I came to save the Land of Rice Fields!

Outside the capital of the Land of Rice Fields.

The group traveled for another two days before reaching the capital of the Land of Rice Fields.

The distant city gate was small, and the walls stood barely more than twice a man's height, built entirely from yellow earth rammed together with straw.

Paddy fields stretched in every direction outside the walls, one after another. At a glance, there was nothing but muddy water, completely unlike the great cities of the Land of Fire.

The group followed a narrow path along the paddy ridges until they reached the gate.

Three listless guards stood on either side of the gate, swords hanging at their waists as they slouched against the yellow-earth gateway.

When the group entered in their Hyuga clothing, the guards merely gave them a few extra sidelong glances, without even attempting to question them.

The streets inside were narrow and low-lying, and almost everyone walking along them was a commoner.

A farmer carrying two baskets of rice hurried along with his head down. A few tattered sacks sat outside a rice shop, while an old man slowly led a black ox aside to make way.

The group walked most of the way down a gravel street, seeing almost no ninja anywhere.

Only when they passed a tavern with a worn cloth sign did they spot two wandering ninja with swords at their waists, squatting on the steps and drinking, their clothes riddled with holes.

After they passed another alley, the daimyo's palace came into view.

The so-called palace consisted of just two successive sections of brick-and-tile buildings, surrounded by a low, old wall. It was not much larger than the Main Family compound in the Hyuga clan grounds.

Six guards stood before the palace gate, all with swords at their waists, watching the approaching group.

Shinichi had led the way throughout, his expression unruffled, and stopped directly in front of the palace entrance.

Scar took a small step forward, leaned toward Shinichi's ear, and lowered his voice.

"Clan leader, those two outside the tavern just now were wandering ninja."

"The Land of Rice Fields has no ninja clans of its own. In past wars, they relied entirely on hiring people like that."

"I dealt with them on missions before."

"They'll come if you pay them, but the moment things turn against them, they turn tail and run. They're completely unreliable."

Shinichi kept his hands tucked into his sleeves, his expression composed.

"Mm."

Shinichi gave only that brief acknowledgment and said nothing more.

Seeing this, Scar straightened and stepped back behind Shinichi.

The head guard took two steps forward and stopped the group, his right hand resting on the sword hilt at his waist and his expression cold.

"Halt. This is the daimyo's palace."

"No unauthorized persons allowed."

"The daimyo isn't someone any random nobody can meet whenever they please."

The guard looked over their travel-worn appearance and assumed they were more wandering ninja looking for work, his eyes full of impatience.

Shinichi wasted no words on him. He took a folded visiting card from his wide sleeve and handed it over.

A line written in black ink on its cover read: Shinichi Hyuga, leader of the Hyuga Clan.

Frowning, the head guard snatched the visiting card and looked down at it.

The moment the head guard saw the name "Hyuga," his expression changed.

He jerked his head up and looked the group over again.

Only then did he notice their eyes: pure white, without any pupils.

His earlier arrogance and impatience vanished, and he hurriedly removed his hand from his sword hilt.

"L-Lord Hyuga! I didn't realize we had honored guests from the Hyuga Clan!"

He began stammering, bowing over and over in apology.

"Please wait here, my lords! I'll announce you immediately!"

Clutching the visiting card, the guard turned and sprinted deeper into the palace. In his haste, he nearly tripped over the threshold.

The five remaining guards exchanged looks, shrinking back and no longer daring to block the way. They did not even dare look the group in the eye.

Standing behind Shinichi, Scar's mouth twitched slightly, but he did not laugh aloud.

Shinichi remained where he was, his expression calm, and said nothing.

The palace of the Land of Rice Fields was empty and quiet, with a faint, bitter smell of medicinal herbs brewing in the rear courtyard.

Dressed in a loose silk robe, the daimyo of the Land of Rice Fields sat cross-legged before a low table, slowly sipping hot tea.

Spread out on the table before him was a secret letter that had just arrived by urgent delivery from the Land of Fire.

The letter said that the Senju and Uchiha had joined forces and established a Shinobi Village called "Konoha" in the Land of Fire.

Over the past few days, the daimyo had lost his appetite over this matter. His eyes were sunken, and he had been unable to sleep night after night.

