Si Hour (10 a.m.)
Inside Daimyo City.
Li Tetsuhiro and his family were browsing the morning market. Though it was nearly closing time, it still had a charm of its own.
He could not help murmuring, "This scene looks just like Assassin's Creed: Shadows."
There were all sorts of foods, clothes, silks, cosmetics, ironware, and restaurants they had never seen in Konoha, leaving his family spoiled for choice.
With such a rare chance to relax, Tetsuhiro let them shop to their hearts' content.
Along the way, they also overheard the residents talking. "Who knows what that commotion was yesterday? I was so scared I slept under my bed."
"I heard someone say yesterday that the notice announced Konoha's Hokage had come with someone called Hashi. Was it those ninjas who did it?"
"Didn't you go this morning? The notice said the Daimyo was overthrown, and Hashirama Senju will become the new Daimyo."
"No, it didn't say he'd be called the Daimyo."
"Whatever. It's all the same anyway."
Tetsuhiro and his family understood that there was still much to improve before they could win the people's trust, including the gambling dens, brothels, and Underground Arena.
The moment he heard about gambling dens, he thought of Tsunade. He absolutely could not let her develop a gambling addiction!
The Underground Arena was another place that profited from human suffering and stripped people of their humanity. It had to be shut down!
Tetsuhiro immediately clapped his hands, and a guard flashed to his side.
"Gambling and drugs are my sworn enemies! Wipe out both places. Confiscate the money, but keep the people alive. Have the Senju advisers take them away and train them properly."
"Yes, sir!"
Puzzled, Mito asked, "Why aren't you closing the brothels?"
Tetsuhiro coughed awkwardly. "We can't close everything. People need an outlet, or there'll be riots."
The others pondered his words.
As they turned to continue browsing, Tetsuhiro quickly changed the subject and tested Shu Mao. "How would you govern this city?"
Shu Mao struggled anxiously for a long time without finding an answer. Finally, he said dejectedly, "Father, your son is slow-witted. I only think it would be best to let those skilled at governing do the governing."
"Oh?" He immediately thought of Liu Shan and could not help praising him. "True wisdom can look like foolishness. You recognize talent and know how to use it. Not bad, boy. You could at least be a ruler who preserves what he inherits."
"Was that a compliment?" Shu Mao quietly asked Reiko.
"I think so. Father looks quite pleased."
"What do you think, Mito?"
"Our son's aptitude is ordinary, but his kind heart does resemble how you used to be. He could become a benevolent and righteous ruler."
"Then we'll put more effort into his education. Shu Mao, your carefree days are coming to an end."
"Yes! I will definitely... do my best not to disappoint you."
Just then, a disturbance broke out up ahead, and people scattered for cover.
Only when Tetsuhiro and the others drew closer did they see a fat man in lavish clothes standing in the middle of the street. More than ten men who appeared to be his underlings were surrounding and attacking a young man.
The young man fiercely protected the person behind him, yet still managed to hold his own with his fists and feet.
The richly dressed fat man angrily cursed his underlings, then ordered them to take out clubs and attack the young man!
Seeing this, the young man immediately scooped up the person behind him and prepared to flee.
That gave Tetsuhiro a clear look at his face. He was rather handsome, with distinctly Chinese features, though the two little tufts of mustache put Tetsuhiro off.
"Wait, two little tufts of mustache?" That suddenly reminded him of someone. If this really was that man, he had to save him.
"Everyone, stop!" Tetsuhiro swiftly appeared, blocking the way in front of the young man.
"Who dares cause trouble here in broad daylight?"
"Who are you? Who in Daimyo City hasn't heard of me, Yamagami Tomohiro? Don't tell me you're some country bumpkin?"
"Heh, so what if I am? Does this city have no laws or rules?"
"Screw the law! My rules are the rules! Hmm?" He suddenly noticed the mature beauty beside Tetsuhiro, and desire immediately stirred within him.
"Country bumpkin, you're lucky today. Leave the beauty behind, and I'll let this slide."
"Heh heh..." As he spoke, he ignored everyone else and walked straight toward Mito Uzumaki.
Her elegance and beauty captivated him completely. Just as he began imagining their heated passion, a clear, bell-like voice brought him back to reality.
"This man is disgusting. Mother, let's leave."
Only then did he realize there was also a gorgeous young married woman among them!
"I've hit the jackpot!" That graceful, refined type was exactly what he had always dreamed of.
Young wives, mother and daughter, beautiful, alluring, shapely, mature, unsatisfied, dignified, and elegant.
These two women possessed so many appealing qualities that, together, they were simply irresistible!
Yamagami panted heavily, his throat bobbing as he swallowed again and again, his eyes burning with lust. In his mind, the two women stared at him in terror from the tatami while he grinned viciously and stripped away their clothing bit by bit.
In reality...
"I can't take it anymore! Whatever the cost, I'm going to have you both right now! I've decided none of you are leaving!"
"Get them! Tie them all up!"
At first, Tetsuhiro had watched the fat bastard's performance with amusement, but gradually, he realized the man had begun entertaining thoughts worthy of a thousand deaths.
He immediately fell silent, abandoning any attempt to reason with him, and his expression turned utterly grave.
