I exited the tower and started towards home. Hana walks right beside me, along with her servant and my guards.
"Was the wise?"
"What?"
"Rejecting the marriage? It would mean longer peace, and even if you fight. It won't be that bad."
"It is wise."
She waited for an explanation, but I didn't give her one.
"Is everything alright, Lord Ren?" Hina questioned. "Yes, a tentative truce has been struck."
"That's a good thing, isn't it?"
"Depends on how long it lasts."
"Lord Ren, is the Yami the reason why I am not allowed in many parts of the compound?"
"What makes you think that?"
"I have heard of you rejecting girls who refuse the Yami."
"They were spies."
"It must be lonely not being able to trust anyone whose life you do not control."
"Lady Hana, is there a purpose to this line of questioning?"
"Nothing, I just wanted to know if I'll have to bond with one before getting truly accepted in the clan?"
I sighed. "Your isolation is based on a lack of trust. No matter what has been promised. We are not married yet."
We finally reached the compound. As the news spread, the mood changed. I had forbidden celebrations until the announcements happened. But it was semi-celebratory.
At dinner, as I was discussing things with my commanders, I paused. "Go on, Lady Hana. Ask it."
"I do not understand what you mean, my lord?"
"You've been dying to ask me something since morning. Our secrets are safe here."
She battled herself for a few seconds before making a decision. "You're close, aren't you?"
"I do not understand Lady Hana."
"All your tactics over the years have been delaying tactics. You aren't fighting. You could have sabotaged or schemed against them. But you didn't. You hunker and endure. But you are too smart to think that this will pass in time. Also, all your tactics and moves are as if you and your clan are waiting for something. Like today, you know that the only reason an elite Chunin is running circles around the Hokage is this political entrenchment. But with this truce, it won't last forever. A year or two at max. But still you refuse to take his deals. You are prideful. But not that prideful. You love your clan too much to risk their safety on pride.
Then there was that explosion that injured you. People go passive after that. You did. But it was just an act. All your policies. Including our engagement. Everything is a delaying tactic.
All these things point to a simple truth. You are making a weapon. You got injured, but not because the test failed. But because you underestimated the energy and couldn't control it. And now you're really close to developing it. All these delays and refusals to commit are because, you know, any deal you make now will be amplified exponentially once you develop it."
"That is an interesting theory, Lady Hana."
"What if I accept to bond with a Yami?"
This was getting out of hand.
-----
"Since you are so willing, I'll tell you something. I use the Yami to drive away undesirable matches because of their reputation. But the truth is, the Yami are limited. And I won't waste one on Yozora or Shiori. There are things about the Yami I haven't told anyone. Not even my clan. I told them all the cons, but not all the Pros. The Yami are a gift. Actually, one of the greatest gifts that someone can have. You can't have a Yami. Not because you aren't bad enough to put on Yami watch. But because you haven't proved yourself good enough to receive one."
"I see."
------
The next week was one big party.
Surprisingly, I felt more satisfaction when Danzo made the apology than when the Board did. I guess revenge is sweeter. I wanted to use this opportunity to destroy the Board's credibility completely. But there was a truce now. All we could do was spread the word about these apologies and injustices.
The political upheaval stopped. Don't make the mistake that I stopped it. No matter how much politics I did. As an elite chunin. My power wasn't that strong.
It's just that I was the justification. In internal conflicts. Justification is important, unlike external wars. In external wars, just paste the label of For the glory of the nation! And everything from unprovoked aggression to using jinchuriki becomes justified. But internally. You need reasons.
The Hokage's reason was unity. The Daimyo's reason to interfere was that his cousin's Fiancée was in trouble. I was not just an issue but also a symbol of the conflict. Combined with all my political maneuvering. I became important. But the true reason wasn't me. It was the exhaustion.
This was like half-time in football. Sure, professionals could play for 90 minutes straight. But it was better for their health and strategy to take a half-time break. The Daimyo needed to consolidate his newly gained influence in Konoha. The Hokage needed damage control. The truce would have been forced in three more months. But the Hokage hit his limit first. Which is why I got the benefits. He had been completely blindsided. While the Daimyo had been prepared for the smallest of opportunities
Extending it too far would really cause anarchy. Which neither of them wanted. But ending the wars needed a reason, too. And since neither of them could land a decisive blow. They chose the next best thing. Allowing me all this was Daimyo's way of thanking me for the entry.
Anyway, I was just happy to see Danzo resign again so soon. And I planned to enjoy this truce. I had been running around in boring, soul-sucking politics for far too long now.
We had compensation, Reputation, and Time. Of course, just one speech does not wash our image clean. Doubts will linger. But I couldn't do anything about it. I planned to accelerate my research on armor. The theoretical work on SS had been completed. Once I got the evolution and control, all I would need is to arm the men who wield it.