The news that the Yamaji clan had decided to surrender a vast amount of land to support the subsequent development of the New Hidden Sand Village sent shockwaves through the village's internal hierarchy.
With the Yamaji taking the lead, almost every family—large and small—that had profited from the original land distribution in the New Oasis Ring returned a portion of their holdings. However, there was one glaring exception: the Arakawa clan.
"Senior Arakawa, I am actually very grateful to the Arakawa family for having the village's best interests at heart during such difficult times," Shiraishi remarked, his voice dripping with double-edged irony as he held the land lease documents.
Although Maru Arakawa had handed over some land, it was a drop in the bucket compared to the massive interests the clan had seized. Shiraishi hadn't expected Maru to have the audacity to show up in person for a "visit."
"It is only what our Arakawa family should do," Maru replied.
The atmosphere in the meeting room grew heavy with silence. Shiraishi gently set the documents down. "Thank you for your hard work, Senior."
Shiraishi's political acumen was far deeper than that of his predecessor, Rasa. While he maintained a calm facade, Maru's blatant refusal to fully cooperate was, in Shiraishi's eyes, a suicidal display of ignorance.
Upon hearing of this development, Mochiharu Yamaji hurried to the Kazekage's office, hoping to mediate before the situation spiraled out of control.
"The friendship between the Yamaji and Arakawa clans hasn't been as warm since the passing of Ryoko Yamaji and Akita Arakawa, has it?" Shiraishi asked, looking up with a hint of surprise.
By his calculations, the Yamaji should be celebrating their successful political alignment. Since he owed Ryoko a debt of gratitude, he had no intention of moving against them for now.
Yet here was the cautious head of the Yamaji clan, daring to plead for another...
"I simply do not wish to see more blood spilled within the Sand," Mochiharu said.
Shiraishi scrutinized her. Unlike the fiery Ryoko, Mochiharu was quiet and introverted—a seemingly ordinary woman who had somehow become the head of a major clan.
"Go home," Shiraishi said flatly.
"Lord Kazekage..."
Shiraishi's expression turned icy. "The problem isn't the land; it's Maru Arakawa. You should know what to do. The time left for the Arakawa family is limited."
Shiraishi hadn't planned to move against the great families so soon, but since Mochiharu had provided the perfect opening, he had to seize the opportunity for a first wave of "rectification." The Arakawa clan would be the first to fall.
The Siege of the Arakawa
The Fifth Kazekage acted with lightning speed. That same day, he declared a significant portion of the Arakawa clan's land holdings as "illegal seizures" and ordered the return of all such property within three days.
It was a simple order, but it sent a chill through the Sand's upper echelon. This Kazekage had just been chatting casually with Maru Arakawa, only to flip the table moments later.
The order was unanimously approved by the Council of Elders and the Jonin Brigade. The follow-up action was what truly terrified the noble families: Shikasa, acting on Shiraishi's direct command, led three battalions to surround the Arakawa clan compound.
The Kazekage's faction acted with murderous intent, showing zero respect for the clan's prestige.
"Those three battalions are elites who fought alongside Shiraishi from the beginning. They are graduates of the public ninja school—Shiraishi's direct loyalists. If the Arakawa keep resisting..."
Surprisingly, Maru Arakawa remained stubborn. He ignored the Kazekage's orders, allowing the three battalions to encircle his home while he maintained a posture of total non-cooperation.
This was an open provocation of the Kazekage's authority, and the internal peace of the village turned volatile once more.
Centralizing Power
Unlike the "lame duck" Fourth Kazekage Rasa, Shiraishi was the most centralized leader in the village's history. Before even taking office, he controlled the Jonin Brigade, the Intelligence Department, and other vital organs.
Now legally installed, he sought to weaken the greatest obstacles to his rule: the three lineages of Sand Style (Ro, Arakawa, and Yamaji) and the Kitajima family, who represented the Land of Wind's Daimyo.
Weakening the three lineages was Shiraishi's top domestic priority. The Arakawa were the strongest; they controlled maritime arms trade routes, vast lands, and resources.
They were the premier "super-clan," and Shiraishi had to break them.
Furthermore, the influence of the Kitajima family was growing. Although Shiraishi was on good terms with Tree-Man (Itsuhito) Kitajima, he would not allow "local powerhouses" to thrive within his village.
For now, it was inconvenient to strike the Kitajima, but Maru Arakawa had handed him the perfect excuse.
The End of an Era
At Ebizo's home, Shiraishi sat in casual clothes, outlining his next steps. To ensure the long-term development of the Hidden Sand, he had to break the influence of the noble clans.
Ebizo understood the intent but shook his head helplessly. "These families... they still think it's the old days."
Shiraishi's prestige was now high enough to crush anyone in the village. Dealing with the Arakawa was not as complex as the public imagined.
"Cousin Maru, you should not oppose the Kazekage," Mochiharu pleaded at the Arakawa estate, looking at the indifferent Maru.
She couldn't believe his arrogance. He ignored the army at his gates, lounging in his manor, listening to music as if nothing were wrong.
Maru yawned. "The Arakawa are a founding clan of the Sand. Even he, the Kazekage, wouldn't dare kill us!"
Mochiharu almost rolled her eyes in frustration. She finally understood why Ryoko hadn't thought highly of him and couldn't comprehend why Akita Arakawa had left the clan to such a fool.
Back at the Sand Festival, a then-unproven Shiraishi had cut down a Yamaji elder without hesitation. If he dared to do that, then what would stop him now, with the weight of the entire village behind him?
Disgusted, Mochiharu walked out of the Arakawa gates. She unexpectedly ran into Arashi Arakawa at the entrance. Seeing Arashi's lips move as if to speak, Mochiharu gave him a fierce glare and shouldered past him.
"Coward!" she hissed.
The insult left Arashi standing awkwardly in the street.
If I don't want to be a coward, I have to take back everything that belongs to me!
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