Shin-chan discovered that he had completely adapted to this "useless-person lifestyle."
He woke up naturally every morning, then made a round through the kitchen to inspect the snack supplies before holding a brief "security meeting" with Chashu beside the pond.
The meeting mainly concerned the distribution plan for that day's dried fish.
Afterward, he went to the study to watch Ai practise calligraphy, arrange flowers, or play music, occasionally interrupting to offer some "Nohara School" suggestions for improvement.
At exactly three every afternoon, they carried out the follow-up terms of the "Melon Diplomacy Agreement." The two sat beneath the veranda, eating sweets and drinking tea, lingering there until the sun began to set.
"Is this really an S-rank mission?" Shin-chan leaned against a corridor pillar. "I haven't done anything."
Chashu responded with a purr.
"Even you think there's too much free time, right?"
He reached into his ninja tool pouch and took out the small notebook containing his Flying Thunder God improvement plans.
Several new lines had been added:
Flying Thunder God Voice Transmission Plan: Failed.
Flying Thunder God Snack Transmission Plan: Under consideration. If chocolate sticks can be transmitted, I won't need to carry rations on future missions.
Footsteps came from the distance as the steward approached from the end of the corridor.
"Lord Nohara."
"Did you discover more missing sweets?"
"No." The steward's expression was somewhat subtle. "His Lordship would like you to meet him in the tea room."
"The tea room?" Shin-chan looked puzzled. "Is he treating me to tea?"
"His Lordship said he would like to have a conversation with you."
"Alright. Which direction is the tea room?"
"Please follow me."
The tea room was situated in the northeastern corner of the Daimyo's residence. It was a small, independent building hidden behind a bamboo grove.
When the door was opened, the room was far more modest than Shin-chan had expected.
There was a low table, two cushions, and a hanging scroll.
Only one character was written on the scroll:
Courage.
The Daimyo sat on one side of the table, lightly waving the folding fan in his hand.
"Please sit."
Shin-chan sat cross-legged across from him and looked around. "There aren't any snacks?"
"The tea room is meant for drinking tea." The Daimyo picked up the teapot and personally poured Shin-chan a cup. "However, if you want something to eat, I can have some brought over."
Shin-chan lifted the cup and took a sip.
It was extremely bitter.
"Does it taste good?"
Shin-chan answered honestly, "It's so bitter that my tongue went numb."
The Daimyo froze for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"This is the most famous tea in the capital. Everyone who drinks it says things like, 'Its returning sweetness lingers,' 'Its fragrance is elegant,' and 'Its aftertaste is endless.' You're the only person who told the truth."
"Because it really is bitter." Shin-chan took another sip. "But after swallowing it, there does seem to be a tiny bit of sweetness."
The Daimyo looked at him, and the amusement in his eyes gradually settled.
"What do you think of Ai lately?"
"Ai?" Shin-chan thought for a moment. "She's doing well. She eats more than before and smiles more too. But she has too many lessons. She has to study tea ceremony, flower arrangement, music, and calligraphy every day. She doesn't even have time for an afternoon nap."
"You think her life is too difficult?"
"It's even harder than learning ninjutsu."
The tea room was silent for a moment.
The Daimyo gently moved his folding fan and changed the subject.
"Do you know the greatest difference between the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and Konoha's Hokage?"
"One manages ordinary people, while the other manages ninja?"
"More or less." The Daimyo nodded slightly. "The Hokage commands military power, while the Daimyo holds political authority. The ninja village carries out missions and protects the nation, while the Daimyo's duty is to ensure the ordinary people of this country can live in peace."
He lightly tapped the table with his folding fan.
"But besides that, there is one thing only the Daimyo and Hokage can accomplish together."
"What?"
"Create true peace."
Shin-chan scratched his head. "Aren't we already living in a time of peace?"
"You are a ninja, so you should know that the ninja world has never possessed truly lasting peace."
He did not continue. Instead, he lifted his teacup and slowly took a sip.
"This tea is bitter, but after you swallow it, sweetness returns. Peace is the same. Before peace can arrive, people must first endure more than enough bitterness."
"Is another war about to start?"
The air inside the tea room seemed to freeze.
"You're far more perceptive than I expected." A trace of surprise appeared in the Daimyo's eyes. "The conflict between Kumogakure and Sunagakure has already developed into a full-scale war."
Shin-chan did not speak. He merely placed his teacup back on the table.
"The Land of Fire has not yet intervened, but according to our intelligence, Kumogakure's forces have already begun gathering near the Land of Fire's border." The Daimyo sighed. "It is only a matter of time before Konoha is forced to enter the war."
Shin-chan remained silent.
The Daimyo picked up the teapot and poured him another cup.
"Drink slowly. You still have plenty of time. There's no need to rush."
Shin-chan took a sip and stared at the clear green tea.
"It's still really bitter."
"The tea called war has always been bitter." The Daimyo opened his folding fan once more. "Officially, I invited you to the Daimyo's residence to protect Ai. In reality..."
He paused.
"What was the real reason?"
"In reality, I wanted you to leave Konoha before the war began."
Shin-chan froze.
"Why?"
The Daimyo looked at the serious boy sitting across from him. Instead of answering directly, he gently moved his folding fan.
"Why do you think none of the previous Hokage ever truly unified the ninja world?"
Shin-chan scratched his head. "Because the ninja from the other villages are strong too?"
"That isn't the entire reason." The Daimyo's fingertip traced the rim of his teacup. "The Hokage possesses the strongest military power in the ninja world, yet can never win the hearts of every nation. Senju Hashirama once distributed the tailed beasts in the hope of securing permanent peace. And what was the result? He merely delayed war for several decades."
He raised his head and looked directly at Shin-chan.
"Military power and political authority have always been equally indispensable. Only when they truly become one can the ninja world finally welcome a genuine peace that can never be broken."
Shin-chan held his teacup and frowned in thought for a long time.
Then he raised his head and looked at the Daimyo with an expression of sudden enlightenment.
"I understand."
"Oh?" A trace of satisfaction flashed through the Daimyo's eyes. "What do you understand?"
"Once they become one, does that mean we can eat three bowls of ramen with double chashu every day?"
The Daimyo: "..."
He stared at Shin-chan, and all the heavy atmosphere he had carefully built instantly vanished.
"Forget it." The Daimyo smiled helplessly. "Go back. Remember to spend more time with Ai."
Shin-chan ran outside. "Next time you serve tea, remember to add chocolate sticks! Bitter tea and sweet chocolate sticks taste super delicious together."
Watching his back disappear into the bamboo grove, the Daimyo sighed softly.
"He truly is still a child."
"Your Lordship," the steward said from beside him, "will he understand what you told him?"
"It doesn't matter if he cannot understand it now." The Daimyo stood. "Once he experiences war, he will naturally understand. All I need to do now is plant a seed within his heart."