"For now. There are a few more things I need but it will take some time to get the entire detail about the security surrounding them as those things are dangerous to get. I will tell you when I have the full data." I replied, taking a look at the scrolls and unsealing them one by one. The first one was a jar of water.
Hero's Water.
The second one was also a jar of water, however this one was different. It's from a special place called 'The Hole'. The water of that place is very special as it's overflowing with life and accelerates cell division.
The third and the last one was a piece of stone, or rather a meteorite. It was taken from the Hoshigakure village and had the effect of making the chakra denser.
I needed two more things but one is extremely hard to get while the other is completely unknown. I still haven't been able to find the information about where the item is.
Hashirama Senju's necklace and something called the Gelel Stone.
The first one is with Tsunade Senju and stealing it from her will be extremely hard and I have started a Grimoire search for the Gelel Stone to know what it is and where I can find it.
All these items were for the next ritual to increase my overall power.
"By the way, there is something special under 'The Hole' boss. It had a lot of energy." Kuroka suddenly said, attracting my attention.
"Oh? Was it alive?" I asked.
"No. Probably some kind of energy source but the power I felt inside was incredible. It was even beyond the Seven Tails which I had sensed in the Village Hidden in the Waterfall."
"That much?!"
"Yup."
"Okay, I will try to investigate more about it then." Gelel Stone is the first in line.
When I tried to find the location of the stone, it showed a time in years. I tried changing the question and the time changed. Which means there is a reserve of this stone somewhere. Finally, I decided to change the question to the nearest location of the stone and got a time of one month for it.
"You need to stay in the Capital this month. People have started coming in. We need you to keep an eye on them. Stay in the Warehouse and watch over it." I commanded.
"Alright boss."
I checked the information about the water and found that it could be used to grow and increase the quality of medicinal plants as well. In fact, I could use it to boost the growth as well as quality of the Blood Tulips.
I might have to investigate more about it.
"Have there been any troubles in the capital recently, Saitō?" I asked, turning towards the elderly man.
"Nothing yet. The main guests are all accommodated in the palace and they don't usually leave. The ones who do only go to the high class places in the city and there haven't been any trouble there."
"Kanae."
"Some people have been keeping an eye on the training of the students from a distance. We have changed the things we teach to basic exercises, meditation and swordsmanship until all this is over."
"I see. Keep that up. In fact, add lessons about Bushido for people to see. Don't ever let the information about the Eight Gates or Breathing Styles get out before we are ready."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Toji."
"Some shady people are roaming the city. Above average chakra. They keep an eye on things and talk to people about the recent development of the Land of Flowers. They have also been seen taking a look around the warehouse and checking the security measures and the entire place."
I narrowed my eyes.
"If any one of them tries to sneak into the warehouse… make them disappear." The warehouse is empty, except for some basic research stuff with wrong data, some fertilisers and low grade stuff. Everything important was in my Grimoire but we had to send a message to prevent any people from trying the same in the future.
"Yes Boss."
"Sera."
"That dung beetle was leering at me again. Can I make him slip and fall… on a knife or something?" She said, making me want to facepalm.
"No Sera. Trust me, as much as I want to say yes, that would cause a lot of problems right now. Just avoid him or use henge to go around for a while. That guy will get what is coming to him."
Did that bastard not give up even after I blatantly told him that she was my lover?
Sigh…
I was getting tired too.
Everyday, guests were coming and I had to greet them all. Not only that, everyday there were multiple meetings I had to accompany Grandpa to. Trade with different nations, possible alliances.
The news of the increased production of crops was spreading and more people wanted to establish trade with us.
"Kuina. How is Kasumi doing?"
"Fine. She has been visited by people from the Land of Stairs a few times but other than that no one."
"I see. Just keep her company. I don't want anyone to try to pull something on her."
"Got it.""Those damn bastards!" I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth in anger. "They are practically blackmailing us."
The Kumo bastards want to increase the tribute we pay by 20%, citing the war being taxing on them. Those bastards…
"Calm down, Kazuya. Anger will only affect your judgement. This kind of situation is very normal when you are sitting on that throne. You will have to face this kind of situation everyday. What's important is to remove your personal feelings and pride aside and look at the situation from a ruler's perspective. You have to put the needs and safety of the people above everything. That's what a true leader should do. I know how you're feeling right now. Believe me, I have been in that situation more often than you can think of. Calm your mind and think calmly, what do you need to do for the sake of the people."
I closed my eyes and took deep breaths… need to calm down.
After almost five minutes, I felt calmer.
"Good. Now analyse the situation and tell me, what do you think of the situation?" Grandpa asked.
I took a deep breath and replied. "They must have heard of the increased production of our crops and decided to increase the tribute. First, they used this occasion because they know that us being under their protection of Kumo is one of the reasons people think the Land of Stairs is proposing this marriage. Even the alliance we have recently made with the Land of Medicine and Land of Stairs is partly reliant on this protection. They think that by threatening this alliance, they can make us pay more. Second, with the war going on and Iwa on the back foot, there is a chance they might try invading us to cut off their losses. Kumo knows this too and wants to extort us."
"Good. What else?" He asked.
"Although they don't know what the Land of Stairs and Land of Medicine is truly planning, we can't reveal that either. Not to mention, the Land of Earth would no doubt attack us the moment Kumo removes their protection. We cannot afford that right now. We cannot take the protection of other nations. Suna will extort us even more. Konoha will just make this a battlefield. Mizu cannot help us…"
As much power as I have accumulated, it wasn't even close to what we needed.
