You’re the One with the More Devious Mind

It was basically the same old tradition Sunagakure had followed for the past forty years.

The Kazekage would go to the capital to meet with the daimyo and negotiate an exchange of interests.

The outcome of the negotiations generally depended on the circumstances at the time, the relationship between the Kage and the daimyo, and their respective personalities.

In the past, the previous daimyo had been a foolish ruler who neglected state affairs. As long as no one cut into the money he spent on food, drink, and entertainment, he did not particularly care about anything else and was quite willing to delegate authority.

The two funding cuts he made during his lifetime had also been intended to use the withheld money to build extravagant palaces and gardens.

Thus, during his reign, aside from being somewhat short on funds, Sunagakure had not faced much restriction.

But the newly enthroned daimyo was somewhat different.

The documents showed that he wanted so much money not merely to fulfill the political promises he had made before taking office, but also to reclaim the power that had slipped away during the old daimyo’s reign.

Furthermore, Sunagakure now seemed inclined to break free from the daimyo’s economic control, so he was using this as a pretext to suppress Sunagakure.

"Shimizu, what do you think?"

After Chiyo and Ebizo spoke, the Third Kazekage looked toward Shimizu, who had remained silent and appeared deep in thought.

"Third Lord, before that, I would like to ask a question: what exactly is the relationship between a shinobi village and a daimyo?"

"The Kazekage, as the military leader of the Land of Wind, leads Sunagakure in protecting the daimyo and territory of the Land of Wind, while also bearing responsibility for expansion abroad when necessary.

"The daimyo, as the political leader, provides the shinobi village with economic support and legitimacy."

"Exactly. So why not alter Rasa’s earlier proposal? We need not clash with the daimyo directly. We can simply support another faction and make the daimyo feel threatened."

The Third Kazekage’s eyes lit up.

You really are one devious brat!

"I just looked through the documents. Didn’t they say that this new daimyo imprisoned or killed all of his adult brothers? But what if one of those brothers was rescued by ninja from another country, hired by one of his loyal servants? Then, somewhere else, he could start a rebellion and claim that the current daimyo had murdered the old daimyo to seize the position. In that case, Third Lord, what do you think the new daimyo would do?"

The Third Kazekage, Chiyo, and Ebizo could not help but smile.

This was a good idea.

When the time came, no matter who it was, anyone who wanted to secure the daimyo’s seat would have to obtain Sunagakure’s support.

Then, the initiative would naturally return to Sunagakure’s hands.

"Leave this matter to me. Some of the deniable assets the village has placed in other countries can finally be put to use."

Ebizo said with a chuckle.

"Elder Ebizo, I think the Anbu can coordinate with you on this matter."

Rasa was smiling as well as he spoke to Ebizo, who sat across from him.

Ebizo’s smile remained unchanged, but he turned his head toward the Third Kazekage.

My disciple came up with the plan. Isn’t your disciple’s attempt to snatch credit a little too ugly?

Rasa felt a little embarrassed, but he still brazenly acted as if nothing had happened.

His proposal had been rejected outright, while Shimizu’s plan had been adopted.

If he did not step forward and do some work, would that not make him seem useless?

Shimizu smiled faintly, so subtly that it was almost impossible to notice.

Neither he, Ebizo, nor Chiyo had any objection.

Because in this matter, Shimizu was the planner, while Rasa was willing to serve as the executor. More importantly, this was ultimately not a very honorable matter.

There was nothing unusual about doing dishonorable things. Shinobi did plenty of dishonorable things.

But this was an internal matter…

It was not something that could be brought into the open, and there would not even be a detailed record of the mission.

Just as Konoha’s Hiruzen Sarutobi always stood in the light, while any dirty work was handed over to Danzo, his deniable asset.

As for Shimizu and Rasa…

This arrangement did not seem so bad either?

Chiyo and Ebizo, the sister and brother, exchanged another glance.

Rasa was not suited to be a leader, but he was quite suited to be a blade.

The Third Kazekage remained expressionless as he sighed inwardly.

Rasa, Rasa… Why is there still no improvement in that head of yours?

If you really became Kazekage, how could you possibly compete with Shimizu?

"Then let Rasa and Ebizo handle this matter. Rasa, remember that Elder Ebizo is in charge. Leave no traces behind. Watch and learn from your senior. Elder Ebizo will not hold anything back from you."

The Third Kazekage spoke to Rasa.

Ebizo nodded in wholehearted agreement.

That’s right! I’m only teaching you how to do dirty work. Of course I won’t hold anything back!

Rasa, however, could barely suppress his delight.

They agreed that easily?

Shimizu merely gave Rasa two unreadable looks before lowering his head to think once more.

In truth, there was far more that could be done.

It was not as though no one in the shinobi world had ever considered stripping the daimyo of their power. There had been many powerful ministers throughout history. It was simply that the shinobi village system established by the First Hokage had separated military and political power too thoroughly, and shinobi villages possessed a high degree of independence, so no one had considered doing such things before.

But in truth, when a shinobi village controlled nearly all of a nation’s military power, it was not difficult to manipulate certain matters.

Public opinion, finances, resources, local powerful clans—there were many angles that could be exploited.

The regional warlords of late Tang, the Donglin Party of late Ming, and Japan’s shogunates had all pioneered numerous methods of weakening the central government’s finances and hollowing out its authority.

It was simply that Shimizu did not yet possess enough power to plan such matters, nor did he understand the daimyo’s specific circumstances well enough.

As for the Third Kazekage…

There was no denying that he was highly capable and politically shrewd, but Shimizu could not determine whether he possessed such resolve.

Still, it was not yet time to take further action. They first needed sufficiently detailed intelligence before they could establish a general strategy, dispatch capable people to carry it out, and sweep the daimyo system into the dustbin of history.

"Alright, if there is nothing else, I’ll take Rasa and get started on this matter."

Ebizo patted his sleeve and rose from his seat.

"Wait."

The Third Kazekage stopped Ebizo, then took out the scroll Shimizu had handed him earlier and explained Sasori’s development of the bloodline-limit Human Puppet.

"As expected of this old woman’s good grandson!"

Chiyo beamed with delight.

"So, Elder Ebizo, I would like to know where in the shinobi world there are currently bloodline limits outside the Five Great Shinobi Villages that would be relatively easy to acquire."

"Hmm…"

Ebizo stroked his chin and began to think.

Nearly all the intelligence gathered by Sunagakure’s Intelligence Department had been recorded in his mind.