Provoked and upset Kekkai took a long and frigid shower to cool his thoughts.
Taking advantage of his clear mind he began to prepare himself for the clan meeting, Kekkai had made a few modifications to the wares his father was sent out to sell and what came back was sure to make the entire clan panic if he was not there to explain.
/Grandpa is going to be furious though, he will wring my neck for the stunt I pulled/ Kekkai thought
While thinking this he rubbed his neck that was aching at the phantom pain he believed would soon fall on him.
When Kekkai left his bath he found a neat set of folded clothes and a beautiful maid sitting at the edge of his bed next to the clothes, swinging her legs in boredom as she waited for him.
Seeing him come out she stood and bowed deeply to him while saying in an apathetic tone "Young Master, I've prepared your attire for the evening. Please dress quickly so you will not miss your grandfather's summons."
"GET OUT!" He growled while holding his towel and commanded his maid who always found it amusing to put him in these situations.
"What do you mean Young Master? I have to make sure that your every need is attended to. Including undress- I mean dressing you to in proper attire!" She said still bowing deeply as she let something different slip through her sentence.
Looking down at his teasing maid and the long valley that was in full view from her dress Kekkai could only groan in exasperation as he looked away.
"Do you have to wear that? Where did you even get that outfit?!" Kekkai asked
"Akane made it. Saying that you will enjoy this type of outfit." She said matter of factly
/It was a pain to get the greedy witch to hand it over though./
/She was damn right that I like it, but that doesn't mean you can wear it like that in public!/ Kekkai thought
Even though he was complaining his eyes were still honest as they greedily examined every inch of the beautiful form ahead of him.
Long porcelain legs covered in black lace stockings, a tight black sensuous mini dress hugged her cute apple-shaped ass and perky breasts left little to the imagination.
The mini skirt barely made it to her thighs before ending and hugging her ass tightly, the small apron tied to her curved waist and the frilled open corset accented her hanging breasts.
When she straightened up she brushed her long raven black hair over her shoulders looked at him with those warm chocolate-colored eyes and asked in false confusion "What don't you like it?"
/Love it! You damn temptress! Why are all of you girls doing this to me?/ Kekkai groaned in his head
"I'm in a hurry to get to the pavilion. You can change into something more appropriate or you can follow me. I guarantee every other kid and man will be paying more attention to you than they would the meeting itself!" Kekkai explained slowly while grabbing his clothes.
"So if you want to enjoy being the center of attention tonight, Ayaka, go right ahead." He provoked
Hearing him say this Ayaka squinted at him for a moment. Not wanting to be ogled rampantly all night but not wanting to give in to the challenge he presented.
Then she walked close up to him, placing a hand against his chiseled chest she patted him while looking up into his eyes.
"I'm sure my Young Master will protect me, as long as you like it I'll stay in this outfit. But I'm not sure that I'll be able to walk with all those big scary men watching me. Will you carry me along the way?" She whispered with wide upturned eyes
Thinking of carrying this small vixen of a maid throughout the village streets in broad daylight in her current outfit, he would be killed a thousand times over by the glares of men and women alike.
Word would immediately spread throughout the town in less than a day and he would be forever labeled as a perverted Young Patriarch with exhibitionist tendencies.
"Go… Change… Now!" He growled at her. Pointing to the door for her to leave.
The succubus shrugged in disappointment and did as he asked. Strutting out of the room with her sensual rear shaking pleasantly.
Kekkai breathed deeply and continued dressing. It seems that he can't manage to maintain any serious mood with the various tease from the woman around him. Making him miss his time in the Weavers Den already.
Although his grandparents and the elders would be excited and immediately send him their congratulations if he gave in to the temptress. The very reason he received Ayaka as a companion 5 years ago was to let him get used to her and let her convince him to take a couple of wives to continue the Mēkā bloodline as soon as possible!
Not that he would refuse this, who wouldn't want a harem when they come to lands of fantasy and magic like him?
There very fact that he had so many beautiful women around him was already a tempting situation.
But sadly when he came to his father about whether it could happen something strange happened. Instead of being told some ninja version of the birds and the bees he was brought to a meeting of several clan uncles.
There he was taught a very haunting lesson about ninja women, especially Mēkā clan women. It turned out that even though most Mēkā men were huge and had a robust physiques.
They could barely satisfy their wives and lovers! What men fear most in intimate relationships is not that women say no but for them to give it all they have and the woman says I want more!
