Chapter I

The Beginning of Journeys

Episode 1

The Little Village of Okimoto

"What a wonderful day today is!" said a boy with a strange name, Kazu, as he climbed a small slope with a bucket of fresh fish and a fishing rod on his shoulder. He was fourteen years old, slightly above average height, wearing a brown down jacket and leather pants that looked a little worn but still kept him warm. He was thin and uniquely handsome, with deep blue eyes and slightly disheveled snow-white hair.

The harsh winter days had ended, and the joyful spring had begun. Rivers had shed their icy coats, and the sound of the waves still echoed from the sea. Birds flew back home, happily chirping upon their arrival. Trees had just started growing their first leaves, and little green grass sprouted from the ground, bursting into life. Everything in the village of Okimoto was happy about the arrival of spring. Fishermen were preparing their boats to set sail, villagers were already digging their gardens, and merchants were preparing to delight people with beautiful trinkets.

"What a fantastic catch today! I should think about what to make with it, maybe some broth?" Kazu said as he walked home with a lifted spirit, simply strolling down the street and greeting his fellow villagers. Their mood improved a bit upon seeing him, and some thought to themselves, "It's so early, and Kazu is already up and about; maybe it's time for me to get busy too."

"I would love to learn some super cool move today or for my mother to show me another one of our family techniques," the boy dreamed until his thoughts were interrupted by a pleasant voice coming from behind him.

"How's the catch, Kazu?" asked Mitsuri in her usual playful tone, whom he immediately recognized as his best friend. The thought of her name always brought up the term "first friend" in Kazu's mind. Due to some reasons, they were both disliked by the people around them, and fate bound their strings with strong, friendly bonds. Looking at Mitsuri now, one could see a fifteen-year-old girl with black hair falling to her shoulder blades, delicate cheekbones, and a smile that brought joy to everyone. Even though she was older than Kazu, she was shorter than him, which she didn't like. Although Mitsuri had become a beauty, she was still struggling to be accepted by the community due to prejudices and the past. Kazu didn't have such issues, and he always supported her in her difficult times.

"I didn't expect to see you here. You're usually still asleep at this time," Kazu said, surprised.

Mitsuri smiled playfully and replied, "Well, there's a reason. I wanted to show you something."

"Sounds interesting. Where do we need to go?" Kazu asked.

"I think it's better to show you at my place," Mitsuri replied, placing a finger on her chin.

"All right then, let's go."

Mitsuri grabbed Kazu's sleeve excitedly and led him to her home. It was more like a hut than a house, built mainly of wood and stone. Inside, there was only one room with a water-filled cauldron in the center. On the right side of the room, there was a sleeping bag and a small table with an unfinished breakfast plate. It was a bit messy, but Kazu had gotten used to his friend's slight untidiness.

Meanwhile, Mitsuri sat opposite the cauldron, extending her arms. Kazu understood what was happening and placed a bucket of fish on the floor, watching intently.

Using the energy called "Taikyoku," Mitsuri took control of the water in the cauldron. She was focused, and her face was serious. Kazu found it adorable and grinned. Then he shifted his gaze to the water, which was gathering in the air.

With each passing second, the water sphere took the shape of a fish, even the details such as scales were meticulously crafted.

Kazu stared at it, his mouth wide open. He tried to say something, but he was overwhelmed with admiration.

Mitsuri released the Taikyoku and the water fell back into the cauldron, losing its form.

"This is incredible! How much did you train to achieve this?! This is Grandma Chiyo's technique! When did she teach you?!" Kazu exclaimed excitedly.

Mitsuri smiled and replied, "It was tough. I trained all of last week..."

"Haha.." Mitsuri quietly laughed and, closing her eyes, fell asleep.

"Apparently, she was holding on with her last bit of strength to avoid falling asleep," Kazu thought. Approaching closer, he noticed dark circles under her eyes. He gently laid her in a sleeping bag, covered her with a blanket, and tidied up the room.

"Sweet dreams," Kazu said as he left Mitsuri's house.

