Chapter 45: The Daimyō's Shadow

The next morning, Shisui received a summons.

From his father—Masaki Morinaka, the Daimyō of the Land of Flowers.

The meeting was held in a private villa on the outskirts of Hanagakure. No guards. No servants. Just father and son.

Masaki stood by the window, his silken robes pristine, his expression unreadable.

"I heard you discovered the Hollow Bloom lab," he said calmly.

Shisui's eyes narrowed. "And what do you know about Phase V?"

Masaki finally turned. "I authorized the original research. It was meant to make you stronger—to protect you from what's coming."

"You were going to use me as a weapon!"

"No," Masaki said sharply. "As a shield. You are my heir, Shisui. I knew war was inevitable—so I ensured you'd be able to lead when the time came."

Shisui took a step forward, anger flaring. "So you let them tamper with people? With chakra? With souls?!"

Masaki sighed. "The world is cruel, son. Ideals alone don't keep kingdoms safe. Strength does. Sacrifice does."

There was a silence between them—deep, jagged, unspoken.

Then Masaki placed a sealed scroll on the table.

"This is your inheritance. The original blueprint for the Phase V serum. Destroy it if you want. But if you do… know you may be giving up the power to protect everything you love."

Shisui picked up the scroll with trembling fingers.

Then he looked into his father's eyes.

"I don't need your power," he said coldly. "I'll forge my own."

Masaki only nodded.

As Shisui left, the petals falling from the garden trees looked stained… like blood on silk.