Boy, they were working hard on the rumors, weren't they? Yeah, the rumors that we blackmailed the board and Danzo to admit wrongdoing by holding village security were going around. We were as big targets as the Hatake themselves. But we were taking more losses. My power in Konoha was still political and not physical. Which meant that on losing political power, I'll be virtually powerless.
But I wasn't too worried, especially with the Daimyo's struggle. He had enough influence in Konoha now that he could muddy the waters. Counter rumors of all this being Danzo's plan to return to power circulated, too. The final result will take time. And time was my friend.
I had come here in the autumn. Which meant it was summer now. Almost a decade in huh?
Time really passes fast.
I had planned on coasting through for the next 6 months when I could unveil my strength. But as it turns out. Fate had different plans.
Lady Hana came in running one day, two months later.
"Lord Ren, we need to talk!"
History is witness that whenever a woman has said those words, it has always been bad for the man they are addressed. But I could not exactly avoid her, right?
Emi and Hana's maid prepared tea as we sat down. Emi didn't have to. But she wanted to hear.
"So go on, tell me. What is it?"
She raised a piece of paper.
"I just got word from the capital. Our engagement has been called off. Lord Kaito will be here soon to take me back."
"What? Why? This basically equates to the Daimyo giving up his claim on the Hokage's seat. Is he no longer working towards the unification of power in the land of fire?"
"He is not. He wants to. But he can't. He is facing a political rebellion in the capital."
"What?"
"Yes, another branch family has gathered the lords of Fire and started rallying against him."
"Why?"
"Because of his growing influence in Konoha. If he manages to raise a Hokage loyal to him like the Hatake. He would effectively control the government and the military. Making him and his family too powerful. The lords fear such power would turn their influence to dust."
Of course it will. The Daimyo will become the true ruler of Fire. With his control over the military and administrative legitimacy. His word will be the law. He could move towards centralisation of power later on.
"That branch was already ambitious. I think that they thought of this as their last chance to seize power. This is not public knowledge yet. They haven't made their moves. But they are preparing."
Dammit! I could hear what she implied. The Daimyo and the Hokage cut a deal. The Daimyo will give up his influence in Konoha and sit back down with only the FAK in power. And in return, the Hokage will help him quell the disturbance in the capital. The dots were connecting.
And now I had figured out what killed Sakumo in the original timeline.
Samurais are raised on Honor and Sacrifice. But honor to whom? To random people on the street? No. To all other clans? No. To their enemies? No.
It is to their liege. Samurai care for honor in the name of their Lord. They care for reputation amongst peers.. Incidents of massacre exist in the name of their Lord. Seppuku happened in the name of their Lord. Ronins fought and died to gain vengeance for their dead lords. They followed them, even in death.
And his Lord had abandoned him. If that branch was ambitious. The Daimyo must have faced them in the Original Timeline, too. The events in Konoha increased his influence. But they also increased the rallying power of the ambitious branch. After all, the rise was visible to all noble families.
Just like in the Original, the Daimyo cuts a deal with the Hokage. The Hokage and Daimyo work together and destroy the upheaval in the capital in its infancy. But in exchange, the Daimyo publicly condemns Sakumo, as he is the only Hatake with enough power to claim the Hat. The Hatake have Jonins and Chunins. But none were big enough.
Before, he had the respect of his fellow samurai and the gratefulness of his Lord. But now he was surrounded by insult. The village he has protected and the Lord he has served. Both are against him now. Before, it was a fight. Not the one he was used to, but the insult was a political fight between his liege and the Hokage. He could treat the reputation damage as war wounds. Marks of honor for him for fighting his Lord's war. But now, they were pure insults to his honor.
When the Daimyo and the Hokage faction cut this deal. They knew the damage to Sakumo's reputation would be irreparable. Not just among Shinobi, but among the Samurai too. They expected him to understand that this was only to destroy his chances as Hokage. Nothing more. They underestimated that for an honorable Samurai, what losing honor from all sides means.
This time around, since his problem was bigger, and I was a symbol. I was being sacrificed along with him. But unlike him, I did not plan on going down easy.
"Lord Ren, we could marry today and say that it was done before we got the news. This letter isn't official."
I raised my head and met her eyes. None of us said anything.
"Why?"
She lowered her eyes and looked away.
"My marriage will be a political trade. I have seen this place, Lord Ren. If it's gonna be politics anyway. I don't mind it being you. There are worse candidates in the capital. Besides, I believe in you. I am willing to bet that the Daimyo will regret breaking his ties with you here."
It was polite for 'I like you'. Sure, the upcoming breakthrough was a part of it. But it was still a vote of high confidence. The tag completion was close. It will be strong. But until it was made, Nobody could say for sure how strong.
For a moment, I wanted to say yes. But I chose not to. "If the Daimyo's throne is on the line, he will not appreciate you doing this. Your branch of the family, no matter how close to the Daimyo, will fall out of favor completely. With the Daimyo and Hokage working together. It will take them no more than one month to quell it all and assassinate the rest."
"But you are close, right?"
"Not close enough." Even if I got everything right as soon as I hit evolution. I will still need to create a sizable number of them to be considered strong enough to sit on the high table. I would make the first in two months. But I'll need a few more months before I can demonstrate their power.
Her head bowed down. It was over. I knew her. She was kind. Which means she would not let her family suffer. If I were close. She could have risked it. Allying themselves to a clan like mine would become in success was too high of a hook to leave behind easily. But her family won't survive the fallout for months on end. The Daimyo could easily take them as future problems. And as he will already be clearing house, why the hell not?
"I am sorry. I wish this could have been different."
It was true. I genuinely liked her as a person. And she had proven herself to be smart, capable, and kind. And most importantly, Loyal. She would treat us as family, too.
It was just shitty timing.