Episode 2

Kindred Spirit

Kazu approached a large wooden house. He looked at the heavy door and saw that it was unlocked. Opening it and entering the house, he shouted:

"Mother, I'm home!"

"Did something happen? You're a bit late," said the woman who came out of another room, wiping a plate with a towel.

"Sorry, Mom, I was at Mitsuri's."

"How did it go?" Kuzana asked with an amused smile.

"She showed me the technique she copied from Granny Chiyo."

"I see," Kuzana said with a hint of disappointment, but immediately smiled and continued, "Show me what you've got!"

"Well, it's not much..."

"Wow, that's a great catch! We're having fish soup for dinner tonight!"

Upon hearing this, Kazu involuntarily smiled. He loved his mother's cooking, even though she was always busy, she never forgot about her son.

"Oh, and how are your training sessions going, Kazu? Have you mastered the technique I showed you?" she said hurriedly, heading to the kitchen.

"I've already learned it, even though it takes a lot of chakra control. That's why I'd like to learn a couple more clan techniques..."

"But the chakra consumption is still too high, right? So, for now, focus on practicing the water prison jutsu, and then I promise to teach you a few more cool techniques!"

Kazu's mood lifted even more.

"You can eat," Kuzana said, serving him food on the table.

"Okay, mom!" Kazu replied joyfully, sitting down at the table.

"Unfortunately, I can't have lunch with you. I have some business to attend to in the village."

Kazu silently nodded, enjoying his meal.

His mother was the head of the village and was literally swamped with work, but she always found time for her son. Kazu understood this and appreciated it very much.

After finishing his meal, Kazu washed the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen. Then he went to his room.

His room was larger than Mitsuri's. His bedroom had a rectangular shape, making it more angular. Also, everything was perfectly orderly and clean. His bed was neatly made, and everything was in its place. Kazu walked over to a small dresser next to his large wooden bed.

Taking clothes out of it, he changed and put on his down jacket again. Right now, he was going to his training session. His training clothes were considerably worn out due to intense training, but they were clean. During training, he gave it his all, and his teacher, Myanme, liked it. Once he casually mentioned that he had never had such a diligent student as Kazu. And Kazu really wanted to live up to the trust placed in him.

Slamming the heavy door shut and locking it, Kazu headed to his training session.

Episode 3

Important conversation

A very old gray-haired man lay on a huge bed. Judging by his build, in his youth he was quite tall and luxurious. Next to him stood a middle-aged man, tall and thin, with a sharp nose, and not very attractive in appearance. They were called Yakimoto and Ohima.

"Son, I can no longer rule the Black Dragon country, now someone else must take my place," Yakimoto said through heavy breathing. The atmosphere in the room was not the best. Servants stood with bowed heads and sad expressions on their faces.

"Father..."

"Don't interrupt me!" the old man snapped.

"You must take over the reins of power until Ari can take the throne, even though I tried to delay the moment as much as possible until Ari came of age, I still couldn't," he said, struggling to speak.

Displeasure flashed on Ohima's face, but he held back and continued to listen to his father.

"Give me some water, son."

Ohima handed the old man a glass. Yakimoto took the glass with trembling hands, spilling some water on the lace bedspread. He took a sip and continued:

"I've done a lot of horrible things during my reign, and I tried never to involve you and Kiran in it. You didn't know about the horrors I caused during the seventh world war. Apparently, because of me, my younger son went insane and killed his wife and little daughter," he said, speaking softly with an empty gaze, lost in memories.

After a moment of silence, the old man continued:

"I want you to take care of the country and your nephew, Ari."

"Yes, father!" Ohima immediately replied.

Outside the door stood a fifteen-year-old boy, slightly taller than average height, with dark, almost pitch-black hair falling almost to his shoulders. His eyes had a dark yellowish hue, although their true color was not visible through the tears. He was wearing a black nightshirt with white sleeves. If you looked at him, you could tell at first glance that he came from a noble family. The boy stood against the wall, quietly sobbing as he listened to the conversation inside the room.

"I must have been a useless father if I raised such a monster," Yakimoto muttered quietly, his lips pursed as he immersed himself in thoughts of the past.

"But Father, what about the country? Don't you have reasons to worry?" replied Ohima.

