Main World.
Winter, Year 27 of Konoha.
British Continent, New Capital.
Imperial Palace, Council Hall.
Winter sunlight spilled through the high windows, casting faint patterns of light and shadow across the long conference table. No fire burned in the hall, but the air was not cold-the Empire's palace had temperature-regulating runes, keeping it springlike all year round. People filled both sides of the long table. The Empire's core was all here.
Toyotomi Yinglang sat at the head of the table, his moon-white Kariginu glowing softly in the sunlight. To his left sat the Empire's consorts-Liuli, Kushina, Tsunade, Sakura Haruno, Pakura, Karura, and Sasha. To his right sat the Empire's leading officials-Nagato, Yahiko, Konan, Yutian, Sasori, and Kaguya. Behind him stood the maid Mikoto, holding a tray with several cups of freshly brewed tea.
No one spoke. Every gaze rested on Toyotomi Yinglang.
"One year from now." Toyotomi Yinglang set down his teacup and leaned back in his chair. "Once the first Star Realm Army troops are created and the Withered Ruins Battle Group is formed, the Empire will have the strength to expand rapidly and occupy life planets."
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Sasori spoke, his voice calm, though everyone could hear the strength beneath it. "I'm having Mechanical Star build Starships. In a year, we'll have over a thousand."
A faint smile curved Toyotomi Yinglang's lips. "Over a thousand? Is that enough?"
"No," Sasori said calmly. "But it will suffice. At least for now. The Empire's shipyards are still expanding, Mechanical Star's mineral deposits are still being mined, and Ocean Planet's talents are still being trained. Over a thousand in one year, several thousand in two, over ten thousand in three. The Empire doesn't need to reach the heavens in a single bound. What it needs is