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While Hiruzen was busy preparing for his journey, a conversation was taking place in the Uchiha clan compound.
Nara Shikaku sat opposite Uchiha Mikoto. "Madam, forgive my unannounced visit."
"It's just that the mysterious person who used the Sharingan that day..."
"Clan Head Shikaku, you're too polite. It's just that Fugaku is currently on a mission at the border of the Land of Lightning," Uchiha Mikoto responded calmly. "I assure you, the Uchiha clan knows nothing about this."
"This..."
Even so, Nara Shikaku's questioning stalled.
His gaze without meaning to drifted toward Shin, who was standing on the veranda.
Everyone knew that Uchiha Kasumi was now a concubine by the daimyo's side.
With this connection, some questions were difficult to ask.
Shin noticed his hesitation and stepped inside.
"Shikaku."
"Daimyo-sama." Nara Shikaku immediately stood up.
"Do what needs to be done. Ask what needs to be asked," Shin's voice was flat. "Business is business."
Upon receiving this promise, Nara Shikaku immediately felt relieved. He bowed to Shin before sitting down again.
"Madam Mikoto, when the mysterious person attacked the village, where were the Uchiha clansmen?"
"They were all outside, evacuating civilians," Uchiha Mikoto replied. "You can ask the villagers."
Nara Shikaku nodded, not saying whether he believed this or not.
The situation was so chaotic at the time that even if he asked the villagers, they certainly wouldn't remember.
"Then..." Nara Shikaku asked the most important question. "Does the Sharingan have the ability to become pass-through?"
"Impossible. Although the awakened eye techniques of every Uchiha clansmen after awakening their eyes are largely similar, I've never seen any clansmen awaken such an absurd ability as pass-through after awakening their eyes."
Uchiha Mikoto denied it, then, as if remembering something, she paused for a moment before saying, "However, if it's the Mangekyo Sharingan, perhaps it could have such an unthinkable ability."
"Mangekyo Sharingan?"
"Yes!" She paused, then added, "But ever since that person left Konoha, no one in the Uchiha clan has ever awakened the Mangekyo again."
"That person? Are you referring to..."
Seeing Uchiha Mikoto's silent agreement, Nara Shikaku immediately fell silent.
Everyone present knew who that person was.
After asking a few more harmless questions and confirming some details, Nara Shikaku said, "Thank you for your cooperation, Madam Mikoto."
"It's my duty. Clan Head Shikaku, you're the one who worked hard!"
"It's only right. It's all for Konoha."
After a few polite words, Nara Shikaku said goodbye and left.
Uchiha Mikoto then turned to Shin, bowing slightly. "Thank you, Daimyo-sama."
Shin waved his hand, signaling her not to be so formal.
He knew who had done this.
But Danzo was dead, and the Uchiha had a family relationship with him, so no one in Konoha dared to wrongly accuse them.
Just as Shin was about to continue touring the Uchiha clan compound, an Anbu reported, "Daimyo-sama, Minister Tanaka and several other ministers are already waiting at the manor."
Shin immediately gave up the tour and turned to leave.
"Tell them to wait for me at the high wall."
At the pavilion on the one hundred meter high wall, Finance Minister Tanaka and high officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs were reporting on matters.
Minister Tanaka said, "Reporting to you, all matters in the Land of Hot Water have been arranged properly."
"The daimyo of the Land of Earth, Wind, and Water, along with their groups, are already on the way and will arrive within a few days."
"How are our troops prepared?" Shin asked without emotion.
Another Department of Foreign Affairs official immediately replied, "Reporting to you! The Guardian Shinobi Twelve have all gathered!"
"The accompanying civil officials and ceremony officers are also all ready."
"Just waiting for your command, and we can leave!"
"Good!" Shin finally turned around and said to the Anbu next to him, "Go bring the Raikage and the others, and leave immediately."
"Yes!"
"Leave."
With a single command, Shin was the first to go down the high wall.
Below, in the square of the Land of Fire's great gate, a solemn and luxurious group had long been waiting.
Meanwhile, A, Killer Bee, and Mabui were roughly shoved into a prison cart following behind the imperial carriage, looking very much like three animals awaiting slaughter.
Under the gaze of all, Shin slowly walked into the imperial carriage.
This time, he didn't bring any women, as it wasn't for leisure.
"Set off."
"Farewell, Daimyo-sama!"