"Right now the country is thriving, and I don't think you'll have any problems with internal politics, especially with your health. I've done my best to rebuild the country after the Sixth and Seventh World Wars."

"I never doubted that, Father."

"And also..." Yakimoto paused for a moment. "Forgive your old man for the past."

"I've already forgiven you," Ohima smiled.

At some point, Yakimoto wanted to add something to his eldest son, but his eyes became empty, his mouth slightly open, and his heavy breathing could no longer be heard. Ohima silently looked at his dead father, tension evident on his face in anticipation of future difficulties. With a gesture of his hand, two servants and another man quickly entered the room and he gave each of them instructions before leaving. The young man still stood at the door, listening to the conversation between the deceased king and prince. He gradually fell to his knees, crying silently, wiping away tears that kept flowing from his eyes.

Episode 4

Family Lunch

The next day, the guy who had been crying at the door yesterday was lying on a huge bed with an empty gaze. He looked like a dead man, pale and emotionless. He didn't want to get up and go to his grandfather's funeral and cry all day again. Although he still had his uncle, he didn't feel a strong attachment to him. Apart from reprimands, lectures, and rare useful advice, Ohima didn't pay much attention to his nephew, and therefore their relationship didn't develop. Unlike his grandfather, who valued and loved his grandson very much.

His personal maid, Isabelle, came into the room. She was a twenty-eight-year-old girl, the youngest among the other maids. Her chestnut hair hung just below her shoulders, with a deep and penetrating gaze. She had neat facial features and was dressed in a maid's uniform. Isabelle had been serving him faithfully for nine years. Seeing the boy in such a depressed state, she wanted to find words to comfort him, but unfortunately, no thoughts came to her mind. So she just passed on his uncle's words.

"Young master Ari, His Highness Ohima wishes to see you at lunchtime at twelve o'clock."

"Tell him I'm not coming," Ari replied wearily, turning over to the other side.

"But he strongly recommends that you come today, as he has important topics he would like to discuss with you."

"What does he want from me? I didn't even want to leave my room today," Ari frowned.

There was a short silence. The maid waited silently for her master's decision.

"Okay, calm down. There's no need to upset Isabelle and Ohima. They're not having an easy time either right now."

"Okay, I'll let him know that I'll be there," Ari said.

"Very well, young master," Isabelle said, bowing low and leaving the room with a quiet sigh of relief.

Ari heard this and smiled a little.

Approximately before the start of the lunch feast, the prince finally left his room. Although he wanted to stay there until evening, he became curious about his uncle's persistence. Having shaken off his morning grogginess, he strolled slowly through the spacious halls and narrow corridors. Today, Ari was dressed in a black vest decorated with gold embroidery and neat gold buttons. Under the vest was a fresh, white shirt, and a pendant with the Nobaru family coat of arms in the form of a dragon adorned his chest. The wide pants trimmed with gold fabric had a dark color. The elongated shoes, on the other hand, were brightly white.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

After passing through several luxurious rooms and no less luxurious corridors, Ari finally arrived at the banquet hall. The servant standing next to him greeted the young prince in the proper manner and in an instant opened the tall doors decorated with gold and silver.

Upon entering the room, Ari saw that there was slightly less food on the table than usual. The room itself was quite spacious and luxurious, with a high ceiling slightly higher than in other rooms. The windows in this room were human-height, with red lace curtains that were attached to holdbacks. Even the chairs, whose seats were softer than peasant pillows, looked like works of art. Ojima sat behind the large table, neatly eating the sea fish prepared by the cooks, and there were quite a few different dishes on the table, although fewer than usual. Often, what was not eaten at this table was served in the evening, and if anything was left in the evening, all the food was given to the servants. Ojima's faithful servant Mikudo stood to his right. He was a tall, moderately plump, but not thin man with short brown hair, slightly crooked teeth, and an unpleasant smile as a result. It was he who greeted the prince when he entered.

As soon as Ari entered, all the servants who were there bowed low to him. The door was immediately closed behind him, and one of the maids rushed to the table and pulled out a chair for the master. The young prince sat down at the table, pulling his chair closer. At the same time, Ojima finished chewing the fish he was eating and carefully wiped his hands on a snowy white napkin.

