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Fire capital, daimyo manor.
Inside the study, sandalwood incense drifted.
Shin Kurogane leaned casually in the large chair, a shogi piece between his fingers, his gaze fixed on the board before him.
On the board, black and white pieces twisted together, full of killing intent.
This game had been played all morning.
His opponent was himself.
Just like the current situation in the shinobi world.
It seemed like a chaotic mess, a fierce and tangled struggle, but the movement of every piece was within his grasp.
Clack.
He casually placed a piece.
The crisp sound of the piece falling was exceptionally clear in the silence.
With one piece placed, the entire board came alive.
A figure appeared silently in the study. It was Aono.
"My lord," he said respectfully.
"Speak," Shin said without raising his head, his thoughts still on the game.
"As you predicted," Aono's voice was steady and efficient. "The Land of Earth achieved a great victory in the northern part of the Land of Lightning."
"They not only crushed Kirigakure but also easily cleaned up most of Kumogakure's avengers."
"Now all the resource points around Kumogakure are in their hands."
"Oh?" Shin raised an eyebrow, not at all surprised by this outcome.
"What about the Land of Wind?"
"The Land of Earth has used various excuses to firmly block them at the border, preventing them from moving," Aono's lips curved slightly upward. "Our people placed in Sunagakure reported that the Land of Wind daimyo is almost furious."
"No exposure, right?"
"None!"
"Very good." Shin finally looked up, his face full of smiles.
The fish had taken the bait, and they were fatter than he had imagined.
"The Land of Wind and the Land of Water must have already sent people to the Fire capital, right?" he asked.
"Yes, my lord," Aono nodded. "The envoy from the Land of Wind arrived last night and is staying at the guest house. The Land of Water, taking the sea route, was a bit slower, but their ship also arrived in port this morning."
"Let them wait." Shin waved his hand, his gaze returning to the board. "Keep them waiting for a few days, let the fire in their hearts burn a little hotter."
"And while you're at it, put together all the evidence of the Land of Earth's wild plundering of resources and pressure on local people within the Land of Lightning into a file."
"Then, deliver it to the envoys of the Land of Wind and the Land of Water."
"Let them know just how ugly the Land of Earth's greed is."
"Yes." Aono accepted the order and was about to withdraw.
Shin called out to him. "You said, with the Land of Earth being so arrogant, the garrison should be in danger, right?"
"They should be!" Aono understood immediately.
"Will it be too cruel?"
"To die for one's country, that is an honor!"
"Who do you think is suitable?"
"...Uchiha Fugaku!"
"No, that's too obvious. Choose a few others. As long as the goal is achieved, that's enough!"
"I understand, my lord!"
"Do it cleanly!" Shin said. "And send some gifts to our friends in the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind. Make them substantial."
Two blades, already sharpened, would be further poisoned.
Then the game would be completely finished!
After Aono withdrew, the study returned to silence.
Shin picked up a black piece and gently placed it.
"Checkmate."
...Three days later.
The envoys from the Land of Wind and the Land of Water finally got the opportunity to meet the Land of Fire daimyo.
These three days, every minute and every second had been torture.
They were housed in the guest house, well-fed and well-treated, yet they couldn't even enter the gate of the daimyo manor.
And the information, accidentally leaked by the Land of Fire, made their hearts pound with fear and their anger burn.
Daimyo manor, reception hall.
When they finally met the Land of Fire daimyo, the anxiety and anger they had held back for days could no longer be hidden.
Inside the hall, Shin sat high, in a relaxed posture. "I wonder, what brings the two envoys from so far away to my Fire capital?"
"Greetings, Lord Shin!"
The envoy from the Land of Wind could no longer hold back. He walked forward quickly, knelt on the ground with a thud, his voice filled with grief and humiliation. "I beg Lord Shin to uphold justice for my Land of Wind!"
Behind him, the envoy from the Land of Water also knelt, saying unwillingly. "The Land of Earth has betrayed our trust, openly broken the four nations alliance treaty, wildly seized resources, and shut us out!"
"This act is not only an insult to our Land of Wind and Land of Water but also the greatest challenge to the four nations alliance that you, Lord Shin, personally established!"
The two spoke together, without holding back piling accusations onto the Land of Earth.
Shin's face properly showed surprise and seriousness. "Is this true?"
He suddenly stood up, walked quickly to the two, and personally helped them up. "Please rise, both of you. Speak slowly."
"The Land of Earth, is it truly so bold?"
His voice was filled with anger and disbelief.
"Absolutely true!" The envoy from the Land of Wind took out a scroll from his clothes, presenting it with both hands. "These are the various evil deeds of the Land of Earth these past few days. I ask Lord Shin to investigate!"
Shin took the scroll and unrolled it.
The contents, of course, were what he had already had Aono prepare.
"Outrageous!" He slammed the scroll onto the table, roaring. "How did we, the four countries, agree back in the Land of Hot Water?"
"Regional oversight, non-interference!"
"Does the Land of Earth treat the agreement as a joke?"
Shin's thunderous rage filled the two envoys with wild joy.
There was hope!
"Lord Shin, please calm your anger!" The envoy from the Land of Water quickly cupped his hands and said. "The Land of Earth, relying on its strong power and its border with the Land of Lightning, has always acted in a controlling way."
"Now, it even regards the northern part of the Land of Lightning as its private property."
"Even our people who wish to enter Kumogakure must go through their layers of inspection and harassment!"
"If this continues, the so-called joint management by the four countries will become an empty phrase!"
"Our two countries' interests being harmed is a small matter, but the trust of the four nations alliance, and your respect, Lord Shin, will be completely lost!"
These words were sincere, yet every sentence struck at the Land of Fire's sore spot.
Shin paced back and forth in the hall, his expression shifting between dark and light.
After a long while.
He suddenly stopped. "You two are right."
"This matter, my Land of Fire, will definitely handle!"
"Since the Land of Earth doesn't follow the rules, then I will personally go and teach them what rules are!"
Upon hearing this, the two envoys were immediately overjoyed, so excited they almost knelt again.
"Thank you, Lord Shin!"
"Lord Shin is wise!"
Shin waved his hand, signaling them not to be so formal.
"However..." he changed the subject. "This matter is of great importance. If not handled well, it could very likely trigger a new war."
"Although my Land of Fire is not afraid of a fight, we cannot fight without a just cause."
He looked at the two, his expression becoming deep.
"I need your two countries to jointly issue a statement with my Land of Fire."
"In the name of the four nations alliance, issue a warning to the Land of Earth!"
"Demand that they immediately stop all actions that violate the treaty, and return the seized interests, otherwise..."
Shin's voice paused, a fleeting killing intent in his eyes.
"They will bear the consequences!"