Above the city wall, Minato, along with a group of Konoha's high officials, bowed deeply.
"Woo!"
A long and solemn horn sounded.
The massive group began to move slowly.
Wheels rolled, the journey began.
All the Konoha villagers who saw this group respectfully lowered their heads, not daring to look directly.
At the same time, in the depths of the daimyo manor in the Land of Lightning, in a secluded courtyard, cut off from the world, time seemed to have stopped.
The daimyo of the Land of Lightning hurried through the corridor, his face marked with clear worry.
In the courtyard, a middle-aged woman in a kimono knelt before a table, quietly trimming a bonsai.
Her appearance was not particularly striking, and there were already some wrinkles at the corners of her eyes.
But her movements in trimming the branches were focused and elegant, giving off an air of nobility.
Her name was Chiyoko Kurogane.
"What have you decided about the matter I asked you to help me with last time?" The daimyo of the Land of Lightning came to her side, his voice rough with urgency.
The scissors in the woman's hand made a snip, cutting off a fully blooming orchid.
"Daimyo-sama, I have already said," she didn't turn around, her voice light, yet with a faint hint of mockery, "I no longer have any connection to the Land of Fire."
"You!"
The daimyo of the Land of Lightning felt a surge of blood from her sharp words. He walked around to face Tsuru Kurogane, looking down at her.
His words were filled with barely held back anger and deep-seated begging. "The daimyo of the Land of Fire, Shin! He is your nephew, your own nephew!"
"The battle report has arrived. The Raikage and the jinchuriki have been captured alive, and three thousand elite troops have all been taken prisoner!"
"The Land of Lightning is already on the edge of a cliff!" His accusation grew softer and softer, almost turning into a plea. "This is our, this is the Land of Lightning's last chance!"
Chiyoko finally looked up, her clear, cold eyes silently watching her nominal husband.
Her face showed no emotion, her heart full of scorn.
A chance?
It is a chance.
But it's not the Land of Lightning's chance. It's my, Chiyoko's, chance!
In Konoha Year 37, as a symbol of peace, she was gloriously married into the Land of Lightning.
At that time, her nephew, Shin, was only six years old.
But these glorious days only lasted two years before everything changed drastically.
In Konoha Year 39, the Third Shinobi World War broke out.
As a princess of the Land of Fire, she began to feel awkward in the Land of Lightning. Her former glory became an original sin.
It was also then that the man before her ruthlessly threw her into the cold palace.
This elegant courtyard was the cage that had imprisoned her for ten years!
Eight years!
A full eight years!
The shame and loneliness of these eight years had long since worn away any affection she had for this man, leaving only hatred carved into her bones!
Now, he was at his wit's end because of his own foolishness, yet he remembered her, this abandoned tool?
How ridiculous!
Looking at the man's face, filled with panic and begging, Chiyoko's mood suddenly improved greatly.
She slowly rose, her eyes fixed on him.
"Daimyo-sama."
"Are you referring to the man who climbed onto the throne over the corpses of all his brothers?"
"Do you think a person who ignores even the bonds of kinship would care about me, an aunt he hasn't seen in ten years?"
"If you're willing to go, I'll agree to anything!"
"As long as you're willing to go!" The daimyo of the Land of Lightning grabbed this lifeline, eagerly promising, "As long as you can persuade the Land of Fire to withdraw its troops, I will immediately annul our marriage and restore your status as a princess of the Land of Fire!"
"I will send the most solemn honor guard, prepare rich gifts, and personally escort you back to your country to apologize to the Land of Fire!"
"I'll give you whatever you want!"
Chiyoko sneered inwardly.
Freedom?
I don't need you to give it to me.
I will take it back with my own hands, along with the ten years you owe me, a hundred times, a thousand times!
On her face, however, she timely showed a look of tiredness.
She remained silent for a long time, so long that the daimyo of the Land of Lightning thought she had refused.
A faint sigh echoed in the courtyard.
"I understand."
"I'll go with you."
"But, Daimyo-sama, do not have any hope."
Upon hearing this, the daimyo of the Land of Lightning immediately beamed with joy. "Good! Good! We'll leave immediately!"
He then hurriedly left to arrange the trip.
The courtyard returned to silence.
Chiyoko looked at the cut orchid on the ground.
She walked over and lightly crushed it with her foot.
When she looked up toward the Land of Fire, there was no trace of weakness in her eyes.