The grand ceremony ended.
The smell of blood had not yet faded, and the people began to leave in an orderly manner, though the excitement on their faces remained.
They had personally witnessed a bloody baptism and the birth of a new daimyo.
From today onwards, the Land of Fire would have only one voice.
That would be the voice of the daimyo.
In the daimyo manor, inside the sleeping chambers.
The lingering scent of sandalwood pushed away the bloody air that drifted in from outside.
Shin was already dressed in loose black casual clothes, leaning against a soft couch covered with snow-white fox fur.
He held a cup of clear tea in his hand. A maid fanned him from behind. His expression was relaxed and content.
He had schemed for over a decade, rising from an overlooked illegitimate son to now ruling over a nation.
From this moment on, whether by law or by name, he was the sole ruler of this land.
This feeling of holding the fate of billions of lives in the palm of his hand was truly pleasant.
Thump, thump, thump.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Enter."
Shin didn't even lift his eyelids.
The elderly butler, Takeshi, pushed the door open. He made almost no sound when he walked.
He took a few steps into the hall and knelt on the ground. His forehead pressed against the floor, and his voice trembled.
Everything that had happened during the ceremony made Takeshi even more respectful toward his master.
"My lord, Kiyotsuki Saki is demanding to see you. She's making a scene in the water dungeon."
"She asked me to give you a message. She says she misspoke and begs you to give her another chance."
Kiyotsuki Saki.
Upon hearing this name, a trace of coldness appeared in Shin's eyes.
The most pathetic thing about traitors is that they always believe their betrayal is somehow unique and forgivable. They always dream about receiving forgiveness.
How foolish.
Sadly, betrayal happens either zero times or countless times.
It's like a broken bowl. Even if you reluctantly glue it together, the cracks will always remain.
What's more, he had seized her family's property and killed her father and brothers.
He had kept her by his side for so long merely to lure out bigger fish. He'd also wanted to give her a chance.
Now that the fish were caught, the bait naturally had no further use.
He wouldn't bother to glue a broken bowl back together.
"A chance?"
Shin remained quiet for a long while. His voice was very soft, but his tone was very heavy.
"I already gave her a chance. Unfortunately, she didn't treasure it. A person who has betrayed me has no right to my forgiveness."
"Come here!" Shin put down his teacup and waved Takeshi over.
Takeshi quickly got up and came closer.
Shin slapped him across the face. It wasn't a hard slap, but blood trickled from Takeshi's mouth. Takeshi immediately dropped to his knees and kowtowed.
"I deserve to die! I deserve to die!"
"Get up!"
"Yes, yes!" Takeshi mumbled in agreement, trembling as he got up.
Shin asked, "Does it hurt?"
Takeshi quickly shook his head. "No, no!"
"Then it seems you haven't learned your lesson yet!"
"No, no! It hurts! It hurts!"
"Good. Remember, don't take things you shouldn't take in the future!"
"I will definitely remember! I'll definitely remember!"
Seeing Takeshi's fearful expression, Shin felt a pang of regret. After all, Takeshi had cared for him since childhood and had been loyal for over a decade. He didn't want to be too harsh with him.
Shin's tone softened. "This time it's fine. If you've taken it, put it away properly. Don't lose it!"
"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. I'll return it right away."
"If I tell you to keep it, then keep it!"
"...Yes!"
"Takeshi."
"I'm here, my lord."
Shin said seriously, "You watched me grow up. You should understand me. If everyone acted like this, this country would rot from within."
"If the country rots, my position won't be stable, and you won't enjoy any fortune either!"
Tears flowed down Takeshi's face. He knelt again. "I was foolish. Fortunately, my lord reminded me. I almost made a terrible mistake."
"Get up!"
"As for Kiyotsuki Saki, she was once a young miss of a noble family famous in the capital. She also contributed to today's grand spectacle."
Shin spoke unhurriedly. "It wouldn't be right to let her die in a filthy water dungeon."
