Land of Wind, Ancient Kingdom of Roran.
As the only autonomous region within the Land of Wind, its purpose was to guard the "Dragon Vein" and, through the mediation of the Land of Wind's Daimyo, avoid Sunagakure's coveting of that power.
In the past, Sunagakure might have seized that power, but after Konoha's free gift, there was no longer any need for it!
If one wanted to know why the Daimyo protected Roran, one could only ask the Queen of Roran!
Inside the ministers' palace.
"Get ready. If the queen agrees to my proposal, there will be no need to act. But if she refuses, kill her..." Anrokuzan, a minister of Roran, said viciously.
"Then, sir, what about the princess..." one subordinate asked.
Anrokuzan waved his hand. "The princess is useful to us. She cannot be killed. Execute all the guards and ministers loyal to the queen!"
"Yes!" The three subordinates went off to make preparations.
Anrokuzan was also Mukade, a rogue ninja from Sunagakure. He had used ninjas as puppets in the village, and gradually became dissatisfied with using dead ninjas, turning his hand against Sunagakure's living ninja instead. The village sentenced him to death.
However, during his imprisonment, he killed the guards and escaped Sunagakure. He then created the illusion that he had gone to the Land of Rivers, while actually changing his identity to "Anrokuzan" and hiding in Roran.
This was already his second year after fleeing to Roran. During that time, he had gathered a large group of confidants and earned the queen's trust, because Roran's urban development had been completed under his advocacy.
Today was the day to decide whether to use the Dragon Vein to develop a puppet army, since the proposal had already been rejected once before.
If it is rejected again today, I'll have no choice but to use my own methods! Anrokuzan revealed a sinister smile.
The royal palace's main hall.
"Your Majesty, I once again propose using the Dragon Vein to build a puppet army and strengthen the defensive power of the Country of Roran!" A minister from Anrokuzan's faction stepped forward with the proposal.
The queen seated upon the throne did not immediately state her position. Instead, she looked at the ministers from her own faction below.
Receiving her glance, one minister immediately stepped forward to refute him. "The Dragon Vein is Roran's greatest treasure. How can it be used to develop an army? Would that not make others think we intend to start a war?"
"Why not? Developing an army would better protect the country..."
The two factions argued back and forth, neither able to convince the other. In the end, the queen had to make the final decision.
Queen Saori looked at the ministers and said, "Roran is a peaceful country. We will not use the Dragon Vein to build an army. It is already enough if our people can live stable lives..."
Still the same. Then don't blame me! Anrokuzan signaled to his subordinates, who immediately understood and made their move.
"Ah...!" The ministers from the queen's faction were immediately slaughtered by Anrokuzan's men. Some who tried to flee were executed on the spot by the guards at the entrance.
The solemn and majestic palace instantly became a hellscape, with blood flowing everywhere...
Although the queen had considered that they might resort to underhanded tactics, she had never expected them to be so ruthless as to act directly in the main hall.
Queen Saori trembled as she angrily shouted, "Anrokuzan, are you rebelling?"
"Hahahahaha... Your Majesty, do you still not understand?" Mad laughter rang out as Anrokuzan looked at Queen Saori and muttered, "What a pity! Leave your daughter to me. I'll take care of her!"
The moment he finished speaking, he was already before the queen, his sharp kunai about to plunge into her chest...
Bang! Anrokuzan was sent flying backward. It turned out that a guard-like figure beside them had acted. He had actually not fled?
That guard was naturally Su Zheng. He had restored his appearance and looked at Queen Saori. "Now, are you willing to believe me?"
Queen Saori nodded in terror. Su Zheng had long warned her of Anrokuzan's ambitions, but she had not believed him. He could only let her witness this cruel truth for herself!
Anrokuzan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said in shock, "Who exactly are you? How can you possess such power?"
Su Zheng spread his hands helplessly. "I can't even be bothered to deal with an idiot like you, but in order to establish a tall and mighty image in the queen's heart, I decided to exchange a few moves with you after all!"
