Daimyo manor, side hall.
Incense burned in the hall, and a faint, elegant smoke curled upward.
The sound of string and wind instruments echoed.
Shin leaned casually on a large, soft couch, his dark everyday robes open at the collar, revealing his broad chest, his expression one of satisfaction.
In the center of the hall, a group of dancers swayed gracefully.
The leading woman, barely sixteen, had a slim figure and a slender waist.
She wore only a thin, delicate pink gauze skirt, barely covering her vital areas.
Her dance steps were nimble, and the view beneath her skirt was temptingly glimpsed.
Her pale skin gleamed with an alluring shine, and her long, straight legs appeared and disappeared as her skirt opened and closed.
Each spin brought a wave of fragrant air.
Each glance back was filled with seductive charm.
Their dance moves were utterly graceful and enticing, at times soaring, at times flowing.
Every movement was a silent invitation, every action a test of the preferences of the man on the throne.
They were carefully selected beauties, gifts for the new king.
In their eyes, raw desire burned.
As long as they could earn a shred of favor from that man, they could rise to prominence and become people of status.
This desire made their dancing more intense, more captivating.
Shin's expression was satisfied, his gaze focused, a fire igniting in his lower abdomen.
At his lower seat, Aono sat upright and serious, his behavior completely out of place with the surrounding atmosphere.
"Aono."
Shin withdrew his gaze from the dancers, picked up his wine cup, and spoke casually.
"Yes, my lord."
Aono immediately bowed, his posture respectful.
Shin drained the wine in his cup. "Are your clansmen getting used to the capital?"
Aono replied respectfully, "Thanks to you, my lord, our clansmen have settled down."
"Just settling down isn't enough." Shin put down his cup. "The funds I gave you aren't for you to save. Have them open shops, start businesses, and fully integrate into the capital."
"Send those talented young people to school to learn new knowledge. Don't just cling to ninjutsu."
"You've become a shadow guard, so your clansmen should stand proudly in the sunlight, not forever hide in dark corners."
"If your children's faces aren't smiling, then wouldn't I be a failure?"
Aono suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with shock.
Then it turned to gratitude, and he bowed down sharply, his forehead hitting the ground heavily.
His voice, hoarse with emotion, said, "Thank you, my lord. The Senju family will serve you loyally for generations."
"Get up quickly!" Shin smiled slightly. "I'm not a heartless person. With me, you'll only do better!"
"Thank you, my lord!" Senju Aono bowed again.
Just then, Aono caught a glimpse of a fleeting figure outside the hall. That person didn't enter but merely gave him a subtle hand signal.
Aono immediately spoke. "My lord, there's news from Rei's side. Please allow me to take temporary leave."
"Go."
Shin waved his hand, his attention returning to the dancers.
Aono quickly walked out of the side hall. In a deserted corner, a shadow guard team member, disguised as a guard, knelt on one knee, presenting a small bamboo tube with both hands.
Without any extra communication, the handover was complete, and the shadow guard's figure flashed, disappearing into the courtyard.
When Aono returned to the hall, the music and dancing had stopped at some unknown time.
The dancers knelt on the ground, dripping with fragrant sweat, not daring to lift their heads.
Shin was looking at the leading dancer with great interest, his possessive gaze clear.
"My lord." Aono quietly stepped forward and presented the bamboo tube.
Shin didn't take it, only asking, "From Konoha's side?"
"Yes."
"Tell me, what interesting news is there?"
Aono opened the bamboo tube, quickly scanned the secret letter, and then reported in brief terms. "Minato Namikaze has fully followed your will, implementing the genius training program and the selection of the Twelve Guardian Shinobi."
"The results are even better than we expected."
"Oh?"
Hearing this, Shin finally sat up straight, his eyes regaining clarity.
"Let me see."
"Yes."
Shin took the note and unfolded it.
The information on it was far more detailed than Aono's oral report.
How Uchiha Fugaku spoke passionately.
How Hyuga Hiashi secretly plotted.
What the attitude of the Ino-Shika-Cho three families was.
It was all written clearly.
And what Shin found most interesting was the last paragraph of the secret letter.
It detailed the massive wave of chaos the matter of taking concubines had stirred up among the various great families of Konoha.
The Uchiha clan was preparing to select three of the most beautiful young women from their clan.
Even families like the Inuzuka and Aburame, who had always kept to themselves, were stirring.
Looking at this content, Shin was first startled, then burst into laughter.
He remembered.
On that day at the grand court assembly, a minister, to flatter him, proposed the suggestion of taking concubines.
He hadn't taken it seriously at the time, only considering it a means to calm the people, and casually agreed.
Unexpectedly, this seemingly insignificant move, which he himself had almost forgotten, actually became the last straw that broke Konoha.
No wonder Konoha's changes were so great.
The genius training program was about division.
The Twelve Guardian Shinobi was about consolidating power.
And these simple words, 'taking concubines,' pointed directly to the lifeblood of all shinobi clans—bloodline and legacy.
It became the most powerful catalyst, instantly igniting all the conflicts he had previously laid out.
In this world, what's most difficult to resist is never some earth-shattering conspiracy.
Rather, it's the most basic desires and fears coming from the deepest parts of the human heart.
This sword that is Konoha.
He originally thought it would take some effort to completely take it from Hiruzen Sarutobi and those old men.
Now it seems it won't take long at all.
Shin casually tossed the secret letter. Aono immediately caught it and destroyed it with fire release.
He slowly stood up, pacing in the hall, seemingly deep in thought.
Then he walked to the front of the leading dancer, squatted down, and lifted her chin, making her look up.
"You tell me, with your beauty, can you enter my harem?"
The dancer, not understanding, timidly said, "I dare not speak presumptuously. It's entirely for my lord to decide."
"Hahaha!"
Shin immediately burst into laughter. "Takeshi."
Takeshi immediately hurried in.
"I'm here, my lord."
"Since everyone is so enthusiastic about the matter of taking concubines, if I don't handle it properly, wouldn't I be letting down their good intentions?"
Shin's lips curved into a meaningful smile.
"Pass on my order."
"Announce throughout the entire Land of Fire."
"All citizens of the Land of Fire, whether nobles, shinobi, or civilians—if they have an eligible unmarried daughter of good character and appearance, may participate."
Takeshi's expression brightened, and he immediately accepted the order. "Yes!"
That his lord was willing to take concubines—as a retainer, he was naturally pleased.
Because this meant that the future young master would soon be born.
Shin stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the distance.
He didn't care whether those shinobi clans were willing to send their daughters to participate.
What he cared about were the noble families in the capital. This would be a game of division and alignment.
The internal situation was about to stabilize.
In that case, matters concerning the Land of Lightning could also begin to be addressed.
"Additionally, notify Minister of Finance Tanaka to come to my study tomorrow morning."
"Yes!"
Takeshi immediately acknowledged and withdrew.
Shin then motioned for Aono to sit down, and then shouted at the musicians and dancers still kneeling on the ground, "What are you waiting for?"
"Continue the music, continue the dance!"