Daimyo Manor, side hall!
Chiba Ran was enjoying a song and dance performance.
Minamoto suddenly entered with small, quick steps, silently bowed, and stood to one side. Only after the song ended did he speak in a low voice.
"My lord, something has come up!"
Chiba Ran turned his chair, drawing his gaze away from the dancers. "What is it?"
"My lord, one of the candidates... I find her suspicious."
"Suspicious?"
Chiba Ran grew curious, and his tapping fingers stopped.
Minamoto was responsible for this consort selection and handled part of the intelligence work as well.
If even he found someone suspicious, then this matter was likely far from ordinary.
"Tell me."
"Yes."
"This woman calls herself Jingmei. Her identity documents state that she is the daughter of an impoverished merchant from the southern border. Seeking a better future, she came to the Land of Fire Capital to take part in the selection.
"The documents themselves are flawless.
"But the problem is, I have seen her before."
Chiba Ran's gaze instantly sharpened.
"Oh? Where did you see her?"
The memory of someone capable of serving as a steward was worthy of trust.
"Not long ago, when the Land of Water delegation came to attend your coronation ceremony."
Minamoto's expression turned solemn. "At the time, Lord Aono Saku was responsible for covert surveillance, while I assisted from the side."
"I remember clearly that this woman was not originally among the Land of Water delegation's attendants."
"She appeared out of nowhere."
"After that, she mingled among the Land of Water's accompanying guards, dressed in the standard uniform of a Kirigakure shinobi."
"She kept her head lowered the entire time, but I could never mistake that exceptionally rare long brown hair."
Kirigakure.
Long brown hair.
A woman.
A breathtakingly beautiful face instantly appeared in Chiba Ran's mind.
He recalled the Kirigakure intelligence Juzo Biwa had provided.
It detailed the various factions under Kirigakure's Blood Mist tyranny.
Among them, information on the Rebel Army had been marked as the highest priority.
And one of the Rebel Army's leaders—
Was Mei Terumi, a woman with long brown hair.
The report described her as possessing two Kekkei Genkai, Lava Release and Boil Release. She was powerful and strong-willed.
Juzo Biwa had specifically noted that although this woman was young, she possessed decisiveness far beyond her years. To overthrow Karatachi Yagura's rule, she would pay any price.
The report's conclusion described the Rebel Army's desperate situation.
Its funding had collapsed, supplies were exhausted, and it had reached the end of the road.
Every clue connected at that moment.
Mei Terumi!
So... was this what you meant by paying any price?
The corner of Chiba Ran's lips curled up.
Interesting. Very interesting!
He had been worrying about how to interfere in Kirigakure, yet the other side had delivered herself right to his door.
And in such a tantalizing manner.
As for assassination?
While it was possible, it was unlikely.
A woman capable of becoming Mizukage was certainly no fool. She would not commit such a meaningless act of suicide.
The only explanation was that she wanted aid.
She was using herself—using the beauty and body that would one day captivate the Shinobi World—to barter for the Rebel Army's future?
The thought abruptly stirred Chiba Ran's twisted sense of amusement.
A proud, beautiful, powerful woman who should have become a generation's Mizukage.
For the sake of what she cherished, she had no choice but to cast aside her dignity and try to beg an enemy for mercy with her most primal assets.
This script... heh.
I like it!
The smile on Chiba Ran's face deepened.
Looking at Minamoto, he suddenly asked an extremely blunt question.
"Has she... been examined?"
Minamoto was visibly stunned. He had clearly not expected his lord to be so direct, but he immediately bowed.
"My lord, she has."
"All the women participating in the selection undergo the strictest inspection. That is a rule I established personally. There can be no mistakes."
"Three of the most experienced old palace women examined her themselves and confirmed that she is... untouched."
Chiba Ran could no longer suppress his smile.
He could even imagine it.
That proud woman, that future Fifth Mizukage.