Even his family beside him felt a little afraid. They had never seen such an expression on Hashirama's face.
"Anyone who harbors ill intentions toward my family deserves to die! Even thinking about it is unacceptable!"
Wood Release...
He abruptly stopped forming hand seals. This was his city, and Wood Release covered too wide an area. His fists and feet would be better!
"I'll help you!" Perhaps worried that Tetsuhiro would get hurt, the young man bravely charged into the crowd.
Tetsuhiro slowed down and observed him for a while. He closely resembled the man from his memories: skilled in Taijutsu, adept at kicks, and the period and his age both matched.
Once he was certain, he immediately stepped forward and, under the young man's astonished gaze, punched the thugs down one by one, leaving them vomiting blood on the ground.
He flashed before the fat man, seized his throat, and lifted him with one hand.
"Let go! Do you know who I am?"
"Something Yamagami, wasn't it?"
"My father is Yamagami Hiroshi! If you dare treat me like this, the Yamagami Family won't let you get away with it!"
"Finished with your last words? Then die!"
"Urk!" Tetsuhiro tightened his grip.
Yamagami Tomohiro struggled more and more violently. He could feel that this man truly intended to kill him.
"I... was wrong. Please... spare me!"
The fat man's face turned dark red, then gradually began to purple.
The young man immediately stepped forward. "Brother, let it go. Spare him. His family has connections at the very top. Ordinary people like us can't afford to cross them."
"Let's escape now, before we're surrounded."
Tetsuhiro turned his head, his voice icy. "He was going to lay hands on my family. If I spare him today, will he spare you tomorrow? Right now, I'm strong enough to fight back. What if he were the stronger one?"
"..." Those words silenced the young man. He knew perfectly well that if he had lacked the strength, Oda would probably have already fallen victim to him.
"Stop right there!" An angry shout came from afar.
"Here comes another good show." Tetsuhiro loosened his grip slightly, leaving the bastard alive.
"Hah, hah..." The fat man immediately gasped for air.
Hooves thundered toward them, swiftly arriving before the group. More than forty well-equipped samurai followed in orderly formation.
Seeing that Tetsuhiro had no intention of letting go, the man in the lead immediately roared, "Are you blind, you bastard? The city defense general is here! Put my son down!"
"Did I hear that right? This man actually dared speak to me like that? Even Madara wouldn't!" Tetsuhiro asked the people behind him in surprise.
Shu Mao answered, "Father, you heard correctly."
"I don't care who you are. The last thing you should have done was touch someone from my Yamagami Family! Let go!"
He looked at the city defense general mockingly. "Oh? And if I don't?"
"Heh." The man gave a low chuckle, then his face darkened. "Apart from the Daimyo, no one has ever dared say no to me. I'll take my time making you and your family suffer."
Crack! A sudden, crisp sound cut him off.
"Father... save..." Yamagami Tomohiro's neck suddenly snapped, the smug expression still frozen on his face.
"Oh dear. This is all because you threatened my family. My hand slipped..." As he spoke, his voice grew low. "What are you going to do about it?"
"Ah! My son!" The general screamed himself hoarse, then suddenly fixed Tetsuhiro with a hateful stare. "Pay for my son's life! Attack! Flay him alive, and kill everyone behind him!"
"You should've left with me!" the young man complained as he came to Tetsuhiro's side.
"It's not too late for you to leave now. I'll cover your retreat."
"Ah, this only happened because you stood up for us. Please have your family take Oda away. I'll fight beside you!"
"Then you're going to be disappointed." Before he could finish, the enemy charged at them. Tetsuhiro spoke while dodging.
"You'll have to become the world's greatest Taijutsu expert before you can fight beside me."
"Are you kidding me?" The young man had only just turned to complain when he saw Tetsuhiro standing amid the crowd. Everyone around him had already fallen to the ground, motionless.
"H-how is this possible? Who are you? If you dare kill people in Daimyo City, the Daimyo won't let you get away with it."
"Daimyo City? The Daimyo? Heh... hahaha!"
"The Daimyo has already fallen! This city, this world, is about to be rewritten!"
Clap, clap, clap!
A guard instantly appeared beside him.
"Take this man away and interrogate him thoroughly. Very thoroughly! Don't kill him. Take your time playing with him."
"Yes, Lord Hashirama!" Sarutobi Hizayama raised his head, revealing a vicious expression as he walked toward the general.
"What? You're that Hashirama! The new Daimyo? I was wrong! Tomohiro deserved to die! Please spare me!" Unfortunately, Tetsuhiro paid him no attention.
"Clan leader, save me!" But no matter how Yamagami Hiroshi screamed, no one appeared, and nothing happened.
"Tch." Tetsuhiro sneered in disdain. He had thought the clichéd sequence would keep going. He would not have minded having a little more fun.
However, he soon noticed a figure furtively dart past. Just as he was about to give chase-
"Report! A message from the Lord Hokage." An Anbu member flashed to his side.
"Oh," he acknowledged, then asked the young man nearby, "What's your name?"
"Well, my lord, my name is Chen Yifang. Everyone calls me Chen."
"This world is unfair. I have a dream... Come help me make it real."
"All right..."
Before you continue