I, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire at the Start

The night air in the Land of Fire Capital still carried the lingering stench of blood.

Daimyo Manor, study.

Candlelight flickered.

Chiba Ran reclined halfway on a cushioned couch, his fingers tapping against the armrest.

Memories of his previous life surfaced in his mind.

He was not from this world.

Sixteen years ago, he had transmigrated here and become an infant.

He was the least favored illegitimate son of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, born to a lowly maidservant.

Within this palace, his status was no different from that of an ant.

The moment he was born and opened his eyes upon this world, a mechanical voice had sounded in his mind.

Ding!

Host's circumstances detected: binding conditions met.

Daimyo System officially activated!

Mission: Clear all obstacles!

Mission Description: With the body of a mortal, eliminate every obstacle to succession and ascend to the position of Daimyo of the Land of Fire!

Mission Restriction: Before the mission is completed, the host possesses no supernatural power.

Mission Reward: Six Paths Senjutsu Body! Nine-Tomo Sharingan!

From that moment onward, Chiba Ran had begun sixteen years of endurance and planning.

He had no power and could not refine Chakra.

His only weapon had been his mind.

He had walked on thin ice, struggling to survive amid the cracks of the court.

In secret, he had befriended disgruntled retainers, supported down-and-out samurai, and used the knowledge from his previous life to amass wealth for himself.

He had sown discord among his legitimate elder brothers, driving them to fight until their heads bled over the position of Heir Apparent.

Meanwhile, he had quietly eroded their influence from the sidelines.

Sixteen years!

A full sixteen years!

He had risen step by step from an illegitimate son who could be executed at any moment to the center of power.

Just two months ago, the previous daimyo had died of a grave illness.

For the position of daimyo, the brothers had launched a bloody struggle against one another.

Chiba Ran had revealed his fangs at the right moment and, in the end, emerged victorious as the sole candidate to inherit the position of daimyo.

The instant he held the National Stone, the symbol of the daimyo, the system's voice, silent for sixteen years, sounded once more.

Ding!

Congratulations, Host, on completing the ultimate mission.

Reward distribution in progress...

In that instant, an immense divine power flooded into his body.

His body was remade in an instant, every cell filled with Chakra.

His eyes also transformed into purple Rinnegan bearing nine tomoe.

"Sixteen years!"

Chiba Ran opened his eyes. The purple Rinnegan flashed briefly before returning to black pupils.

"Sixteen years as a mortal..."

His lips curled into a smile.

"Now, I am a god."

The immense contrast made even him feel that it was somewhat unreal.

But he adapted quickly.

Because he was still Chiba Ran, the man accustomed to solving problems through schemes and power plays.

He simply had one more trump card now.

Chiba Ran rubbed his brow and sat upright.

On the desk before him lay the city defense restoration budget he had just finished reviewing.

"My lord, it is late. You should rest."

An aged voice sounded from outside the door.

"Come in."

Chiba Ran did not look up.

The door opened gently, and an old man entered carrying a bowl of ginseng soup.

The old man was named Minamoto. He was an old servant of the manor and had cared for Chiba Ran since childhood.

"These were delivered this afternoon. They are the verification reports concerning postwar compensation payments."

After setting down the bowl at the corner of the desk, Minamoto took out several scrolls and arranged them neatly.

Chiba Ran reached for the top one.

"Have the families in the north of the city been dealt with?"

His voice was calm.

"Yes, my lord. They have all been dealt with."

"Their assets have been confiscated. The principal offenders and their immediate families have all been sentenced for treason."

"The remaining Branch Families have been exiled to the border of the Land of Demons and may not return for three generations."

Chiba Ran opened the scroll. It was densely packed with names, each marked with a red cross.

These people had chosen the wrong side.

He had never shown mercy to his enemies.

"There is one more matter."

Minamoto paused.

"Konoha has sent congratulatory gifts. There is also a personal letter from the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, congratulating you on your smooth ascension to the throne."

Minamoto presented a letter with its wax seal intact.

"Oh?"

Chiba Ran finally looked up, the corners of his lips lifting.

"Konoha moves quickly."

After taking the letter, Chiba Ran did not open it immediately.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage of Konoha.

In the original work, he had been portrayed as gentle and kindly, but in truth, his methods and cunning were both first-rate.

And the old dog lurking in the shadows beside him, Shimura Danzō, was an even more ruthless figure willing to stop at nothing.

These two would be the first hurdle he faced in taking control of the Land of Fire after becoming daimyo.

Konoha was too sharp a sword, so sharp that it sometimes forgot who truly held its hilt.

"Minamoto, do you think the funds we provide Konoha every year are a little too much?"

Chiba Ran suddenly asked.

Minamoto bowed. "This servant is dull-witted and dares not comment recklessly on affairs of state."

