Nobunaga, the Earth Daimyo, exchanged glances with the Lightning Daimyo and the Wind Daimyo before speaking.
"This matter still requires discussion, because one crucial question remains unresolved."
"Then let's hear it."
Nobunaga folded his fan and pressed it against the vertical crease between his brows. Then he closed his eyes and tapped its ribs against the web of his hand.
"Hmm... how did that saying go? I read it in Some Tale. It went, 'The Evil Dragon ultimately becomes the Wicked Dragon, and the Good Dragon ultimately becomes the Wicked Insect.' What it means, broadly speaking, is..."
While Nobunaga was still gathering his words to explain, Ōnoki, floating overhead, cut straight to the point. "It means the Daimyo fear that the ninja will unite, gain unprecedented power, and defeat Shi Mei. Then, once their common enemy is gone, some of the powerful individuals among them will become new threats to this world."
"Or perhaps you're asking what happens if the ninja, a minority, acquire far too much power and overwhelming numbers, threatening the rulers' position. Isn't that right?"
After Ōnoki finished in a faintly mocking tone, Nobunaga narrowed his eyes and fell silent for a while. Then he snapped his fan against his palm and praised him. "As the saying goes, an elder in the house is a treasure indeed. They weren't kidding... even I hadn't thought it through so thoroughly, but Ōnoki did!"
His gaze darkened as he said pointedly, "Precisely... those are our concerns. Everyone here, how do you think we should keep the ninja in check?"
Everyone fell silent.
It was a question with no solution at all.
The decision-makers wanted to create powerful individuals, yet also feared those individuals would replace the invaders as a new threat.
But the truly powerful could not be restrained.
Whether