Naruto: The Hyuga Mastermind

Chapter 218: Using the Daimyo's Palace as the Boundary—Southeast for the Land of Fire, Northwest for Us

As the daimyo, no ruler wished for him to live, and as the most respected elder of Sunagakure, if the next ruler of the Land of Wind wanted to take control of Sunagakure's power without wasting time, they would inevitably kill Uchiya Shinji.

Their situations were the same.

With this in mind, the daimyo smiled as he watched a maid pour him a cup of wine and hand it to him.

The amber liquid shimmered in the candlelight, releasing a faint aroma as it gently swirled.

He accepted the cup, his fingertips lightly touching the rim, feeling its cool touch, and a sense of inexplicable peace washed over him.

'So this is my final moment as the daimyo.'

The daimyo slowly lifted the cup to his lips, taking a deep breath to let the aroma fill his nostrils. Then, he sipped the wine, the liquid swirling in his mouth with a hint of sweetness and spice, perfectly stimulating his taste buds, making him close his eyes to savor the tranquility and satisfaction of the moment.

The wine contained a drug from Sunagakure that could simulate death, something Uchiya Shinji had given him.

To avoid any schemes, the daimyo didn't entrust the task to others but personally prepared a bottle of the death-simulating drug according to the scroll's instructions...

A sudden spasm in his heart shattered the peaceful expression on his face, his pupils shrinking.

According to the scroll, this shouldn't have been the effect after consuming it.

Unless it was fake!

The daimyo tried to remain calm, but his body was already reacting. A numbing sensation quickly spread from his stomach to his entire body, his vision blurred, and his limbs grew heavy and weak.

With the last of his strength, he glared at Uchiya Shinji, staring intently.

It was you...

Under the puzzled gazes of those seated below, the daimyo slumped onto the table after drinking, becoming the first daimyo of a great nation to die in the ninja world's castle tower.

This incident was also recorded in other nations.

In the 47th year of Konoha, the daimyo of the Land of Wind concocted a fine remedy, consumed it, and died!

...

Inside the castle tower, the daimyo's sudden collapse was beyond everyone's expectations.

Everyone assumed that if anything were to happen today, it would be to them, not the daimyo.

While others were still in chaos, Uchiya Shinji, who was prepared, swiftly rushed to the daimyo's seat, blocking the daimyo's final "accusation" and tremblingly checked for his breath.

"The daimyo is dead."

The low words echoed through the room, lingering in everyone's ears.

"Who?"

"Who!"

"No answer? Then arrest everyone!"

"Yes!"

The hidden ninjas, upon hearing the command, appeared behind Inoue Nobutsugu, their eyes cold as they looked around the room.

The nobles, who were initially showing sorrow out of shared grief, instantly changed their expressions.

"Elder Uchiya Shinji, you can't arrest us. How can mere lowly ninjas treat nobles so rudely!"

"It's you, it's you who did it. I saw it just now; the daimyo's last glance was at you!"

"Elder Uchiya Shinji, I have nothing to do with today's events. The daimyo is dead, and I'm willing to follow you."

"..."

Ignoring the insults and pleas, Uchiya Shinji quietly watched as some were captured or killed for resisting.

A faint smile appeared on his lips as he spoke before they were taken away:

"The daimyo worked tirelessly to cultivate ninjas for the Land of Wind, making great contributions to resisting the invasion of the Land of Fire. But sadly, it was precisely for this reason that he provoked the fear of the Land of Fire and met his end here. Do not bring about your own destruction."

Hearing what sounded like a veiled warning, some nobles who had been cursing fell silent, while those who had been ready to die with their nation began to curse aloud.

"You dog of the Land of Fire, you sided with them back in Tsukimi Castle, didn't you? Foolish to the end, they won't spare you either!"

"Uchiya Shinji, even as a ghost, I won't forgive you!"

"…"

Watching them get dragged away, Uchiya Shinji's gaze returned to the daimyo's corpse.

Thinking of Hozuki Gengetsu, who was about to arrive, he hesitated for a moment before making up his mind.

He threw away all pretense, fell onto the daimyo's body, grabbed his hand, and wept bitterly:

"Lord Daimyo, we were just having a pleasant conversation yesterday. How could you die today? What am I supposed to do now that you're gone?"

As he sobbed, as if recalling something, he turned to his dazed subordinates and shouted, "What are you standing around for? Go and retrieve all the ninjutsu the daimyo collected, take all the treasures from the palace, don't even leave the plaques from the castle tower—those are our spoils! Those who remain, cry with me!"

After giving the orders, Uchiya Shinji grabbed the daimyo's other hand and continued to cry bitterly:

"I, Uchiya Shinji, will avenge you, Lord Daimyo!"

The surrounding ninjas exchanged glances and forced out a tear.

When Hozuki Gengetsu entered the daimyo's palace without resistance, aided by insiders, the wailing inside had yet to stop.

Watching the group of ninjas sobbing around the daimyo's corpse, Hozuki Gengetsu twitched the corner of his mouth.

The acting was a bit over the top.

But he understood their reasons—they were afraid of being discarded after crossing the river.

Did he seem like that kind of person?

Seeing the main figure arrive, Uchiya Shinji wiped his eyes, his aged face still bearing a trace of sadness. "Lord Second Mizukage, the daimyo's palace is under control, and the resources are being consolidated."

"Hmm." Hozuki Gengetsu, recalling the ninjas outside dismantling walls and roofs, remained silent for a moment, looking at the still-crying ninjas, unsure of what to say in such a scene.

On Uchiya Shinji's side, a ninja suddenly stopped crying and came to inquire, "Sir, how should we handle the daimyo's and the nobles' corpses?"

"Do I need to teach you? Cremate them! And while you're at it, search for anything valuable and take it. Have we not had enough of Sunagakure's days of financial hardship? Burn the remaining trash along with the useless planks we've taken down…"

Hearing the orders, Hozuki Gengetsu glanced at Uchiya Shinji, his brow twitching.

The people rely on sustenance, he understood.

But was he implying that the daimyo was trash?

Wasn't that a bit too much?

Apparently sensing Hozuki Gengetsu's mood, Uchiya Shinji looked at the daimyo's body, a smile on his lips. "See, the daimyo has no objections."

"…"

Hozuki Gengetsu had seen many shameless nobles, but never a ninja as shameless as Uchiya Shinji.

However, the daimyo had no objections…

Glancing at the daimyo's body, Hozuki Gengetsu smiled faintly. "Lord Daimyo, from now on, with the daimyo's palace as the boundary, the southeast will belong to the Land of Fire, and the northwest to us. Any objections?"

"…"

Seeing the daimyo's silent agreement, Hozuki Gengetsu nodded in satisfaction. "It seems there are none."

Then it's settled.

(End of this chapter)

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