Beauty Bows

The Daimyo Manor, study.

Chiba Ran finished reviewing the last memorial.

With a stroke of his vermilion brush, both Minato Namikaze's genius cultivation list and the Guardians of the Twelve list were approved.

As the names were signed, the future of Konoha was grasped firmly in his hand.

He put down the brush, leaned back in his chair, and tapped his fingertips on the wooden armrest.

At some point, whenever Chiba Ran pondered, he would subconsciously make this gesture.

His mind flashed back three days, to the members of the Shimura Clan who had knelt at his feet and been granted the name Black Wind.

He had given them a new life, and they had become his fangs.

"Disguise yourselves as rogue ninja and head to the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning."

"Take the form of bandits, and only raid merchant caravans from the Land of Lightning."

"Remember, don't be too frequent. I want the border trade routes of the Land of Lightning to be in a state of chronic blood loss, but not yet dead."

This was their first mission.

These orders would gnaw away at the Land of Lightning, piece by piece.

A spare pawn had been placed on the board.

Now, it was time to admire another game.

"Gen," Chiba Ran called out.

The butler standing by quickly stepped forward, bowing to receive his command.

"Have the Internal Affairs Department select an official to go to Konoha and disburse the funds," Chiba Ran said. "The ceremony should be grand, and he should personally deliver them."

Gen bowed. "Yes, Lord!"

Chiba Ran added, "Also, have the Guardians of the Twelve come over as soon as possible."

"As you command, Lord."

After handling these matters, Chiba Ran stood up and stretched, his joints cracking in a series of crisp snaps.

Outside the door, the ceremonial officer in charge of the Internal Affairs Department had been waiting for a long time.

Upon receiving the summons, he quickly strode in and knelt to report.

"Reporting, Lord. The preliminary selection for the Imperial Concubine Selection has concluded. There are thirty-six eligible women."

"Today is the first day of their palace training. Does my Lord... wish to observe?"

Chiba Ran's interest was instantly piqued.

With official business concluded, it was time to relax. He might as well see if any of the women caught his eye.

"Lead the way."

A secluded courtyard.

It had been temporarily set up as a training ground, isolated from the bustle of the rest of the manor. The air was filled with the scent of pine.

Chiba Ran walked up to the second-floor corridor and sat in the main seat.

The vantage point was excellent, allowing him to see everything in the courtyard below.

He could have appeared openly, enjoying their expressions of fear, awe, and adoration.

But that would be too boring.

Rather than watching a performance meticulously staged for him, he preferred to observe from afar.

What he wanted to see was not what they learned.

But their genuine reactions.

The maid understood and brought him clear tea, setting up a gauze screen in front of him.

The screen blocked external sightlines, but not his scrutiny.

He picked up his teacup, his gaze sharp, and watched with keen interest the thirty-six items below, waiting to be judged.

These women had come from all over the Land of Fire and were now standing rigidly in several rows.

Each of them had put on their most beautiful attire, their faces bare of any makeup, showing their true selves.

All of them were stunningly beautiful.

There were noble daughters with elegant demeanor, from high-ranking families.

There were charming village girls who stood out from the common folk, looking nervous.

Naturally, a few special "prey" were mixed in.

Mei Terumi stood among the crowd, her eyes cast down.

A soft, long dress had replaced her Kirigakure combat attire.

Her delicate hands, once accustomed to wielding kunai, were now clasped helplessly before her.

She keenly sensed numerous gazes upon her, filled with scrutiny and hostility.

Especially from a girl standing not far away.

The girl had long, dark hair and delicate features. Her clan symbol was a Gunbai, and she was Mirin Uchiha of the Uchiha clan.

Mirin Uchiha's gaze swept indifferently over Mei Terumi before moving on.

In her eyes, everyone present was merely a stepping stone to becoming a Daimyo's consort, and even ascending to the position of mother of the nation.

On the other side, Yūhi Kurenai seemed out of place.

Unlike the others, who were either nervous or ambitious, her face showed only bewilderment and resistance.

Her father had roughly pulled her from her ninja life and thrust her into this gilded cage.

