"Do you think you can become a daimyo?" Tian Flying Swallow's sword took an unexpected turn, severing the jade crown that bound his hair. "Back then, my father sent me to a marriage alliance to make the Land of Fire's rule more stable. Now look what's happened, you've murdered our father, killed your brothers, and slaughtered your nephews for power. Can you, alone, support the daimyo's prefecture? Will your clansmen and relatives trust you? Will Konoha support you?" Her sword flashed like lightning, leaving a thin, bloody gash on the second young master's cheek.
The second young master suddenly burst into maniacal laughter, startling the Crow outside the window. "Little sister? You're nothing but a political tool married off to a foreigner! You want to seize the throne too?!" He whistled sharply, and dozens of ninjas wearing red crow masks burst through the window. "Since you're here, you won't leave alive today!"
Tian Flying Swallow shielded her eldest brother behind her, her sword flashing in a flurry of light. The stench of blood filled the hall. She heard her second brother's hysterical roar, "Kill her! Kill that old hag too!" Amidst the clashing swords, she recalled her familiar, gentle second brother from childhood. Back then, he would always play games with her, and his eyes weren't as crazed as they were now. But now, he was so unfamiliar and ruthless.
" Princess Flying Swallow!" Kagura's voice came from outside the door. "The Second Young Master has gathered three thousand ninja assassins. Our lineage of sorcerers cannot interfere in the internal strife of the Daimyo's clan, but the Daimyo can be entrusted to my protection!" Tian Flying Swallow's pupils contracted slightly, and with a sharp slash of her sword, she knocked away a ninja who had launched a sneak attack. She turned to look at her father on the bed. The old man had placed the crown, the symbol of the Daimyo's position, beside his pillow at some point, and the ruby on the crown shone brightly in the bloody light.
"Put it on." The eldest brother's fame was barely a whisper. "Only you... can make the Land of Fire..." Before he could finish speaking, a poisoned arrow pierced through the window. Tian Flying Swallow spun around and swung her sword to block it, only to see the second young master raising his longbow and laughing wildly, "Want to become a daimyo? Get past me first!"
The torrential rain lashed the stone steps of the Daimyo Pavilion, and the footsteps of three thousand ninja soldiers shook the ground. Tian Flying Swallow gripped the crown tightly, feeling the cold touch of the metal. Looking at her second brother's contorted face, she suddenly realized that this battle was no longer about power—but rather the last struggle of a man consumed by desire, teetering on the edge of madness.
Tian Flying Swallow summoned the Nine Dragons Jade Seal for protection, and looked at her second brother with icy eyes, saying, "Do you know what is respected in the Shinobi World? It's absolute strength. Where did you get so many ninja troops? These aren't Konoha ninjas."
The rain poured down, and the Second Young Master's hand, holding the longbow, began to tremble uncontrollably. He watched as Tian Flying Swallow held the Nine Dragons Jade Seal, which had never appeared in the world before, in her palm. Blood dripped from her blood-stained fingertips onto the jade carvings, and the entire Daming Pavilion suddenly trembled violently. The ninja army was suppressed by the dragon's might.
"Impossible... This is all fake!" The Second Young Master's roar was crushed by the thunder. The nine divine dragons on the surface of the jade seal came to life, and golden and red light shot into the sky. The long swords in the hands of the three thousand ninjas were all used to attack the dragons. The Kunai at the waist of the ninjas were drawn as if they were free and shot at the nine dragons in the night sky.
Tian Flying Swallow walked barefoot on the floating broken tiles, her crimson skirt fluttering even without wind. She looked down at the dragon soul awakening within the jade seal, her voice as cold as cracking glaciers. "Two years ago, when we got married, my husband gave each of us wives a peerless treasure. You must have heard of it; today I'll show you its power. From now on, this Nine Dragons Jade Seal will be passed down through generations to the King of the Land of Fire, and it will symbolize royal power."
Nine divine dragons roared to the sky, their breath melting the armor of samurai and reducing ninja magic to dust under their claws. The second young master's knees buckled, and he knelt on the ground, watching his guards vanish under the dragons' might. Even the ninjas further away were killed by the roar, bleeding from all seven orifices, the stench of incontinence mingling with the stench of blood filling the air. "Sister! I'm your second brother!" he cried, scrambling to grab Tian Flying Swallow's ankle. "I was just bewitched... please spare my life! I don't want to be a daimyo anymore!"
Tian Flying Swallow looked down at her elder brother, who had once murdered their father, and lightly lifted his chin with her toe. "You don't regret it, you're just afraid because you know you're about to die. You killed your elder brother and the others for power, and poisoned Father's medicine. I won't let you die so easily." Suddenly, the nine dragons roared in unison, and the second young master screamed as he was swept away by a dragon's tail, his limbs severed at the root. "I'll spare your life, but spend it in the dungeon!"
