[Land of Rice, Otogakure]
The cavern echoed with the clang of hammers and the hiss of molten metal. Eiji's latest creation—a colossal drill fueled by wind-release chakra—burrowed deeper into the earth, carving tunnels that snaked like veins beneath the land of Rice.
Danzo watched as Shimura engineers directed streams of water from the lake above into cooling vents, steam rising in ghostly pipes.
The air tasted of iron and ambition.
"The third sector is complete," Eiji reported, goggles smeared with soot. "Living quarters, armory, and the… special laboratory." His voice dropped
Danzo's eye narrowed. "Good. Itoru, any report on the shinobi clans we invited?"
Itoru delivered a report. The past three weeks had been spent in reconaissance. Shinobi in the land of rice were numerous, but like other countries lacking a hidden village, they lacked unity and powerhouses. Most of them were genins, selling their swords for pitiful amounts. Chunins were rarer, and usually higher-ups of medium-sized shinobi families. Three shinobi clans were noteworthy.
The first one held the name of Kinzaku Clan. Genjutsu masters, they could disorient their enemies with bells, and for the strongest, swords and other regular shinobi tools. Their patriarch was an old jonin, who agreed to meet with Danzo, under the command of the Land of Rice's Daimyo.
The second clan held the name of Hebikaze Clan. The Hebikaze Clan was revered for their mastery of serpentine techniques and stealth. Their unique bond with snakes allows them to access venom-infused chakra, enabling both offensive and defensive maneuvers. Preferring ambush tactics, they excelled in assassinating high-value targets or sabotaging enemy leaders, leaving behind only whispers of their deadly works, but the recent skirmishes against Kumogakure and Iwagakure had left them powerless. Saved by Yukiko from extinction, it had also agreed to meet with Danzo.
The third and last noteworthy clan held the name of Kaonashi Clan. The Kaonashi Clan's uncanny ability to steal and mimic voices made them masters of deception. They could infiltrate enemy lines, impersonating leaders to spread false commands or sow discord among opposing forces. Their vocal manipulation techniques extended to offensive capabilities, using disorienting soundwaves to disrupt formations or instill terror in their enemies.
And all three clans had accepted Danzo's invitation. After all, the Land of Rice Daimyo had promised to show his support to the rise of Otogakure. Like all rulers, the daimyo was subject to his own ambition, and the thought of rivaling the other forces in the continent was an intriguing thought.
"They will be here at any moment", Itoru said, a dry smile betraying his apprehensiveness.
The meeting hall was carved into the belly of the underground lake, its domed ceiling shimmering with bioluminescent algae. Water cascaded down crystalline pillars, pooling around a circular platform where Danzo stood, flanked by Yukiko and Byakuro. Eiji's sound-dampening seals pulsed faintly on the walls, swallowing echoes, leaving only the oppressive weight of silence.
The Rice Daimyo entered first, his silk robes dragging through puddles, face pale beneath his ceremonial helmet. Beside him loomed his master samurai, Takeshi the Iron Tide, whose armor bore the scars of a hundred battles against Kumo raiders. Behind them filed the clan leaders:
Kinzaku Hiroto, patriarch of the Kinzaku, his wrists laden with silver bells that did not chime.
Hebikaze Harumi, matriarch of the serpent-worshipers, her scaled cloak hissing faintly.
Kaonashi Rin, voice-thief of the faceless clan, her lips stitched with golden thread.
'They are not jonins...but elite jonins', Danzo mused, 'Seems like reports about Oto no Kami being on the brink of destruction were inaccurate. All three of them are capable of fighting toe to toe against my elders'
The Daimyo froze, gaping at the vaulted ceiling where Eiji's chakra drill hung suspended, its teeth still dripping molten stone. "This… this is impossible. How did you-"
"Build it?" Danzo finished, stepping forward. The water beneath him rippled, forming the Shimura crest. "Your land is weak, Daimyo-sama. Your enemies feast on its carcass. You asked for order, and we aim at delivering. Surely, you must be impressed by our efficiency"
Harumi's serpentine eyes narrowed, "Order with chains, Shimura. We've heard tales of your…seals."