It was at this moment he finally noticed the baggy eyes, sunken cheeks, and pale complexion on most of the uncles.
When he looked at his father he nodded grimly. He looked as if in a trance while shivering as if he remembered the horror of being dominated by Kekkai's mother.
Watching his own old man shivering made Kekkai flinch back in horror. Thinking of his own pitiful 3 Body stat at the time he swore that he swore that he wouldn't attempt any of his harem dreams until he reached at least 10 in the body. Hopping that his increased stamina would help him stave off the horrible libido of his woman.
Even now when he thinks about the little witch Akane and the succubus Akaya who just left. He wanted to spend a little of the nineteen points to up his body stat.
/Just a little/ he thought while reaching out an imaginary hand to his Free stat points, only to come out of his trance in a cold sweat when Niki snorted disdainfully in his head.
/What's the hurry for? Huh, host?/ Nikita sneered darkly
/No hurry, None at all!/ Kekkai shook his head rapidly at her question.
/Hehe, men./ Nikita snickered
Fully dressed and on his way, he left his small house by the river together with Akaya who had somehow switched into a light leather armor by the time he came outside.
"Come on." He waved to her as he turned and walked alongside the riverbank.
"Yes, young master." She smiled and followed after him.
.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, in a large amphitheater in the middle of Ishigami Village, the clan meeting had commenced. This open space was used mostly for announcements, Progress reports, and events.
At the center of the theater around a small flat pedestal Ryō Mēkā and Cho Mēkā sat with two other elders, Elder Gunkan and Elder Tetsu Mēkā. They knelt on the ground waiting for
Over time more And more people slowly started to fill the empty theater. Taking their places in the seating gallery. When nearly a hundred people arrived they took their seats and waited while watching their Clan Chief and elders below them in silence.
Okamora had already arrived some time ago and knelt in the front row with over a dozen adults while Akane and Akiko stayed in the middle rows with other children and young adults. The back row only had a small number of children and old men and women wearing sturdy outdoor clothes.
Seeing that everyone that could attend had arrived Grandma Cho cleared her throat and gave Her husband the 'go ahead' look.
Nodding the old man slowly grabbed the cane at his side and stood, the elders rose after him as well.
Stepping up to the pedestal he reached into his cloak and removed a small Zenith Crystal.
Lightly tossing the crystal onto the pedestal in front of him it stopped midair in the center with a slow rotation.
The pedestal and crystal began to glow and then a light began to project itself into a three-dimensional illusion into the air.
/He never ceases to amaze me with his various gadgets/ Sighed Grandma Cho when she looked up at the illusion
"Well then let us begin." Grandpa Ryō said "First let's look at our local output. Kyo, how have the farms and the ore mining been?"
A middle-aged man in the back stood up and held out a crystal of his own. While he pointed it to the screen he pointed it upwards while reporting "The terraces and orchards have had a good yield this year. We've expanded close to a hundred acres in farmland, though we're starting to get a little short-handed we can pull through. The construction of the greenhouses for the more sensitive herbs and medicine has already been completed and we are prepared to relocate them by tomorrow morning at the latest."
The screen above them changed as he spoke turning into various graphs and images as he gave his presentation.
The various information synced itself with The patriarch's crystal to provide evidence of their work.
Ryō smiled in satisfaction at this and nodded for him to continue.
"Mining has also increased to 3 tons in output monthly but the material requirements before closing the mine have not been reached. We estimate it will take another half a year before we can manage to mine the required materials." He said with a slight frown.
But this time Ryō was confused. He looked at kyo with a frown before asking.
"What do you mean closing the mine? And such little output? Are the material veins empty!?" He asked
The other elders to his side also looked at Kyo inquiringly.
"Umm, not exactly" Kyo looked back at them, puzzled, and rubbing his neck he explained "Young Master had ordered for a different type of ore veins to be found. He said that after we reach 15 tons of substitute or we will have to stop mining completely and switch over to the breeding farms."
Hearing this the elders looked at each other for a moment. This was the first they heard of this development. But when thinking that it was another plan their young patriarch had made and needed more labor to accomplish they decided to consult with him later on this.
"Good work," he nodded while manipulating the crystal slightly, soon a light came from the projection back to Kyo's crystal. Clearing the sky for the next presentation to begin.