Noticing a slightly dissatisfied expression on Ari's face, Ohima frowned slightly and then spoke up:

"Ari, my dear nephew, why didn't you attend your beloved grandfather's funeral?" His gaze was soft, but the aura emanating from him was intimidating.

The young prince remained silent, looking away. Indeed, today was the funeral of Yakimoto, a day that even had its own name: "The Day of a Thousand Tears." The entire country was mourning the deceased ruler, but Ari didn't come. He had his own reasons that he didn't want to remember, let alone talk about.

"Well, I guess you didn't consider it an important event, since you've already mourned him, right?"

"Yes, of course," mumbled Ari to himself. He still couldn't look his uncle in the eye, seeing him like this for the first time.

"Have you heard my conversation with your grandfather yesterday?" Ohima asked suspiciously, glancing at Ari.

"Maybe, but I don't think there was anything I wasn't supposed to hear," the young prince tried to wriggle out.

Listening to this, Ohima just smirked.

"And why aren't you eating, my dear nephew?"

"To be honest, I'm not hungry, and I would prefer to leave," Ari said, intending to go.

"Oh... You don't like my company?" Ohima became more serious, putting his right hand on the table and propping up his head with it.

"No, of course not, my generous uncle, it's just that I'm very upset about my grandfather's death and would like to be alone," Ari used all his eloquence to deflect a little scared of his uncle's behavior.

"Hmm, then I'll tell you something and allow you to leave the room," said Ohima to him in a disappointed and slightly relaxed voice, and continued, "I'm leaving the capital in a day and heading to the council of the 'thirteen', and I won't be around for about five days. During these five days, you have no right to skip any of the lessons, and if you disobey me, you will be severely punished. Let's say today is your "day off."

"Well, now you can go," Ohima concluded his speech with a haughty smile.

"I understand everything," Ari nodded calmly and humbly, although he was boiling with a sea of emotions of fear and surprise.

Finishing the sentence, Ari promptly stood up from the table, the maid immediately moved the chair back in place, and he left the room.

Ohima watched him go. When he was gone, his gaze ceased to be gentle, and he ordered the servants to leave the room, all except one, after putting the food aside and sprawling on the armchair. When only the two of them were left in the room, the prince sighed heavily:

"Ah, it's so hard to talk to children, especially Ari."

"You're right, my lord."

"I just hope there won't be any trouble at the council," Mikudo worried.

"Don't worry, Mikudo, I'm the only direct heir of Yakimoto. Even with the difficulties he left me, I'll be able to take the throne," Ohima reassured him.

"What about Ari? Doesn't the boy have the right to the throne?" Mikudo asked, with a questioning look.

"He's still too young for the title of ruler of the whole country," Ohima heard a confident answer.

"Well, then all that remains is for the other countries to recognize you as the ruler of the Black Dragon country," Mikudo exclaimed, almost relieved.

"Mighty Bull country is definitely on our side, Singing Dragon country is always neutral and I don't think it will escalate the conflict, the only problem is the Rising Hawk country and its ruler, Milwaukie."

"Yes, she can do what she shouldn't," Mikudo added to Ohima's speech.

"It's unlikely that we can influence her in any way," Ohima noted. "She has always been characterized by her stubbornness and unwavering spirit," he added thoughtfully.

"But that's only one of the great countries, I assure you, you will become the ruler," Mikudo tried to reassure him.

"And that's true," Ohima smiled.

Episode 5

Special Ability

In the early evening, Ari was able to calm the various emotions that flooded him after lunch with Ohima. The boy decided to practice his skills.

He started to move around the castle. First, he entered a narrow corridor with golden candelabras hanging on the walls, and began to descend a staircase covered in handmade carpets, holding onto handrails carved from the best wood by the master craftsmen of the Black Dragon country. After passing through another corridor, Ari found himself in a room of impressive size with various furniture upholstered in silver and gold, incredibly large crystal chandeliers, and stands with various types of weapons. Then he went out into the inner courtyard. After passing through the garden, he finally reached his destination. It was an empty platform with a stone surface, on which stood various mannequins for training, burned by fire. Next to them were mannequins for practicing sword and blade attacks. Today he was training without a teacher. He decided to simply practice, without any serious techniques or moves.

