The night was deep.
Chiba Ran set down the scroll and rose to stretch his limbs.
After finishing his official duties, he left the study and slowly made his way toward the bedchamber.
The guards and maidservants along the way all bowed with lowered heads, not daring to breathe too loudly.
Chiba Ran had grown accustomed to it all and enjoyed the feeling greatly.
Two newly arrived maidservants stood outside the bedchamber with their hands at their sides, their bodies slightly bowed.
Chiba Ran pushed open the door and entered.
Candlelight flickered within the chamber, and incense drifted through the air.
A figure was curled up on the bed, the blankets outlining a curving silhouette.
Chiba Ran softened his steps, a faint smile on his face.
Perhaps having heard his footsteps, the silhouette visibly tensed.
Chiba Ran went straight to the bedside and sat down. With an amused expression, he reached beneath the covers.
Instead of warm, jade-like skin, his hand met the texture of cloth.
Chiba Ran's smile instantly vanished. He forcefully threw back the blanket. "You're still wearing clothes?"
Qing Yueye's eyes flew open. Terror filled her gaze, yet her face remained stubborn.
Chiba Ran did not care about her feelings. His face darkened as he snorted coldly. "It seems you still haven't learned how to be a maidservant."
"Someone!"
The chamber doors opened in response. The maidservant outside hurried in and immediately dropped to her knees, pressing her forehead tightly against the cold floor.
"I told you to teach her the rules!"
Chiba Ran pointed at the terrified and resentful Qing Yueye, suppressing his anger as he said, "Didn't you teach her?"
"Th-this..." The maidservant trembled all over and repeatedly kowtowed.
Chiba Ran grew impatient. "Take her away and teach her again. Make her understand exactly what a maidservant is supposed to do."
He paused, and his voice turned colder.
"If she still hasn't learned by this time tomorrow, you'll answer for it."
The maidservant hurriedly nodded. "Yes! Yes! This servant obeys! I will make sure she learns the rules!"
Chiba Ran turned aside. The maidservant immediately scrambled to her feet, rushed over, and seized Qing Yueye by the arm. No matter how Qing Yueye struggled, she was forcibly dragged out of the bedchamber.
The doors closed, shutting out the crying beyond them.
The next morning.
Sunlight streamed into the study, casting streaks of light and shadow.
After reviewing several memorials, Chiba Ran was leisurely sipping a cup of tea.
"My lord, Lord Tanaka requests an audience," Minamoto announced from outside.
"Let him in."
Before long, a slightly plump middle-aged man hurried inside. His name was Tanaka Shigeru, an old minister of the Land of Fire.
Tanaka Shigeru respectfully bowed. "Greetings, my lord."
"Sit, Lord Tanaka." Chiba Ran set down his teacup. "Serve tea."
"Thank you, my lord!"
Tanaka Shigeru sat as instructed, but only dared to perch on half the chair, his posture exceedingly humble.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Chiba Ran said, "Last night, the Third Hokage of Konoha sent someone with a letter."
Tanaka Shigeru asked, "May I ask what it said?"
Chiba Ran toyed with the lid of his cup, his tone calm. "The letter was quite touching. First, he congratulated me on my smooth succession. Then, he reminisced about the deep friendship Konoha and Daimyo Manor had shared over the years. Finally, he made a small request."
Tanaka Shigeru's eyelid twitched.
A request that the daimyo described in such a tone could not possibly be small.
"What did the Third Hokage mean?"
"He meant that Konoha had made great contributions in this war, but had also suffered severe losses, and the village needed rebuilding from the ground up." No emotion could be heard in Chiba Ran's voice.
"So, he hoped Daimyo Manor could provide an additional budget for postwar reconstruction."
Tanaka Shigeru's expression immediately turned bitter, and he hastily said, "My lord, this... this must not be done!"
