Konoha Year 67.
The Daimyo's Residence of the Land of Fire.
Or rather—what its new master had boldly renamed the Imperial Palace.
Within one of its grand halls, gold leaf shimmered across the walls, and towering jade pillars seemed to uphold the heavens themselves. Sunlight filtered through vast stained-glass windows, scattering brilliant yet cold fragments of color across the polished floor.
The air carried the fragrance of rare, expensive incense.
Yet it failed to dispel the faint unease lingering in the hearts of the four shinobi standing within.
They had come under the direct orders of the Hokage.
The mission was unusual: to accept a personal commission from the Daimyo himself. Rumor claimed it involved a secret treasure tied to the fate of the nation.
Time stretched uncomfortably.
The hall was so vast and silent that they could hear one another's breathing.
"Now that I think about it…"
Kurenai lowered her voice, breaking the stillness. Her eyes swept across the lavish ceiling overhead.
"This new Daimyo… back when we were at the Academy in Konoha, he was actually in my year."
"In your year?" Hinata Hyuga widened her pale Byakugan eyes slightly, disbelief flickering across her gentle expression.
A Daimyo and a shinobi—those identities belonged to entirely different worlds.
"Yes." Kurenai nodded, her expression turning reflective. "His name is Di Yan. Back then, he wasn't favored in his family at all."
"The former Daimyo—his father—essentially sent him to Konoha under the excuse of 'education.' It was closer to exile."
She paused briefly.
"If I remember correctly, he stayed with the head of the Uchiha clan's household…"
There was a trace of quiet melancholy in her voice.
Not long after he left Konoha, the Uchiha clan had been annihilated. Whether that counted as fortune or coincidence, no one could say.
The image of that withdrawn boy from years ago simply did not align with the man who now sat at the apex of power.
"He lived with the Uchiha? Sasuke Uchiha's family?" Kiba crossed his arms, Akamaru at his feet twitching its ears uneasily.
"That's… a delicate connection. So what happened? The former Daimyo had so many children. Why did he of all people inherit?"
Kiba's curiosity was plain.
Shino adjusted his sunglasses. Behind the dark lenses, his gaze remained sharp and composed. His voice was steady and low, as always.
"According to available intelligence, approximately eight years ago, the former Daimyo fell gravely ill."
"In the following six months, his thirty-six direct heirs—including all princes and princesses—died in succession."
"Each death attributed to 'accidents,' 'illness,' or 'rebellion.' None survived."
"And so, the least favored exile—far removed from the center of power—became the sole legitimate heir."
"All thirty-six…?" Hinata's voice trembled faintly.
Almost unconsciously, she activated her Byakugan, scanning the seemingly empty depths of the palace hall.
The bloodshed implied by that number sent a chill through her spine—even beneath the warmth of perfumed incense.
"And that's not all." Kiba clicked his tongue. "Don't you think he's strange? Calling himself 'Emperor.'"
"Renaming the Daimyo's Residence the 'Imperial Palace'… That's not normal."
"His behavior deviates significantly from the traditions of previous Daimyo of the Land of Fire," Shino added. "There are numerous high-level resource reallocations and confidential directives that lack explanation."
The four exchanged what fragments of information they had, attempting to assemble a coherent image of this new ruler.
Yet the more they spoke, the heavier the atmosphere became.
"You…"
A clear, pleasant voice—tinged with faint amusement—suddenly echoed from the very front of the hall.
Without warning.
Each syllable fell distinctly into their ears.
"…are you speaking about me?"
In that instant—
Kurenai's muscles tightened. Chakra surged instinctively through her system.
Hinata's Byakugan focused sharply; her heart nearly skipped a beat.
Just moments ago, the elevated seat of authority had been empty in her vision.
Now—
A figure sat there as if conjured from thin air.
Kiba and Akamaru bristled instantly, shifting into defensive stances.
From beneath Shino's sleeves, countless kikaichu insects slipped out in near silence.
Seated upon the throne was a young man.
As rumored, his appearance bordered on unreal.
Skin as pale as jade. Features refined like the work of a master sculptor. His deep eyes seemed to hold both starlight and abyss.
A lazy smile curved his lips as he studied the four shinobi below, who now faced him as though confronting a formidable enemy.
He wore a luxurious black robe embroidered with golden dragon motifs, tailored to perfection. No elaborate crown adorned his head. His long black hair was loosely tied behind him, a few stray strands falling across his forehead, lending him an almost dangerous charm.
He leaned casually against the wide imperial throne.
Relaxed.
Yet suffocating pressure radiated invisibly from him.
The resplendent hall seemed, in that moment, merely an extension of his presence.
This was the man who had ascended through blood and storm.
The one who transformed the Daimyo's Residence into the Imperial Palace.
The self-proclaimed Emperor of the Land of Fire.
Di Yan's gaze settled on Kurenai's slightly stunned face, the curve of his smile deepening with layered meaning.
"Red. It's been a long time."
"So Konoha has been digging quite thoroughly into my past?"
Kurenai forced herself to remain composed. She suppressed the turmoil in her thoughts and inclined her head slightly in formal respect.
"Daimyo-sama… no, Your Majesty."
"We have come under the Hokage's orders to receive your commission."
She emphasized "the Hokage."
A reminder of the delicate balance between Konoha and the Daimyo.
Konoha was not a powerless vassal.
"Commission?"
The young Emperor laughed softly. The sound echoed through the hall, light yet hollow.
"There's no need to be so tense. I merely wish for former classmates to assist with a small matter."
"I'm looking for someone… someone very important."
His slender fingers tapped lightly against the throne's armrest.
Each tap seemed to strike directly against their nerves.
"That person is extremely important to me."
His eyes sharpened abruptly.
"I trust you will not disappoint me."
Kurenai felt his gaze linger on her in a way that made her deeply uncomfortable—as though she were being appraised.
She steadied herself.
"Y-Your Majesty… may I ask who this person is?"
"A concubine of mine," Di Yan replied with a soft sigh. "She seems to have lost her way home."
Kurenai's lips twitched.
A concubine? They were Jonin of Konoha…
Before she could react further, Di Yan continued:
"Ah, yes. The concubine I've misplaced—her name is…"
He enunciated each word slowly.
"Yuhi Kurenai."
Silence.
Utter silence filled the hall.
The words struck like thunder in Kurenai's ears.
For a moment, her mind went completely blank. Even her heartbeat seemed to falter.