He stood in front of one of the mannequins and assumed a combat stance. Closing his eyes, Ari took a deep breath. Then, raising his right hand up at a right angle and stopping it in front of himself, he mentally began to pass his taykiri through his hand and started to twist it. After a moment, a small rotating flame appeared in front of the palm of his right hand, the size of an apple. After a few moments, Ari threw the fireball like a stone. The left hand attacked after the right, which was thrown back. The attack of the left hand was somewhat different. To create something from taykiri, you just need to imagine your attack. And to do this, different methods were used that could help and speed up the process.

"Flash," he whispered to himself.

Bright flames burst out of Ari's left hand, hitting the target precisely. His speed was truly incredible for his level.

He continued to attack the mannequins with "Flash."

But at one point, Ari allowed a strong emotion to burst out. In his head, it was as if an inner voice spoke.

GRIEF

He lost control of the element.

Actually, he was a little different from everyone else, and it wasn't about status or attitude towards him. No, he had three elements instead of the usual one that people have, like fire for example. Let's say this person fell in love with someone who had a different element, like earth, and their child would then have something in between these two elements, known as "Rengo." It could take any form within the range of the fusion of these elements. Additionally, the person who possesses Rengo often gains both of these elements, but some may be more difficult to use than others. To put it another way, there are dominant elements in a person's body, and when they intuitively transform their Takyri into an element, the dominant one is usually the Rengo itself.

A fiery flash changed color. Its speed increased tenfold. Less than a second passed, and the attack had already reached its target.

The mannequin, made of fire-resistant material, fell to the ground burning from an unknown fire. The point of impact was burned through. Ari felt a sharp pain in his hand, he screamed and crumpled to his knees.

"Txhaaaa!"

His hand trembled with pain. Unraveling it, he saw terrible burns all over his palm and fingers. Even the sleeve of his white shirt was slightly scorched. He made this mistake quite rarely, and now he paid for it due to his various emotions distracting him. Releasing Rengo for just a moment had a striking effect. The skin slid off the middle finger, exposing the red flesh.

Isabel ran up to him as his personal servant; she knew some light healing techniques. After providing first aid to her master, the servant took him to the royal hospital.

Ari's wound was bandaged and treated.

The humble boy lay in bed looking out the window. No one spoke to him; the local servants were already used to it. Although they didn't treat Ari well after learning that he had not just an ordinary element but a "special" one. Actually, the young prince didn't care; he had long since overcome these difficulties. In accepted norms, Rengo was taboo, and those who possessed it were considered outcasts. So people hid and didn't show themselves to the world. Ari was lucky at first because his "ability" could easily be mistaken for ordinary fire, so when he was previously burned, his surroundings thought it was just a slightly failed training. His Rengo was also quite strange. It didn't submit to its owner in any way. Using it gave him impressive power, but the price was high. This flame was like a double-edged sword that pursued him everywhere.

After a couple of hours, Ari's teacher Hashimoshi came to see him.

"I heard you used it again!" he said irritably.

"Why? What's the reason?" the man protested.

Ari just sighed heavily, his gaze becoming darker.

"Well, I'm waiting for an answer!" Hashimoshi persisted.

"It's none of your business, teacher."

As soon as Hashimoshi heard this, he became even angrier, but remembering the "Day of a Thousand Tears," his anger disappeared in an instant. He had intended to reprimand his student for a long time, but he really had reasons to make a mistake. His gaze softened.

"Sorry, I got carried away. Well, then I'll see you at training tomorrow." His teacher was about to leave, but then turned back and spoke again. "And yes, His Highness Ohima has told you that he is very disappointed."

Ari just looked away. These past two days had been the most horrible of the year.

