?" Shigeo's voice cut like ice.
The butler smirked. "Seize him!"
Doors slammed shut. Shinobi closed in, forming a ring.
Shigeo flexed his fingers. Black Jiton (Magnet Release) spread, sealing the entire chamber.
They had closed the doors for him. None would leave.
Then explosions boomed outside. The island shook.
"What? What's happening?" Lute roared. He had planned for years. Nothing could go wrong now.
Men ran to the door, but the magnetic field sealed it. They could not open it.
The butler gaped. "Who? Was it you…?"
He pointed at the youth. "Who are you really?"
Their plot for the daimyō's seat was known only to the top circle. Impossible to leak.
And the Five Villages were Shigeo's enemies. Even if they knew of impostors, they wouldn't meddle like this.
So who was this boy?
"You tell me." Shigeo strode forward, fury surging. "Do you wonder about the explosions? My bunshin destroyed your ships on the shore. This island will be a slaughterhouse."
He flashed through seals. Fūton (Wind Release) burst in the chamber.
Shinobi surged forward.
A roar shook the earth. A wave of chakra blasted them back. Fūton: Thousand Blades filled the space, shredding those too slow to escape.
On the high platform, the butler dragged Lute beneath a stone table. Lute trembled like a sieve. "Wh-who is he?"
(End of Chapter)
[50 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter]
[10 Reviews = 5 Extra Chapter]
[Check out my Patreon to read 20+ chapters ahead]
[[email protected]/Zukooo]