"One million merit has been allocated. We can rest easy going into the winter, How are the children by the way?" Ryō asked
"Lively as ever Patriarch." He complained with a groan to which Everyone chuckled.
"Moving on, Elder Gunkan and Elder Tetsu, have you made any progress with the Clan Barrier Renovation plan?" He asked
The two nodded and presented their crystals. When their presentation took place in the sky it was a three-dimensional outline of the Ishigami village took place in the sky.
"We've modified the barrier into a cloaking illusion and linked it to the new Zenith Crystals. It now has a larger circumference and can hold all of the clan lands in its protection. Even though it's not as good as a detection barrier but when we linked it with the Yokai familiars scattered across the mountain we've set a heaven and earth net for any intruder who dares to enter." Elder Tetsu explained with a slightly complacent smile.
The map on the screen began to change with a large dome showing up to expand and cover the Ishigami village and even the terrace farms on the opposite mountain.
"We've been researching new forms for the Yokai. The new ant and wasp forms are the latest and most interesting addition. We've spent months preparing and spreading them through the grounds. They have spread their tunnels across the mining framework and the underground river." Elder Gunkan added excitedly as his thin old face glowed.
Ryō had already known about the side project his grandson and the elders had started and had seen a prototype of the new Familiars.
Small dark grey creatures with red eyes with pincer teeth. They were less than three centimeters in size and looked harmless at a glance.
But when they gathered and swarmed; it was a different situation altogether. He watched a human-sized rock disintegrate in a matter of seconds.
Watching as the screen rapidly fill up with moving waves of red small red dots in both the air and underground made him sweat coldly for a moment.
"We're almost ready with the latest design! Kekkai called them Wyrms."
On the screen, a monstrosity with a long thin body with several needle-like mouths writhed in the air. Flicking side to side in a see-through box it slithered around as if looking for prey.
"Sadly We hit a small obstacle when it comes to the materials needed to mass produce it, our current merit has bottomed out. Can Patriarch put through an order with the material committee?" The two elders looked at Ryō with manic eyes while asking him to provide more funding and materials for their experiments.
"No! I mean…" Ryō yelled in a panic at first but realized where he was, with a quick swipe he removed the swarming map from the projection.
"Ahem, I mean, no, not right now. You have done great work in the improvements to the barrier and the village defenses. But we don't need to put so much work into a side endeavor." Ryō said apathetically.
When the two tried to argue their point Ryō hurriedly brought the subject to a close by turning to his wife.
"My love, how are the armaments coming along? I hope you and Kekkai aren't overworking yourselves." He asked tenderly.
Cho Mēkā chuckled at his clumsy attempt to change the topic.
Pinching his cheeks she scolded him chidingly "Oh so now you worry about this old lady's health. After sending me and your grandson to work in that for months of hard work, you only now ask for us, not to overwork?"
"That's only because I know you can handle yourself, my love!" He smiled while his face contorted under her hands.
She rolled her eyes at this and with another quick twist, she pulled out her projection to display.
"40 sets of light and heavy armor. All with various enhancements and powerful properties. Kekkai has been working overtime to make them. Though his imagination in their designs is varied." She explained
On the screen was a catalog of different modeled armor. From heavy full medieval armor and light adventurers cloak and light leather armor. There was even a weird power armor that shamefully glowed with ambient light.
Looking at the various types of armor flashing before their eyes the crowd could only marvel at their young patriarch's endless vocations while excelling at all of them.
"Good, good, nice armor! I assume that he had already found out how he would be allocated this armor?" Ryō asked while praising the beautiful armor designs.
"Yes, he did." She nodded
"Then where is he? Shouldn't he have arrived already?" He asked while looking around searching for his precocious grandson.
"He went home to freshen up. Being cooped up in that forge for over two weeks can take a load on the body. He should be on his way here now, the good news is that he has a surprise for you!" She said
"Surprise?" He asked raising an eyebrow.
"I won't spoil it. You'll know when he gets here." She said slyly, taking back her crystal and letting the image above fade.
Watching his wife step back with a slight smile on her face made him stunned for a moment. Shaking his head when he realized that she wasn't going to tell him whatever gadget Kekkai had sprung this time, he cleared his throat and returned his attention to the audience in front of them.
"Now, onto the main reason we are gathered here," His eyes narrowed and his aura changed as he announced this.
The people in the crowd straightened their backs and grew solemn as well as they put all their attention on him.
