I had tried thinking of alternatives. Of the two things. Chakra paper and Chakra ink. The ink was easier to replace. After buying normal ink, I could mix it with a few herbs and legal metal dust. It was a method from Yamigami's previous world knowledge. After a few tweaks, it had worked. The problem had been that its cost was 5 times the original ink while its effectiveness was only around 1.2 times. It was simply not worth it.
But taking the whole cost of the completed tag into account, it was pennies. That could be produced by the clan. The problem was the Chakra paper. The tree farms were all monopolized by the association. Even if I could farm the trees in them, unlike the ink production, which was fairly simple and only needed A crusher for metals and herbs and a mixer that could be set up in one room. A paper farm was too big and complex. The paper needed days to settle in large vats at a constant temperature and humidity. Easily sabotageable. Not easily obtainable.
But sometimes. Life actually does laugh at you. A week later, a grand carriage bearing the sigils of the Royal House of the Daimyo showed up at my door.
------
The Daimyo had been restricting the Hokage's influence and growing his own power ever since the end of the 2nd war. His influence had grown considerably with the rise of Hatake Sakumo. The Hatakes were a samurai clan to begin with. With a high degree of honor and close blood and cultural ties to the Daimyo.
I knew the purpose of this visit as soon as a young Lady Hana stepped off that carriage. The Daimyo wanted blood ties in Konoha. A clan that will grow into a good tag maker in a few years, combined with the Hatake, would make the Daimyo's influence in Konoha untouchable. We were not strong today, but I could bet a thousand Ryo that the Daimyo was betting on us becoming powerful a decade later. Then he would have warriors and supplies to arm them.
It was a pretty standard meeting. Lady Hana was polite, and we all just chatted about random things. Finally, towards the end of the pompous meal, the other royal, Lord Kaito, broached the topic."So what do you think of marriage, Lord Ren?"
"I wish I could find love, Lord Kaito, but alas, as the clan head, my marriage is supposed to be an alliance."
He smiled. "That is true."
"I will be straight with you, Kurosawa-san. I am assuming you already know our reason for arrival here."
He nodded towards Hana.
"Yes, Lord Kaito. I am honored that the Daimyo considers me worthy of being part of his family. But you understand that such decisions can not be taken in one day."
"Of course. Take your time. But the Daimyo insists on a hasty answer."
"Don't worry, you'll be our guests here. And you'll have your answer before you leave."
They will wait, but not for long. The girl really was of quite a high pedigree. The Daimyo really will be a cousin.
It was a clear lifeline. Also, a clearly well-made alliance. As the daughter of one of the Daimyo's brothers, Hana had significant pull and alliances at court. She would be acceptable. All my problems will be solved as the Association could not refuse the Fire country's Daimyo. It was swaying the Hokage because of its alliances. It did not have them at court. This will mean an absolutely stable supply. I was just not sure if getting isolated by the Shinobi side of the village was a good idea.
Civilians would love the princess marrying a peasant story. The nature of politics would change.
As I sat thinking in the Courtyard. An Anbu came. About time.
------
I smiled thinly. "Ah, so you knew he was coming."
"I know everything that moves between the Court and the Leaf these days," Hiruzen said, lighting his pipe. "Hatake Sakumo's growing influence has emboldened the Fire Court. They've started cutting into the Hokage's authority — appointments, military contracts, even the funding for missions. And now the Daimyō sends one of his own blood to you — to plant his banner in Konoha through marriage."
As soon as I sat down after the greeting, I spoke in a clear final voice. "I am accepting. You all are invited to my marriage celebrations."
He leaned forward, smoke curling around his face. "Tell me, Ren. Did he offer you the world?"
I met his gaze evenly. "He offered me stability."
"His kind of stability comes with chains."
"So does yours, and from where I sit, yours are barbed. At least his are clear steel." I replied.
For a moment, silence. Only the quiet drip of rain from the leaves. It had started raining a few minutes back.
Hiruzen sighed. "You think I'm your enemy."
"I think you're afraid. Of losing control. The Court's reach has always been long, Hokage-sama. But now it's in your shadow. Your position is strong, but so is the Fire Daimyo. You cannot afford to lose the influence I represent over to him. That's why you tolerate me."
"Don't flatter yourself."
"I'm not. If I move to the capital along with my clan. It will cause a storm you cannot hold. It will also provide the Daimyo with a stable source of Shinobi war supplies. Which is one of the major edges you have over him right now."
The old man's eyes narrowed slightly. Moving away was too high an insult to his pride. But it was not illegal.
"What is it you want, Ren?"
I didn't answer immediately. I poured tea — slowly, deliberately. Then said,
"I want paper farms."
Homura stiffened. "Impossible. The most I can do is allow you a limited supply, the status quo is necessary for the stability of —"
"—of the Association?" I interrupted. "The same Association that's been cutting supply routes and bribing all my allied clans to turn on me? If stability means strangling the village's own innovators, then maybe the disease isn't outside the walls."
Koharu's tone was sharp. "Mind your words."
I leaned back. "No. You called me here because you need me to refuse the Daimyō's cousin. You can't have Konoha accused of disobedience to the Fire Court — not now, not with Sakumo's support growing in the capital. If I accept that marriage, the Daimyō gets a legal claim of kinship to the Leaf. And if I refuse it… You get leverage to say 'Konoha stands united under the Hokage.'"
Hiruzen said nothing. But he didn't deny it.
"So here's my offer," I continued. "I'll refuse the Daimyō's cousin — publicly, cleanly, without offense. But in exchange, you allow me to buy one paper farm." I only needed one. Once I knew how to make the paper, I could replicate the process.
Homura bristled. "You're in no position to dictate terms."
I met his glare coldly. "Neither are you, councilor. The Daimyō's cousin is in my guest hall. I could marry her by sunrise and pack and leave by sunset."
The tension in the air was thick enough to taste. Hiruzen set his pipe down, exhaling slowly.
"You're playing with fire, Ren."
"Then it's good I work with tags," I replied softly. "You can control explosions if you know where to carve the lines."
He studied me for a long moment. Then nodded once.
"The ban will be reviewed. Quietly. No announcements, no declarations. You'll receive your first shipment of paper within a week. "
"That doesn't cut it anymore, Lord Third. I cannot rely on your word. Seeing as you tried to use my token of goodwill as a weapon against me. You will give me my farm, and you will guarantee that the association will not set fire to it in the dark. The deal gets signed today. Or you're welcome to my marriage at the Kimli shrine, "
Hiruzen glared. But he knew I was serious. The suppression was at its strongest now because they knew I could grow very powerful. So they wanted to chain me here.
"Fine, but your plants will be put under active surveillance now."
I rose to my feet. "If you spy on my clan, I'll treat it as sabotage — and answer in kind. You don't want surveillance, Hokage-sama. Neither do I."
That stopped him. The look in his eyes hardened, but then softened again — the weary recognition of a man who had once been young, defiant, and tired of compromise.
Finally, he said,
"You remind me too much of Sakumo."
"That's not a compliment these days."
"No," Hiruzen said quietly. "It isn't."
He stood, motioned to his advisors, and left as quietly as he had come.
When the door slid shut, I exhaled, long and low. The rain outside had thickened into a steady fall. In the guest wing, the Daimyō's cousin would be fuming — no doubt sensing that a deal had slipped from his hands.
I looked at the embers in the brazier and smiled faintly.
Paper. Ink. The two things I needed most.
And for the first time in months, I had both — not as gifts, but as weapons.
The storm outside didn't scare me anymore.
I'd learned how to bottle lightning.