Duels in Kirigakure were a big deal, a huge deal that carried the same energy as a celebration as it often meant a new Swordsman was to be born. But besides that, it meant another Swordsman candidate would be raised to take Kisame’s place should his challenge prove him worthy of the blade he desires.

And so, it took less than a day for invites to find those who weren’t invited and more. Dozens and dozens of wannabe swordsmen, true masters of Kenjutsu and simple novices scurried from their independent schools to have a chance at glimpsing what Kirigakure considers true Kenjutsu.

Vendors were ever ready and already enlisted to provide food and beverage for those who wouldn’t have the slightest chance at witnessing the duels themselves but waited, camped to hear a rumour or even an official decree of the winner from those that did witness.

Kisame and his gutsy was the talk of the town apparently, not even the fact that the Daimyo’s cloistered sister would be in attendance right beside the Fourth Mizukage, no. Kisame’s daring to challenge Fuguki, the head of the Seven Swordsmen for nearly a decade when he didn’t even have a legendary weapon to wield was the true enticement.

To be honest, I was with the mob in this. I felt absolutely nothing when Kisame voiced his challenge in my presence to note but waking up on the morning of the duel to attend and watch his fate be decided had my palms sweating.

What remained of Jason felt something was very off about Kisame not wielding Samehada and part of the reason he so easily conceded to letting the blue skinned man have a ride with the legendary blade was to fix that feeling. I couldn’t say that it mattered anymore whether Kisame or Fuguki wielded the blade, as long as both teetered at S-rank and bolstered Kirigakure’s fighting force, I would be satisfied.

But still, the unease wouldn’t leave and so I directed my thoughts to Hanako-hime as I approached the crowded stone gates of the Seven Swordsmen with Uncle and Lady Megumi in tow.

“Do you think she’ll take the ask well? All either of you have said about the Princess is that she’s quiet, I know, but…what kind of quiet?”

As I spoke the shinobi among the cluttered crowd seemed to notice me and my councillors. They took it upon themselves to yell orders at the civilians and smack their juniors into form. Two lines of shinobi, some Genin, some scarred Chuunin with faces I now recognized but few I could put names to.

They used their bodies to split the crowd in two, I gave the Chuunin I recognized a curt nod and a tilt of my hat— some I knew from mission reports with their Squad Jounin and others I knew from the war.

The mysterious mechanism behind the gates opening and closing sensed our presence and creaked ajar, just enough for myself and my councillors to enter without anyone else sneaking past, though I wished to invite some of the shinobi who cleared my path, especially those that served in the war with me. In the end I kept moving forward as Lady Megumi spoke at my flank.

“She is…well, we haven’t had much time to determine that. But it shouldn’t bother you, as soon as she brings up the war you bring up our price.” She snorted as she fanned herself, “We aren’t asking for much anyway.”

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I hummed. The tense energies of the participants inside and the increased vigour in those left to train summoned that sense of nostalgia in me again, “Yes, not much except well, except everything.”

Uncle shrugged, “If you don’t take the gamble now…there might not be a better time or a more desperate Daimyo. If his opposition wins…”

“Right, goodbye Bloodlines.”

Uncle and Megumi had come up with a simple ask for the Daimyo as a reward or rather, condition of Kirigakure joining the war. He was facing Bloodline Killers and Kiri had recently gotten a Kage most interested in keeping Bloodline users safe and nurtured.

Total annexation of the Lords perpetuating said killings. As a mild supporter of Bloodline users— if only for his fascination— the Daimyo shouldn’t have any issue letting Kirigakure govern the lands those Lords will leave behind. But he’s no blind man, he’d see clear as day that his influence would shrink and become dependent on Kirigakure even more than it is now.

We already had semi-command of about three of the Daimyo’s islands, including Turtle Island and its meagre inhabitants. If you throw in the mainland on which Kirigakure is built and hidden with measures of absolute control and security that outmatches that of the Daimyo as well, then we’d have control over four out of eleven fiefs.

Add the two islands controlled by the Bloodline Killers and we’d have six, suddenly the Daimyo wouldn’t look so hot. But if it came to negotiations my councillors were willing to cede military command over two of the Daimyo’s islands we secured in exchange for absolute control of two. It was as fair a deal as war profiteering got.

Lady Megumi shook her head and crinkled her nose as we entered the main arena where just about all the important fights took place; a crowd of shinobi, wealthy civilians and aspiring legendary swordsmen clamoured for the victory of their chosen.

Their collective stench left much to be desired even though the crowds were portioned in an incomplete hexagon around the stage. The stage was a raised large stone platform covered in sand and decorated with the same images of the Water Dragon cleaving waves against each other.

There wasn’t any boundary to the platform except its edge and beyond in which a large pool of water awaited any of the participants unfortunate enough to be knocked out so fiercely. I imagined the waters infested by sharks and allowed myself a relieved laugh, thankful this wouldn’t be another battle to the death situation. A single stairway led up to the platform and above that was where I and other so honoured guests would spectate.

I looked up to find Junichi already trying to gain my attention as if I didn’t know where I belonged but then, beside him on a long chair was a face that soured my mirth instantly, “Funato…”

Megumi and Uncle followed my gaze and found their peer seated, completely ignoring their presence as though he hasn’t already noticed we were coming up. Lady Megumi shrugged unfazed and perhaps a bit mischievous, “What, did you want him away from here too?”

“No…of course not, this is a public event and he’s warranted a place at my side here at the very least.” I said, making sure to sprinkle some truth into my fat lie. If I could banish Funato from my sight without absolutely causing a scene that would backlash against me I would— I was just getting used to life without him and now he shows up.

“Worry not, Yagura-sama, he must know his place well now, everyone does.” Uncle said with a bright, reassuring smile. “He won’t cause you any headaches, I’ll make sure he doesn’t.”

“No…I have a better idea but I doubt Lady Megumi will be comfortable with it.” We’d reached the top of the stairs already but I lingered to say this. The aged but ever shrewd woman turned and smirked, “How would you feel about doing exactly as I do?”

She frowned and tilted her head, “What? You mean…ignore him?” Her eyes went wide and flitted from Uncle to me before she regained her composure and reluctantly said, “For today, anything for you, Yagura-sama.”