"Lord Dotō! We can't hold him back!"
"Do something, Lord Dotō!"
"He's too strong!"
Kazahana Dotō watched the scene before him with an expressionless face, utterly speechless—a group of Snow Ninjas had staked everything to stop the impassioned Katsura, yet it had no effect whatsoever.
"Let me go! To think that Lord Sōsetsu would be such a selfish and unscrupulous man! I must confront him face to face! If he truly is that shameless, self-serving villain, I, Katsura Kotarō, will deliver divine punishment upon him for the sake of this nation's people!"
Katsura, held back by several Snow Ninjas clinging to his legs, refused to listen to anyone.
Clenching his fists, his face flushed with agitation, he was determined to charge out and demand answers from that Fūka Sōsetsu!
[Everyone! Now is the time to set this country right, to cleanse the filth and restore purity!]
Elizabeth, holding a wooden sign with these words, relentlessly struck the Snow Ninjas who were desperately trying to restrain him.
After knocking loose the last stubborn Snow Ninja blocking his way, Elizabeth—wearing a white headband symbolizing the Joui rebels—pulled a katana from his mouth and raised it high.
[For this country!]
"You... you bastard..."
Nearby, Rōga Nadare, who had been knocked to the ground in the scuffle to restrain Elizabeth, struggled to lift his head.
Gritting his teeth, he managed only half a sentence before collapsing into unconsciousness, completely silent.
As for Tōyū Hyōga, during the earlier struggle, he had been inadvertently smacked by Elizabeth's wooden sign and embedded into the ceiling, with only his body dangling below.
Judging by the natural sway of his limbs, he had likely fainted just like Rōga Nadare.
The last "surviving" Snow Ninja, Kakuyoku Fubuki, sensing the dire situation, quietly retreated and hid behind Dotō.
Surveying the chaotic scene (with his Snow Ninjas almost all injured), Dotō remained expressionless and silent.
He didn't even understand how things had escalated like this, nor why this long-haired stranger was so worked up!
"Brother of Lord Sōsetsu! The people of this nation suffer pain and torment every single moment—there's no more time to hesitate! The flames of the Joui rebellion burn fiercely!"
Looking at the fervent Katsura, then at the surrounding Snow Ninjas who had been incapacitated in their attempts to stop him, Dotō could only think.
'Ah, the people are indeed suffering!'
'Right now, they're suffering because of you!'
"Brother! There's no one left to stop your righteous cause! Now is the time to deliver divine punishment upon that selfish, self-serving wretch! Raise your sword with me!"
Katsura grew even more impassioned, unsheathing his beloved sword and raising it high as he swore an oath.
"I, Katsura Kotarō, swear in the name of the Joui rebels—I will deliver divine punishment upon those who neglect this country and its people, those who care only for themselves!"
Finally, having concluded that this long-haired man was utterly unhinged, Dotō made his decision.
At this moment, Dotō rubbed his hands together, offering Katsura an ingratiating smile as he said.
"Well... esteemed sir, I think it might still be a bit premature. After all, that bastard Sōsetsu is the ruler of this nation. Without proper planning..."
Katsura, instantly realizing the other man meant they needed to proceed cautiously, slowly sheathed his sword, his heart heavy with reluctance.
"How despicable! While the people of this country suffer in misery, we can only take slow, measured steps! The ruler lounges in comfort while the common folk endure agony..."
Glancing at the groaning Snow Ninjas around them, Dotō couldn't help but silently criticize again.
Truth be told, they really were in pain!
"Anyway, let's first discuss the specific plan, Katsura-san."
Dotō maintained his ingratiating smile, having already recognized that despite this man's apparent mental instability, he was extraordinarily powerful!
Such a person might still be useful!
Perhaps with this man's strength, he wouldn't need to wait two years to seize control of this country and elevate it to rival the Five Great Nations!
...
Late at night, after sweet-talking Katsura into staying at his residence and having his subordinates take care of the unconscious Snow Ninjas, Dotō received some information about Katsura from his efficient underlings.
A rogue ninja resembling a samurai who recently appeared in the Land of Snow!
Had contact with Sōsetsu and his niece, Princess Koyuki!
Reportedly appointed by Sōsetsu as Koyuki's tutor but was refused!
The more Dotō read these reports, the more something felt off, stirring doubts in his mind.
Someone who had contact with Sōsetsu?
Could such a person truly intend to help him?
After much deliberation, suspecting some grand conspiracy, Dotō summoned his most capable subordinate—Kakuyoku Fubuki, who hadn't lost consciousness!
Creak—
Entering Dotō's bedroom, Fubuki skillfully swayed her hips to close the door behind her—a move that couldn't be perfected without hundreds of repetitions.
Then, Fubuki slowly removed her armor, leaving only her form-fitting black bodysuit that accentuated her curves before turning and striding with feline grace toward the inner chamber where the lord awaited.
Snow Ninjas—the name might sound like some official ninja force of the Land of Snow, but only the Snow Ninjas themselves knew the bitter truth: they were nothing!
So-called Snow Ninjas were merely wandering ninjas with citizenship in the Land of Snow!
Unrecognized by the nation's authorities, without any formal employment!
This was the shared anguish of all Snow Ninjas.
Though born as citizens of the Land of Snow, they enjoyed none of the privileges that Konoha ninjas received in the Land of Fire!
With no stable affiliation, Snow Ninjas wandered the country, taking whatever missions came their way, enduring cycles of feast and famine in miserable conditions.
But this lord (Kazahana Dotō) was different.
He had promised them!
Once he became the ruler, he would establish the Snow Ninjas as the officially recognized military force of the Land of Snow!
Just like Konoha served the Land of Fire!
This was why Fubuki could endure the humiliation of serving this broad-faced, shifty-eyed old man.
For the sake of the Snow Ninjas' official standing in the Land of Snow!
"Lord Doto~ I'm here~"
Watching Fubuki saunter towards him with a catlike gait—her petite figure accentuated by the form-fitting outfit that highlighted all the right curves—Dotō quickly reined in his wandering thoughts.
"Ahem! Fubuki, I didn't call you here today to study foreign history together. Actually..."
Hearing this, Fubuki, who had been striking poses in front of the folding screen, froze momentarily, genuinely surprised.
A few minutes later...
Though Fubuki's expression revealed no dissatisfaction, inwardly she was cursing vehemently.
This Dotō was getting more and more outrageous!
He actually wanted her to seduce that long-haired man and extract information from him!
Don't ninjas have any human rights?! Damn it!
Of course, she only dared to curse in her heart, outwardly accepting the order with respectful obedience.
After all...
For the sake of job security!