"Go prepare three feet of white silk and send her to reunite with her father and brothers."
"Give her a dignified end."
Old butler Takeshi bowed his head even lower. He answered in a hoarse voice.
"...Yes, my lord."
Takeshi could feel the ruthlessness hidden in his daimyo's calm words.
This new master was a true emperor.
In his heart, there was no kindness, only rules.
Those who follow me prosper. Those who oppose me perish.
"There's one more thing."
Shin seemed to remember something.
"First, go to the Konoha guest house and notify the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze."
"Tell him to come see me in three days."
"During these three days, he should properly handle Konoha's internal affairs. I don't want to hear any improper voices again."
Shin deliberately emphasized the words 'internal affairs'.
The old butler understood perfectly.
This was his lord's way of telling the Fourth Hokage to completely purge Danzo's remaining forces.
"Furthermore, tell him to prepare a detailed plan regarding the genius training special fund I mentioned earlier. He should bring it when he comes."
"Yes, I'll attend to it immediately."
Takeshi didn't dare show the slightest negligence. After bowing, he quietly left and disappeared outside the door.
Inside the study, silence returned.
After Takeshi left the daimyo manor, he first went to the Konoha guest house.
After delivering his lord's message to Minato Namikaze, he didn't linger. He bowed and took his leave.
Then he immediately headed toward the water dungeon.
This was a place specifically used to hold serious criminals.
Those imprisoned here were always individuals with great power or those who were extremely dangerous.
In the dark, damp corridor, mold grew everywhere. Even ordinary nobles who committed crimes were never deemed worthy of being imprisoned here.
When the prison door opened and Kiyotsuki Saki saw that her visitor was Takeshi, her eyes instantly widened.
She struggled to climb up from the ground and asked eagerly, "Uncle Takeshi! Did my lord send you to pick me up? Has he forgiven me?"
Takeshi didn't answer. He merely made a calm gesture of invitation.
Then he led Kiyotsuki Saki out of the water dungeon.
Along the way, Kiyotsuki Saki followed anxiously. She tried to ask several times. Her voice shifted from hopeful to trembling. "Uncle Takeshi, where are we going? Is my lord willing to see me?"
Takeshi, however, remained silent the entire time.
The carriage didn't head toward the daimyo manor. Instead, it stopped in front of a mansion that had long been sealed off, where weeds had already begun to grow wild.
When she saw the familiar gate, the last trace of color drained from Kiyotsuki Saki's face.
She wasn't a fool.
She understood immediately what this meant.
"No... no! I'm not going in!"
She shook her head frantically, tears streaming down her face. "Uncle Takeshi, I was wrong! I truly know I was wrong! Take me to see my lord! Let me kowtow and apologize to him personally! Please!"
She dropped to her knees, clutching at Takeshi's robes and begging incoherently.
A trace of pity flashed in Takeshi's eyes—the sorrow of watching a young life walk toward death.
He sighed softly. His voice was hoarse but firm.
"Young miss Kiyotsuki Saki, you chose this path yourself."
He helped her to her feet and handed her a set of clean, beautiful clothes. His tone carried helplessness.
"My lord, out of consideration for old times, has left you with your final dignity."
"It's better to complete your final journey cleanly in your own home than to rot in that filthy water dungeon."
Takeshi led her into an inner room that had already been cleaned. On a low table, a strip of white silk lay neatly arranged.
Three feet of white silk.
Kiyotsuki Saki's legs gave out. All her strength drained away.
"I'm merely following orders."
Takeshi spoke one last time. His aged figure slowly retreated from the room, and he closed the door behind him.
Outside the door, he stood in silence, motionless like a stone statue.
A long while passed.
A sound came from inside the room. Only when the last noise faded did he turn and enter.
After confirming that Kiyotsuki Saki was dead, he had her body taken away. Then he left.
His figure once again merged into the darkness of night.