What can a month change?
In the shinobi world, perhaps it's the end of a brutal war, or the fall of several powerful figures.
But in the Fire Capital, a month is enough to transform the place.
"Brother, these spices of yours, they came from the Land of Wind, didn't they? What's the price?"
In the largest market in the Fire Capital's City, a merchant from the Land of Grass, named Watanabe, yelled at a local shop owner.
Watanabe had been running this trade route for five years.
He remembered that a month ago, the scene here was completely different.
Back then, the civil unrest had just settled, the streets were full of patrolling samurai, and the air had a nauseating smell of blood.
The streets were riddled with potholes, sewage flowed everywhere, business was terrible, and everyone's face was etched with numbness and panic.
But now?
Watanabe looked at everything before him, feeling as if he were dreaming.
The path beneath his feet was newly laid, smooth and clean.
The shops on both sides of the street were all renovated, with banners fluttering.
The most exaggerated part was the people.
Throngs of people!
Dockworkers, construction craftsmen, rickshaw pullers, vendors... everyone's face carried something Watanabe had never seen before.
Vibrancy!
"Hey, Watanabe, you're finally here!"
The shop owner poked his head out from behind the counter, his face glowing with health. "The usual, the price is negotiable! Come in for a cup of tea first, I tell you, you've come at the right time!"
Watanabe was enthusiastically pulled into the shop, and a clerk immediately served hot tea.
Watanabe couldn't help but ask, "Boss, you guys... struck it rich, huh?"
"Struck it rich?"
The boss slapped his thigh, his voice rising eight octaves. "It's gone crazy! The entire Fire Capital has gone crazy!"
"Now in the city, as long as you're willing to work, you'll never starve! Carrying sacks at the dock for a day, the pay has doubled compared to before!"
"North City is undergoing major sewer repairs, East City is building new residential areas, West City is expanding the workshop district... everywhere needs people! Everywhere is short of people!"
"The wages are high, everyone has money, so naturally they dare to spend! Look at my shop, this month's turnover is more than the past three months combined!"
Watanabe listened, dumbfounded.
"This... this is all thanks to the new Daimyo?"
"Exactly!"
The boss's face was filled with admiration. "You wouldn't believe it, our new Daimyo, as soon as he took office, made those high-and-mighty nobles dig into their family fortunes to build roads and cities!"
"I also heard that the Daimyo launched something called a three-year revitalization plan, to turn the Fire Capital into a golden nest!"
The teacup in Watanabe's hand trembled.
He looked at the endless stream of people outside the window, listening to the distant clanging sounds of construction, with only one thought in his mind.
The Land of Fire is about to change.
At the same time.
Inside the Ministry of Finance's office, the lights were bright.
Minister of Finance Tanaka Shigeru was hunched over mountains of ledgers, his eyes bloodshot, yet his spirit was unusually excited.
His fingers traced rows of numbers, muttering to himself.
"South City Road Repair Project, allocated one billion ryo, projected tax revenue increase of thirty percent, actual... forty-five percent!"
"River dredging project, undertaken by the Ito family, employed seven thousand displaced people, not only solving the resettlement problem but also revitalizing water transport... Next month, just the shipping tax alone will bring in an additional fifty million ryo!"
"And the three iron mines offered by the Governor of Kawachi, using new technology, production has quadrupled! The farming tools and implements crafted were pre-ordered before they even came out of the furnace!"
Tanaka Shigeru's heart raced faster with each calculation.
A month ago, when he knelt before the Daimyo, forced to surrender seventy percent of his family's assets, his heart bled.
But who would have thought!
The Daimyo immediately handed over several of the most lucrative reconstruction projects to him and his family's merchant guild.
At this rate, in less than a year, his Tanaka family would be restored to its former state!
The Daimyo once said he would let them earn it back a hundredfold, a thousandfold.
Now it seems he didn't lie to them.
He used an iron fist to consolidate power, and then used unimaginable profits to bind everyone to the Land of Fire's war chariot.
Shigeru put down his pen and let out a long breath.
Looking at the incoming funds, his eyes were filled with fanaticism and awe.
"To die for my lord... is our honor."
He mumbled, as if making an oath.
Daimyo Manor, study.
Shin stood before a giant sand table.
He casually picked up a wooden token representing the workshop district and placed it on an empty space in the west of the city.
A soft voice sounded from behind him.
"My lord, the tea has cooled, I will prepare a fresh cup for you."
Kiyotsuki Saki approached, carrying a tea tray.
She wore a plain maid's uniform, her face had regained some color, and her movements were no longer stiff, though she would instinctively lower her gaze when looking at Shin.
This past month, she, once a noble young miss who never lifted a finger, had learned to brew tea, grind ink, and tidy the study.
Every day, she stayed by Shin's side, watching as commands were issued from this study, transforming into the daily changes of the Fire Capital.
She listened to those ministers, who once stood as equals with her father, report with genuine reverence for this man.
She watched familiar place names on the sand table being re-planned, turning into projects that generated immense wealth.
She didn't understand the complex economic principles.
But she could feel a powerful force gathering at this man's fingertips, changing the entire country.
This feeling, far more than slaughter and destruction, instilled fear in her.
"No need."
Shin didn't turn around. "Sit."
Kiyotsuki Saki froze for a moment, somewhat at a loss.
"Sit."
Shin repeated.
Only then did she hesitantly kneel on the cushion, her body held perfectly straight.
Shin turned around and slowly walked behind her, placing his hand on her shoulder, gently caressing it.
"How do you feel this past month?"
Kiyotsuki Saki's body trembled, and she replied in a low voice, "I... am just a maid, I don't understand state affairs."
"Is that so?"
Shin smiled. "I thought you would think I was exploiting the nobles, using their money to gain fame for myself."
Kiyotsuki Saki's head drooped even lower, and she said nothing.
She had indeed thought that at first.
"You only saw them paying money, but you didn't see that they earned even more."
Shin's hand began to move lower.
"I took their family assets to break their entrenched order. I gave them projects to let them find their place in the new order I established."
"Fear makes them submit, and profit makes them loyal."
His voice was calm.
Kiyotsuki Saki's face was flushed, as she suppressed the turmoil in her body.
But deep down, a chill arose.
She slowly looked up, daring to meet this man's gaze for the first time.
Before him, her ridiculous pride and hatred seemed so insignificant.
"My lord... why tell me all this?"
She couldn't help but ask, her voice trembling.
Shin's hand continued to caress and knead.
"Because you are beautiful."
"A beautiful face, if the mind is empty, would be too much of a waste."
"I know you hate me deeply, but I still hope you can learn to think, rather than just passively accept. That way, it will be more interesting."
Kiyotsuki Saki's cheeks were already crimson, whether from shame and indignation or something else, she didn't know.
Knock knock!
Just then, a knock sounded.
Outside the door, Takeshi's voice came in.
"My lord."
"Speak."
"All matters for the coronation ceremony have been prepared. The auspicious day is three days from now."
"Good."
"Also, Konoha Village has sent a reply."
"Oh?"
Shin raised an eyebrow, withdrew his hand, and returned to his seat. "Come in!"
Kiyotsuki Saki let out a sigh of relief, seemingly with shame and indignation, yet also reluctance, deep hatred buried in her eyes.
Takeshi pushed the door open and respectfully handed over the reply.
Shin took the letter and unfolded it. It was sent jointly by the Konoha elders.
The letter stated that they fully understood the financial difficulties of the Daimyo Manor and were willing to overcome the challenges with the country.
Furthermore, they would send a delegation to attend the coronation ceremony three days later.
Shin murmured, "A delegation? Hiruzen Sarutobi!"