"The treasury has less money than I have hair! We spent it all suppressing the rebellion not long ago. Rebuilding every region and compensating the casualties—what doesn't require money? There truly is nothing left to squeeze out!"
"Oh?" Chiba Ran raised an eyebrow. "Is it that serious?"
"It is even worse, my lord!"
"Bring me Konoha's account books."
Tanaka Shigeru had come prepared. He hurriedly presented a thick ledger with both hands.
Chiba Ran accepted it, opened it, and scanned through it at a glance.
The numbers on the pages were shocking.
Weapons and equipment procurement, ninja mission subsidies, casualty compensation, infrastructure construction, research and development funds...
All these expenses combined accounted for a full third of the Land of Fire's annual revenue.
Especially during the Third Shinobi World War, that proportion had once soared to half.
Chiba Ran's face darkened. He closed the ledger with a dull thud.
"That much?"
Fine sweat appeared on Tanaka Shigeru's forehead as he carefully explained, "Konoha is, after all, the nation's military shield. If they had not stood at the front all these years, we..."
Chiba Ran smiled.
"Lord Tanaka, let me ask you this. Konoha is important, but are the other citizens of the Land of Fire not important?"
"I can understand high military expenditures during wartime."
"But now, the Third Raikage is dead, Iwagakure has been severely weakened, Sunagakure has bowed in submission, and the Hidden Mist is too occupied with internal strife to care about anything else. The war is about to end."
"Not only does he not think of repaying us, he actually wants an increased budget. What kind of logic is that?"
Tanaka Shigeru was speechless for a moment. "Then... does my lord mean we should reject it outright?"
Chiba Ran waved his hand. "No, rejecting it would hurt feelings. The Third Hokage is, after all, highly respected and has rendered great service to the Land of Fire. We cannot be so heartless."
Tanaka Shigeru did not quite understand.
Chiba Ran's smile became meaningful. "Not only can we not reject him, we should take the initiative to lend him a hand."
"Help him, and help everyone in Konoha, learn what thrift truly means."
He raised two fingers.
"Starting next quarter, reduce Konoha's annual budget by twenty percent."
"Tw-twenty percent?!"
Tanaka Shigeru nearly leaped from his chair in shock. "My lord, this absolutely cannot be done! This is no small sum. Konoha will never agree to it! As for the Third Hokage..."
"He will agree!"
Chiba Ran cut him off, his tone firm.
He rose, walked to Tanaka Shigeru's side, and patted him on the shoulder.
"The nation is facing financial hardship after the war. For the overall recovery of the Land of Fire, everyone must endure these difficulties together. As part of the Land of Fire, Konoha should set an example. I believe the Third Hokage will understand."
Tanaka Shigeru opened his mouth, cold sweat running down his cheeks.
He understood.
This was using Konoha as an example, killing the chicken to frighten the monkeys!
"But Konoha..."
"They suffered such heavy losses in this war, yet I have not caused him any trouble. I have already treated him very well."
Chiba Ran returned to his seat. "The Third Hokage is a smart man. He knows what choice to make."
"That settles it. Go back and draft a new fiscal budget for me."
"This subordinate obeys." Tanaka Shigeru bowed.
"Go. Make the document sound sincere and heartfelt."
"Yes!"
Tanaka Shigeru bowed his way out, his steps somewhat unsteady.
The study fell silent once more.
Chiba Ran's expression was calm. The first piece had been placed.
Even without a system mission, he would have gone after Konoha.
As the daimyo, how could he allow the blade to remain in someone else's hand?
Titles and instruments of authority must never be entrusted to others!
Just then, Minamoto's voice sounded outside the door.
"My lord."
"Enter!"
Minamoto pushed open the door and entered, bowing as he said, "My lord, a Konoha Ninja requests an audience. He says he was sent by the Third Hokage to deliver a detailed report on this war."
"A Konoha Ninja?"
Chiba Ran was somewhat surprised. "Who is it?"
"He calls himself Yūhi Shinku."
Before you continue