Episode 6

Secret Council

This time the weather was not as good as before. The sky was completely covered with clouds, pouring rain and the sounds of thunder somewhere in the distance shook the sky. A man in a black cloak hurried somewhere, avoiding people. He walked into a dark alley, often looking back, checking for any surveillance behind him. Soon on one of the narrow streets, he approached a door and knocked eight times in a certain rhythm. The door opened slightly, and the man behind it said:

"Password."

"Inbo," the man in the black cloak whispered.

The door opened and the stranger swiftly entered a small room, where two men were guarding it. Passing further inside, he entered another, more spacious room where three people were waiting for him around a round table.

" What's the rush? " said the stranger irritably, throwing back the hood of his black cloak. This person was none other than Ohima.

"Do you pretend to take the place of the ruler of the Black Dragon country, don't you?" asked one of the people sitting at the table.

Without waiting for an answer, the second person asked, "You're not going to betray your friends from the Mighty Bull, are you?"

"Why would I betray you? " said Ohima with confusion in his voice.

"You'll become a ruler and forget about your old friends," calmly continued one of the people sitting.

"I will never do that. You helped me achieve my current position, after all," confidently replied the guest.

"We just wanted to make sure you are still loyal to us, Ohima," reassured the first stranger.

"You're not just a pawn, you'll help us achieve our new goal," said one of the people sitting with a smirk on their face.

"And what is it?" asked Ohima, trying to control himself.

"You will serve the unification of our countries into one," said the same person, grinning.

Prince of the Black Dragon remained silent upon hearing those words and just nodded obediently.

"We just wanted to remind you of us, so you can go now. We have something else to discuss," the people at the table waved him away.

Episode 7

The Council of Thirteen

In a city located on the borders of three great nations - the Black Dragon, the Soaring Hawk, and the Mighty Bull - rulers of the great and neutral nations gathered. It was one of the largest and most picturesque cities on the continent, as all great nations took part in its construction. This place was called "Nesutto." Nesutto, known as the city-state created by four great nations, had become the center of trade between three of them for five years already. Magnificent views from the Mighty Bull and Singing Whale's country, elegance and wealth from the Black Dragon's country, and some restraint from the Soaring Hawk's country. Nesutto took the best from these countries and combined them into one. This city was a source of pride for each of these countries.

The rulers of the Mighty Bull and Soaring Hawk were already waiting in the conference hall. The hall was truly enormous, decorated in the best combination of colors and filled with various decor. The chairs and table were made of the finest wood cut in the Great Northern Forest, the armrests were lined with the fur of the best sheep, and made of gold mined in the Tokay-Yama Mountains. The entire floor was covered with the best silk carpets. The room itself was spherical and had thirteen doors on different sides. The council was held in the largest building of the united territories with a spherical roof, and the meeting was held there.

After several hours, all the rulers were present, and an old man with a sharp, long gray beard, who looked friendly and bald, stood up, shook his cloak and said:

"I declare the Council of Thirteen countries open." And he sat back in his place.

Behind each head of state stood two of their trusted representatives, and the best warriors of Nesutto guarded the outside of the building.

"The main reason for our gathering is the death of the ruler of the Black Dragon," said the head of the Soaring Hawk country, Milwaukee. She was a tall woman with long golden hair that hung down to her waist. A lush chest, neat lips, and pleasant cheekbones. Taking all of this into account, she could be considered a stunning beauty ignorant of politics, although such an attractive appearance hides a fierce ruler holding one of the great countries in her fist. Her aura also revealed a warrior and a powerful ruler.

"And the nomination of Mr. Ohima, Yakimoto's son, for the post of ruler of the Black Dragon country." As if reminding her, King Kuodai of the Mighty Bull said.

"Let's not delay and start the voting!" confidently said Ohima without standing up from his seat.

"Don't rush, sit down, after all, you're not the ruler yet," the ruler of the neutral country of Books, the respected elderly woman Manido, reduced Ohima's enthusiasm. It was clear that she had a rich experience. Her severe gaze, which was not typical of a girl, harmoniously blended into her image for some reason.