She still hadn't grasped why her life had changed so drastically.

At that moment, an old woman with white hair, holding a ruler, strode into the courtyard.

She was the strictest female official in the palace, having personally tutored even the previous Daimyo's consorts.

"From today on, forget your past," the old woman's voice was dry and sharp, grating on everyone's eardrums.

"Here, you have no names, only one title: Consort Candidate!"

"For the next month, you will learn court etiquette. Every word, action, expression, and smile must conform to the rules."

"The first lesson: learn to kneel."

"Kneeling is not about prostrating yourself! It's about feeling the majesty of the lord with your knees!"

She demonstrated personally, each movement as precise as if measured by a ruler.

"Bring your knees together."

"Slowly lower yourself."

"Keep your upper body straight, hands resting on your knees."

"Slightly lower your head to show respect."

"Now, repeat the movements I just showed you. Begin!"

At her command, the women in the courtyard bent their knees.

Chiba Ran watched them with amusement.

What a spectacular performance.

Below, the old woman shouted sternly, "You! As a noble lady, your posture is improper, your legs spread wide. Are you inviting someone?!"

The ruler sliced through the air, striking the ground before a noblewoman with a sharp crack.

The noblewoman turned pale and trembled violently, terrified.

The old woman's gaze shifted to another woman, "And you! Straighten your back! The Daimyo Manor doesn't need subservient slaves; it needs women who can serve the lord!"

She understood the boundaries perfectly. Her reprimands could be harsh, but they would never leave physical scars.

After all, one of these women might become the Daimyo's consort in the future.

Her feigned sternness was solely for discipline.

And discipline was the fastest tool for smoothing rough edges, more effective than physical wounds.

The commoner girl being reprimanded instantly teared up, tears welling in her eyes, but she held them back fiercely, daring not to let them fall.

Chiba Ran watched for a while before his gaze fell upon Mei Terumi.

He saw Mei Terumi biting her lower lip, her lips drained of color. She forced herself to bend the knees of a ninja.

The moment her knees touched the soft cushion, Chiba Ran clearly saw her body tremble uncontrollably.

Perhaps she had never knelt before anyone!

But now, to obtain the funds that could save her companions, she had to kneel.

And she was kneeling quite properly.

He then looked at Yūhi Kurenai.

Yūhi Kurenai's movements were equally stiff.

Her legs, which could effortlessly walk upside down on trees, struggled with this simplest of movements.

It seemed those knees were only meant to kneel for the Will of Fire, to kneel for the protection of comrades.

Not to please a man she had never met.

Chiba Ran's smile deepened.

He hadn't expected Yūhi Kurenai to participate in the selection.

In his past life, he had actually had a rather good impression of the character Yūhi Kurenai.

But since she was here, she had to follow the rules of this place.

Finally, his gaze settled on Mirin Uchiha.

Her movements were less like learning and more like a performance.

Her supple waist curved slowly, outlining a beautiful arc. Even as she knelt, it didn't detract from her upright posture, but rather added a touch of endearing charm.

She bowed slightly, her long neck tilting with it, revealing fair, delicate skin. Her barely visible cleavage seemed bottomless.

Her exquisite face was filled with calmness and concentration, devoid of any humiliation or resistance.

It was as if she treated this training as a stage to showcase herself.

Beneath that calmness lay an unconcealed ambition.

She even took pride in it.

With her figure and demeanor, she silently declared: she was the most perfect woman here, and the sole victor.

The old woman was also satisfied with her performance. "Well done. It seems you've put in a lot of effort."

"Remember, everything about you is to please the Daimyo!"

"Your body, your smile, even every breath you take, must be to his liking!"

"Those who cannot learn, cannot do well!"

"Will be eliminated directly!"

"Do you all understand?"

"Yes!"

The responses were sparse, tinged with a hint of trembling.

Chiba Ran put down his teacup, the bottom of the cup making a soft clink against the table.

Mei Terumi's enduring humiliation.

Kurenai Yūhi's silent resistance.

Mirin Uchiha's ambition.

All of them were striving to become his favored guests.

And he would be the sole admirer of their primal state.

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