Early the next morning, Yūshin returned to the organization's camp carrying that human head.
When he placed this "souvenir" on the table, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.
Although no one recognized that daimyo, this one-to-one replica seemed to explain everything.
"Wait, you actually killed him?" Shichimi Uchiha looked surprised.
It wasn't that Yūshin couldn't take action, but this approach differed from what they'd agreed on beforehand. Hadn't Yūshin said he was only going to scout?
Yūshin shook his head: "No, I don't want certain people reaping the benefits without effort... Thanks to the selfless sacrifice of the Tsugawa ninjas, an unnamed good person donated an important organ after death, giving me the opportunity to meticulously sculpt this important material."
His words left everyone confused.
Fortunately, this material had been provided by Gorō Fūma, whose mouth couldn't help but twitch. After barely maintaining his expression, he said:
"This is that Tsugawa ninja's head, um... modified?"
His mind stalled for a moment before he came up with the word "modified."
"Correct. I can guarantee he now looks exactly like Reitō Castle's daimyo."
"How did you do it?"
"Sculpt... face sculpting? Anyway, I sculpted it."
At this moment, Chihori had already thoughtfully brought out an appropriately sized brocade box. It might have previously been a food container, but it was perfectly sized for a head.
This item was also graciously provided by the Tsugawa Clan.
The organization's people were so poor that when scavenging the Tsugawa Clan's village, they'd collected quite a few pots and pans.
The "Reitō Castle daimyo" was, after all, a person of the highest status, so his head deserved the finest packaging.
Yūshin picked up the head, placed it in the box, then handed it to Gorō Fūma.
"Please make another trip to Kikyō Castle and deliver this head to them. Let's pretend we've completed the mission and see what kind of reaction the esteemed daimyo will have," Yūshin said.
"No problem, but... won't they go to Reitō Castle to verify?" Gorō Fūma was slightly puzzled.
Yūshin shook his head and said:
"There's no way to verify. Even if they discover there's still a daimyo active in Reitō Castle, how could they distinguish which is the real body and which is a body double?"
"Besides, don't overestimate their intelligence level. Judging from how we were immediately given a suicide bomb-like mission upon our return, this daimyo is likely someone with an impatient temperament."
"I have a premonition that as soon as you hand over the head, he'll show his true attitude toward us. Even if he verifies, it'll be after revealing his true colors, since we're such honest ninjas."
In Kikyō Castle's view, Yūshin and his group were so straightforward that if they said they'd eliminate a mid-tier ninja clan, they'd eliminate a mid-tier ninja clan. They'd take on such dangerous missions just to demonstrate their strength and sincerity to Kikyō Castle.
In this situation, they'd only praise them as "good dogs"—would they really suspect such dogs would dare bare their fangs at their master?
Yūshin's behavioral prediction of Kikyō Castle's daimyo wasn't unfounded. After all, regarding the "clan extermination mission," Kikyō Castle had first believed their account, then gone to verify afterward.
Kikyō Castle's daimyo's psychological advantage was very obvious—he looked down on wandering ninja groups and never considered that these "wild dogs" would dare disobey his commands.
One could only say that this era's ruling class intelligence was indeed a bit higher than later generations, but not by much.
Of course, this daimyo wasn't purely stupid. His arrogance was more accurately due to having something to rely on.
Gorō Fūma nodded and sighed quietly: "I hope things turn out well."
Yūshin and Shichimi Uchiha both looked at Gorō Fūma as if he were an idiot.
"What's wrong? Is there something wrong with what I said?"
"No, nothing."
When Yūshin didn't immediately execute this "daimyo assassination mission," he had essentially already broken with Kikyō Castle's daimyo.
If Kikyō Castle betrayed them, then Yūshin and his group would launch a "righteous counterattack," and both sides would break apart.
If Kikyō Castle kept its word, then it would be Yūshin's group acting duplicitously, and both sides would still break apart.
Yūshin felt the second possibility basically wouldn't happen.
