The Shikadani Conspiracy*

No matter how turbulent Daimyo's heart was, or how many pros and cons he weighed, he had to admit that he had missed the best opportunity to stop this drama from unfolding.

Forcibly ordering a stop would only appear indignant and would provoke resentment and confusion from the large number of ordinary viewers who were already immersed in the story and felt genuine sympathy for the Ninjas, potentially causing a disturbance.

It's difficult to defy public anger, especially at Spring Festival where crowds gather.

He could only sit back down in his seat with a gloomy expression, his fingers unconsciously tapping his knees as he pondered.

Let Uchiha Izuna finish his act. Only after the show is over and the audience has dispersed will the real battle of public opinion begin.

He has plenty of means and channels. The narrative on stage can never withstand the web of discourse woven by power in reality.

The stage lights shifted from the suffocating scene of gossip to a secluded mountain villa far from the hustle and bustle of Kyoto.

Shikadani.

The moonlight was hazy, the shadows of the trees swayed, and the atmosphere was completely different from the previous raging fire or bustling city, exuding an unsettling silence.

Several figures dressed as Court Nobles gathered in the dim light. They were wary, spoke in hushed tones, and glanced frequently toward the door.

They were confidants of Retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa, and their dissatisfaction with the growing power of the Taira, especially Kiyomori's arrogance, their fear of their own precarious position, and their resentment at the Taira clan's suppression of the Cloistered Emperor fermented into the most dangerous thoughts at this moment.

They plotted to overthrow the Taira.

"... Kiyomori absolute power and treats the Cloistered Emperor as nothing. If this continues, none of us will have a place to stand." A voice was hoarse.

"The matter of the Taikenmon is just the tip of the iceberg. He fears not even gods and Buddhas, let alone us?" another person chimed in, his tone indignant.

"We must take action." The Saikō Hōshi's face appeared particularly somber in the lamplight; his son's loss of power fueled his growing resentment towards the Taira. "Contact reliable Samurai, gather troops, and when the time is right..."

"But His Majesty the Cloistered Emperor..." someone hesitated.

"His Cloistered Emperor has already made up his mind, but it's inconvenient for him to say it aloud." Narichika lowered his voice, his eyes flashing with ambition and a desperate glint, "If this succeeds..."

They swore a blood oath and whispered plans on how to mobilize their forces, how to launch a surprise attack on the Rokuhara, and how to eliminate Taira no Kiyomori and his core followers in one fell swoop.

Every step was fraught with danger and peril, but it also ignited their fervent hope of defeating the behemoth.

However, conspiracies are most vulnerable to being exposed.

In the shadows on one side of the stage, no specific Ninja figure appeared, but the feeling of being spied on was clearly conveyed to all the audience through the subtle changes in light and shadow and the suddenly taut sound of the Biwa strings.

The conspiracy continues, but the audience's hearts are in their throats.

Now that the Ninjas have overheard it, this conspiracy...

The information the Ninja obtained was packaged as a leak from within the gathering and reported to Taira no Kiyomori.

Taira no Kiyomori was furious.

He never expected that, amidst the Angen Great Fire and the unfavorable public opinion, someone close to the Cloistered Emperor would dare to plot such a direct rebellion!

They must not be let off lightly!

The following day, a large number of Taira Samurai appeared around Shikadani Manor like ghosts.

Exclamations, shouts, and the sound of swords being drawn shattered the silence of the night.

The conspirators on stage panicked and tried to resist or escape, but it was too late.

The Taira Samurai pounced like wolves and tigers, capturing Fujiwara no Narichika, Saikō, Shunkan, and others who were the main participants in the conspiracy.

The struggles and angry shouts were quickly suppressed.

"Good! What a Cloistered Emperor! What a bunch of Court Nobles!" Kiyomori's voice, like that of a wounded lion, was filled with the rage and ruthlessness of betrayal. "Since they are so heartless, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

A brutal purge ensued.

Koremori's father-in-law, Fujiwara no Narichika, was exiled to Naobichimae, where he mysteriously fell off a cliff en route, and was publicly declared to have "died of illness."

Saikō Hōshi was executed after being severely tortured.

Shunkan and other monks were exiled to a deserted island.

Although Retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa himself was not directly accused of being the mastermind, Taira no Kiyomori still wanted to control him.

"I understand." Upon receiving the news, Taira no Shigemori remained calm. He looked at his eldest son, "Koremori, go and inform everyone that I have learned of a matter of great importance concerning the world. All those who trust me, Shigemori, should gather here!"

After saying that, he got up and left.

Koremori opened his eyes wide. He looked in his father's direction but could only stammer for a moment before silently lowering his head.

