Pillar of State Mansion

Wearing a raincoat, Uchiha Zhuang was exceptionally cautious. The number of ninjas in Amegakure was not small, and infiltrating like this carried a high risk of being detected; only by moving in short bursts and lying low could he evade the eyes and blades hidden in the shadows. With his two-tomoe Sharingan active, Uchiha Zhuang agilely avoided the patrolling ninjas, dodging and weaving as he approached the most luxurious and imposing estate in Amegakure. It was a massive residence facing south, situated on the north side of the wealthy district. Upon seeing the opulent and extravagant estate, Uchiha Zhuang's values were once again refreshed by the wicked gluttons of the world; he had never realized people could be so decadently wasteful. The archaic Japanese-style garden architecture spanned several rivers and rested on a high slope, with several smaller castle keeps guarding a massive central keep, all filled with brightly lit, high-walled courtyards.

Rain drizzled down, and the tall entrance was guarded by ten soldiers. The guards kept their hands on their sword hilts, alternating between patrolling and standing perfectly still, while soldiers constantly circled the perimeter of the grand estate. From a distance, Uchiha Zhuang could sense that those ten men possessed the energy levels of chunin; they were undoubtedly elite samurai capable of imbuing their blades with chakra. His Sharingan could clearly see the massive barrier shrouding the entire estate, as well as the energy-emitting formation beneath the ground. Uchiha Zhuang gathered natural energy and projected his perception; the power of this barrier felt remarkably similar to natural energy! While lurking by the entrance, Uchiha Zhuang observed several groups of wealthy dignitaries arrive, report to the samurai at the gate, wait for a period, and then, after touching the barrier with a jade token brimming with natural essence, file inside one by one.

Things suddenly became simple. This barrier looked formidable and powerful, but to Uchiha Zhuang, who was rich in natural energy, it was effectively non-existent. By the time night fell and the lanterns were lit, the number of samurai at the gate had been reduced to five, and massive illumination lanterns were hung, with the character "Mado" standing out prominently. Taking advantage of the samurai being distracted by guests, Uchiha Zhuang quietly rose. Crouching low in the night, he used a Body Flicker technique to slip past the tightly patrolling soldiers. With his body radiating natural energy, he reached out to test the barrier; it showed no reaction. Uchiha Zhuang then slipped through the barrier, vaulted over the three-meter wall, and after a brief tumble, pressed himself motionlessly into the shrubbery within the courtyard. His eyes remained fixed on the patrols; no one moved within the grounds. Rain tapped rhythmically against the stone paths, thudded against broad leaves, and splashed into the clear pond. The rain curtain grew heavier, and the dense downpour actually illuminated the surroundings, though the distance remained a blur.

The distant buildings were brightly lit, with shadows flickering within. Uchiha Zhuang crossed a covered bridge in a few strides, flew over the pond, and reached a rockery to conceal his form before quietly creeping under a porch to eavesdrop. "Manager Yamamoto, this money is a tribute to you. My good-for-nothing son caused this trouble, and it was only thanks to you that it was settled!" "Haha, Lord Sato, you are too kind. I merely showed my face, and those wild dogs from the Police Department were already terrified; I didn't really do much." "It was precisely your courage and spirit that intimidated those lackeys. You truly are the fiercest warrior under the Master! Haha!" "Brother Sato, you flatter me, hahahaha!" "The title of First Champion belongs to none other than you, Brother Yamamoto, haha!" The two engaged in such nauseating commercial flattery that Uchiha Zhuang felt sick. Looking closely, he saw several figures approaching from afar. Uchiha Zhuang slipped back to the rockery to observe the newcomers. He saw two maids and an old woman pass by, heading toward the covered bridge. Inside the room, the endless flattery and toasting continued, and Uchiha Zhuang quietly followed the maids.

The group wound their way through the estate, encountering several patrols along the way; the maids were only allowed to pass after being thoroughly questioned. Uchiha Zhuang sensed a hint of tension here; it seemed that intruders had breached this heavily guarded estate before. These guards and samurai were on high alert, meaning his next moves would have to be even more cautious. Once the guards left, Uchiha Zhuang hurried to catch up with the maids, passing through courtyards, gardens, and training grounds, finally stopping at a courtyard with a massive canopy. The maids spoke to a female guard at the entrance, and then went inside. Uchiha Zhuang climbed over the wall, watched the two maids and the old woman enter the house, and after a while, saw them emerge and head back out of the courtyard. Using the lush flower beds and neat hedges for cover, Uchiha Zhuang approached the porch and listened. There was no movement inside, and he could only sense one woman in the room, her emotions calm. After a moment of thought, Uchiha Zhuang decisively pushed the door open and entered. The woman reading a book in the hall stared in shock at the uninvited guest, only to see those scarlet eyes seemingly spinning, and then her mind went blank.

Uchiha Zhuang immediately took control of the woman, who sat there blankly. He searched the room, noting the gorgeous decorations and clothing, the exquisite furniture and antiques, the delicate dolls, and the beautifully packaged books. The tea on the low table emitted a fragrant aroma—fine tea! Everything highlighted the woman's prestigious status and noble identity. Uchiha Zhuang returned to the woman, looking at the young girl who still had baby fat on her cheeks; she was not old, her body only just beginning to develop.

Uchiha Zhuang asked softly, "What is your name? Where is Mado Tadamori?" The girl spoke in a daze, "I am Mado Shizuka. Mado Tadamori is my father. He is in his private quarters every night. Tonight, it is the turn of Michiko, the daughter of the Minister of Finance, to serve him." Uchiha Zhuang raised an eyebrow; he was indeed a debauched man. It seemed most of the rumors were true. "Tell me, where is his private treasury?" "I don't know. Father never lets us near his private quarters; he only lets us study and train in designated courtyards." "How old are you?" "I am thirteen. Father said that in two years, he will send me to the Land of Iron to apprentice and learn swordsmanship. He says that in these chaotic times, only the sword in one's own hand is reliable." Uchiha Zhuang was surprised, then continued to ask, "Why doesn't Mado Tadamori kill the Daimyo? Does he know someone is trying to kill him?" At this, the young Mado Shizuka clearly hesitated before speaking slowly: "Father is the Daimyo's teacher; how could he kill him? Father once said he was waiting for an opportunity—a chance to settle the chaos, division, and corruption in the country in one stroke. He said he has been waiting for a long time! As for those who want to kill him, he hasn't had a single day of peace since he took power. Various assassination attempts happen around him every day, but he has many guards and several divine artifacts, so he always manages to turn danger into safety." Hearing this, Uchiha Zhuang frowned. Divine artifacts! That made things tricky. Mado Tadamori himself might only be at the level of an ordinary person, but his personal guards and those artifacts were troublesome.