Just then, the head guard rushed in and dropped to his knees in the middle of the hall with a thud.

"Y-Your Highness! Someone is requesting an audience at the gate. He says he's the leader of the Hyuga Clan!"

Trembling, the guard held the visiting card high above his head.

The daimyo's hand jerked, splashing several drops of tea from his cup onto the front of his silk robe.

Without even stopping to wipe it off, he hurried forward and snatched the visiting card.

At the sight of the name "Hyuga" written prominently on the cover, the daimyo shuddered all over and instantly straightened up.

The Senju and Uchiha had fought for centuries, suffering countless casualties, yet now they had made peace and joined forces to build a village.

Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha were both monsters capable of destroying heaven and earth. With the two of them together, who in the Land of Fire could possibly oppose them?

The Land of Rice Fields lay directly north of the Land of Fire, separated by only a single valley. If Konoha expanded outward, the Land of Rice Fields would be the first country it swallowed.

Yet with the Land of Rice Fields' current strength, it did not have even one respectable ninja clan. In past conflicts, it could only hire wandering ninja, who fought if they could win and scattered if they could not. They were of no real use at all.

And at precisely this moment, the leader of the famed Byakugan clan of the Land of Fire had come to his door in person.

The daimyo gripped the visiting card so tightly that its corners crumpled.

He abruptly turned toward the kneeling guard and shouted, "Show him in at once! No... I'll welcome him myself!"

With that, the daimyo gathered up the hem of his loose robe and strode toward the palace gate.

The guards all lowered their heads and scrambled aside, pressing themselves against the walls without daring to breathe loudly.

Holding up the hem of his loose robe, the daimyo hurried out through the palace gate and immediately spotted Shinichi at the front of the group.

Seeing how young the leader of the Hyuga Clan was, the daimyo briefly faltered. The surprise on his face vanished in an instant, replaced by a warm smile as he hurried forward to welcome him.

"Hyuga Clan Leader, your presence honors our humble country! Please, come inside!"

Bowing as he personally led the way, the daimyo took them through the corridor and into a reception room in a side hall.

He courteously invited Shinichi to take the seat of honor, then turned to the attendants and issued a string of orders. "What are you standing around for? Bring our finest tea at once!"

Scar and the other branch-family ninja followed silently behind. Watching the daimyo's deferential figure, they exchanged glances.

Before long, an attendant hurried in carrying a lacquered wooden tray and placed freshly brewed hot tea on the table before Shinichi.

The daimyo sat in a lower seat, raised his cup for a sip, and offered a few smiling words of welcome.

Once the pleasantries were over, he changed the subject, indirectly asking about the Hyuga Clan's recent activities.

"You've come a long way, Hyuga Clan Leader. Has all been well with your clan lately?"

Before Shinichi could answer, the daimyo added another tentative question.

"I hear there's been quite a stir in the Land of Fire. The Senju and Uchiha have joined forces to establish Konoha. Have you heard about that, Hyuga Clan Leader?"

Shinichi lifted his cup and took a sip, giving occasional replies. He mentioned neither the overthrow of the Main Family within the Hyuga Clan nor his rejection of Konoha, merely remarking that clan affairs had kept him busy.

Shinichi looked up at the daimyo and noticed the still-damp tea stains on the front of his silk robe, along with the pronounced dark circles beneath his eyes.

It seemed the daimyo of the Land of Rice Fields had spent the past few days worrying a great deal.

Shinichi understood the situation, but showed no hurry at all. For every question the daimyo asked, he gave only half an answer.

The more the daimyo asked, the more anxious he became. He kept picking up his teacup and setting it down, until he finally began to lose his composure.

With a soft thump, the daimyo set his cup firmly on the table and opened his mouth to address the real issue.

He leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice.

"What exactly brings you to the Land of Rice Fields in person, Hyuga Clan Leader?"

After asking, he fixed both eyes on Shinichi and waited for an answer.

Shinichi did not speak immediately.

He slowly set his teacup back on the table, its base making a faint sound against the wood.

The reception room fell silent at once.

Standing behind him, Scar and the branch-family ninja all looked up at their clan leader as well.

Shinichi looked up at the daimyo and paused briefly.

"Your Highness, I came to save the Land of Rice Fields."