Iwa had the largest army among the five great ninja villages.
There were at least three Kage level threats in the village, the Tsuchikage and the two jinchuriki. Even if we could hold off two of them with all our strength, we would be unable to do anything about the rest of the army. We just didn't have the power…
The only time our nation can be truly safe is when the enemy knows that the losses of invading our country would not be worth their gains and we were nowhere near that level.
In the next three years however… If everything goes well, we can achieve that kind of strength. I will surely get to that kind of level in that time. Until then however…
"Very good. Then what do you think we should do right now?" Grandpa asked again.
I sighed. "We have to accept their demands."
"Well, almost."
"Huh?"
"We have to accept their demands either way but if you just hand it over to them, then they will do it all the time. We fight with diplomacy, Kazu-kun. Haven't several of our villages been destroyed recently? Kumo hasn't done anything on that side."
I nodded.
"Use this and negotiate the price. After all, it wouldn't do for their reputation if the word got out that they only blackmail and extort their allies without providing any real protection to them. It will even make them work harder to protect our borders to avoid that situation." He said. "The key is to balance the demands…"
"Okay."
"Good. Then we can arrange another meeting tomorrow." He replied as he picked up his cup of tea and took a sip from it.
"How can you be so calm, grandpa? Don't you feel angry?" I couldn't help but ask about his nonchalant attitude.
"And how would getting angry serve me?" He replied in the same calm tone before looking at me. "You are going to be the Daimyo of this country, Kazu-kun. As a Daimyo, you will have to make difficult decisions, kill people, not only your enemies but your own too, send people close to you to their deaths despite knowing everything… for the sake of the people. That guilt, that pain… you have to bear it. This is the sacrifice we make for the position we sit in. Remember how you speak to people outside using 'We' instead of 'I'. The Daimyo represents their people. Your decisions are not yours alone. It's the decision of the entire populace of the Land of Flowers. You will never find a ruler without blood on their hands… Do you know why?"
"I…"
"Because they don't exist. Even if someone like that becomes a ruler by some miracle, they are killed or overthrown soon after. The latter is bad not only for them but for the people too. People will blame you, curse you and even try to kill you. Not only your enemies but sometimes even the ones you work for… you have to endure it all. That's the fate of a ruler."
_________________________________x____________________________________
The talk with grandpa had left me in a sombre mood.
It's not that I didn't know that… but I guess I had just been avoiding thinking about that.
We were able to negotiate the deal and get Kumo to agree on fifteen percent. In return they will have to take down the Kodon Clan, who had actually settled down in the Land of Stairs. That bastard Medicine Daimyo had ordered them to lay low and my new in-laws were more than happy to accommodate them.
This move will send a warning to them.
As for Kumo… I will be sure to take repayment of this instance… with interest.
If they think they can come in and walk all over us, without facing any consequences, then they will find that they are sorely mistaken.
"Come on, no need to look so glum. You are getting married today. Smile boss." Toji laughed, making me roll my eyes.
"Are you here just to make fun of me, Toji?"
"Eh, while I would love that, no. I was here to tell you that Kumo ninjas have been sniffing around the warehouse."
I gritted my teeth.
"Show an opening. Let them enter."
"You are just going to let them do that?" Toji asked.
"Not here. Not today. I will make them pay. Just let them have all the fun they can have as long as they don't harm anyone directly."
"Well, you are the boss." He shrugged. "Anyways, get ready. It's time."
"Thanks."
It was indeed time.
The entire capital city was decorated and guests from many countries had visited.
Grandpa was sitting among the guests.
I looked on the other side of the stage and saw Kasumi, dressed in a bridal dress.
She looked amazing.
Perhaps Toji had a point.
I shouldn't let Kumo or anyone else destroy my mood and ruin the day for us.
The ceremony went through without any hitch.
Everyone presented us with their gifts and gave us their well wishes. Everything was over by night and we were free to go to our room.
I was officially a married man.
We put off our wedding night for when the guests were gone and we did the ritual. Who knows what kind of changes would happen after I gain her bloodline? I'd rather not do it with so many people around.
- Toji -
"Are we just going to let them go nyaa!" The black cat asked as she looked at the ninjas from Kumo sneak out of the Warehouse.
"Can't do anything. The boss' orders."
"That's not like him at all." Kuroka protested.
"Well that's life, kid. We have to swallow some bitter pills. But don't worry. The Boss is not going to let them go so easily. We will get our chance. You didn't see his eyes when he gave the orders. I have seen him order people to be killed, even seen him kill enemies in anger during that trip… but this time it was different."
"I don't understand what you mean nyaa."
"Hmm, how should I say this… last time it felt like a guy trying to get revenge, vent out his anger, a normal reaction for any sane person who has been through something like that. It was all within expectation. This time however… it felt far colder, one promising to ruin their enemy rather than just a burst of violence. These bastards are not going to have a good time."
It was a scary thought.
Toji knew how much of an asshole Boss could be if he wanted to if he used his powers right… It was only his nature pulling him back all this time.
Unfortunately these bastards had opened the Pandora's box.
"Let's forget about them. There are some idiots snooping around near the chakra beast breeding facility. You can vent on them. Man, I want to stretch my muscles too. Just observing for so long is boring. I want some action too."
"Didn't you take down fifteen spies already?" Kuroka asked, confused.
"Them? Nah, they were too weak. I couldn't even warm up. Just some third grade thieves."
"All of them were chunin level, you know?"
"My point exactly. Not enough to warm up. Now come on. Boss got married today. Let's wring some necks and party."