Trade Layout Targeting the Land of Lightning

Daimyo Manor, side hall!

Chiba Ran was enjoying a song and dance performance.

Gen suddenly entered with quick, small steps, bowed silently to the side, and only spoke in a low voice after the song ended.

"Lord, there's a situation!"

Chiba Ran turned his chair, his gaze shifting from the dancers. "What is it?"

"Reporting to you, Lord, one of the participants this time... I find one of them suspicious."

"Suspicious?"

Chiba Ran's curiosity was piqued, and his fingers stopped tapping.

Gen was in charge of this Imperial Concubine Selection and also handled some intelligence matters.

If even he found someone suspicious, then this matter was likely more than just a little interesting.

"Tell me about it."

"Yes."

"This woman claims to be Jingmei. Her identity documents state she is the daughter of a declining merchant family from the southern border, who came to the Land of Fire Capital to participate in the selection seeking a better future."

"The documents themselves are flawless."

"But the problem is, I've seen her before."

Chiba Ran's eyes instantly sharpened.

"Oh? Where did you see her?"

A butler's memory was trustworthy.

"Just a short while ago, when the Land of Water's envoy came to attend your enthronement ceremony, Lord."

Gen's expression grew serious. "At that time, Lord Aono Saku was responsible for covert surveillance, and I assisted him."

"I remember very clearly, there was no such woman among the Land of Water envoy's entourage."

"She appeared suddenly."

"Afterward, this woman was among the Land of Water's escort guards, wearing the standard uniform of a Kirigakure ninja."

"Although she kept her head down, I would never mistake that exceptionally rare, long brown hair."

Kirigakure.

Brown hair.

Female.

A stunningly beautiful face instantly flashed through Chiba Ran's mind.

He recalled the intelligence on Kirigakure provided by Juzo Biwa.

It detailed the various factions under the Bloody Mist tyranny in Kirigakure.

Among them, the intelligence on the Rebel Army was listed as top priority.

And one of the leaders of the Rebel Army.

Was Mei Terumi, with her long brown hair.

The report described her as possessing both Lava Release and Boil Release Kekkei Genkai, being powerful and mentally resilient.

Juzo Biwa had specifically mentioned that although this woman was young, she possessed a decisiveness beyond her years and would stop at nothing to overthrow Yagura Karatachi's rule.

And at the end of the report was information on the Rebel Army's dire situation.

Their funding chain was broken, supplies were depleted, and they were at their wit's end.

All the clues connected at this moment.

Mei Terumi!

So...

This was your "stop at nothing"?

Chiba Ran's lips curved into a smile.

Interesting.

This was too interesting!

He had been wondering how to get involved in Kirigakure, and unexpectedly, the other side had delivered themselves to him.

And in such a seductive manner.

As for assassination?

Although it was a possibility, it was slim.

A woman capable of becoming Mizukage was certainly no fool and wouldn't engage in such a meaningless suicidal act.

The only explanation was for aid.

To use her own beauty and body, which would one day captivate the Ninja World, to secure a future for the Rebel Army?

The thought sent a surge of wicked amusement through Chiba Ran.

An arrogant, beautiful, powerful woman who should have become a Mizukage.

For the sake of what she cherished, she had to cast aside her pride and try to beg for mercy from the enemy using her most primal assets.

This script…

Tsk tsk!

I like it!

The smile on Chiba Ran's face grew even thicker.

He looked at Gen and suddenly asked a question, an extremely crude one.

"Has she... had her purity confirmed?"

Gen clearly froze for a moment, seemingly surprised that his lord would ask so directly, but he immediately bowed.

"Replying to Lord, yes, it has been confirmed."

"All the women participating in the selection have undergone the strictest examination. This is a rule I set, and there are absolutely no loopholes."

"Three of the most experienced old women from the palace personally conducted the examination and confirmed she is... a virgin."

Chiba Ran could no longer suppress his smile.

He could even imagine.

That proud woman, the future Fifth Mizukage.

Being judged like an object by a few withered old women, how humiliated she must have felt inside.

