"Have you all forgotten the blood spilled between us?"
Katori Mai's voice was low, persuasive, his eyes glinting with the greed of opportunity. "The fall of the Kaguya Clan is our chance. The three of our clans could avenge old grudges—and take everything the Kaguya left behind. Their lands, their industries... if we seize them now, we could rise overnight."
The room fell quiet.
Across from him, Shiraishi Domoto frowned, arms folded. "You're suggesting we attack the Kaguya directly? Not side with the Amamiya Clan?"
"Naturally," Katori said without hesitation. "If we join forces with the Amamiya, they'll take all the spoils. Even if we win, we'll be lucky to get scraps."
Shiraishi exhaled sharply and shook his head. "Then the Shiraishi Clan will not take part in this war."
"What?" Katori snapped. His tone cracked like steel on stone. "Why the hell not?"
"The Kaguya are already being pushed back by the Amamiya," Shiraishi replied calmly. "If we swoop in now to steal what's left, the other clans will see us as scavengers. And what happens when the Kaguya—or the Amamiya—recover? They'll remember who took advantage of their war. We'll be next on their kill list."
"The Kaguya and the Amamiya are both exhausted," Katori countered, irritation creeping into his voice. "Even if either side survives, they'll be too weak to fight us. Once we absorb the Kaguya's lands, we'll be untouchable."
"Don't underestimate Amamiya Raizen," Shiraishi said, his gaze hardening. "That man's not someone you provoke lightly. He's crushed more than one clan since rising to power. He's already forced the Hanabira and Daitō Clans to yield. Even the Kaguya are retreating. Offending someone like that... is suicide."
Katori bit his tongue.
He wanted to retort, but there was nothing to say. The Amamiya Clan had clawed their way up from obscurity—led by a man who turned every loss into a weapon. The thought of him made even ambitious men hesitate.
Then, Yamada Takashi, who had been silent so far, finally spoke.
"I've heard the Amamiya are forming a new alliance," he said thoughtfully. "They're gathering small clans together—pooling land, resources, manpower. If we joined them, we might still get access to the Kaguya's holdings… without risking our heads."
The other two patriarchs froze.
For a long moment, the only sound was the crackling fire.
"Join... the Amamiya?" Katori muttered. "Would Raizen even accept us now? He must know what we're after."
"Maybe," Yamada said with a shrug. "But we won't know unless we ask. The Amamiya camp isn't far from here. We could send envoys to request an audience. If he accepts, we join. If not, we move on."
Katori's expression shifted, thoughts racing. He had wanted to devour the Kaguya's assets whole—but Shiraishi's warning still echoed in his head. The Amamiya weren't a clan you crossed.
Finally, after several minutes of silence, Katori looked up, resolve in his eyes.
"Fine. We'll send envoys to test the Amamiya's intent. If there's a chance to join their alliance, we take it."
The other two patriarchs nodded in agreement. Within the hour, three shinobi—each wearing the symbols of their respective clans—set off toward the Amamiya camp under the cover of the forest.
The forest rustled softly in the night breeze.
Amamiya sentries patrolled the perimeter, eyes sharp, senses attuned to every whisper of chakra. When a twig snapped nearby, their hands moved instantly to their kunai.
"Who's there?!"
From the shadows stepped three figures, their armor marked with foreign clan insignias. None reached for their weapons; instead, they raised both hands.
"We come from the Katori, Shiraishi, and Yamada Clans," one of them called out. "By order of our patriarchs, we seek audience with Amamiya-dono to discuss an alliance."
The Amamiya sentries exchanged wary glances.
"Drop your weapons first," one ordered.
Without hesitation, the three envoys placed their kunai and blades on the ground.
Satisfied, the sentries approached and gestured for them to follow.
Inside the Amamiya command tent, Raizen was hunched over a map scattered with clan banners and scribbled notes. Reports, logistics, kill counts—it was the chaos of leadership, and he wore it like a second skin.
A messenger burst through the flap, bowing quickly. "Patriarch, three envoys from neighboring clans have arrived. They wish to discuss joining the alliance."
Raizen's pen froze mid-line.
His eyes flickered with sharp amusement. "Three clans, all at once?"
The messenger nodded.
"They claim to represent the Katori, Shiraishi, and Yamada Clans."
Raizen leaned back, lips curling into a thin smile. "So they finally came crawling."
He rose, straightened his robe, and strode toward the exit, voice steady and confident.
"Bring them in. Let's see who's smart enough to survive the Warring States."