"But... the manor's finances are indeed somewhat strained."

Chiba Ran smiled. "Yes, strained."

He rose and walked to the window.

From here, he could overlook the nightscape of more than half the Land of Fire Capital.

"Pass down my order. Tell the finance minister to come to my study tomorrow morning to discuss matters."

"Yes, my lord."

Minamoto acknowledged the order but did not leave immediately.

"My lord, the young lady of the Qingyue Clan..."

"Qing Yueye?"

Chiba Ran turned around, and a cool, proud face surfaced in his mind.

The Qingyue Clan had been one of the main noble factions supporting his eldest brother, and it had been uprooted entirely in this struggle.

Qing Yueye was the Qingyue Clan head's only daughter, famed for her beauty and talent.

A true daughter of heaven.

"She is still refusing food?"

"Yes. She has not touched food or water for two days."

Minamoto's tone carried some concern.

"She said that even if she died, she would never serve her enemy."

"She has backbone."

That was Chiba Ran's entire assessment.

He returned to the desk and opened the letter.

Its contents were nothing more than words of congratulations and declarations of loyalty.

It also casually mentioned that the Third Shinobi World War was nearing its end, that Konoha had suffered heavy losses, and that it hoped Daimyo Manor would provide an additional special military budget for the village's postwar reconstruction and compensation for shinobi.

"They certainly know how to work an abacus."

Chiba Ran casually tossed the letter into the candle flame and watched it turn to ash.

"They want both money and reputation. Where in the world is there such a good deal?"

Minamoto remained silent.

Chiba Ran asked, "How are preparations for the coronation ceremony proceeding?"

"They are being hurried along. The first of next month is an auspicious day!"

"Good, I understand."

Chiba Ran waved a hand. "Go. Bring Qing Yueye here."

"My lord, this..."

Minamoto hesitated.

"She is emotionally unstable right now. If she were to offend you..."

"It does not matter."

Chiba Ran waved his hand and sat down again.

"I want to see just how hard the bones of a young lady can be."

A quarter of an hour later.

The study door was pushed open once again.

Two guards escorted a woman dressed in a plain white kimono inside.

She was slender and pale, but her back remained perfectly straight.

Her long black hair was somewhat disheveled.

She was Qing Yueye.

"You may leave."

Chiba Ran waved his hand.

The guards withdrew respectfully.

Qing Yueye stared fixedly at the man behind the desk, her eyes filled with hatred.

It was this man who had destroyed her clan and taken everything from her.

"I heard you want to die?"

Chiba Ran finished the last sip of ginseng soup and set down the bowl.

Qing Yueye said nothing, expressing her resistance through silence.

"If you die, you will have nothing left."

Chiba Ran rose and slowly walked over to her, looking down at her from above.

"Your father and brothers all regretted it before they died."

His voice was calm.

"You are lying!"

"My father would never beg someone as despicable as you for mercy!"

"Despicable?"

Chiba Ran smiled and reached out to pinch her chin.

"It is simply the winner becoming king and the loser becoming a bandit. When my brothers tried to kill me, they were far more despicable than I was. When your Qingyue Clan handed them knives, did you ever consider that this day would come?"

Qing Yueye tried to break free, but she could not.

"Kill me!"

She gritted her teeth and forced out the words through the gaps between them.

"Kill you?"

Chiba Ran shook his head and turned back to his seat.

"That would be such a waste."

"You are so beautiful. Become my bed-warming maid. I think you would be quite suitable."

Qing Yueye screamed, "In your dreams!"

"Even if I die, I will never submit to your humiliation!"

"Die?"

Chiba Ran laughed, laughing heartily as he casually tossed out a dagger. "Here, kill yourself!"

"You..."

Qing Yueye was shocked and furious, staring at the dagger without moving for a long while.

Seeing this, Chiba Ran said, "Didn't you want to die? What, too scared?"

"I..."

"Guards."

Seeing her cowardice, Chiba Ran sneered and called out.

The guards outside pushed open the door and entered.

"Take Miss Qing down to wash up. Make sure she's cleaned thoroughly!"

"Yes, my lord."

The guard walked toward Qing Yueye expressionlessly.

Despair instantly swallowed her whole.

Chiba Ran paid her no further attention. This noble young lady was still useful to him.

Keeping her by his side would be perfect for luring out some rats.

The guards seized Qing Yueye by the arms and dragged her out.

Her struggles were weak and powerless.

The study fell silent again.

The brush in Chiba Ran's hand hovered above the scroll without coming down.

His consciousness sank into his mind, and a blue interface that only he could see appeared.

Daimyo System

Current Mission: Land of Fire Fiscal Reform (Phase One)

Mission Objective: Reduce Konoha's annual budget by 20% and complete initial control over the Land of Fire's economic lifeline.

Mission Reward: Unlock the Talent Scan function.