"Spoils of victory?"
The three Daimyo muttered in unison.
The atmosphere in the reception room immediately shifted.
Ōnoki's aged eyes flashed with a sharp glint before quickly fading.
Rasa lowered his eyelids ever so slightly, concealing the thoughts behind them.
The Kage were considering the balance of the shinobi world and the grudges between villages.
But the Daimyo were thinking far beyond that.
"Heh heh..." The Daimyo of the Land of Water chuckled, playing with the teacup in his hand as he spoke cautiously. "You jest."
"Kumogakure's crushing defeat, the Raikage's capture... this is indeed a great victory."
"But this is the victory of your Land of Fire. The victory of you, Chiba Arashi, the Daimyo."
He looked at Arashi's young face, then subtly shifted his tone. "We three nations are merely guests at your invitation."
"These spoils of victory, no matter how they are divided, don't seem to concern us, do they?"
The Daimyo of the Land of Water's words were watertight.
He praised the Land of Fire while maintaining distance, carefully positioning himself as uninvolved.
Though he clearly desired some benefit while the Land of Fire and Land of Lightning were at odds, he was extremely cautious about accepting gifts without clear terms.
The other two Daimyo shared the same sentiment.
"Indeed," the Daimyo of the Land of Wind echoed while fanning himself. "We didn't contribute a single effort. We understand the principle of not accepting rewards without merit."
The Daimyo of the Land of Earth didn't respond, simply holding his teacup and smiling faintly at Arashi, waiting to see his next move.
These Daimyo were all seasoned foxes who had been immersed in politics for decades.
They understood better than anyone that there was no such thing as a free lunch.
The Land of Fire's initiative to share victory clearly came with a price.
Until that price was made clear, none of them would dare take a stance.
Facing their evasiveness, Arashi showed no change in expression, as if everything was within expectations. He smiled calmly.
"You three think too much," Arashi said sincerely. "I'm not inviting you to share the fruit of victory out of kindness."
"It's because Kumogakure's actions this time were no longer just a provocation against my Land of Fire."
He paused for a moment, giving them time to think, then continued with his prepared statement.
"Kumogakure has developed a Space-Time Ninjutsu capable of bypassing border defenses and directly deploying thousands of troops into the heart of another nation."
As soon as these words fell, both Ōnoki's and Rasa's expressions changed dramatically.
This was precisely the issue they were most concerned about.
No matter how powerful the Daimyo of the Land of Fire was, the fact that he was willing to sit down at the negotiating table meant he still operated within a system of rules.
Even if he could suppress a Tailed Beast with his bare hands, they believed it was because Kumo had attacked his land, pushing him into retaliation.
By contrast, Kumogakure's use of Space-Time Ninjutsu was a much more dangerous threat.
The Daimyo might not understand the intricacies of Ninjutsu, but as Kage, they fully grasped the significance.
This meant that the strategic buffer zones and defense networks that had maintained peace between the Five Great Nations were now meaningless.
"This action has broken the long-standing tacit understanding that exists between the Five Great Nations."
Arashi's voice suddenly rose. "It poses a major threat to world peace."
He straightened in his seat, his gaze burning as he looked at the three Daimyo.
"Today, their elite forces appeared in the heart of my Land of Fire."
"Tomorrow…"
"Could they not appear in any of your lands?"
As that question landed, Rasa and Ōnoki's faces turned even more grim.
The Daimyo also withdrew their faint smiles, each one growing solemn.
They all knew what Arashi was about to say.
This wasn't just the Land of Fire's problem.
It was a blade hanging over the heads of every nation.
The Daimyo of the Land of Earth glanced at the ashen-faced Ōnoki beside him.
"Daimyo Arashi speaks with reason," he finally said, setting down his teacup. His plump face betrayed no emotion. "Kumogakure's actions did indeed break the tacit agreement. It leaves everyone feeling uneasy."
"So then..."
He leaned forward slightly, his eyes gleaming. "What exactly are these 'spoils' that Daimyo Arashi speaks of?"
"And how do you propose we share them?"
Here it comes.
The pivotal moment.
Everyone held their breath, their eyes burning with curiosity and tension.
Arashi leaned back in his chair, his calm smile returning.
"My proposal is simple."
"I want to station troops... in the Land of Lightning."
The room went silent as if struck by lightning.
Everyone froze in place, their pupils dilated.
"Absurd!" The Daimyo of the Land of Water slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet. All signs of politeness disappeared. "Daimyo Arashi, are you mad?"
He stared directly at Arashi, his voice sharp and tinged with fury.
"To station troops in the Land of Lightning? Do you understand what you're saying?" The Daimyo of the Land of Wind snapped his fan shut, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Daimyo Arashi, that is not a joke anyone should make."
"The Land of Fire's strength already surpasses that of the other nations. Now, after this great victory, its influence is unmatched."
"If you also take control of the Land of Lightning's military sovereignty, turning it into your backyard…"
The Daimyo of the Land of Wind paused, then continued coldly. "Would there be any balance left in this world?"
Even the usually composed Daimyo of the Land of Earth could no longer maintain his smile.
He shook his head slowly and looked at Arashi as if he were some arrogant youth blinded by power.
"If only the Land of Fire stations troops, the Land of Lightning becomes nothing but a shell, a vassal under your control."
"With two nations' resources and strategic positions under your thumb…"
"What choice would the other three nations have but to live in fear, constantly guessing your intentions?"
At that, he sneered.
"Daimyo Arashi, forgive me, but we cannot accept such a proposal."
In an instant.
The reception room's temperature dropped from polite civility to an icy cold.
Ōnoki and Rasa exchanged glances. Both saw the same grave concern in each other's eyes.
When it came to threats against the world order, the Daimyo reacted even faster than the Kage.
With the Daimyo of the Land of Earth's final sentence, a subtle yet undeniable alliance against the Land of Fire had silently formed.
The tension was palpable.
Three Daimyo.
Three pairs of eyes, full of scrutiny, wariness, and hostility, locked firmly onto Arashi.
It was as if the moment he said another word, they would walk out and begin planning their response to the Land of Fire.
But facing this intense pressure, Arashi didn't show the slightest trace of panic.
Instead... he smiled.
Looking at the three old men treating him like a sworn enemy, he leaned back in his chair, perfectly at ease.
He waited quietly for them to release their anger and suspicion.
When the reception room reached its most stifling point, he finally spoke softly.
His tone was gentle, with just a trace of innocence and mock surprise.
"Why are the three of you so agitated?"
He tilted his head slightly, a playful smirk on his lips.
"When did I ever say…"
"That the Land of Fire would be the only one to station troops?"
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
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