Upon hearing his words, the blood returned to Queen Saori's face, which had gone pale from fear. Remembering his earlier teasing words and that agreement, her face turned even redder...
"Very well, you're courting death!" Anrokuzan formed hand seals with both hands. "Summoning Technique: Clay Puppet!"
Bang! After the white smoke dispersed, more than a dozen mechanical puppets charged forward with roars, firing kunai and shuriken through the gaps...
"Ah~!" Su Zheng patted his lips with his right hand. He was a little sleepy. Didn't sleep well last night, huh!
His left hand was not slow. "Lightning Release: Lightning Net!"
Extremely dense lightning wove itself into an impenetrable net. Everything in its path was sliced apart and destroyed!
As for the ministers present, they were all turned into fragments without even being able to make a sound. Su Zheng looked at the dark shield with some surprise.
"Puppet Technique: Machine Light Shield Seal!" Anrokuzan emerged from behind the puppet shield, drenched in sweat. He had never seen such a powerful ninjutsu. A casual strike possessed Kage-level strength!
Boom! The puppet shield blocking the Lightning Release shattered in response. He had no choice but to bring out his strongest technique.
Whoosh! He took out a scroll and opened it with blood.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
More than a dozen puppets were summoned, though they looked somewhat different this time.
Clack, clack, clack! Purple Chakra threads rose from the puppets and rapidly connected together, disassembling and assembling into a new, enormous puppet. Anrokuzan entered its chest compartment, and the armor was complete!
Su Zheng watched all this with interest. He's pretty creative, huh! But it's useless!
Crackle, crackle, crackle! Lightning Chakra gathered in his left hand. "Lightning Release: Kirin!"
Crackle! Crackle!
A sky-blue lightning dragon condensed in Su Zheng's left hand. Its enormous, ferocious form made hearts tremble!
"Ah...!" As Anrokuzan roared and charged forward, Su Zheng released Kirin...
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Kirin coiled around the puppet, its exploding lightning continuously triggering fresh explosions...
However, after Anrokuzan took out a purple crystal and swallowed it, the puppet parts scattered across the ground reassembled themselves!
Queen Saori hurriedly explained, "He stole the power of the Dragon Vein! That purple crystal was condensed from the Dragon Vein's power!"
Su Zheng nodded and rubbed his chin. Since ninjutsu won't work, I'll just use Yin-Yang Release!
He still had important matters to handle! How could he waste time on this guy?
Whoosh! Su Zheng instantly pressed his hand against the puppet. Under Anrokuzan's stunned gaze, the puppet disintegrated. He could no longer sense his own Chakra...
Anrokuzan collapsed to the ground and said in disbelief, "Impossible! What power did you use? I didn't feel anything at all!"
Su Zheng stepped forward and pressed his hand against Anrokuzan's head. Boom! Yin-Yang Release activated, instantly destroying Anrokuzan's mind. He lay on the ground in deathly stillness, without a sound!
This was a technique Su Zheng had been researching recently. Since Yin-Yang Release could bestow things upon a target, it could also take them away, destroy them, add things, and so on...
It could be said that he had played Yin-Yang Release in every possible way!
Su Zheng sat back on the throne and looked at Queen Saori teasingly. "Your Majesty, you haven't forgotten our agreement, have you?"
Saori's face turned bright red. She did not know how she had somehow agreed to that absurd condition—if Anrokuzan rebelled, she would become his woman, and...
Su Zheng pulled Queen Saori back, caressed her lovely chin, and whispered by her ear, "Your Majesty, don't worry. Besides you and me, there won't be anyone else here..."
Queen Saori said, "Promise me that Sara and our people will be safe, and I'll agree!"
"Of course. Don't you trust me?" Su Zheng patted his chest in assurance.
Inside another palace.
Su Zheng sat in a chair, holding the petite Princess Sara in his arms. She was sleeping sweetly, while beneath their feet lay a sea of blood, with countless corpses sprawled before them...
Against that blood-soaked scene, the man and woman seemed utterly incongruous. The peaceful, tranquil image was strangely intoxicating!
Before you continue