"The topic that concerns everyone here. The persistent unprovoked raids launched against our Trade Convoys." He said slowly.
"Recently, our motorcades have been experiencing more and more raids by bandits and rogue samurai on their expeditions through the Kingdom of Stone, Birds, and Bears. Though it was mostly small-time thugs in the beginning they have grown excessively in numbers and power as well." He said while stiffly clutching his cane
"Even though there were no causalities in this wave of recent attacks, the very fact that they managed to damage supplies with their savage tactics is a very dangerous problem."
"This cannot continue! Although the local Daimyos have denied us access to their cities and trade, they cannot deny our need to protect ourselves! In next week after sorting affairs at home I will go forth to the Daimyo himself and demand restitution for the recent raids." He stamped his cane to the ground while saying this.
"If he refuses then my son Okamora will organize a hunting party and scour the land of all raiders they can find! The Mēkā may need to remind them, Although we seek peace and solitude here in our prosperous home." He no longer favored his cane as he spoke. Straightening his back he unfolded his two-and-a-half-meter frame and looked savagely at the crowd.
"WE ARE FAR FROM BEING WEAK ENOUGH FOR SOME FEEBLE PUNKS TO PROVOKE US UNPUNISHED!! FROM IDA'S REST TO AKKAN CITY, NOT ONE WILL ESCAPE!" He roared
"NOT ONE!" the crowd roared back, roaring and slamming their chests in excitement as they imagined their judgment falling onto their hapless victims.
Nodding with a wide grin on his face he continued "Now let's finish our earnings for this expedition! Squad leaders, please step forward!"
Okamora and five men and women stepped off the front platform and stated their spoils one after another.
"5 tons of food, 22 low-level ninjutsu, 1 sealing technique, 125 books of knowledge of historical and geographic knowledge." A woman in her thirties said
Ryō nodded and dismissed her.
"25 tons of food, 5 ninjutsu, 42 books of architecture knowledge." A man in his forties stated
Ryō nodded and dismissed him.
"12 Ninja clan and samurai influence maps, 7 mid-level ninjutsu, 3 kenjutsu, and 13 tons of food." A teenage boy stated nervously.
Ryō nodded and patted him on the shoulder and moved on.
"15 tons of food, 36 slaves, 4 illusions, and 82 rare medicine and materials." A man in his twenties said
Ryō nodded and dismissed him.
"Only 5 tons of food, 22 rare materials, and 6 low-level ninjutsu my lord." A man said, lowering his head in shame.
"It's ok, no one blames you for the attack Taro when we make them spit out every bite they took from us. Then we will be even" Ryō said while holding the shoulders of the man and encouraging him.
When he finally moved on to his son his eyes looked at him in anticipation. You should know that his son was one of the strongest Ninjas in the clan and he had also lent his granddaughter his weapon. There's no reason he should come to a loss even if they were raided.
Only at this time, Okamora was silent. His head turned from his father in guilt.
This completely stunned not only Ryō in front of him but also confused Akiko and Akane behind him still sitting.
Even though they were raided the robbers never came close to the convoy! They were all killed from a distance by Akiko. The robbers were even raided in return! There's no way they came to a loss!
"Son?" Ryō tested with a little hesitation in worry, not knowing what was happening.
Okamora gritted his teeth and began to report, knowing that the longer he delayed the worse the situation would be for Kekkai.
"12 recruits, 11 kenjutsu, 120 rare materials, 50 different medications, and poison." He began
Ryō, Akiko, and Akane sighed in relief. It wasn't that they came to a loss but there was a profit! But why did Okamora look guilty then?
But Okamora continued listing "30 low-level ninjutsu of every element, 8 taijutsu, 5 sealing techniques, 10 body refining medicine recipes, 9 high-level ninjutsu."
As he continued everyone's eyes began to widen, this was way too much! What the hell did Okamora do to receive so much in this expedition!"
"15 armor and weapon blueprints and finally," he took a deep breath and lowered his head.
"Five thousand tons of food."
Five Thousand TONS!!!!
At this sentence, the silence was so palpable a pin could drop and it would echo.
Ryō stumbled at this enormous number. Five Thousand. That blew the entire clan's yearly revenue out of the window! There was no possibility of being able to trade such an amount of food from one trip!
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO!!!" Ryō growled into a roar at his son. Waves of chakra weight began to pour out from the old man as he glared at his child.