Shintarō patted him on the shoulder, as a gesture of comfort.

"His Cloistered Emperor... intends to annihilate our Taira..."

"Um."

"Shintarō, I'm very scared right now."

Koremori clenched his hands together, but could only feel their coldness.

"The peaceful days are over; things are about to change."

Everything is going to be different.

"I will protect you," Shintarō said softly.

Koremori smiled at him but didn't say anything.

He then left the mansion to inform his father's Samurai to make preparations.

He himself also donned armor.

Shigemori walked toward the Inner Palace where his father, Taira no Kiyomori, was.

Along the way, torches lit up the sky, and Taira Samurai in bright armor stood solemnly on both sides.

The Inner Palace was brightly lit, illuminating the gleaming armor on Kiyomori's body.

The aged warlord was stroking the Tachi in his hand, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, devoid of his usual laziness or playfulness, displaying only the cold indifference of Samurai.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up and saw his eldest son kneeling outside the door. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

I knew you'd come.

Shigemori prostrated himself deeply, his forehead touching the cold floor, his voice utterly calm, "Please, Father... do not go to His Majesty the Cloistered Emperor."

Kiyomori scoffed, as if he had heard the ignorant ravings of a child. "Oh? Why? The fault lies with those treacherous villains of Shikadani! My Taira has served the Imperial Court and the Retired Cloistered Emperor for many years, risking our lives, only to be betrayed in return! Such a heinous act, if not severely punished, what will become of the reputation of all the samurai clans? What will become of the dignity of my Taira?"

Shigemori raised his head. "Father, our fortunes are waning. The Angen Great Fire has spread rumors and is a serious threat, and the incident at Shikadani has only added fuel to the fire. To directly confront His Majesty the Retired Cloistered Emperor with our military might now would be unwise! It would push the Taira into a corner, making them enemies of the entire world!"

"Your luck is about to run out? Nonsense!" Kiyomori slammed his hand on the floor beside him, his voice rising abruptly, his anger erupting. "The luck belongs to the Taira! The ones who are wrong are those ungrateful bastards who hate my clan! As for His Majesty the Cloistered Emperor..."

A complex and unfathomable glint flashed in his eyes, quickly replaced by a deeper ruthlessness. "Since he was also present at the banquet, he cannot escape blame! Then please, His Cloistered Emperor, come to my Rokuhara Residence and rest for a while!"

He looked at Shigemori, whose face was deathly pale, a hint of amusement in his smile, "Everyone must see clearly what the consequences will be for those who dare to face my Taira, those who dare to challenge my Kiyomori, with swords Kiyomori!"

Shigemori's heart sank to the bottom.

He knew that words could no longer sway his father's anger, fueled by betrayal, and his inflated lust for power.

He closed his eyes, as if he had used up all his Yūki to make up his mind.

At the same time, the Biwa in Izuna's arms emitted a clear and melodious tone.

As if to encourage Shigemori, the tone became more and more firm and positive with each repetition.

"Father," Shigemori said, "I have also gathered troops in the manor."

Kiyomori was taken aback at first, then his eyes lit up with surprise and delight, and he laughed loudly, "Oh?! Interesting! As expected of my son! You must also lend your father a hand and help with those..."

"No."

Shigemori interrupted him; that single word pierced Kiyomori's Kiyomori laughter like an icicle.

He opened his eyes, looked directly into his father's eyes, and said, word by word, "The troops I have gathered are assembled to punish you, Father."

Dead silence.

The air inside the hall seemed to freeze. The Samurai standing by were horrified and held their breath.

Only the sound of the Biwa strings stubbornly persisted, outlining this suffocating standoff.

"You..." Kiyomori's facial muscles twitched violently, his expression a mixture of utter shock, the excruciating pain of being betrayed by the person he trusted most, and a volcanic rage before an eruption. "You... you want to kill your own father?!"

He squeezed out the last few words through gritted teeth, they were tinged with blood.

Shigemori straightened his back, his voice suddenly rising. "This was not my wish!"

His eyes shone with an astonishing light. "Our Taira's current wealth and power, tracing back to the source, are all bestowed by His Cloistered Emperor! This grace is deeper than the layers of thick, dyed red silk! However, if I were to pledge allegiance to His Cloistered Emperor now, I would be betraying my parents' kindness in raising me, and that would be unfilial!"

"To be loyal is to be unfilial; to be filial is to be unfaithful. There is no greater dilemma than this!"

"Father... if you insist on sending troops..."

His gaze was resolute, and he said with unwavering certainty:

"Then please, cut off my head first."