Being the sole ruler of a hidden nation was a job description that often got glossed over in power fantasies. In the video games, people built bases, assigned a few generic NPCs to resource nodes, and went off to fight the boss.
In reality, or whatever version of reality this world was, governance was an endless stream of logistics.
Many weren't aware that leading the Hidden Light Village—and by extension, the shadow operations within the Land of Birds—was vastly more complex than Arthur's time as the heir to the Water Country's feudal lord.
In that country, he had been a figurehead with influence by navigating established bureaucracy. Here, he was the bureaucracy.
Everything was properly handled because he had four other versions of himself keeping things in check. They acted as a perfect cabinet.
Ryugetsu dealt with the spiritual and cultural; Hoshikaze managed training facilities; John handled the military operations; Kaito had kept close eyes on Akatsuki affairs; and Arthur was left to manage infrastructure and intelligence.
Because of such help, he was allowed to travel outside the borders for weeks to gather artifacts or manipulate geopolitical events while his nation ran like a well-oiled machine.
Now, the clones were gone.
Arthur was alone, piloting a borrowed body, with the weight of an entire civilization resting on his shoulders. He couldn't leave whenever he felt like it. Neither could he go out and venture the land if it wasn't business related.
Right now, his duties were to the throne.
The doors creaked open as Toki entered. Her silk kimono rustled softly against the polished floor as she neared the center room. Then she deeply bowed.
"My lord…" She rose and pulled a scroll from her sleeve, walking forward to hand it to him. Arthur took it as she explained, "The new proposal for the agricultural zoning laws. Some citizens desire to change them. There's also a request for clarification on our international stance."
Arthur picked apart the legalese instantly. These requests were in regard to the laws he had set upon the land. Much like when he had made the rules at Sun Stream Plaza, those same rules were initiated in the hearts of every resident within the borders.
Those laws were biblical in nature—simple, rigid, and surprisingly effective for a budding theocracy. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not kill (without authorization). He had instituted them early on because they were the only legal code he knew by heart.
They required no amendments.
"The laws stand," Arthur said, rolling the scroll back up. "Now speak on this international stance."
"The feudal lords," Toki said. "Because our country's grain output has tripled, and our steel exports are rivaling the Land of Iron, the other lords wish to know where we stand in terms of alignment."
A matter like this would have confused many. But not Arthur.
"We remain neutral," he declared, leaving no room for argument.
Toki nodded, believing this to be the best move. "A wise decision, my lord. I will draft the missive immediately." She bowed again and backed out of the room.
Arthur didn't quite like politics, even if he was good at it. There were really only three choices for the other feudal lords' concern: would the Land of Birds become expansionist, allies, or remain neutral?
If he had chosen to expand, they would have invited sanctions. If he became allied, he risked making enemies. But if he remained neutral, the country could trade freely while feigning the lack of military support.
Being neutral was the best choice because it provided his country a shield, allowing him to trade with both sides regardless of factions. And if the other lords questioned this growth, he would tell them it was due to new farming techniques from the West.
With Toki gone, he used the time to focus on the remaining Flying raijin marks. While his original network watching the ninja world had been crippled, he used the old ones while creating new ones to at least keep surveillance of everything inside his borders.
The caverns below were empty, and the village above was mainly active in the market district. Not a single spy to be spotted.
Ten minutes later, the doors opened. Ashina Uzumaki entered. When he came before the throne, he bowed low.
"My lord," he began, raising his head. "We request your approval to fund the autonomy of the Hidden Eddy Village."
Arthur knew this was coming. The Uzumaki were sealing perfectionists. Their art required massive amounts of specialized paper, ink, and conduction materials—things the nearby forests were growing short on.
"You're approved," Arthur said. "But mind the natural resources that are dwindling. For every tree that falls in your village, three saplings must be planted and infused with chakra. I cannot allow the Eddy Village to turn into a wasteland like the Sand."
"Thank you, my lord," Ashina said, visibly relieved. "We will ensure the land flourishes." Then he paused to bring up the next matter. "The barrier team has requested an update on the sensory grid. Without your marks, the perimeter feels exposed."
"Fret not on the matter," Arthur shortly said. "I'll see that it's handled appropriately."
After Ashina left, Arthur focused his attention on the Uchiha clan.
The Light Village was a social experiment as much as a military base. He had revived two of the most volatile clans in history and placed them in a confined space.
The problem was the mixing. Uzumaki vitality plus Uchiha ocular prowess equaled the Sage of Six Paths' potential. It was quite volatile. Exactly what Arthur was trying to maintain.
Why he considered this was because he felt the presence of an Uchiha coming close.
The doors soon opened again as Raizumi Uchiha stumbled in. She was a younger member of the clan, revived from the era during the massacre.
She stopped abruptly, not seeing she had entered the throne room with the grace of a drunkard. This made her flush before straightening her robes and bowing hastily.
"My lord! Forgive the intrusion!"
Arthur stared at her with an impassive face as she approached. "Speak."
"Right," she stammered. "lord First sent me. He's wary that the Uzumakis are... ugh. What did he say again?"
She scratched her head, looking at the ceiling for divine intervention.
"Let the Torikage know to put a restriction on clan marriages," Arthur flatly said.
