"Young patriarch, you've finally arrived."
A middle-aged man jogged up to Raizen, bowing slightly with a smile.
"Who… are you?" Raizen asked, frowning. He didn't recognize this person at all.
"My apologies, I should have introduced myself sooner. I am Kitahara-san, in charge of the clan's industry here in Uicheng."
Kitahara-san patted his head lightly, a sheepish grin on his face.
"Oh? Kitahara-san… weren't you supposed to be handling the Kashiwagi and Jinen clans?" Raizen asked, suspicion creeping into his tone.
"Ah… Kashiwagi and Jane refused to compromise. Now the weapons the Amamiya clan sells in the city are restricted," Kitahara-san admitted, a flicker of unease crossing his face.
Raizen's eyes narrowed. If this was the situation, Yicheng was far worse than Gang 633's scouts had implied. Worse still, it might be impossible to move freely here without causing a stir.
The two entered the residence, and Raizen wasted no time. "Kitahara-san, give me a full layout of Uicheng's power structure."
Kitahara-san blinked, taken aback, but nodded. "Alright… There are two dominant forces: the Cypress family and the Jinen family. The rest of the families are small merchants, scattered and weak, barely a single unified force. Right now, with Kashiwagi and Jane preparing for a major clash, both clans are stockpiling supplies. They've also imposed restrictions on who can sell goods to whom. Weapons from our Amamiya clan are a key bargaining chip—they're caught in their game, too."
Raizen's lips curled in disbelief. "Kashiwagi and Jane? Small fry. How dare they play like this? Don't they fear the repercussions from the bigger families?"
Kitahara-san gave a bitter smile. "Fear? Of course. But they know our little clan can't retaliate. That's why they push us around without hesitation."
Raizen shook his head, letting out a quiet chuckle. "Human politics… such a headache." He rubbed his temple. Hidden rules, rivalries, and subtle power plays—he hated them almost as much as he hated paperwork back on Earth.
"Anyway," Raizen said, leaning back, "the rest is yours, Kitahara-san. I'll rely on you to manage affairs here. I don't know the ins and outs of this mess."
"Yes, Young Patriarch!" Kitahara-san said with firm resolve. Raizen followed him to the courtyard where he would be staying.
The place was unfamiliar, a labyrinth of walls and gates that spoke of wealth and history. Raizen knew he'd be here a while. Over the next few days, Kitahara-san busied himself handling trade, restrictions, and complaints, while Raizen quietly surveyed the city and its power dynamics.
As he observed, a thought struck him. What if the two clans ended up bleeding each other out in their conflict? Who would gain from it?
"If someone nudges them just right," Raizen whispered to himself, a dangerous glint lighting his eyes, "the battle could erupt sooner and burn hotter. And when both sides are exhausted, Amamiya could sweep in and take control."
The prospect made him smirk. Uicheng, fully under Amamiya's influence, would mean a huge leap in strength—a transition from a small, scrappy clan to a formidable mid-tier force.
"I came here with nothing to do… but maybe I can become the spark that fans the flames, exposing every contradiction between these two families."
The more Raizen thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. If the rival clans hurt each other enough, the Amamiya clan could seize the opportunity to grow stronger and more influential.
"To end the Warring States chaos, I need a strong backup," he murmured. "Amamiya alone isn't enough yet. The clan must grow… must become unshakable."
He recalled how Hashirama had built Konoha with Senju support, strengthened further by the Uchiha. Without such foundations, Konoha would've fallen to stronger neighbors.
"And in Uicheng," Raizen whispered, eyes closing, "these two clans will become stepping stones… for Amamiya's rise."
A cold, unyielding determination settled over him. The words left his lips like a shadowed vow, carrying the weight of a man who had seen too much death to ever back down.