Three days later, in the council hall, the scent of sandalwood mixed with the stench of blood had not yet dissipated. Tian Flying Swallow, dressed in a black royal robe, sat upright on the dragon throne, the Nine Dragons Jade Seal on the table shimmering with a mysterious aura. When she removed the pearl veil symbolizing her princess status, the old ministers gasped—beneath the veil, her exquisitely beautiful face was as cold as frost. This woman, besides being the princess of the Land of Fire, was also the Administrative Department of Konoha, and the wife of the Hokage. At this moment, her eyes swept over them like knives.
"Gentlemen, I've killed tens of thousands of treacherous officials and their cronies involved in the coup these past few days." Tian Flying Swallow's fingertip traced the dragon on the jade seal. "I've killed enough people these past few days. Those here today will be spared, but all the exorbitant taxes and embezzled funds you've collected over the years must be handed over to me. I will use them to build the Land of Fire and provide relief to the people." She suddenly threw a scroll of ledgers, the parchment slamming into the face of a city lord. "Lord Watanabe Saburō, the money you've embezzled is enough to feed the famine victims of three counties, isn't it?"
Watanabe Saburō knelt down, trembling, and kowtowed, saying, "I am willing to hand over ninety percent of my family fortune to thank the lord for sparing my life."
The ministers looked at each other, then knelt down and said, "We are willing to hand over most of our wealth to thank the daimyo for his mercy." They had been terrified of the newly enthroned Princess Flying Swallow these past few days. Most of the ministers of the Land of Fire had died this time. Fortunately, they had not participated in the power struggle among the daimyo's sons, otherwise they would have been truly doomed.
"From this day forward, the title of Daimyo is hereby revoked; from this day forward, I shall be called a King." As Tian Flying Swallow rose, the Nine Dragons Jade Seal floated into the air, nine phantom dragons coiling around her. "Three days from now, I will hold my coronation ceremony. Those who disagree may come and taste the power of this dragon soul."
Three days later, it was the day that Tian Flying Swallow of the Land of Fire officially ascended the throne. Inside the council hall, the ministers stood ramrod straight, awaiting the queen's coronation. Kagura coughed, cleared her throat, and announced loudly, "Ministers, today is an auspicious day. Princess Flying Swallow will assume the position of the second Queen of the Land of Fire, leading our nation to an even more glorious Mirai." As soon as she finished speaking, the hall erupted in commotion.
The ministers exchanged glances, their expressions incredibly complex. Meanwhile, some of the old noble families of the Land of Fire showed surprise, their eyes wide and mouths slightly agape, as if they had been startled; others frowned, their lips slightly downturned, clearly displeased; still others feigned composure, forcing a smile, but their eyes betrayed their reluctance.
However, regardless of their inner thoughts, when they saw Princess Flying Swallow sitting majestically on the throne with her regal bearing, all their little schemes vanished. Princess Flying Swallow was no ordinary person; everyone knew how many good deeds she had done for the country and its people. The only thing that made them question her was that she was a woman.
As Tian Flying Swallow sat on the throne, her gaze swept across the court, and the ministers felt as if they were being suppressed by a powerful force. Helpless, they could only obediently kneel down and shout, "Long live the King! Long live the Queen!" The sound reverberated throughout the council hall.
The commotion inside the palace hadn't subsided when it became even more lively outside. The people had long heard the news of Princess Flying Swallow to the throne, and they were all incredibly excited. They spontaneously gathered outside the palace walls, forming a massive crowd that completely blocked the entrance. Everyone chatted excitedly, their faces beaming with happiness.
"Oh my, have you heard? Princess Flying Swallow has become a famous princess!" a middle-aged man dressed in coarse cloth said excitedly to the old man next to him.
"Of course, of course! Princess Flying Swallow is a great philanthropist in our Land of Fire. She has helped our people a lot." The old man stroked his beard and said with a proud look.
"That's right. Back when the ninjas invaded, my child fell ill. Thanks to Princess Flying Swallow for distributing supplies and having ninja doctors help treat civilians, he was saved." A woman, holding her son, said gratefully, tears welling in her eyes.
"That's right, if it weren't for the many irrigation ditches that Princess Flying Swallow helped build back then, my land would have dried up from drought long ago. Now that she's the governor, our lives will definitely get better and better." An old farmer chimed in, his face full of anticipation.
And so, more and more people gathered, and the conversation grew more and more lively. Finally, someone shouted "Long live the King!" and everyone joined in. The sound was like waves, one after another, shaking the heavens and the earth. The entire Land of Fire was immersed in an atmosphere of joy and peace.
Princess Flying Swallow stood inside the palace, listening to the cheers of the people outside, and felt a warmth in her heart. She knew that the burden on her shoulders was heavier, but she also believed that as long as everyone worked together, the future of the Land of Fire would be even brighter.