Raizumi froze as her eyes bulged. "How did you know what I was going to say, my lord?!" She then slapped a hand over her mouth. "I mean... yes! That!"
Arthur had always kept a monitor over all his important assets, so he knew of Fugaku's concern about the bloodlines mixing without oversight.
"Remind him also," Arthur added, "that only those without knowledge of how to use chakra may marry the other."
Raizumi blinked. It might have seemed like a harsh rule. It sounded cool on paper—the creation of super-Uzumaki-Uchiha shinobi until the state sanctioned it—but the truth of that was complex. These were revived souls, and their physiology was unique.
Arthur himself wasn't entirely sure if a child born from two Reanimated-based bodies would even survive, or if it would result in a genetic abomination.
Furthermore, spreading bloodline abilities took decades. He didn't have decades. He needed resource security now. He needed his soldiers focused on training and resource gathering, not domestic life.
"I'll inform him immediately!" Raizumi bowed again, terrified and awed.
Then she practically ran out of the room, allowing Arthur to resume his surveillance.
The task, however, was short-lived after thirty minutes.
Fugaku Uchiha had entered. He didn't stumble or hesitate as he walked to the center, knelt, and bowed with respect.
"My lord."
"First Torikage…"
"I suggest we authorize rules for wartime," Fugaku explained, getting straight to the point. "The last skirmish revealed gaps in our formation. We were heavily unprepared for a multi-front assault and relied too much on your direct intervention."
It was a fair assessment. Arthur would have never entered a war with anyone to begin with had he been present. His army was strong, but it was new and lacked cohesion without him micromanaging the battlefield.
"It would be best to organize groups with special chakra," Fugaku continued.
Arthur knew exactly who he was referring to. "Are you suggesting we use the Nine-Tails' chakra inside that boy?"
Fugaku didn't flinch. "Yes, my lord."
The boy they were referring to was Sora; he was still a monk-in-training who possessed residual chakra from the Nine-Tails. Arthur had recruited him (or rather, kidnapped him and indoctrinated him) early on.
While the idea seemed interesting, Sora was unstable, prone to rampages, and was a nuclear option that Ryugetsu hadn't finished taming.
"Since you've taken over the body of lord Ryugetsu," Fugaku said carefully, "it would be imperative the Light Village utilize every asset to ensure everyone's protection. The pseudo-Jinchūriki has potential that can be trained by members of our clan."
Arthur considered it. Sora was a loose cannon. But Fugaku had the Mangekyō Sharingan. He could control the Nine-Tails chakra with his eyes if Sora lost control.
"Then by all means," Arthur agreed. "But keep him within the subterranean training grounds. If he can't harness the Nine-Tails' chakra, do not hesitate to kill him."
"Understood, my lord."
After a quick briefing on the status of his clan, Fugaku soon rose and turned to leave.
Arthur watched him go. He didn't doubt the Uchiha clan. A coup was unlikely; they had already tried that in the Leaf and died for it. Here, they were kings. They also respected power above all else. As long as he remained the strongest entity in their perception, they would follow him anywhere.
The final meeting of the morning block arrived as a shinobi in a white coat and hood entered. She looked exhausted. It was Rin Nohara.
Even after being revived for combat purposes, she was here doing administration work. She carried a stack of papers that looked heavy enough to crush a small animal.
"Here's today's work, my lord," she sighed, setting the stack at the foot of the dais.
They were trade route adjustments, supply requisitions for the medical ward, and the census data.
Arthur picked up the first page. It was a treaty regarding the new trade routes he had set up in the Land of Rain. Because of Lars' capture and the subsequent Akatsuki interrogation, Arthur had modified the routes to prevent spies from backtracking the supply lines to his village entrances.
Things like these would often be brought to his feudal lord. But since they were brought to him, that meant he had the first say. As such, he signed off on it with Toki's signature.
Before moving to the next sheet, he looked up, only to see Rin hadn't left yet. She was standing there, wringing her hands and biting her lip.
"You seem to have something... No, someone on your mind, Rin."
She flinched before speaking. "Yes, my lord." Then she did her best to relax. "Everyone's aware that you've revived important figures from the past. But... no one is aware that I'm still alive." She paused. "I... please forgive me if I've misspoken, my lord, but I request to see Obito."
Arthur stared at her. It was a tempting thought. If Rin appeared before Obito, he might defect to Arthur's side just to be with her. Or better, the whole Akatsuki might side with Arthur instantly.
But it was a gamble. A massive, catastrophic gamble.
If Obito found out Rin was present in this time, there was a chance he would go insane. He might even try to destroy the Light Village to get to her. Or, worse, Zetsu might intervene and kill her permanently to keep Obito in line.
Rin was a trump card. And one shouldn't play their ace until the final hand.
"Forbidden," Arthur said.
His answer was quick, cold, and absolute.
"But—"
"I said forbidden," he repeated. "Even if you know the Rain Village's layout... even if you think you can save him... you're not to leave this village without my permission.
Rin shrank back. The hope in her eyes died, replaced by resignation. "I understand, my lord…" Then she bowed deeply, hiding her face before turning to leave.
Arthur watched her go. Neither pity nor regret was felt from his decision.