The night was thick.
Shin put down the scroll and stood up to stretch his limbs.
After finishing his official duties, he walked out of the study and slowly made his way to the sleeping quarters.
The guards and maids along the way all bowed their heads, not daring to breathe.
Shin was accustomed to all of this and felt quite pleased.
At the entrance of the sleeping quarters, two new maids stood with their hands clasped, their bodies slightly bowed.
Shin pushed the door open and entered.
Inside the hall, candlelight flickered, and a scent of incense wafted through the air.
A figure was curled up on the bed, the bedding outlining the curves of a body.
Shin's footsteps became lighter, a hint of a smile on his face.
Perhaps hearing the footsteps, the curves of the body visibly tensed.
Shin walked directly to the bedside and sat down, a playful look on his face, and reached into the bedding.
What he touched was not soft and smooth skin, but the feel of fabric.
Shin's smile instantly vanished, and he forcefully pulled back the covers. "You're still wearing clothes?"
Kiyotsuki Saki suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze filled with terror, yet her face was stubborn.
Shin paid no mind to her emotions. With a gloomy face, he coldly snorted, "It seems you still haven't learned how to be a maid."
"Maids!"
The door to the hall opened in response, and the maids at the entrance rushed in, immediately prostrating themselves on the ground, their foreheads pressed firmly against the cold floor.
"I told you to teach her the rules!" Shin pointed at the terrified and resentful Kiyotsuki Saki, his voice suppressing anger. "Didn't you teach her?"
"This..." The maid trembled with fear, repeatedly kowtowing.
Shin was somewhat annoyed. "Take her away and teach her again. Make her understand what a maid is supposed to do."
He paused, his voice growing colder.
"If she still hasn't learned by this time tomorrow, you will be held accountable."
The maid quickly nodded. "Yes! Yes! This servant obeys! I will definitely teach her the rules properly!"
Shin turned sideways, and the maid immediately scrambled up, rushed over, and grabbed Kiyotsuki Saki's arm. No matter how much she struggled, she was forcibly dragged out of the sleeping quarters.
The hall door closed, cutting off the crying from outside.
The next day, in the early morning.
Sunlight streamed into the study, casting shadows.
Shin finished reviewing several memorials and was slowly sipping a cup of tea.
"Lord Tanaka requests an audience, my lord," Takeshi announced from outside the door.
"Let him in."
Soon, a slightly fat middle-aged man walked in quickly. His name was Tanaka Shigeru, an old minister of the Land of Fire.
Tanaka Shigeru respectfully bowed. "May My lord be well."
"Sit, Tanaka." Shin put down his teacup.
"Thank you, my lord!"
Tanaka Shigeru sat down as instructed, only daring to perch on half of the chair, his posture humble.
After a few pleasantries, Shin said, "Last night, the Third Hokage of Konoha sent a letter."
Tanaka Shigeru asked, "What did it say?"
Shin toyed with the cup lid, his tone flat. "The content of the letter was very touching. It first congratulated me on my smooth succession, then reminisced about the many years of deep friendship between Konoha and the Daimyo Manor, and finally, it made a small request."
Tanaka Shigeru's eyelids twitched.
A request that the Daimyo would mention in such a tone could not be small.
"What does the Third Hokage want?"
"His meaning is that in this great war, Konoha rendered great service but also suffered heavy losses, and the village is in ruins, awaiting reconstruction." Shin's words betrayed no emotion. "Therefore, he hopes that the Daimyo Manor can provide an additional budget for post-war reconstruction."
Tanaka Shigeru's face immediately turned bitter, and he quickly spoke, "My lord, this... this is absolutely impossible!"
"The national treasury is now emptier than my hair! The suppression of the rebellion a while ago already exhausted all funds. Reconstruction in various places, compensation for casualties—which one doesn't require money? We simply cannot squeeze any more out!"
"Oh?" Shin raised an eyebrow. "Is it that serious?"
"Even more so, my lord!"
"Bring Konoha's account books for me to see."
Tanaka Shigeru was well-prepared and quickly presented a thick ledger with both hands.
Shin took it and flipped it open, scanning it rapidly.
The numbers on it were shocking.
Procurement of weapons and equipment, shinobi mission subsidies, casualty compensation, infrastructure construction, research and development expenses... The various expenditures accounted for one-third of the Land of Fire's annual budget.
Especially during the Third Shinobi World War, this proportion once soared to half.
Shin's face darkened, and he closed the ledger with a dull thud.
"So much?"
Fine beads of sweat appeared on Tanaka Shigeru's forehead, and he carefully explained, "Konoha is, after all, the country's military shield. In these years, if they hadn't been at the forefront, we..."
Shin smiled.
"Tanaka, I ask you—Konoha is very important, but are the other citizens of the Land of Fire not important?"
"During wartime, military expenses are high. I can understand that."
"But now, the Third Raikage has died in battle, Iwagakure is severely weakened, Sunagakure has submitted, Kirigakure is in internal strife and preoccupied, and the war is about to end."
"He's not thinking about giving back, but actually wants to increase the budget. What kind of logic is that?"
Tanaka Shigeru was momentarily speechless. "Then... does my lord mean to reject it outright?"
Shin waved his hand. "Ah, rejecting it would hurt feelings too much. The Third Hokage is, after all, highly respected and has rendered great service to the Land of Fire. We cannot be so heartless."
Tanaka Shigeru was somewhat confused.
Shin's smile became meaningful. "Not only can we not reject it, we must actively help him."
"Help him, and also help everyone in Konoha Village, learn what frugality means."
He held up two fingers.
"Starting next quarter, Konoha Village's annual budget will be cut by twenty percent."
"Twenty... twenty percent?!"
Tanaka Shigeru was so shocked he nearly jumped out of his chair. "My lord, this is absolutely impossible! This is not a small sum, and Konoha will never agree! The Third Hokage..."
"He will agree!" Shin interrupted him, his tone firm.
He stood up and walked to Tanaka Shigeru's side, patting his shoulder.
"The national treasury is in difficulty after the war. For the overall recovery of the Land of Fire, everyone must overcome these difficulties together. Konoha, as a part of the Land of Fire, should set an example. I believe the Third Hokage will understand."
Tanaka Shigeru opened his mouth, cold sweat trickling down his cheeks.
He understood.
This was about using Konoha to establish authority, to make an example!
"But, Konoha..."
"With such heavy losses in this war, I'm already being very fair to him by not holding him accountable." Shin sat back down. "The Third Hokage is a smart man. He knows what to choose."
"It's settled then. Go back and draft a new financial budget for me."
"Yes, my lord." Tanaka Shigeru bowed.
"Go. Write the official document with genuine sincerity."
"Yes!"
Tanaka Shigeru bowed and withdrew, his steps a little unsteady.
Silence returned to the study.
Shin's expression was calm. The first move had been made.
Even without a system mission, he would have targeted Konoha.
As a Daimyo, how could he allow the blade to be held in another's hand?
Only power and authority must not be entrusted to others!
Just then, Takeshi's voice sounded from outside the door.
"My lord."
"Enter!"
Takeshi pushed the door open and bowed, saying, "My lord, a Konoha shinobi requests an audience. He says he is on orders from the Third Hokage to deliver a detailed report on this great war."
"A Konoha shinobi?" Shin was somewhat surprised. "Who is it?"
"He calls himself Yuhi Shinku."