Truly pathetic.

"Lord, should we...?"

Gen made a throat-slitting gesture.

In his opinion, the safest course of action for a suspicious enemy ninja, regardless of their motives, was to eliminate them.

"No, no need."

Chiba Ran waved his hand.

"Let her continue."

"I'd like to see what kind of show this pretty bird, who willingly flew into the cage, is preparing to put on."

Gen was puzzled but dared not hesitate in the slightest.

"Your subordinate understands."

"Go."

Gen respectfully withdrew.

The side hall returned to silence.

Chiba Ran toyed with the wine glass in his hand, in excellent spirits.

He had thought that after conquering Konoha, life would become boring.

He hadn't expected a new toy to show up on its own so quickly.

He returned to his study and paced to the large map, his gaze sweeping over the territory of the Land of Fire and landing precisely on the map of the Land of Water.

Mei Terumi...

The future Fifth Mizukage!

Offering her body for hope?

So naive.

So cute.

He chuckled softly.

I really want to play with her!

At the same time.

In the Daimyo Manor, the administrative hall.

Finance Minister Tanaka Shigeru was meeting with envoys from the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind.

The atmosphere in the hall was harmonious, with no hint that the three parties had ever been at war.

Tanaka Shigeru, with a gentle smile, personally poured tea for the envoys from the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind.

"Are the two envoys here because your respective Daimyo have news?"

The two envoys, representing the Daimyo of their respective countries, were the true wielders of power, controlling the economic and civilian lifelines of their nations.

The envoy from the Land of Earth took a sip of his tea, speaking earnestly, "Indeed, that is so."

"Regarding the cultural exchange proposed last time by Lord Tanaka, our Daimyo has pondered it day and night and feels deeply that this is an excellent way to eliminate estrangement and forge peace!"

"Therefore, I have been specially dispatched to discuss concrete cooperation matters with the Land of Fire."

The envoy from the Land of Wind chimed in smoothly, "Our Daimyo shares the same sentiment."

"The war has passed, and the future should focus on peaceful development."

"However, we wonder if the Land of Fire has any ideas regarding cultural exchange?"

Their words were earnest, yet their tone was probing.

Tanaka Shigeru heard this and displayed an expression of admiration, nodding gently. "It is truly fortunate for your countries, and indeed for the Ninja World, that both your Daimyo possess such foresight."

Before he finished speaking, his tone suddenly shifted.

"However, while cultural exchange is important, it cannot be achieved overnight."

"The exchange of art, ideas, and customs takes time, and more importantly, requires a stable foundation."

"A foundation that makes the populace prosperous and the nobles feel secure."

The envoy from the Land of Earth immediately pressed, "May I ask, sir, what is this foundation...?"

"Trade."

Tanaka Shigeru smiled slightly, slowly uttering the two words.

He pushed the two cups of tea towards the envoys, his movements unhurried.

"Culture is built upon prosperity."

"If the populace is still worrying about their livelihoods after the war, and the nobles are anxious about their shrinking purses, how can we even talk about cultural exchange?"

"Lord Chiba Ran's intention is that before we initiate cultural exchange, our three countries can begin with the most fundamental aspect: commercial trade."

"We can exchange what we have for what we need, restore our economies, and allow everyone to profit from peace."

"Imagine, when the silk, tea, and exquisite handicrafts of the Land of Fire are continuously transported to your countries."

"And your country's specialty products can be sold to the Land of Fire at a fair price."

"Allowing everyone to gradually become wealthy through peace!"

"Tell me, isn't this a tremendously good thing?"

The eyes of the two envoys instantly lit up.

They had originally expected to face harsh conditions.

They hadn't expected it to be trade.

The envoy from the Land of Wind quickly asked, "What are the specific details of this trade?"

"That depends on what you have?" Tanaka Shigeru said with a smile. "How about this: you two envoys first return to report to your respective Daimyo and draft a trade list."

The two envoys exchanged glances and nodded in unison.

"Agreed!"