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At this moment, in the study, the faint smoke of sandalwood incense curled upwards.
Shin was reviewing the reports sent from various regions.
Mei Terumi stood by his side, copying the maids, grinding ink for him.
Her movements were strange and clumsy.
Those hands, used to forming hand seals and holding kunai, were truly not suited for such delicate work.
The ink was ground unevenly in the inkstone, giving off a faint scratching sound that was particularly harsh in the quiet study.
Shin didn't mind, only sometimes raising his head to glance at her cool, elegant profile.
Conquering a powerful woman was never just about the physical.
It was about completely wearing away her edges spiritually, making her accept her new identity from the depths of her heart.
Watching her grind ink for him brought Shin more satisfaction than seeing her kneel beneath him.
Just then.
Aono knocked and entered, reporting. "Daimyo-sama, the Land of Wind has submitted a strongly worded protest document."
"They demand that we uphold justice, or they will withdraw from the alliance of four countries."
"Oh?" Shin's lips curved into a smile, and he finally put down his brush, leaning back in his chair.
"Let them make a fuss."
"The bigger the fuss, the better."
His voice was full of ease and comfort, as if discussing a trivial amusement.
"Also..." Shin added. "Accidentally leak the matter of the Land of Earth and the Land of Water managing mines and cooperatively collecting taxes within the Land of Lightning to those in Kumogakure."
"Give those Kumogakure shinobi who have lost their homes a target to vent their hatred."
"Yes."
Aono acknowledged the order and left, his figure flickering and merging into the shadows of the corner, leaving no trace.
Mei Terumi listened quietly, but her heart was in chaos.
In just a few words, another cruel scheme emerged, enough to turn two great nations against each other and cause a bloodbath in Kumogakure.
How grand was the game this man was playing?
Every one of his commands was like an invisible hand, controlling the fate of the entire shinobi world.
Especially the Land of Water, which was also involved!
That was her homeland!
She wanted to speak a few good words for the Land of Water, but national affairs were no child's play.
Just as her emotions rose, Shin suddenly put down his brush, and his hand gently stroked Mei Terumi's face. "Do you know why I asked you to come to the study?"
Mei Terumi shook her head.
Shin's gaze was gentle. "The child in your belly may inherit the Land of Fire in the future. It's time to work for things for the child!"
Mei Terumi remained silent. She knew the daimyo was right. It was time to consider the child.
But some things, wanting to let go, were not that easy.
"I'm glad you didn't plead for the Land of Water just now!" Shin continued, casually picking up a border report and flipping through it.
"Speaking of which..." He seemed to suddenly remember something, his tone casual. "The Land of Fire has had good luck recently."
"A few days ago, the patrol team on the eastern border found something interesting at sea."
Mei Terumi's eyes were blank, not understanding why Shin would bring this up.
Only to hear Shin continue. "A group of refugees from the Land of Water, claiming to be the Kirigakure resistance army, sought protection in the Land of Fire."
"The leader is a child named Keisuke."
Kirigakure resistance army!
Keisuke!
This news made Mei Terumi shake all over!
She suddenly looked up, and the inkstick in her hand slipped and fell.
Clang!
The fine inkstone was knocked to the ground. Black ink splattered out, staining the expensive carpet and quickly spreading a terrible stain on her plain white skirt.
"What... did you say?"
Her voice was terribly shaky, her face full of shock and disbelief.
Shin did not answer, only frowned, seemingly displeased by her loss of control.
He rose and walked to her, took out a clean white handkerchief, and knelt down to personally wipe the ink from her skirt.
"So careless." His voice was very soft, and his movements were gentle.
But these gentle movements, at this moment, felt more painful to Mei Terumi than any torture.
Her body was frozen in place, all her attention focused on his words just now.
"They... they're still alive?" Her voice was already colored with a sob, every word filled with hope.
"It seems they are old friends of yours." Shin gave her a smile, but his smiling face sent chills down her spine.
He casually tossed the ink-stained handkerchief aside, the ink like her dirtied heart at this moment.
"Not many people, only a dozen. They looked very messy, as if being hunted by someone!"
"However, they are still alive."
Boom!
The confirming words broke the dam of her emotions, and tears could no longer be held back, pouring out.
Still alive!
They are still alive!
Huge joy drowned all her reason and pretense.
But what followed was huge confusion.
Being hunted?
By whom?
Yagura Karatachi?
Were they found?
She suddenly grabbed Shin's sleeve, looked up with her tear-stained face, and for the first time spoke in an almost begging tone. "I want to see them!"
"Please, let me see them!"
This was her plea, throwing away all her pride.
"You can."
Shin agreed with unusual straightforwardness, so straightforward that it made her heart flutter with unease.
He raised his hand and gently wiped away the tears on her face, his movements tender, but the words he spoke instantly froze that warm current into ice.
"They are currently housed in a military camp outside the capital city."
"Tomorrow, I will arrange for you to go."
"However..." Shin paused, changing the subject. "You need to think carefully about what identity you will use to see them."
His voice was not loud, but every word pierced her heart.
"Will it be as Mei Terumi, the leader of the Kirigakure resistance army."
"To bring them the hope of resistance, and then watch that hope be crushed by my own hands."
"Or..." He leaned down and whispered into her ear, saying the last few words in a voice only the two of them could hear. "As the wife of me, the Land of Fire daimyo."
"To bring them my protection, my rewards, and a future where they can settle down in the Land of Fire."
Mei Terumi's crying stopped.
She stared blankly at the man in front of her, her heart chilling, as if falling into an ice cave.
She suddenly understood.
How was this a coincidence?
This was clearly a carefully wrapped gift from this man, given to her in her most vulnerable moment!
A gift that would make her forever grateful, and at the same time, completely turn her and her last companions into pawns in his hand!
He saved her companions.
How could she repay this kindness?
What right did she and her companions have to be his enemies again?
With the lives he gave?
Mei Terumi slowly released her tightly gripping hand from his sleeve, her entire being as if drained of strength.
Tears still silently fell, but her gaze, and that struggling spirit, had completely vanished.
"Don't cry!" Shin said softly. "It's very bad for your health."
Mei Terumi's lips moved, but her tears still wouldn't stop, and she choked out. "This... this is the last time!"
Shin nodded. "Then go back and rest first, and go see them tomorrow."
"...Yes!" Mei Terumi slowly rose, bowed, and left the study.
She knew.
From tomorrow onwards.
The Kirigakure resistance army would no longer belong to Kirigakure.
They, like her, would completely and utterly become the private property of the Land of Fire daimyo, Shin Kurogane.