A Rabble

Dongfang Mao's actions at that moment made the shame and indignation in Tsunade's heart surge, instantly overwhelming her earlier unease and helplessness.

She slapped away the hand that had been up to no good behind her, then glared furiously at Dongfang Mao.

"You brat, every time you see me, you get handsy. You have no respect for your elders! Do you know that, in a sense, I'm still your senior?"

Dongfang Mao merely licked his lips, seemingly savoring the fragrance that had lingered between Tsunade's lips and teeth. Only then did he speak.

"Doesn't that just prove how irresistible you are, Tsunade? You make me lose all self-control and break taboos."

"Pah! What taboos? We're so distantly related that it hardly counts. Otherwise, do you think I'd let you get away with this?"

Tsunade retorted with some agitation, reaching out to pinch Dongfang Mao's cheek.

By now, their relationship was understood without needing to be discussed. Aside from taking that final step, they were almost indistinguishable from lovers.

Tsunade was especially concerned about this, afraid that any possible misunderstanding might become an obstacle between them.

"I was just joking. All right, Tsunade, the Rice Field Army should be here soon. I need to head up to the city wall."

Dongfang Mao gave Tsunade another big hug, then turned to leave.

But just as he turned around, Tsunade suddenly grabbed his wrist.

He looked back and saw that Tsunade's cheeks were flushed crimson. After struggling with herself for a moment, she spoke in a voice so soft it was barely audible.

"You... you have to come back safely. When you do... I... I'll agree to that thing you asked me for before..."

Dongfang Mao froze, not quite understanding what Tsunade meant.

But then he remembered, and his eyes widened in disbelief.

"Tsunade, you'll let me use the Shadow Clone Technique?"

At his shout, the blush vanished from Tsunade's face, which darkened. She brought her hand down hard on his forehead, then gritted her teeth and said,

"You can know it in your heart. Could you not shout so loudly?"

"Heh..."

Dongfang Mao rubbed his head and gave an awkward laugh. But then his eyes darted around, and after a moment's thought, he couldn't resist confirming it with Tsunade.

"Tsunade, did you mean the Shadow Clone Technique or the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique? If it's just the Shadow Clone Technique, wouldn't it be a little fragile? It might not last very long, right?"

"Get lost!"

Tsunade's face flushed red as she let out a furious roar. Dongfang Mao felt a murderous aura radiating from her and immediately took off running.

Watching Dongfang Mao flee, Tsunade felt both angry and amused.

But once he had disappeared from sight, the expression on Tsunade's face softened. She stood still, falling into silence.

Dongfang Mao's antics had eased the heaviness in her heart somewhat, but she still couldn't stop dwelling on her current condition.

Not needing help and being unable to help were two completely different things.

She had finally begun to face the Hemophobia that clung to her like a parasite.

"Perhaps... that guy can help?"

Tsunade murmured, an image surfacing in her mind: a gaunt figure with a deathly pale face and heavy eye makeup.

Dongfang Mao had already reached the south gate's city wall. Every cannon had been put in position along the walkway atop the wall.

The soldiers of the Divine Machine Battalion stood beside the cannons, fully prepared for battle.

There were also five hundred crossbowmen ready to fight, each with a solemn, serious expression.

Seeing their high spirits, Dongfang Mao couldn't help nodding.

He then looked beyond the city walls and saw the Rice Field Army slowly advancing like a long, rumbling dragon.

But Dongfang Mao, sharp-eyed as ever, suddenly noticed that the Rice Field Army was marching in a terribly disorderly fashion.

They looked like a mighty force, with a great many men, but they had no presence whatsoever.

Anyone who didn't know better would think they were some ragtag army.

Were they trying to bluff him, or were these soldiers really a bunch of clowns?

Dongfang Mao felt a question rise in his mind.

Meanwhile, the army of the Land of Rice Fields set up camp right there under Dongfang Mao's puzzled gaze.

Inside the main tent, General Kojiro stared at the walls of Tsukimiura. The black-and-red banners of New Martial stood in rows, snapping in the wind, and an aura of slaughter swept toward him.

A trace of unease suddenly crossed his mind. This campaign to quell the rebellion probably wouldn't go as smoothly as he'd expected.

"Summon the commanders of every camp to a council at once!"

Kojiro gave the order.

But when the generals gathered in the tent and heard that their commander was asking how to lay siege to the city, they all looked at one another, speechless.

This was ridiculous. The Land of Rice Fields hadn't fought a war in over a thousand years.

The other nations feared the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning, which stood behind the Land of Rice Fields, and didn't dare cause trouble.

And whenever they encountered either of those two great nations, the Land of Rice Fields would immediately throw open its gates and offer tribute. They did whatever they were told, bending over backward to please them.

That was how they'd stayed safe all this time.

And now he was asking them how to lay siege to a city? Who were they supposed to ask?

At last, after a silence as dead as a grave settled over the tent, someone finally worked up the courage to speak to Kojiro.

"General, wasn't it the Daimyo who put you in charge of the army? Shouldn't you be the one directing the siege? Just tell us what to do, and we'll do it!"

His words immediately drew agreement from all the commanders and officers.

Kojiro's face turned green.

Damn it, he'd only gotten into the army because of his sister. He spent his days eating, drinking, and enjoying himself, and had never read a single book on military affairs.

Even now, he hadn't memorized all the ranks in the army.

He knew his own limitations well. Since he wasn't qualified, he'd planned to delegate authority and let his subordinates do as they pleased, while he quietly took credit for their accomplishments.

But now these men were asking him to take command?

If Kojiro's thoughts had been known to the others, they probably would have been just as stunned.

As if they weren't all in the army through connections, loafing around and waiting to die. They didn't know what to do either!

Now, seeing the utterly familiar look of confusion on everyone's faces, Kojiro began to guess what was going on. His whole body went numb.

After all that, these people were just as useless as he was?

Kojiro's face reddened with frustration, but he didn't know how to vent it. In the end, right there in front of everyone, he ordered a guard to bring him a military treatise, then hurriedly leafed through it.

A moment later, he snapped the book shut with both hands and looked around at everyone.

"Did we bring siege ladders?"

"Siege ladders? What are those?"

The people below looked at one another again, then gazed up at Kojiro with bewildered expressions.

"Ladders for scaling the city walls!"

Kojiro finally lost his patience and shouted.

"This... we should... have them, right?"

At his words, everyone shrank their necks and answered cautiously, their eyes darting around.