Inoue's actions

Hearing Daimyo Inoue's sudden declaration, several ministers present were somewhat confused.

What's going on? Why is he acting like this? Is Daimyo Inoue vying to become Tanaka's heir?

The ministers were confused, but Daimyo Tanaka was not.

"Inoue, are you really planning to steal my Tanaka family inheritance?"

Daimyo Tanaka seemed furious. He clenched his fists so tightly that the veins in his arms bulged.

Inoue's expression turned serious.

"How can this be theft? I'm also your son-in-law. Don't I have the right to inherit?"

"Daimyo Inoue! You already have your own inheritance!"

"We're all family. What's yours is mine," he replied with a smile, "and what's mine is yours too, right?... although as an older adult, wouldn't you be ashamed to take something away from a young man like me?"

"Hehe… hehe…" Daimyo Tanaka suddenly sneered.

It was unknown whether this reaction was due to Shigeru's influence or simply his way of thinking, but Daimyo Inoue's words made him laugh immediately.

Two or three seconds later, Daimyo Tanaka jumped up and shouted.

"Daimyo Inoue! I want Tetsuno to inherit the position of Daimyo. I'm informing you, do you understand?"

Inoue narrowed his eyes.

"You..."

"If you dare to covet the foundation of the Tanaka family again, believe it or not, I will not let you leave this mansion alive!"

Daimyo Tanaka's gaze turned ice-cold. Facing that pressure, Inoue simply chuckled.

"Look what you said. I'm your son-in-law. How could I hurt you? This is your inheritance, and of course your opinion is the most important thing."

Daimyo Tanaka snorted and looked at the ministers.

"Tetsuno is my heir. Tomorrow I will hand over the position of daimyo to Tetsuno. Do you understand?"

"This..."

The ten ministers didn't know what to say. Tomorrow? So much for hurry?

"Let's disperse!"

Without waiting for his reply, Daimyo Tanaka rolled up his sleeves and left the room. Shigeru followed him with a serious face.

Outside the gate, Daimyo Inoue's three escort ninjas were waiting for their lord.

As Shigeru walked past them, he showed nothing amiss on the surface, but a faint glimmer of ice-blue chakra shone in his eyes.

He calmly observed the three ninjas before leaving with Daimyo Tanaka.

At that very moment, the three ninjas briefly fell into a trance and regained their composure in a second.

"Everyone, please disperse." Daimyo Tanaka left, and it was Tetsuno, his designated heir, who took charge of the scene.

After giving the order, Tetsuno stood up and left.

"Hmph!"

Inoue followed him. As he quickly passed Tetsuno, he turned around, snorted coldly, and headed toward the residence with his three guards.

The ministers, still in shock, looked at each other without saying a word and hurried to leave.

Once everyone left, only the servants remained cleaning the room.

…

In the tower on the west side of the castle, Shigeru watched. The soldiers around him didn't seem to notice and continued to stand guard diligently.

From the tower, Shigeru watched as a carriage left the city gate, escorted by three ninjas.

"Everything is ready. It's time to end this."

Watching the carriage drive away, Shigeru whispered to himself and disappeared in a flash of frost.

Through a genjutsu suggestion, Daimyo Inoue's greed for the Tanaka throne was revealed to the ministers. Thus, even if Daimyo Tanaka were to die later, Daimyo Inoue would not be able to claim a single cent.

Indeed, the reason Daimyo Inoue acted so aggressively was because of the genjutsu-based suggestion Shigeru imposed on him.

Otherwise, how could such a calculating leader behave so irrationally?

Of course, Shigeru's suggestion barely consumed any chakra. Strictly speaking, it wasn't even a genjutsu. How much effort does it take to manipulate a mere mortal?

With the support of all involved, the news that Daimyo Tanaka would relinquish power to Tetsuno the following day spread rapidly throughout the city.

Ignoring the general commotion, Shigeru, Zenitsu, and Tetsuno gathered back in the courtyard.

A slight smile appeared on Shigeru's lips.

"Tonight the show begins."

…

Night fell slowly.

The moon wasn't quite round, and thick, dark clouds covered the sky. The weather was ordinary, but there was a strange tension in the air.

It was very late. While the castle slept, three black figures infiltrated Tanzaku Castle.

Tetsuno rested in the room next to Princess Asuka. She was sleeping soundly, her face flushed and her breathing steady. But Tetsuno's eyes were open in the darkness. He couldn't sleep.

I knew that that night, something big would happen in the castle.

…

"Here we go," Shigeru whispered.

Next to him in the courtyard stood Zenitsu. Clouds covered the moon and cast shadows over them. With a little attention, one could notice his presence.

But the three ninja guards of Daimyo Inoue, stationed in the mansion, seemed completely blind to his existence.

Chi, chi...

The three ninjas slashed the throat of a servant girl with short knives. They then murdered several others who were assisting the Daimyo.

Then, Daimyo Tanaka's three guards, transformed into puppets, emerged and began to fight Daimyo Inoue's guards. The clash of weapons echoed again and again.

However, they seemed to fight like mere men with knives. No one would imagine they actually possessed jounin-level strength.

After more than ten seconds of mortal combat, a slight noise was heard outside the house.

In the next instant, the six ninjas scattered in different directions. Four of them were quickly killed by the others.

Shigeru looked towards the mansion door… and then appeared directly in the room where the daimyo slept.