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Chapter 14 - 14. Biwa Juzo

The night was as dark as ink.

At the Daimyo Manor, in a secluded, quiet courtyard.

This place was usually untouched by anyone, with only rockeries, flowing water, and a dead plum tree.

Tonight, however, a lone lamp was lit in the courtyard.

Biwa Juzo stood under the lamp, his shadow stretched long.

He wore the standard Kirigakure uniform, and the massive Kubikiribocho on his back disrupted the tranquility of the courtyard.

There was a faint killing intent in the air.

He had come here because of an unsigned note inviting him.

This note had appeared abruptly on his pillow, yet no one else had noticed.

To be able to come and go freely under his nose, in the heavily guarded embassy compound.

This in itself was a show of force.

Biwa Juzo's eyes were sinister, and the veins on the hand gripping the hilt of the Kubikiribocho bulged.

He was not afraid of death.

Which of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist hadn't climbed out of a pile of dead bodies?

But he hated this feeling of being toyed with.

Whether it was that tyrant in the village, or this secretive fellow.

Creak.

The moon gate was pushed open.

A person walked in, carrying a pot of tea and two teacups!

The newcomer was dressed in black, with a handsome face, and no chakra flowing within him.

Biwa Juzo's muscles tensed instantly.

The person who arrived was none other than the new Daimyo of the Land of Fire, Shin.

Biwa Juzo had considered countless possibilities, but he never expected that the one who would secretly meet him late at night would be this new master of the Land of Fire.

A Daimyo, coming alone to meet an enemy jonin?

Was he looking for death?

Ignoring the killing intent emanating from him, Shin walked directly to the stone table and sat down, pouring two cups of tea for himself.

He simply said, "Sit."

His voice was very calm.

Biwa Juzo didn't move, looking coldly at Shin, his voice hoarse. "Daimyo of the Land of Fire, you have a lot of guts!"

Shin picked up a teacup, blew on the hot steam, and glanced at him. "What right does a man who doesn't even dare to draw his sword have to judge my courage?"

This remark made Biwa Juzo's face darken.

His hand had been gripping the hilt of his sword since earlier.

But his intuition was warning him frantically.

This man in front of him was very dangerous.

More dangerous than any enemy he had ever encountered.

Biwa Juzo gave up on probing and asked directly, "Why did you call me here? What do you want?"

Shin was also very direct. "I think you're very good, so I'm giving you a chance to pledge your loyalty to me."

As if he had heard a funny joke, Biwa Juzo laughed, revealing his stark white teeth.

"Loyalty? Me, Biwa Juzo of Kirigakure, swear allegiance to you, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire?"

"You haven't woken up yet, have you!"

Shin was not angry, and asked calmly, "If you don't pledge loyalty to me, then who do you pledge loyalty to? Kirigakure? Or the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi? Are you truly loyal?"

Biwa Juzo's smile instantly froze.

Watching his reaction, Shin's mind, however, envisioned this man's future fate.

Biwa Juzo, a tragic yet respectable man.

Dissatisfied with Kirigakure's Blood Mist tyranny, he eventually chose to defect and join the Akatsuki Organization.

His future partner would be that beast, Uchiha Itachi.

And his end would come during a mission, where, to protect Uchiha Itachi, he used the Kubikiribocho to block a Tailed Beast Ball.

Ultimately, he died from severe injuries after the blade pierced his abdomen.

A man who died by his own weapon.

A man who was willing to sacrifice his life to protect a comrade, even if that comrade was an Uchiha from an enemy village.

Shin gave his assessment.

A scoundrel with principles, a rogue shinobi who valued loyalty.

Fundamentally stubborn.

Such a person, once his loyalty was gained, would be far more reliable than a fair-weather friend.

These thoughts flashed by.

His gaze towards Biwa Juzo held a touch more appreciation.

"You and I are both tired of this twisted world."

"Shinobi become tools for the great powers' games, dying meaningless deaths on the battlefield."

"Civilians are displaced by war, unable to even guarantee their most basic survival."

"Villages are controlled by ambitious individuals and madmen, who build their power with the blood of their comrades."

"Don't you think such a world should have been destroyed and reshaped long ago?"

Biwa Juzo frowned deeply, his eyes fixed on Shin, his tone filled with impatience.

"What exactly do you want to say?"

Shin leaned back in his chair. "I want to end all of this."

"I want to establish a new order. A truly peaceful world without war, without prejudice, where both shinobi and civilians can live in peace and prosperity."

Biwa Juzo fell silent.

After a while, he laughed, a very exaggerated laugh.

"Peace? What a grand ideal."

"Then, Daimyo, what do you have to back it up?"

"Just your mouth?"

He took a step forward, and a terrifying killing intent stirred up the fallen leaves on the ground.

The candlelight began to flicker violently, almost going out.

However, Shin remained seated steadily.

He didn't even frown.

"Back it up?"

He repeated softly, as if he found the question amusing.

He didn't answer, just raised his hand.

A single finger extended towards the empty stone table.

The next moment.

Biwa Juzo's worldview collapsed.

No hand signs.

No violent fluctuations of chakra.

Just tiny specks of light gathering out of thin air at Shin's fingertip.

The light points condensed, beginning to take shape.

First, antennae.

Then, wings.

Finally, a complete body.

A butterfly.

A living butterfly, born from nothingness.

The butterfly flapped its wings, flying from Shin's fingertip.

It traced an arc in the air.

Finally, it landed on the branch of the dead plum tree.

This was not ninjutsu!

Biwa Juzo's mind went blank.

Ninjutsu is the manipulation of chakra.

Whether it's shape transformation or nature transformation.

The essence is the application of existing energy.

But what was this in front of him?

Creation from nothing!

This was creating life out of thin air!

What kind of power was this?

Biwa Juzo's hand, gripping his sword, trembled violently.

A drop of cold sweat seeped from his temple, rolling down.

Then it hit the stone slab and shattered.

His killing intent also disintegrated instantly.

"Now, what do you think I have to back it up?"

Shin's voice rang out again, his tone still calm.

Biwa Juzo stared at the man in front of him, fear and awe swirling in his mind.

If... if it was this kind of power... perhaps it really could change that hellish place.

His throat tightened, and his hoarse voice squeezed out with effort. "I... I can serve you!"

"As long as you help me kill Yagura Karatachi! And end Kirigakure's tyranny!"

His teeth ground together when he spoke that name.

Shin smiled, shaking his head.

"Yes, but not now..."

"Because what I want to end is not the change of one village, but the entire world."

Biwa Juzo clenched his fists, his fingernails digging into his flesh.

Shin glanced at him, and continued, "You can stay by my side and watch."

"The day you feel I have betrayed today's promise, you can leave anytime. I will absolutely not stop you."

"But if you choose to stay..."

Shin stood up and walked in front of him.

His shadow completely covered Biwa Juzo.

"You, and your sword, will personally usher in an era for me, a unified world."

"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist? That title means nothing to me."

"What I offer you is the qualification to personally forge a new world."

As his words fell.

Biwa Juzo abandoned all struggle.

He no longer struggled.

He knelt on one knee, raising the Kubikiribocho with both hands, placing it horizontally before him.

Then, he lowered his proud head.

"I, Biwa Juzo, am willing to die for you, my lord!"

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