Let Konoha See What a Dimensionality Reduction Strike Is!

Dotō took the battle report and glanced over it. At last, the muscles at the corners of his mouth twitched upward.

Kazahana Sōsetsu's informants at the border had been completely cut off.

His dear older brother Sōsetsu was now nothing more than a blind man sitting on the throne, waiting to die.

He pulled a neatly folded list from his waist and slammed it down on the stone table.

There were only seven names on the list.

"The Royal Guard's third and fifth commanders have already been bought off. At least they know what's good for them."

Dotō picked up a red pen and circled the two names, then tapped his fingers against the remaining five, his gaze icy.

"As for these five stubborn old fools, arrange for someone to deliver them a little accident tonight!"

Dotō straightened up and spoke rapidly.

"I don't have time to play their game of loyal ruler and devoted subjects. Within three days, the Royal City's gates and the Daimyō Mansion's defenses must all be replaced with our people."

"Then give my dear older brother a grand send-off!"

The Snow Ninjas below accepted the order in unison, their voices shaking droplets loose from the pipes overhead.

At the same time, in a side hall of the Daimyō Mansion.

The empty room held no servants and no close attendants. Only a brazier crackled in the frigid night.

Outside the window, gale-force winds hurled frost against the lattice, producing a chilling howl.

This year had brought a rare, bone-piercing winter.

Sōsetsu knew that the snow outside the Daimyō Mansion had already risen past the knees of commoners.

With the Land of Snow's current stockpiles, there was simply not enough to see the entire populace through this brutal disaster.

Reports of those freezing or starving to death