Chapter 233: The Trap
"Nagato, you said we were going to celebrate, yet you came back so late."
Nagato scratched his head sheepishly. "Hiroto-Nii-san and I got carried away with training and lost track of time."
Kayo scolded, "You two go wash your hands right now! You didn't do any work at all; it was all me and Kushina running around getting things ready."
Kushina laughed. "Actually, Kayo did everything. I just helped a little."
Nagato chuckled and ran to the back room to wash up. Hiroto was sharper; he used a simple Water Release jutsu to clean his hands instantly, then started helping set the table.
Kayo intentionally made Hiroto and Kushina do the same tasks, like asking them to arrange the table together. Although neither of them seemed to notice anything special, Kayo smirked mischievously in the kitchen.
Four redheads arriving in a small town didn't attract too much attention. After all, Nagato had lived here with his teacher for a long time, so the townspeople knew him. A few relatives with the same hair color showing up seemed perfectly reasonable.
This courtyard house hadn't been this lively in a long time. When they first returned, Kayo had been busy every day buying various household items for Kushina. Nagato initially thought it was just a matter of adding an extra bowl and set of chopsticks, maybe some bedding. But facts proved he had vastly underestimated how many things girls needed to feel settled.
Of course, Nagato felt Kayo was just being overly diligent.
Today, the group was celebrating Kushina's official move-in. The standard for "official" was that everything was fully unpacked and arranged, even though they had actually been living here for nearly a week.
Although Kushina had lived alone before, she wasn't very knowledgeable about these things. In Konoha, her food, clothing, and shelter had been restricted and arranged for her. Fortunately, Kayo organized everything perfectly. Kushina's room was decorated in a very girly style.
"Cheers!!"
The four clinked their newly bought cups together. Inside was fruit juice.
The "Three Prohibitions of Shinobi" were deeply ingrained in their minds.
After three rounds of juice, Kayo took Kushina's hand and said, "My brother and I have to end our vacation soon. We're heading back to the village tomorrow. Kushina, you'll come to find us, right?"
Kushina touched her short hair and said, "I think at this stage, it's better if I don't go to a Great Ninja Village. It might cause trouble for everyone..."
Kayo thought about it and resigned herself to fate. "Then I'll come to find you... It's a pity you don't have a Communication Snail."
Nagato suddenly raised his hand. "Um, does 'Communication Snail' refer to this?"
He pulled out a snail shell.
Kayo was surprised. "How do you have one?!"
Nagato said with a dark expression, "That really tall big brother... I think his name was Sumatra? He gave it to me. He said if I ever want to enter the Land of Lightning, I must contact him using this first. Only with his approval can I enter..."
Kayo marveled, "It's Yotsuki Dana! I don't know why Dana-Nii-san did that. If he was going to give one, he should have given it to Kushina. What's the use of giving it to this brat..."
Nagato could only smile bitterly.
Hiroto looked at the shell in Nagato's hand. It was indeed a standard-issue Communication Snail. "Dana probably has his reasons. Nagato, if you really plan to enter the Land of Lightning, it's better to ask first."
Hiroto had a good impression of Nagato—a clansman so talented he felt pressured—but business was business. He kept public and private matters separate.
Nagato nodded, still confused. "So how do you use this thing? There's a shell-less slug inside, but aside from eating leaves every day, it doesn't do anything..."
"Impossible! The little Katsuyu can talk! Let me see."
Kayo took the shell from Nagato and called out the little slug inside. "Katsuyu-san, why aren't you talking? Are you feeling unwell?"
The little slug's antennae twitched. "Dana-sama does not allow me to speak to him."
Kayo: "...Then what is your serial number? How can I contact Nagato through you in the future?"
Little Slug: "Dana-sama does not allow me to contact anyone other than him."
Nagato said speechlessly, "So why does this Yotsuki Hara dislike me so much?"
"It's Yotsuki Dana... You got it wrong twice; you're doing it on purpose, aren't you?..."
Just as they were bickering playfully, the town bell suddenly rang. It was more like a large handbell, used to summon everyone for important announcements.
The four opened the gate curiously to look outside. An auntie they knew was passing by, and Nagato called out to her. "Auntie Miyo, what happened?"
The auntie looked worried. "I heard from the people ahead... it seems the Daimyo has passed away."
The four of them froze.
For ninja, their first loyalty was to their village; the Daimyo was just a symbol. But for most ordinary people, the death of a Daimyo was no small matter.
Land of Lightning, Kumogakure.
The news of the Daimyo's death had spread, and naturally, the Cloud Village received it as well.
Since the incident where the Nine Samurai of the Thundercloud were driven out of the capital and the Daimyo was kidnapped, the Cloud had practically been autonomous. However, being situated in the Land of Lightning, they still paid close attention to the situation in Asuka Castle.
The Third Raikage looked at the report and asked, "Has the new Daimyo been selected?"
The Raikage's secretary shook his head. "Reportedly, not yet."
"That's a bit strange."
Usually, the successor was announced simultaneously with the news of the Daimyo's death. Announcing only the death... didn't that imply the new Daimyo was still undecided?
Dana pondered and said, "In that case, I'm afraid ambitious people will start getting restless. For example, those who believe they are qualified to inherit the position."
Logically speaking, although the Daimyo had been in a coma for months, the internal power consolidation regarding the heir should have been completed long ago.
Or to put it another way: even if the power struggle wasn't finished, they should have suppressed the news of the death until the dust settled, then announced everything together. Not like this.
Dana said uncertainly, "This looks... like a trap."
Three days after the news of the Thunder Daimyo's death, while everyone was curious about the new candidate, the undercurrents in the Land of Lightning's capital could no longer be suppressed.
That night, battles erupted in multiple locations across the capital. Numerous noble estates were attacked and even set on fire.
Samurai, mercenary ninja, and wanted criminals were all creating slaughter for their backers that night. However, when many returned to find their employers, they discovered that their employers had also died at the hands of their peers.
Amidst the chaos, there were plenty of opportunists looting and pillaging.
For most people in the capital, it was a sleepless night. Citizens locked their doors and windows tight, praying for dawn to come quickly. Even when they heard screams outside their doors, they dared not check.