Byakuro chuckled, cracking his knuckles: "Chains? Think of them as insurance"
Danzo raised a hand. Yukiko's chakra flared, portraying a map of Rice Country, Otogakure's tunnels glowing like a spider's web: "Kinzaku genjutsu can cripple armies. Hebikaze assassins can strangle supply lines. Kaonashi deception can fracture alliances. Under my leadership, Otogakure can get rid of Iwagakure and Kumogakure raiders in one year"
Hiroto's bells shivered, a phantom chime ringing. "And in return? The land of Rice might benefit from the establishment of a new hidden village, all the better if the elite clans are unified. However, for us clan leaders, our influence will diminish, and our clansmen will become sacrifices of your ambition"
"Loyalty" Danzo said simply. Yukiko unrolled a scroll, revealing cursed seals that writhed like living ink, "Wear these, and Otogakure's might becomes yours. Refuse…" The hologram shifted, showing Kinzaku Village burning, Hebikaze dens flooded, Kaonashi throats slit mid-song"...and you become relics, vestiges of the past. My offer was polite, and will provide stability onto the land of rice. Clan leaders such as yourself will become stronger too. Surely, you must have heard of our...technology"
Takeshi's sword hissed an inch from its sheath. "You dare threaten our Daimyo in his own land?"
Byakuro's bandages snapped forward, binding the blade. "Sit down, relic. Or I'll mail your armor back to Rice in a jar"
Harumi stepped forward, her cloak shedding scales that writhed into venomous snakes. "We are not Konoha's sheep to corral, Shimura. The Hebikaze bow to no one." She bit her thumb, slamming it onto the stone. A summoning flared. The air split with a roar. Mizuchi, a serpent the size of a giant, erupted from the summoning smoke, its fangs dripping acid. The Daimyo scrambled back, but Danzo didn't flinch.
"An elite summon", Danzo mused, "Impressive" He nodded to Byakuro.
The seal master smiled. These fools had stepped into his territory, Otogakure. With limitless funds, Byakuro had, with the rest of the Shimura Support Corps, built arrays of seals accross the entire Otogakure. It was only the beginning, but sound-based techniques stolen from shinobi families that came too close to the lake had been plundered, along with their secret techniques.
Sound Wave Seal [C]
Sound-dampening seals flared crimson. Alone, they could only harm chunins at best, jonins and above capable of shielding their organs with chakra. However, thousands of them loomed in the darkness of the halls.
Mizuchi's roar vanished mid-air, its fangs inches from Danzo's face—then it convulsed, thrashing as ultrasonic waves shredded its inner ears. Byakuro's eyes glowed. The serpent collapsed, dissolving into smoke. Harumi fell to her knees, blood trickling from her nose, the contract visibly harming her too.
Danzo loomed over the matriarch, the cursed seal scroll in hand. "Your trump card is a pet, Harumi-san. Otogakure is fated to do something greater" He pressed the seal to her hands, "Your choice, Harumi. Collaboration and wealth...or...death under Iwagakure's explosive squads.
Shimura Keyword Cursed Seal [A]
Rin's golden stitches snapped as she laughed—a perfect mimic of Danzo's voice. "Clever, Shimura-sama. But voices carry secrets", her hands accepting the seal, smiling at the sight of the cursed seal climbing her arms, before condensing in the center of her throat, forming the Shimura Clan's symbol, a dark glow, "I look forward to stealing yours"
Her submission marked the Kaonishi's acceptance of Otogakure and its plans.
Hiroto Kinzoku sighed, bells ringing true for the first time—a mournful dirge, "We accept too. We are betting everything on your offer, Danzo-sama. I hope you will prove worthy of our trust"
The Daimyo trembled, Takeshi's sword still drawn, "And… my role?"
Danzo's smile was a scalpel's edge. "Rule your surface world. Host parties. Sign treaties. We'll handle the shadows and the battlefields"
As the Daimyo departed, Danzo turned to Yukiko. "Double the watch on the Daimyo. He might not have looked like it, but he definitely realized he cannot control us, and acknowledged our strength. Still, make sure he does not leak information. Let him play emperor. Every kingdom needs a fool on the throne."
Above them, the drill whirred, biting deeper into the earth—a hungry, endless growl.
"What about us?", the clan leaders asked, almost in unison.
"Sit at the table. Now that formalities are complete, we can begin collaborating and bringing order as we promised", Danzo said as he unraveled a map pinpointing the Land of Rice's foreign forces and their positions with utmost precision
The three clan leaders gulped. The technology, the seals, and the individual strength of the legendary Shimura Demon, which hosted the four-tails...They had submitted to him, and now they realized that they had not even seen the extent of his powers.