Chapter 298: Keep the Music and Dance Going!

Chapter 298: Keep the Music and Dance Going!

The noble didn't mind the Daimyo's earlier ridicule and bowed respectfully.

"Your Excellency is wise. The Land of Wind also had nobles who surrendered. Though they lost their lands, they now live in luxury. If you, as the Daimyo, surrender the Land of Earth, you will undoubtedly be granted preferential treatment and an elevated status."

"…"

Surrender as the Daimyo to an enemy nation?

The Daimyo's smile gradually turned cold. "The Daimyo of the Land of Fire and the Daimyo of the Land of Wind died dishonorably, shamefully even. But did they surrender? And now you want me to be the first?"

The noble assumed the Daimyo was worried about meeting the same fate as the Daimyos of the Fire and Wind nations and quickly reassured him:

"They simply didn't have the chance. Their positions and statuses sealed their fate. But you, Your Excellency, are not the most powerful figure in the Land of Earth. You pose no real threat to the Water Nation's rule. Please rest assured."

The noble had some influence and access to wealth, but he lacked the authority to represent the Land of Earth in surrender.

If he were to bring the wealth and lands of a few nobles to negotiate terms with the Water Nation, it wouldn't be enough. Only the current Daimyo of the Land of Earth—someone with the weight of a ruler—could ensure maximum benefits.

Looking at the noble before him, the Daimyo suddenly recalled a private conversation he had once had with Ōnoki.

"Those nobles want to pledge their loyalty to you."

"They're nothing but gluttons and drunkards. The next phase of governance won't need them. Let them enjoy their indulgence in peace."

How true those words were.

Nothing but gluttons and drunkards… himself included.

The Daimyo sat at the head of the great hall, gazing around at his surroundings with a self-deprecating smile, his heart heavy with bitterness and resignation.

Ever since he became the "cash cow" for the Land of Earth, his life had grown increasingly extravagant—and increasingly hollow.

Banquets, indulgence, and debauchery, all the things he once enjoyed, now felt like a thick cocoon isolating him from reality.

But now… it was time to wake up.

Taking a sip of wine, the Daimyo coldly declared, "I will not surrender."

"Since you are willing—"

The noble began to respond with the prepared speech he had rehearsed, but his words trailed off abruptly.

What did the Daimyo just say?

He wouldn't surrender?

Was this drunkard out of his mind?

The hall fell into silence. The dancers stopped moving, their heads bowed low to avoid attracting attention and risking their lives.

After a moment, the noble suppressed his frustration and asked,

"Your Excellency, you don't intend to resist further, do you? Even under Ōnoki's leadership, Iwagakure lost. We cannot defeat the Land of Water. The only two options are escape or surrender. But if you leave the capital, your life will never be as comfortable as it is now."

After handing the nation over to Ōnoki, the Daimyo had become a figurehead, holding power in name only, with the capital as his sole domain.

If he abandoned the capital, he would lose far more than anyone else.

"For hundreds of years, the Land of Earth has been passed down within my lineage. My family has ruled as Daimyos for centuries," the Daimyo said, his tone growing colder with each word.

"And I failed to protect this legacy, allowing Ōnoki to take it. I've been reduced to a mere figurehead—a Daimyo in name only, ruling over just this capital. And now you want me to surrender to the Land of Water and become a nameless, powerless noble? Dream on!"

"The Land of Fire's Daimyo was replaced. The Land of Water's Daimyo died in his palace. The Land of Lightning's Daimyo has become a mere symbol. The Land of Wind's Daimyo died before his nation fell. Among the original Five Great Nations, I am the last remaining Daimyo."

"I may lack the ability to govern or lead troops, but as a Daimyo, I have the courage to die before my nation does. Begone! Go chase your riches elsewhere, you gluttonous fool!"

The noble's face turned dark with anger, but seeing the many attendants in the hall, he dared not voice his resentment. Silently, he retreated.

Watching the noble leave, the Daimyo felt as though he had won a great victory. Laughing heartily, he turned to the frozen dancers and barked, "What are you standing around for? Keep the music and dance going!"

The dancers exchanged glances before resuming their performance.

Several hours later, when the Mist shinobi stormed the Daimyo's palace, they found flames engulfing the central tower.

Sitting in the tower, the Daimyo watched the inferno. For the first time in years, he felt a sense of relief.

In the end, he had died as a Daimyo.

The flames consumed everything. Thick smoke billowed into the sky, and the central tower crumbled into ashes amidst the blaze.

…

When news of the Daimyo's fate reached Yagura, he was momentarily taken aback. Glancing at the other two in the room, he paused before saying, "The Daimyo of the Land of Earth set himself ablaze."

Ōnoki's expression briefly flickered with complexity.

"Courageous, but far too late."

Too late. By the time the Daimyo awakened to his duty, his era had already ended.

If the Daimyo had possessed such resolve in earlier times, perhaps the Land of Earth…

Shaking his head, Ōnoki dismissed such thoughts and turned his attention to Hyuga Fuji.

Hyuga Fuji's eyes glimmered faintly upon hearing the news. He asked, "Lord Ōnoki, after this Daimyo handed over power to you, what exactly did he spend his time doing?"

"Under my watch, he didn't dare cause trouble. He simply indulged in pleasures to prove he had no ulterior motives. Occasionally, he'd… take an interest in the educational materials from the Land of Snow that are related to you," Ōnoki admitted after a slight hesitation.

As someone who had reshaped the entire system of governance, Hyuga Fuji naturally drew the attention of Daimyos across the nations. The Daimyo of the Land of Earth would sometimes review educational materials from the Land of Snow to understand the man who had contributed to his downfall.

And it wasn't just the Daimyo. Even Ōnoki himself had taken a look.

To counter an enemy, one had to understand them first.

Reflecting on this, Ōnoki suddenly felt a chill.

Hyuga Fuji didn't seem surprised by the Daimyo's actions. Did this mean he had anticipated them all along?

Through indirect means, had Hyuga Fuji influenced the Daimyo's thoughts, predicting his eventual decisions?

Education, knowledge… or perhaps ideology itself.

Ideological influence was intangible. By the time its effects were noticed, it would have already permeated every aspect of one's life. It was also the most subtle way to change a person's perspective.

The former Daimyo of the Land of Earth, as Ōnoki recalled, had never shown the courage to burn himself alive. Such an act didn't align with the education he had received as a child.

Could these new ideas, sparked by Hyuga Fuji, have been circulating for far longer than anyone realized?

Thinking carefully, Ōnoki realized it had started two years ago.

First came the concept of unifying military and political power. Then came the idea of uniting the entire shinobi world. These ideologies had shaken every nation, even causing the traditionally peaceful Land of Fire to change its policies toward unification.

And perhaps… even their Daimyo had been influenced.

A king must die for his kingdom…

(Chapter End)