Being judged and discussed like an object by several shriveled old women—how humiliating it must have been for her.
How pitiful.
"My lord, should we..."
Minamoto made a throat-slitting gesture.
In his view, an enemy shinobi with a suspicious identity should be dealt with, regardless of her purpose. That was the safest course of action.
"No. There's no need."
Chiba Ran waved his hand.
"Let her continue."
"I want to see what sort of show this beautiful bird that willingly flew into the cage intends to put on."
Minamoto did not understand, but he did not dare hesitate in the slightest.
"I understand."
"Go."
Minamoto respectfully withdrew.
The side hall returned to silence.
Chiba Ran played with the wine cup in his hand, in an excellent mood.
He had thought life would become boring after conquering Konoha.
He had not expected a new toy to deliver herself to him so quickly.
He returned to his study and paced over to the enormous map. His gaze crossed the Land of Fire's borders and settled precisely on the Land of Water.
Mei Terumi...
The future Fifth Mizukage!
Offering up her body in exchange for hope?
How naive. How adorable.
He laughed softly.
I really want to play with her properly!
Meanwhile.
Daimyo Manor, government hall.
Minister of Finance Tanaka Shigeru was receiving envoys from the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind.
The atmosphere in the hall was harmonious, giving no sign that war had once taken place among the three sides.
Tanaka Shigeru wore a gentle smile as he personally poured tea for the envoys from the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind.
"Have the daimyo of your respective countries sent word?"
The two envoys represented their respective daimyo, the true rulers who controlled their nations' economies and livelihoods.
The Land of Earth envoy accepted the teacup and spoke earnestly. "Indeed."
"Regarding the cultural exchange Lord Tanaka proposed last time, our daimyo has considered it day and night and believes it to be an excellent method for eliminating divisions and forging peace!"
"Therefore, I have been specially dispatched to discuss the specific details of cooperation with the Land of Fire."
The Land of Wind envoy also spoke up. "Our daimyo feels the same."
"The war is already over. We should focus on peaceful development in the future."
"We simply wonder what plans the Land of Fire has regarding cultural exchange?"
Their words were earnest, yet they were probing him.
Hearing this, Tanaka Shigeru showed an approving expression and nodded lightly. "For your two daimyo to possess such foresight is a blessing to your countries and a blessing to the Shinobi World."
Before his words had fully faded, his tone abruptly shifted.
"However, while cultural exchange is certainly important, it cannot be accomplished overnight."
"The exchange of art, ideas, and customs requires time. More importantly, it requires a stable foundation."
"A foundation that allows the people to prosper and the nobles to feel secure."
The Land of Earth envoy immediately asked, "May I ask, my lord, what foundation is that?"
"Trade."
Tanaka Shigeru smiled faintly and slowly spoke those two words.
He pushed the two cups of tea toward the envoys, his movements unhurried.
"Culture is built upon prosperity."
"If the people are still worrying about their livelihoods after the war, and the nobles are still anxious over their shrinking purses, how can there be any talk of cultural exchange?"
"Lord Chiba Ran means that before beginning cultural exchange, our three nations can start with the most basic form of commercial trade."
"We can exchange what we have, restore our economies, and allow everyone to profit from peace."
"Imagine the Land of Fire's silk, tea, and exquisite handicrafts flowing endlessly into your countries."
"And your nations' specialties being sold in the Land of Fire at fair prices."
"Let everyone gradually grow wealthy through peace!"
"Tell me, would that not be a tremendous blessing?"
The two envoys' eyes lit up at once.
They had expected harsh conditions.
They had not expected it to be trade.
The Land of Wind envoy hurriedly asked, "What exactly would this trade involve?"
"That depends on what you have." Tanaka Shigeru smiled. "How about this? The two of you should first return and report to your daimyo, then draw up a trade list."
The two envoys exchanged a glance and nodded at the same time.
"Very well!"
Before you continue