Chikage snapped his fingers.
"I thought of that too."
"Genjutsu alone really isn't foolproof."
"So we need to combine it with some live combat drills."
"I've already used Hot Water Town's intelligence network to spread word that we're leaving the village with a huge sum of money. Bounty hunters will come sniffing around soon."
The corners of Chikage's mouth lifted.
"We'll put them in desperate situations during real combat."
"We can even stage a few scenes where someone is gravely wounded and on the verge of death."
"Truth mixed with lies, illusion mixed with reality."
"That'll push their emotions to the limit."
Cold sweat beaded on Fugaku's forehead as he listened to Chikage's arrangements.
Gambling with the lives of the clan's elite.
The sheer madness of it chilled him.
"You call this training? You're playing with their lives."
Fugaku wiped away his sweat.
"What if something goes wrong and someone actually dies?"
Chikage shrugged indifferently.
"What doesn't come with risks?"
"You sit in your office drinking tea every day, and even you could choke to death on the water."
"As long as the medical team is ready to intervene at any moment, it shouldn't be a problem."
Chikage pushed the tactical training plan back in front of Fugaku.
"Come on, Uncle. Make the call."
"Tomorrow, I'll head to the capital and work my connections with the Daimyo."
"I'll leave things at home to you."
"Start with Yashiro and the other squad captains."
"Steel yourself. Don't go soft on them."
Fugaku stared at the case file on the desk and fell into a long silence.
The air in the study grew heavy.
On one side was the blade of the Higher-Ups, drawing closer with every step. On the other were the brutal experiments awaiting his clansmen.
As clan leader, he had