Konoha's Work Report

Yūhi Shinku.

The moment he heard that name, Chiba Ran thought of someone else.

Yūhi Kurenai.

Konoha's future Master of Genjutsu, Asuma's wife—a woman possessed of both mature charm and an unyielding will.

Interesting.

First he sent a letter, then he sent someone in person. Tsk, tsk...

"Let him in."

Chiba Ran's voice was calm.

A moment later, footsteps sounded, and a man entered.

The newcomer wore Konoha's standard-issue flak jacket and stood tall, but the stench of blood clinging to him could not be concealed.

He had probably only just come down from the battlefield.

"Yūhi Shinku, Jonin of Konoha, greets you, Lord Daimyo."

The man bent at the waist. His manners were impeccable, yet his posture carried the pride unique to an elite ninja.

It was the confidence forged from mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

"No need for such formalities."

Chiba Ran's gaze settled on him.

His strength was decent, his Chakra reserves abundant, and his spiritual energy quite refined.

He was a qualified ninja.

Unfortunately, before him, he was no different from an ant.

"The report? Hand it over."

"Yes, my lord."

Yūhi Shinku stepped forward and presented a weighty scroll with both hands.

"This report records Konoha's casualties, material consumption, and assessment of its achievements in this war. Please review it, Lord Daimyo."

Minamoto stepped forward, accepted it, and respectfully placed it on Chiba Ran's desk.

Chiba Ran did not open it. His fingers tapped lightly against the scroll.

"Thanks for the effort."

"To survive such a brutal battlefield, you are a hero of Konoha."

"And a contributor to the Land of Fire."

His tone was gentle, as soothing as a spring breeze.

Yūhi Shinku hurriedly lowered his head and replied, "Serving the Land of Fire with loyalty is the duty of every Konoha Ninja."

"Well said."

Chiba Ran praised him and opened the report.

The Battle of Mount Kibaki.

The Battle of Kannabi Bridge.

One battle after another, one chilling casualty figure after another.

Every number represented a living life, a shattered family.

Hashirama Senju, your naivety killed them.

"What a harrowing sight."

Chiba Ran closed the scroll with a sigh.

"Konoha's ninjas have paid a terrible price for the Land of Fire."

Seeing this, Yūhi Shinku seized the opportunity to say, "Your Excellency sees clearly. That is precisely why the Third Hokage asked Daimyo Manor to lend us aid."

He paused, his tone becoming even more earnest.

"The village lost too many ninjas. Their families need compensation, the wounded need treatment, and the homes destroyed by war need rebuilding. All of this requires funding. I ask that Your Excellency understand the village's difficulties."

Here it comes.

Chiba Ran sneered inwardly.

"Jonin Shinku, I understand why you are here. I have also read the Third Hokage's letter."

His tone shifted as he pushed the battle report back.

"But you seem to have misunderstood something."

"This report is not a merit ledger for Konoha to use in claiming rewards from me."

"It should be Konoha's report on the fulfillment of its duties."

Yūhi Shinku's pupils abruptly contracted.

Chiba Ran's voice was not loud, yet it pressed down on him until he could barely breathe.

"Was the funding Daimyo Manor paid Konoha insufficient? Or did you use it for comfort during peacetime? And now you actually want an increased budget?"

"You must understand that that money purchased your sacrifices in war—every casualty figure written in this report."

"You gave your lives, and the Land of Fire did not mistreat you."

Chiba Ran rose to his feet and paced before him, looking down at him from above.

"My brothers emptied the treasury while fighting over the throne. That is my family matter."

"I quelled the internal unrest and drained the treasury. That is my national matter."

"And now, you bring me what should have been Konoha's work report and demand additional compensation from me—from this nation riddled with wounds?"

"Jonin Shinku, tell me. On what grounds?"

"Or do you believe that the lives of ninjas are nobler than those of the tens of thousands of civilians displaced by war and left without enough to eat?"

Every word struck straight at the heart.

Yūhi Shinku opened his mouth, yet no sound came out.

Every defense seemed absurd and laughable before such questioning.