"I think we need to discuss all possible options for the role of the ruler of the Black Dragon," said the ruler of the neutral country of merchants, Don-Yoku, suspiciously looking at Ohima. He was a short man with a hooked nose and a slightly repulsive appearance. His gaze showed that he had been through a lot. The trader's eyes, seeing the true value of things, and a silver tongue made him a rather dangerous person.

"I agree," supported him the ruler of the neutral country of Grains. A full-bodied man with a double chin and large cheeks, looking at him, created the impression that you were looking at a domestic pig. He did not give the impression of an outstanding ruler. Nevertheless, his country was developing quite well. The reason for this was competent ministers.

"I think we still need to make Ohima the ruler," responded the leader of the quite successful neutral country of Silk, Shyoka Okubo. His sharp and sober view of the situation always complemented his image. The main production of clothing and linen was located in the country of Silk, and it was precisely because of the servants of the ruling dynasty that this country was able to become prosperous.

"I also think so," thoughtfully said the ruler of the rather poor neutral country of fishermen, holding his chin with his hand, trying not to give away his insincerity. A poor and hungry country in the backwoods. The activity in trade was similar to the Singing Kite country, but the successes were extremely small.

Upon hearing his speech and seeing his actions, Kuoday looked displeased.

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While the leaders of the neutral countries were talking among themselves, Ohima leaned his head towards Kuoday, one of the rulers of the Mighty Bull. In this country, a triumvirate rules, and each of the rulers had their own area of activity. It was Kuoday with whom Ohima had recently met. The prince whispered:

"I never thought that neutral countries would participate."

"It's all Milwaukee, she called them, she must suspect our conspiracy," Kuodai whispered to him.

"And what should we do?"

"We'll have to rely on the country of the Singing Whale, even though it's the weakest of the four great nations, its words still carry weight."

After thinking for a while, Ohima came up with an idea and voiced it to Kuodai in a quiet voice:

"Maybe we could use the Hakai squad?"

"Absolutely not!" Kuodai abruptly cut off the conversation and turned around.

"Well then, since we've discussed all the candidates for the post of the king of the Black Dragon country," said the leader of the neutral country Kuzni. He was the only one who spoke with an accent. Only his country had a different language. This was due to the country's long-standing natural isolation.

"I suggest we start voting," responded the leader of the thriving neutral country of Trees. The country was the supplier of the best wood, as well as a huge amount of various exotic skins and animals.

Everyone took a pen and wrote on a sheet of paper on the table, and after a minute they handed the sheets to the old monk Shinsukki, who was leading the meeting from the country of Monks of Tora. He stood in the center of the table and began to read out loud the inscriptions on the paper.

"The leaders of the neutral countries of Trees, Books, Merchants, Grain, and the leader of the great country of the Rising Hawk voted against the candidacy of Mr. Ohima for the position of ruler of the Black Dragon country.

"The leaders of the neutral countries of Silk, Fish, Kuzni, Bamboo, and the leader of the great country of the Mighty Bull voted for Mr. Ohima's candidacy for the position of king of the Black Dragon country.

"The leaders of the Singing Whale and the Monks of Tora abstained."

The noise began in the conference room. The ruler of the great country of Singing Kita, Tsukidame, was a rather old gentleman who was practically the same age as Yakimoto. He had been sitting in silence all this time, and then he said:

"Please calm down, respected gentlemen, I have an idea." His speech was very respectful, and although his voice was old, it was still full of charisma.

All attention was focused on Tsukidame. The noise in the room subsided, and Ohima looked towards the ruler of Singing Kita with a slight irritation.

"I suggest we settle everything at the upcoming Gakushin tournament. If a participant from one of the countries supporting Ohima wins, he will receive the title of ruler of the Black Dragon country, and vice versa." Tsukidame said in a calm, confident and peaceful voice.

"Well, then which of the two camps will your participants fight for?" Milwaukee quickly seized the initiative.

After a little thought, the ruler of Singing Kita decided to join Milwaukee's camp, while the ruler of the monks of Tora, for the sake of fairness, joined Ohima's camp.

Everyone was delighted with such an interesting solution to the problem and praised Tsukidame. But only the prince, whose fate had been postponed, sat with his hands on the table, lost in thought, gazing into the void.