Ashura placed a hand over his chest, bowing respectfully.
"Understood."
With that, the three great samurai clans turned their backs to the throne and left the grand hall — leaving Kaoru Hibuko alone in a suffocating silence.
The moment the doors shut, his rage exploded.
THUD!
THUD!
THUD!
Kaoru slammed his fist onto the throne again and again, his voice cracking through the chamber:
"Darn you… stupid people!"
His furious breathing echoed around the empty hall until he finally exhaled sharply, forcing himself still.
"I need to calm down…"
He settled back onto the throne, the red cloak of Yami Hibuko draping behind him like a haunting reminder of the past.
Outside, the war raged on — steel clashing, screams rising, and blood spilling as Takeda and Taira continued to stand firm on their demand for dialogue.
Suddenly, the palace gates burst open with a heavy THUD, and several guards stumbled inside, bowing low with troubled faces.
"What's wrong?" Kaoru demanded.
One guard stepped forward, voice heavy and strained.
"Rin Takeda… is making a public announcement."
Kaoru's grin twisted into something dark.
"That old man… what is he plotting now?"
The guard swallowed, shaking his head.
"No idea, sir."
Kaoru rose from the throne in one sharp movement. His red cloak fluttered behind him like a trailing flame as he began walking.
"We are attending whatever he has to say."
"Yes, sir," the guard replied, gripping his weapon tightly as he fell in behind Kaoru.
Together, they marched out of the palace, heading toward whatever storm Rin Takeda was about to unleash.