Regardless, Gorō Fūma's so-called "good outcome" simply didn't exist.
Gorō Fūma, carrying a tiny glimmer of hope in his heart, prepared to go meet Kikyō Castle's daimyo again.
Just as he was about to leave, Yūshin called out with instructions:
"Gorō, remember, you need to act somewhat submissive and accommodating. It would be best if you could display the bitter helplessness and grief of a homeless dog. If you could simultaneously show righteous anger while silently shedding tears, that would be even better."
The acting requirements were quite high, but Gorō Fūma fully understood the meaning:
"Got it, so I need to look as much like a coward as possible—clearly having strength but not daring to resist?"
"Your understanding is very thorough. Otherwise, I'm afraid they'll just keep you there."
"...That makes sense."
Gorō Fūma took the "food box" and traveled to Kikyō Castle's keep. After layers of announcements and receiving permission, he met the daimyo again.
He had no psychological burden and directly placed the "food box" on the wooden floor in front of him, then cleanly knelt on one knee.
Look, having him serve as the nominal leader had benefits—things Yūshin couldn't do, this local native could accomplish effortlessly.
Gorō Fūma saw nothing strange about this. What was wrong with a ninja kneeling before a daimyo? If necessary, he could kowtow several times on the spot.
"My lord, although the process was extremely difficult, we have still completed the mission you entrusted to the 'Fūma Clan.'"
Daimyo Date Toyosaka's gaze shifted from Gorō Fūma to the "food box" in front of him.
"Indeed, I wasn't wrong about you. Very efficient in completing missions..."
The daimyo waved his hand, and a servant quickly stepped forward.
After picking up the food box, he hurried back to the daimyo with small, quick steps.
Date Toyosaka shook his wide sleeves, revealing hands as plump as pig's trotters. With delicate finger movements, he gently removed the "food box" lid.
A young, familiar but deathly pale face appeared before his eyes.
"Hahaha..."
The daimyo burst into wild laughter, gasping for breath.
He laughed for a full two to three minutes.
Then he performed a face-changing act—his laughter stopped abruptly without warning, his twisted expression suddenly composed, and he roughly threw the lid he was holding back onto the "food box."
"Fūma Clan, what crime have you committed?"
Still half-kneeling, Gorō Fūma took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Sure enough, things were developing in the direction Yūshin had predicted.
"My lord, what do you mean by this?" He seemed somewhat incredulous at the daimyo's accusation.
"You stray dogs of wandering ninjas—I only took you in out of pity. Even if you're eager to express loyalty, how could you take it upon yourselves to act against Reitō's daimyo? This is a stain on the Date clan's honor and integrity!"
Gorō Fūma's expression became both bewildered and angry—three parts genuine, seven parts performance.
How could this person treat his words like farts?
Indeed, how could the credibility of so-called political figures be such an inconvenient thing? Must they actually honor their spoken words? What, did he want to monopolize all the benefits?
"Stray dogs are just stray dogs, completely without upbringing! Kindness blinded my reason. Even someone as wise as I can make mistakes when constrained by noble morals..."
"Fortunately, mistakes can be remedied. You must take responsibility for Reitō's daimyo's death. From today, I've decided to terminate your employment!"
Gorō Fūma suddenly stood up.
"I... you... I..."
"Farewell!"
His face flushed red with suppressed anger, then he turned and strode away furiously!
Gorō Fūma's steps grew faster and faster. Only after leaving the keep and Kikyō Castle entirely did his tense back finally relax, and he couldn't help but exhale deeply again.
He'd genuinely worried the other party would completely turn hostile and have the keep's guardian ninjas detain him on the spot.
After leaving Kikyō Castle, Gorō Fūma looked back at the city and its towering keep, then shook his head.
This daimyo was certainly bad, but not ruthless enough.
Since he'd decided to turn hostile, he should have had him, the "leader," hacked to death with random blades on the spot. Otherwise, how could he manage politics properly? How could he achieve lasting peace and stability for a nation?
Next, it would depend on whose methods were tougher.
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