" I traded materials from home," Okamura said looking at his father stubbornly.
"What… Did… You…. Trade!" Ryō hissed from clenched teeth
At this time Grandma Cho had already come to his side and stood between the father and son.
"Come now Ryō, what's done is done. Although Okamora is stubborn you know that he would never do something that can threaten his home. Whatever deal he struck it was likely the best he could do." She implored her husband slowly, resting a hand against his chest and trying to calm him down.
Ryō Mēkā glowered deeply in his rage. Looking back and forth between his soothing wife and his stubborn-looking son he slowly contained his rage. Steadily his Chakra Weight restrained itself as he drew it back within himself.
"Speak!" He growled
Cho looked at her son encouragingly but Okamora could only look away from her. After a minute of tense silence, he spoke again.
"2 barrier seals, one inscription technique, 5 improved body refining medication, a movement technique, and-" he struggled to look his father in the eyes when he said the final item.
"30 metric Tons of Chakra Metal."
This time it didn't go into silence. But everyone at the location sucked in a deep cold breath.
Chakra Metal!! The one most important secret material that has provided their clan with the power to be at the top of the food chain in the land of stone.
Most Chakra conductive ore, crystal, and Spirit wood are maintained and owned by daimyos across the land. They store, regulate, and sell these rare resources in minute quantities at sky-high prices. Keeping most of these assets contained and only awarding them to ninjas in times of crisis as a bargaining chip.
Daimyos would rather lose armies than lose their control of the rare metal. Some wars between the lords started because of new Chakra conductive materials and veins being found throughout the land.
But even though they know that it comes with a sky-high price, every family scrambles to get it at any cost!
100 grams of chakra ore can make a famous Ninja blade or Samurai Katana. This sword is capable of boosting a person's strength by over 30 percent with its ease of control and material strength. Full Chakra weapons are rare and few but each and everyone is strong!
The [Gunbai Uchiha] is one such example! Made from a Spirit tree raised by the Fire temple. When the Fire Daimyo gifted the tree to the Uchiha they broke it down and crafted it into their famous family heirloom! That army arrangement fan was a hallmark of the Uchiha clan's strength when those red-eyed demons took the battlefield.
But if anyone were to know that not only does every Mēkā have full chakra conductive weapons but the Mēkā have also made relevant techniques and technologies using the rare metal as well. Ida's Rest is not only their home but also their lifeline. The entire mountain is full of Spirit material and Chakra Ore! The inside of the mountain is filled to the seams with it along with its local product.
The Yokai race!
Disembodied pure energy creatures rely on pure natural energy from birth to live and grow. Ida, the Mēkā deity established a contract between them and the Mēkā. They crafted physical vessels for the Yokai as well as fed them using their Chakra and the Yokai would provide their aid and elemental strength!
The Mēkā have even spread out a semi-false rumor that their techniques enslaved their enemy's souls to their weapons and that is the reason why they are so strong.
A metal that can effortlessly conduct and manipulate chakra with ease along with a powerful elemental spirit residing in every single one. There's no possible way they could let this information leak out! Every single time a person in the Mēkā falls their weapons takes priority first then their bodies in recovery.
It's ok if one or two chakra conductive weapons are found and stolen from Mēkā clan members the thieves wouldn't think that it was one of the legendary fully conductive chakra weapons and think it was one of the impure weapons found in the black market.
But the weapons are retrieved as fast as possible and the people who take Mēkā weapons are unlucky as a squad of viscous Mēkā will do their best to hunt them to the ends of the earth.
Now think of what will happen if any Daimyo found that the Mēkā had so much chakra ore on them. Their lands would be raided the next day by several armies of ninjas and samurai sent by the daimyos to claim the veins with great righteousness!
Selling even 100 kilograms of chakra ore is risky behavior MUCH LESS 30 TONS OF IT!
The stands blew up as a wave of angry Mēkā poured down and towards Okamora.
Amidst the outrage of the crowd, Okamora stood there like a statue just staring at his father.
"SILENCE!!!" Ryō roared at the crowd and stomped his foot with a thundering boom as the earth cracked beneath his feet.
The Mēkā stopped in their tracks and went quiet. But this did not prevent them from glaring at Okamura, confused and furious with his traitorous actions.
"Why?" Ryō asked his face was thunderous and dark as he asked for an explanation.
"Because I gave the order." A voice said from above them.
It was Kekkai Mēkā who spoke.