The achievements he had taken such pride in had been casually defined as nothing more than his duty.

Konoha's sacrifices had been defined as a transaction.

This lord had never regarded Konoha as an equal.

Were ninjas merely tools?

Yūhi Shinku felt a bone-deep chill.

"I... understand."

Only after a long while did he bow again.

"I will report Your Excellency's will to Lord Hokage."

"Mm."

Chiba Ran nodded without commitment. He did not care what attitude Konoha took.

Whether they were angry or endured it!

If they dared stroke the tiger's whiskers, one slap would kill them.

After sitting back down, Chiba Ran instantly replaced his expression with one of sorrowful compassion, as though the warning just now had never happened.

"The dead are gone. What we can do is protect the future."

"Konoha lost too many pillars in this war. It pains me deeply."

His tone softened.

"Especially genjutsu ninjas. This kind of power can achieve great things with little effort; losing even one is a tremendous loss to the Land of Fire."

"Does Konoha's next generation have any promising talents capable of inheriting your legacy?"

This sudden concern caught Yūhi Shinku somewhat off guard.

He froze for a moment before instinctively answering, "In reply to Your Excellency, there are indeed some gifted children among the younger generation."

"Oh?"

Chiba Ran showed a hint of interest. "For example, those talented in genjutsu. I think highly of them."

At the mention of this, some color returned to Yūhi Shinku's face.

He said proudly, "My daughter, Kurenai, has some talent in genjutsu and has already been designated by the village as a key cultivation target."

"Yūhi Kurenai..."

Chiba Ran repeated the name softly, then smiled. "A good name. How old is she this year? Has she been on the battlefield?"

Yūhi Shinku answered, "My daughter is sixteen this year. She has already been on the battlefield."

Chiba Ran looked grief-stricken. "A girl of sixteen has already been to war. Alas..."

"Tell the Third Hokage that while heroes shed blood on the front lines, the Land of Fire will never let their families shed tears in the rear."

"For a ninja with distinguished achievements like you, Jonin Shinku, the cultivation of your descendants should naturally be valued."

Yūhi Shinku abruptly raised his head in disbelief.

What had he just heard?

Humiliation, suppression, and then... a reward?

"Starting from next quarter's budget, I will allocate a Genius Training Special Fund for Konoha."

"I hope your daughter, along with the other talented children, can receive more comprehensive training."

"Thank you, my lord." Yūhi Shinku's attitude was sincere.

"Enough. You have traveled a long way, and thanks for the effort."

Chiba Ran waved a hand. "I have accepted the report. You may return."

Then he added another sentence.

"It is rare for you to visit the capital. Do not rush off. Take a good look around and see this postwar city. Consider it an opportunity to understand the people's hardships."

"Yes!"

Yūhi Shinku bowed once more, then turned and left the study.

Only after leaving Daimyo Manor and being struck by the evening breeze did he realize his entire body was covered in cold sweat.

His meeting with this young daimyo had exhausted him even more than facing enemies on the battlefield.

That invisible pressure had made it hard for him to breathe.

So this was a daimyo?

Inside the study.

Chiba Ran played with the brush in his hand, a smile on his face.

Yūhi Kurenai.

A key cultivation target?

Very good.

Only an uncut jade held value for cultivation and conquest.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, did you think sending an Elite Jonin would be enough to test me?

You would soon find out that not only would I cut your funding, I would also poach your people.

Casting those thoughts aside, Chiba Ran continued burying himself in government affairs.

Establishing a new order required absolute patience.

Time passed, and the moon rose high overhead.

Minamoto quietly entered and replaced the study's candles, his movements light.

"My lord, it is late."

"Mm."

Chiba Ran did not even look up.

Only after finishing the last document did he let out a long breath.

The sustained high-intensity work had left even him somewhat weary.

The stubborn yet pale face from yesterday immediately surfaced in his mind.

After a day of instruction, had that hard bone been broken yet?

Chiba Ran rose, a trace of anticipation appearing on his face as he slowly walked toward the bedchamber.