Naruto: Kage of Kages

With peace, those in the clan that did not inherit these gifts for battle managed to gain ground in country politics and consequently, clan politics.

For the Kurogane clan, this was the beginning of the end.

The more peace inclined members naturally moved to advance their own interest by inciting a change in the clan’s combat focused ideology.

It started simple, by protecting members who did not wish to undergo the harsh training of the clan, even persuading the younglings that they should be against the idea of such training in the first place.

Eventually, the combat focused members became the old guard, aging folk struggling to get the younger generation to follow the same road.

It all came to a head during Beni’s grandfather’s generation when he became the first clan patriarch that was not of the hawk faction.

His younger son Saburo was the last great proponent of the combat focused ideology of the clan’s past and the last practitioner of their harsh training.

He attempted to overthrow Beni’s father and would have likely succeeded, even with very few clan members to support him, owing to their great combat power but, even in his twilight years after willingly transferring his authority to his eldest son, the former patriarch was no joke.

Though of the dove faction, as a talented member of the clan from the era before their combat training was stopped, the old man was a full fledged hitokiri, bearing the title of Shura, given only to the clan’s greatest warrior.

Saburo and his co-conspirators were no match but with the regret of seeing his younger son rebel and being sentenced to death, the old man finally passed with sorrow in his heart.

Thus, when Saburo survived and managed to gather followers, trained in a more shallow version of the clan’s methods, the Kurogane’s fate was sealed.

Without the combat power of the old guard, they were mercilessly exterminated.

Tomoe mentioned the Shogun and other officials acted as if nothing happened, showing a blind eye to the matter.

And Shiki understood it well.

A political force without any combat power was nothing but a nuisance to a totalitarian ruler, the Kurogane’s intimidation factor as the Shogun’s loyal killers was far more valuable.

The strength of the older hitokiri had likely prevented outside interference in the clan’s matters but now that they were gone, it would not surprise Shiki in the slightest if the Shogun or his people even provided Saburo with assistance.

And so, Tomoe, Ema and their young mistress were forced to escape beyond the Land of Iron’s borders where their foes could not reach them.

After learning of their foe’s identity, the three ladies were able to quickly deduce the whole process that led to their downfall.

*

“Tenma-dono, you’ve heard their story so you must realize entering the Land of Iron would be a terrible idea. Is there any way we can avoid it?” Inori inquired.

The man made an expression of difficulty.

“I already predicted difficulties, I hired you fellows because I simply can’t avoid going into the Land of Iron.” Tenma said.

“I must pick up a large shipment of critical goods that are already paid for, there. If I don’t, not only will I take a financially ruining loss, I will have no product to try and earn it back. It will put the long standing mercantile business of my clan at risk of total collapse.” He explained.

“If Tomoe-dono and the others hide away for a few days while we visit the Land of Iron-” Tenma came up with a plan but was swiftly interrupted.

“That won’t help. The enemy already knows there is a connection, they’ll attack you either way, only by handing them their goal would you have the chance to avoid being targeted.” Inori interjected.

“I have connections in the Land of Iron and such blatant targeting of merchants can’t be good for their reputation.” Tenma countered.

“It is rather easy to call it an unfortunate accident, a random, bandit attack, an unexpected rock slide, losing one’s way in the deadly snowdrift. The possible explanations are endless.” Shiki was the one to interject this time.

“Since you inserted yourself into the conversation, you probably have a solution right?” Inori had truly come to know her student well and made an accurate deduction.

Shiki’s smirk invoked dread in what said solution might be but Tenma who was about to resign himself to the fact his clan’s legacy would be destroyed in his hands, suddenly felt a ray of hope shine through.

“Simple. We take care of the problem at the root.” The boy proposed.

“You don’t mean . . .” Mei trailed off on the side while Inori became stunned at the audacity.

As it turned out, she still had much to learn about this student of hers.

“I mean we should assassinate Saburo before he can ambush us in the Land of Iron.” Shiki made his intention clear.

“Are you seriously suggesting we assassinate a foreign nobleman of the country with the most longstanding neutrality in this continent and trading deals with all major nations?” Inori questioned with a scolding tone.

“None of that matters if we can pull it off before the Land of Iron catches on.” Shiki countered.

“They won’t be happy even if they don’t outright kill us.” Inori responded.

“And that is if they only find out after the fact.” She added.

“But you’re forgetting something sensei. The reason Beni-chan is so important for our enemy, one of the reasons at least, is the fact that she represents legitimacy.” Shiki began unveiling the full scope of his plan.

“Without Beni-chan, this Saburo is unable to legitimize his role as the new Kurogane clan head. If she was dead, then all it would take is time and a sponsor high up on the political ladder but while she lives, his grasp on the position will always be tenuous.”

“Capturing Beni-chan alive to instantly legitimize his claim is the best case scenario but if that proves too hard, then killing her will be the next goal unless there is some other consideration at play.” The boy elucidated and Inori immediately caught on.

“So if we quickly take out Saburo, Beni-dono can take up her rightful place and rather than criminals, we’ll be heroes who assisted one of the country’s nobles.” Inori realized.

“Even if they dislike the fact that there was outside interference, they likely will put up a positive attitude to keep up appearances if nothing else.” She concluded.

“Still . . . If this goes wrong, it’ll be an outright political shitstorm, war in the worst case scenario. Not to mention we’ll be utterly screwed.” The Violet Rose pondered out loud.

“But if we succeed . . .” Shiki trailed off, his voice sounding like the devil’s sweet temptation.

Inori looked at her other two students, hoping for some reason out of them but even the usually obedient Mei seemed raring to go.

‘Infected!” The Yamanaka thought.

‘Infected by this brat and his dangerous ideas.’ She lamented.

Shinka seemed to have nearly limitless trust in the boy’s dangerous plans because his intuition always seemed to be right. Inori couldn’t really blame her because, even if not to the same extent, she did trust Shiki’s judgement a whole lot.

And Mei, ever since their disastrous first C rank mission, despite always being the voice of reason in the team, she immediately folded when it came to Shiki.

Inori was not oblivious to the crush she seemed to have on the much younger boy but the way she followed his every move and supported his every suggestion since then, made it feel honestly pathological.

The Violent Rose looked to their clients . . . And her final hope was extinguished.

‘Guess we are doing this. Ugh.’

+++++

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