Continue the music, continue the dance!

Daimyo Manor, side hall.

Incense burned in the hall, and faint, elegant smoke curled upwards.

The sound of strings and flutes echoed.

Chiba Ran leaned against a wide, soft couch, his black casual clothes unbuttoned, revealing a broad chest, looking relaxed.

In the center of the hall, a group of dancers were gracefully performing.

The leading woman was only sixteen, with a graceful figure and a slender waist.

She wore only a thin, cicada-wing-like pink gauze skirt, barely covering her vital areas.

Her dance steps were agile, and the scenery within her skirt flickered in and out of view.

Her snow-white skin glowed with an alluring sheen, and her long, straight legs appeared and disappeared as her skirt opened and closed.

Every spin stirred up a fragrant breeze.

Every glance back was full of seductive charm.

Their dance was extremely soft and charming, sometimes fluttering, sometimes entwining.

Every movement was a silent invitation, every action probing the preferences of the man on the throne.

They were carefully selected beauties, gifts for the new king.

In their eyes burned naked desire.

As long as they could gain even a shred of favor from that man, they could ascend to heaven in one step and become someone superior.

This desire made their dance steps more vigorous, more soul-stirring.

Chiba Ran looked relaxed, his gaze intense, a fire burning in his lower abdomen.

Below him, Aono Saku sat upright, his expression solemn, out of place in the surrounding atmosphere.

"Aono."

Chiba Ran withdrew his gaze from the dancers, picked up his wine cup, and spoke casually.

"Yes, my lord."

Aono Saku immediately bowed, his posture respectful.

Chiba Ran drained his cup in one gulp, "Are your tribesmen getting used to the Land of Fire Capital?"

Aono Saku replied respectfully, "Thanks to your grace, my lord, the tribesmen have settled down."

"Mere stability isn't enough," Chiba Ran said, putting down his wine cup. "The funds I gave you weren't for saving. Have them open shops, do business, and integrate thoroughly into the Land of Fire Capital."

"Send those talented young people to academies to learn new knowledge. Don't cling only to ninjutsu."

"You are Hidden Guards, so your clansmen should stand proudly in the sun, not hide in dark corners forever."

"If your children don't have smiles on their faces, then aren't I a failure?"

Aono Saku looked up sharply, his eyes filled with shock.

It quickly turned to gratitude, and he bowed deeply, his forehead hitting the ground heavily.

His voice was hoarse with emotion, "Thank you, Great Lord. The Senju Clan will serve you faithfully for generations."

"Get up quickly!" Chiba Ran smiled noncommittally. "I am not a heartless person. Following me, you will only be better off!"

"Thank you, Great Lord!" Aono Saku kowtowed again.

Just then, Aono Saku's eyes caught a fleeting figure outside the hall. The person didn't enter but made a subtle gesture towards him.

Aono Saku immediately spoke, "My Lord, there is news from Ryu. Please allow me to excuse myself temporarily."

"Go ahead."

Chiba Ran waved his hand, his attention returning to the dancers.

Aono Saku quickly walked out of the side hall and, in a deserted corner, a Hidden Guard member disguised as a samurai knelt on one knee, presenting a small bamboo tube with both hands.

Without any extra communication, the exchange was completed. The Hidden Guard flashed and disappeared into the courtyard.

When Aono Saku returned to the hall, the music and dance had stopped at some unknown time.

The dancers knelt on the ground, their bodies slick with sweat, not daring to lift their heads.

Chiba Ran was looking at the lead dancer with great interest, his possessiveness unconcealed.

"My Lord," Aono Saku quietly stepped forward and presented the bamboo tube.

Chiba Ran didn't take it, only asking, "From Konoha?"

"Yes."

"Tell me, what interesting things are there?"

Aono Saku opened the bamboo tube, quickly scanned the secret letter, and then reported in concise language, "Minato Namikaze has completely followed your will and implemented the Genius Cultivation Plan and the selection of the Guardians of the Twelve."

"The results are even better than we anticipated."

"Oh?"

Hearing this, Chiba Ran finally sat up straight, his eyes regaining clarity.

"Let me see it."

"Yes."

Chiba Ran took the note and unfolded it.

The information on it was far more detailed than Aono Saku's verbal account.

How Fugaku Uchiha spoke generously.

How Hyuga Hiashi plotted in secret.

What the attitude of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans was.

Everything was written clearly.

And what Chiba Ran found most interesting was the last paragraph of the secret letter.

It described in detail the tremendous stir the Imperial Concubine Selection had caused among the major clans of Konoha.

The Uchiha clan was preparing to select three of the most beautiful maidens from within the clan.

Even clans like the Inuzuka and Aburame, which had always been detached from worldly affairs, were stirring.

Looking at the contents, Chiba Ran was stunned at first, then burst into laughter.

He remembered.

That day, at the grand court assembly, a minister, seeking to please him, had proposed the idea of the Imperial Concubine Selection.

He hadn't taken it to heart at the time, only considering it a means to appease people's hearts, and had casually agreed.

He never expected that this casual move, which he himself had almost forgotten, would become the last straw that broke Konoha.

No wonder Konoha had changed so much.

The Genius Cultivation Plan was about division.

The Guardians of the Twelve was about consolidating power.

And these simple two words, Imperial Concubine Selection, directly targeted the lifeblood of all ninja clans—bloodline and heritage.

It had become the most potent catalyst, instantly igniting all the conflicts he had previously laid.

In this world, what was hardest to resist was never some earth-shattering conspiracy.

It was the most primal desires and fears originating from the deepest parts of the human heart.

The Leaf Village is a sword.

He originally thought he would need to pull some strings to completely take it from Hiruzen Sarutobi and those old guys.

Now, it seemed it wouldn't take long at all.

Chiba Ran casually tossed the secret letter aside, and Aono Saku immediately took it and destroyed it with a fire jutsu.

He slowly stood up and paced the hall, as if contemplating something.

Then, he walked up to the lead dancer, squatted down, and hooked her chin, making her look up.

"Tell me, with your looks, could you enter my harem?"

The dancer, not understanding, timidly said, "This concubine dares not speak rashly. It is all up to my lord's decision."

"Hahaha!"

Chiba Ran burst into laughter. "Gen."

Gen immediately trotted in.

"Your subordinate is here."

"Since everyone is so enthusiastic about the imperial concubine selection, if I don't handle it properly, wouldn't I be letting down their good intentions?"

Chiba Ran's lips curled into a meaningful smile.

"Relay my command."

"Announce it throughout the Land of Fire."

"All citizens of the Land of Fire, whether noble, ninja, or commoner, if they have a daughter of marriageable age who is virtuous and beautiful, she may participate."

Gen's expression was excited, and he immediately accepted the order, "Yes!"

As a retainer, he was naturally happy that his lord was willing to take imperial concubines.

Because this meant that a future young lord would soon be born.

Chiba Ran stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the distance.

He didn't care whether the ninja clans were willing to send their daughters to participate.

What he cared about were the noble families within the capital. This would be a game of division and allegiance.

The internal situation was about to stabilize.

Then, he could start dealing with matters in the Land of Lightning.

"Also, inform the Minister of Finance, Tanaka Shigeru, to come to my study tomorrow morning."

"Yes!"

Gen immediately accepted the order and retreated.

Chiba Ran then beckoned Aono Saku to sit down, and then shouted at the Musicians and Dancers still kneeling on the ground, "What are you standing around for?"

"Continue the music, continue the dance!"