Chapter 1

FIRE LORD-Katsugawa Hirayoshi

The third Great Ninja War had erupted only a decade after the first one, bringing with itself devastation and destruction. The Hidden Villages were engaged in a conflict with each other, one that took lives by the hour, wreaking havoc across the whole continent and beyond.

Yet, in the land of fire, another conflict had risen up. One was fueled by greed and ambition as the current daimyo of the nation felt his days number. His various children began to plot for his eventual demise, each gearing up support so they could take his place.

It was nothing new to the Fire Daimyo Katsugawa Hirayoushi. The man had risen to power after a similar struggle. Yet unlike his own father, Katsugawa cared for his children, or at least for those he had fathered through the love of his life, the lady Miyo, a daughter of a rather insignificant Shugo, yet nonetheless, the woman had been the love of his life.

His position as daimyo had forced him to take concubines as well, and father children with, them. Yet his affection would only ever remain for his first love. She would bless him with two sons and a daughter, of which now only the daughter remained.

His love for his lady wife had acted as poison for herself and their children. His other children knowing of his favor, had first moved to eradicate his two sons by Miyo, and despite his various attempts to keep them safe, he had failed. And the sorrow of losing her two sons had taken a toll on his wife as well, as she made to follow them to the afterlife.

And so now, he remained alone, growing weaker by the day, as only their little daughter remained to remind him of his failures.

The court grew tense as his illness took him to bed. His greedy and ambitious sons now moved to tear each other apart, trying to prove to him that they were worthy of inheriting his position.

As if he would ever let any of them.

And it was this conviction that brought them to the current scenario as he sat in his castle and stared at the young boy sitting opposite to him in seiza.

He was young, younger than his two sons, and nervous, given the way his eyes continuously darted around the room when he thought he was not being observed.

He was the son of one of his advisors, Akihito Shibuya, a man who had helped him in his own rise to the position of daimyo. And for his services, he had granted the man ample land, making him a jito.

The man himself had succumbed to illness some years ago, leaving behind only a son, Akihito Shirahoshi. The boy had then taken control of the lands he had granted his father, and he had expected the boy to squander away everything his father had built. The boy had surprised him by transforming those very lands.

The province of Shinoi, which were the lands he had granted the man, were now amongst the most prosperous in the whole kingdom, with their future looking even brighter. Many of his advisors had warned him against the progress of these lands, yet he could never bring himself to act against the boy.

There had been no sign of disobedience or rebellion, the taxes would come on time and there would be subterfuge in the numbers.

"At ease, jito Shirahoshi," he said, and the boy elevated his head after a small gulp.

They sat in his own room, one where the daimyo would host his esteemed guests. They were alone in the room with only a servant bowing by the side, ready to serve tea at his command.

The boy was still nervous. As he looked at him and spoke up.

"Jito SHirahoshi thanks the esteemed lord for granting him this favor," he said politely, a hint of hesitation in his tone as he continued to observe the boy finally reaching his conclusion.

He would do.

He glanced towards the female servant sitting in the corner of the room, and nodded, at which she stood up demurely and began to serve them tea.

"Do you know why I have summoned you today, jito Shirahoshi?" he questioned as the servant poured tea for him.

And the boy shook his head.

"This one…." The boy began, and he cut in.

"Speak normally," he ordered and saw the boy stiffen for a moment. After all, few would ever be granted the honor of addressing a daimyo so casually.

"I am not, my lord," came the answer, and he nodded as he closed his eyes.

"You must be aware of the happenings in the capital of all the plots and designs being hatched for my seat," he questioned and saw the boy gulp.

"I only pray for your health and prosperi…."

"I am dying," he cut in again, not in the mood for any more of those perfunctory prayers.

And the air in the room was heavy.

"I have come to terms with it, and I believe many of my sons would have tried to seek your aid in this endeavor of theirs, offering you unimaginable women, wealth and influence," he ventured. He was aware of those offers, and had the boy taken any of them he would not be sitting here opposite him.

"I have been approached by some agents on behalf of the Princes, yet I have taken no sides. My loyalty lies with you, my lord," the boy at least had the audacity to tell the truth, not that lying would have done him any good.

"And that is why you are here," he said as he picked up his cut and took a sip, motioning for the boy to do the same. His friend's son quickly obliged and took a sip from his own cup.

"Your father was a friend of ours from old days; he helped me win this throne, and for that, I granted him the land that you now rule," he said.

"You are very magnanimous, my lord," the boy added. And he smirked. It seemed, despite his efforts the boy was still nervous, though he could see that mind racing behind those dark irises.

He was being polite, yet even now, the boy was trying to figure out the reason for this social call.

"Indeed, we are. You, much like your father, have served us loyally, and for that, I have decided to grant you another honor," he said as he closed his tessen.

"We have learned that you are yet unmarried," he began growing tired of this and saw the boy's eyes widen as the realization dawned on his as just what was about to happen.

"Yes, my lord, I have yet to take a wife," the boy answered, and he nodded.

"Good, then we have decided," he began as he looked the boy in the eyes.

"You shall marry our daughter, Miyuki," he ordered and saw the boy still as he realized the implication behind those words.

Miyuki was his daughter from his wife, and though a woman's claim was often considered weaker than one of sons, though they might be through a concubine.

Yet if her claim was to be supported by someone of young Shirahoshi's influence, then that would be an entirely different scenario. Through his daughter, he was granting Shirahoshi a claim on his own title, and though it may appear as a blessing at first, it was just as tedious.

While previously the boy may have been able to maintain neutrality in the upcoming conflict, now after this announcement all his sons would be coming for him and would plot to kill him.

"You honor me, my lord," the boy said as he gave him a bow.

"The marriage shall take place in a month's time, and shall take place in the capital," he ordered, and the boy nodded.

"As you wish my lord," said the boy.

After this he beckoned over the servant who helped him stand, as the boy bowed. And just as he reached the door, he stopped and gave the boy a last glance.

"I love my daughter dearly, jito Shirahoshi, and hope you understand the responsibility we burden you with," he said as he glanced towards the boy.

Shirahoshi glanced up, and as he saw the glint in those eyes, he knew that the boy knew of his intentions.

"It shall be done, my lord." Came the answer. And he nodded, as he left the room.

He could never punish his own sons for their sins. He couldn't exact revenge on his own sons, no matter how much he may hate them. Yet he could empower someone else to do it for him. And he had chosen his candidate.

0000

Ok, this idea has been bugging me for years now. It's an SI into the fire daimyo court in the Naruto world. I don't know what I am even going to do with it, but here it is. I have decided to pen it down.

Please mention any ideas you have in the comments. Otherwise, enjoy!

A jito is a lower noble, to whom a daimyo grants land to govern. They are entitled to 20% of the tax, while the rest goes to the daimyo.

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