[Rice Palace, Oto no Kami]
Every year, the Rice Daimyo would summon its vassals for a feast. Although the celebration seemed hedonist and extravagant, the gathering had a political meaning. For the host, it was a way to renew contracts with mercenaries and shinobi, while warranting loyalty and support.
For the invited, it was a way to prove their worth, and accumulate favour from the powerful. Often, contracts would be signed in the Oto Summit, more than from words of mouth. Such was the way of the nobles.
"Noble lords, esteemed shinobi, and honored guests… Tonight, we gather beneath a moon that has witnessed the rise and fall of empires. A moon that now gazes upon a land reborn—our land. A land where marshes once choked ambition now cradle a fortress of progress. A land where the weak once cowered now stands tall, its spine forged by the hands of allies… and the blood of foes."
He pauses, letting the clink of sake cups fade into anticipation.
"You have all tasted the fruits of this new era. The canals that carve trade through poison fog, the vaults brimming with grain while nations starve, the silence of bandit kings who dared test our borders. These are not accidents. They are trophies—our trophies—born of loyalty, ambition, and the unbroken chain that binds us."
His eyes sweep the room, lingering on clan sigils and masked faces.
"Yet shadows linger beyond our torchlight. The world hungers for what we have built. Envy festers in hearts beyond these mountains. And so, I ask you: What is a kingdom without its guardians? A harvest without its scythe? You—the blades that guard the hearth, the minds that unravel chaos—are the reason this land does not crumble. But loyalty… loyalty is not a relic. It is a flame. And flames must be fed."
He raises a chalice of blackened steel, the liquid inside shimmering venom-green.
"Tonight, we drink not just to past glories, but to futures yet claimed. To the shinobi who will carve roads through the unknown. To the engineers whose seals will outlive mountains. To the mercenaries whose steel will turn the tide of wars unwritten. Let this feast be a pact: Serve this land, and it will elevate you to heights your enemies cannot fathom. Betray it…"
He smile
"…and you will learn why even the marshes fear my mercy."
The hall erupts in applause—a mix of genuine fervor and uneasy obligation. The Daimyo's gaze drifts to Danzo, seated in shadow, as he concludes:
"Raise your cups. To the Land of Rice—a realm where equilibrium and prosperity flow as one. May our ambitions drown the world."
After the long speech, Boku went ahead and started to display his political skills, providing a wide array of services to the nobles. Tutoring gifted children, escorting valuable convoys, delivering missives to a foreign countries...Most of those tasks required the help of shinobi, who possessed strength beyond comparison.
Danzo was merely here for formalities. As the Otokage, he had duties, some of which were much less interesting than others.
"Are you bored?", a massive samurai broke him out of his thoughts, "Who would have thought that a plee to the Fire Daimyo would have turned this land of desolation into one of the most prosperous territory of the continent?"
It was none other than Takeshi, the Rice Samurai's Great Commander, the slayer of shinobi. Although people would be wise not to under estimate him, both Danzo and Harumi could tell he was lacking immensely compared to the village's elites. After all, royal rice could only increase potential to some extent. Even with daily consumption, it could not rival the other treasures held by Otogakure, namely the body elixir refinement and chakra supplement injection, or the Shimura Cell Enhancement.
Over the years, the number of potential-enhancement drugs in the village was growing, and through research, Otogakure underground's farms sufficed to provide it to the elite of the village consistantly, and even to the rest of the shinobi forces. The wastes and failed products, were put in Kamui's marecage, driving the overall potential of the surface shinobi and villagers over the years.
Although Takeshi represented the pinnacle of the Rice Samurai, Danzo considered him to be the standards of the future elite residents of Otogakure. His village focused on balance and progress, values that were unlike any other major village, the seal protecting his well-guarded secrets.
"Bored?", Danzo answered, "Supporting the daimyo is part of my duties. The nobles from the Lands of Rice are all gathered here today. My presence alone will likely increase the number of contracts signed by the end of the feast by several times. As much as I dislike formalities, these events are essential to the economy of Otogakure"
Takeshi laughed: "Is that so? The stipend given to Otogakure on a yearly basis exceeds the budget of other countries to their hidden village by a factor of 50% at the very least. Additionally, the Daimyo declared your glass products tax-free, which are sold massively accross the continent. Although building a village comes with great cost, I am somehow doubtful about your statement of financial instability"
Harumi shook her head: "Some of our Shimura civilians are expert accounters, but our treasury often runs low. You would be wise not to underestimate the power of the people in this room. Do you see the Urui Vassal over there? He was just a bastard ten years ago, but as the sole heir, rose to the head of the Urui Household. Boku told me he just hired 300 of our Shinobi to deal with a group of bandits that crippled his merchant routes. The reward? 30 Million Ryo for an operation that will last less than a week. Do you see the Otoro Matriarch? She hired a jonin to teach her son the basics of kenjutsu for the sum of 25 Million Ryo"
Takeshi nodded: "These are astronomical figures indeed. However, the prosperity has not just enriched the Shimura clan, or Otogakure. The peace you brought to those lands brought wealth to this country. As one of the two countries that won the Second Shinobi World War, merchants are flocking to Oto no Kami, believing in its stability. Merchant unions strengthened their ties with banks, while artisans are migrating here"
"We will take it as a compliment", Danzo smiled, accepting Takeshi's acknowledgement
"I will be straightforward", Takeshi continued, "I initially did not trust you, Danzo-sama. You were a great shinobi, and you brought your whole clan. You possess foresight that I do not have. Your current power and advances are proof of that. I have a request"
Despite Boku being the main broker of missions, some personalities preferred to deal with him personally. After all, Boku was just an elder, whereas Danzo was the Otokage.
"Tell me. Our village has grown tremendously since the last time you visited. We don't lack manpower, even if we have to select missions based on their priority now with all these new requests"
Takeshi shook his head: "This is a personal request, Danzo-sama. In fact..."
Danzo and Harumi gasped.
Now that was a pretty harsh request.