"This Inada Kai is a problem. Should we take him out? Maybe there's a better way..."
Amada considered the matter in silence.
"Perhaps I can use his ambition to make him bring about his own downfall."
A thought struck Amada, and a chill flickered in his eyes.
Just then, Kushina's voice came from outside the door:
"Amada, Asuma, Kurenai, come to my room. We need to discuss what happened today."
Amada gathered his thoughts and quickly left the room, heading to Kushina's quarters.
Asuma and Kurenai were already there. The three sat around the room, their expressions grave.
Kushina sat at the table, her brow furrowed as she asked in confusion, "I still feel something was wrong about what happened today. The Daimyo's suicide was so sudden, with no warning at all. What do you think?"
Asuma scratched his head.
"If even you haven't found any clues, Sensei, then maybe the Daimyo really did kill himself? After all, the suicide note was in his handwriting."
Kushina shook her head.
"I just don't think it's that simple. The Daimyo was fine yesterday. Why would he suddenly choose to kill himself?"
As she spoke, she noticed that Kurenai looked hesitant, as though she wanted to say something but didn't dare.
"Kurenai, is there something you want to tell us?"
Kushina asked gently.
Kurenai looked up, hesitation written across her face.
She bit her lip, then finally decided to share what she had discovered.
"Sensei, I... I noticed what seemed to be traces of an Illusion Technique on the Daimyo's body. But they were very faint, so I'm not sure."
Amada's heart gave a sudden jolt at Kurenai's words.
Kushina's eyes flashed with surprise.
She hadn't expected Kurenai to notice a detail that had escaped even her.
She nodded, feeling a measure of approval.
"Just what I'd expect from someone from a renowned family of illusion specialists."
Kushina pressed on.
"Kurenai, can you tell what kind of Illusion Technique it was? Or is there any clue that could lead us to the one who cast it?"
Kurenai shook her head.
"Sensei, I've never heard of an Illusion Technique that can make someone kill themselves. If such a technique really exists, it's terrifying."
Kushina was puzzled. She didn't know much about Illusion Techniques,
so she didn't understand why Kurenai was so wary of one.
"Why do you say that?" she asked.
Kurenai began to explain in detail.
"Sensei, most Illusion Techniques do work by disrupting the chakra flow in an opponent's brain, causing them to experience hallucinations. But the will to survive is instinctive, a response rooted deep within the body. If an illusionist tries to make an opponent kill themselves with an Illusion Technique, its effects will clash with the opponent's survival instinct. That conflict will cause the technique to fail."
She paused, her tone grave.
"But the Daimyo's case was completely different. His suicide was peaceful, with no sign of a struggle. That means the caster's technique bypassed his survival instinct entirely. An Illusion Technique like that goes beyond the ordinary. That's why I said it was terrifying."
After hearing Kurenai's explanation, Kushina's expression grew grave as well.
She murmured under her breath, "So the one who killed the Daimyo wasn't an ordinary ninja."
Just then, Amada spoke up.
"Sensei Kushina, I've made a discovery too."
At that, Kushina immediately turned to Amada.
"Oh? What did you find?"
Amada nodded, his expression serious.
"The Daimyo's younger brother, Inada Kai, is suspicious. I asked some of the ministers in private and found out he was the most opposed to Princess Tachibana becoming the Daimyo's heir. I also noticed him meeting with some unidentified ninja. The attack we encountered on the way here was likely arranged by him. Could he have hired someone to kill the Daimyo too?"
After hearing Amada's analysis, Kushina nodded in agreement.
"That makes a lot of sense. Inada Kai had both a motive and the ability to kill. If that powerful illusionist really was working for him, then it all adds up."
She paused, her brow creasing slightly.
"However, we don't have conclusive evidence yet, so we can't act rashly. For now, we can only keep an eye on him and see what he does next."
As she spoke, Kushina's gaze settled on Amada.
"Amada, I'm assigning this task to you. You're meticulous and cautious enough to handle it."
Amada secretly breathed a sigh of relief. This was exactly the opportunity he'd been hoping for.
He nodded.
"Understood, Sensei. I'll keep a close eye on Inada Kai."
Kushina nodded with satisfaction, then turned to Asuma and Kurenai.
"You both need to stay alert. Kurenai, especially, Princess Tachibana's safety is in your hands. Asuma, assist Kurenai and make sure nothing goes wrong."
Asuma and Kurenai answered in unison.
"Yes, Sensei!"
After the discussion, Amada left the room, silently planning his next move.
He knew Inada Kai wouldn't sit still. He was bound to make a move.
Amada's task was to keep a close eye on Inada Kai—and use this chance to eliminate the threat for good.
"Inada Kai, you'll take the blame for the Daimyo's murder."
Amada murmured under his breath.
Meanwhile, Inada Kai was meeting in secret with several Sunagakure ninja in a hidden room.
The room was dimly lit, and the atmosphere was tense.
Inada Kai looked impatient as he spoke in a harsh voice.
"We have to get rid of Tachibana as soon as possible! That woman is the biggest obstacle to our plan. Once she's dead, I can inherit the Daimyo's position legitimately, and our plan can move forward without a hitch."
The Sunagakure ninja leading the group frowned, his tone hesitant.
"The problem is those Konoha ninja. The Jonin leading them is especially formidable. Rice Field Country is still under the protection of the Land of Fire. If we act rashly, we could end up in a conflict with Konoha. That would cause serious trouble and might even spark a war between our countries."
Inada Kai sneered.
"You don't need to worry. Once Tachibana is dead, I'll be the only candidate for Daimyo. As soon as I take the position, I'll request the Land of Wind's protection. Then you'll have a legitimate reason to station ninja in Rice Field Country. Even Konoha won't have grounds to interfere in our internal affairs."
The leading ninja fell silent for a moment, clearly weighing the risks and benefits.
He knew Inada Kai's plan was risky, but it was indeed the only viable option right now.
If Princess Tachibana didn't die, Rice Field Country would never be able to break away from the Land of Fire, and their plan would never succeed.
"Fine,"
the leading ninja finally agreed,
"We'll act as soon as possible, but you must make sure everything goes smoothly. If the plan fails, Sunagakure won't take the blame for you."
A satisfied smile spread across Inada Kai's face, and he replied confidently, "Don't worry. I have everything under control. As long as you follow the plan, the Daimyo's position will be mine."
The Sunagakure ninja said no more. They simply nodded, then quickly left the room.
Inada Kai stood where he was, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
He knew he'd come this far and there was no turning back.
"Tachibana, don't blame me for being ruthless. Blame yourself for standing in my way."
Inada Kai murmured, his voice cold.
However, he didn't know that Amada was hidden nearby, listening to every word.
Amada flashed away, vanishing into the night.
Before you continue