It has been 4 weeks since Sasuke has started to teach Hayami. The training of the children is going smooth as well. Sasuke has kept the difficulty of the training above average but it was still too much for some kids.
Sasuke: COME ON YOU MAGGOTS! YOU TRASH THAT ONLY KNOW HOW TO EAT! KEEP PUSHING! AND WHERE IS THE COUNT? HUH? DO YOU WANT TO START AGAIN?
Kids: NO SENSEI!
Sasuke: I CAN'T HEAR YOU. SPEAK UP!!
Kids: NO SENSEI!!!
Right now, it was morning and Sasuke was enjoying being a drill instructor.
Sasuke: SO WHERE IS THE COUNT?
Kids: 100...101.....102....103....
Sasuke: GOOD. YOU WILL FINISH AT 200 TODAY.
[Kid 1-whispers]: What?
[Kid 2-whispers]: Does he wants to kill us?
[Kid 3-whispers]: Shhh...Don't speak.
Sasuke: WHO WAS THE ONE THAT JUST SPOKE? WHO WAS IT? LOOKS LIKE YOU GUYS ARE TOO ENERGETIC. I THINK 250 PUSH UPS WILL BE FINE. OKAY, YOUR NEW TARGET IS 300. IF EVEN ONE PERSON FAILS THEN THE INTENSITY OF THE TRAINING AFTER LUNCH WILL BE DOUBLED.
[Kid 1-Inner-thought: WHAT? WHAT THE FUCK? THIS MOTHER FUCKER....]
[Kid 2-Inner-thought: HOW THE FUCK THIS MAKES SENSE? HE SAID WE WILL BE FINE FOR 250 PUSH UPS AND THEN INCREASED THEM TO 300. THIS DEMON, I FUCKING WAN'T TO KILL HIM.]
[Kid 3-Inner-thought: FUCK, FUUUUUCK! I AM GONNA KILL THE PEOPLE WHO RAISED THEIR VOICE.]
The kids continued even though it was tough and Sasuke was taking a stroll among them and keeping an eye.
[Sasuke-inner-thought: Good. Keep on going. Become stronger faster so that you guys can be of use.]
Suddenly, he felt a killing intent. Sasuke turned to look and he saw that a child was the source. When Sasuke looked the child dropped his head and continued doing push ups.
[Sasuke-inner-thought: For a child this young to release killing intent.....Interesting. NO! FUCK! DAMN! I FORGOT THAT ONE OF THESE CHILDREN MIGHT COME TO KILL ME IN THE FUTURE. I BETTER KEEP A DIARY AND RECORD EVERY POTENTIAL SENSEI KILLER.]
Suddenly, he took out a notebook and started to write in it.
[Sasuke-inner-thought: Good. Let's write the date and time of the this incident. Hmm....I don't know the name and there is no guarantee that he will become strong enough to threaten me....Let's just write the features for now. If he becomes a potential threat then I will remember his name.]
...
At the same time, In Hikari's castle.
Hikari: Are the Aburame, Hyuga and Inuzuka clans teams ready for the recon mission?
Akira: Hai. In total 3 teams consisting of only the most capable of shinobis from those clans have been created.
Hikari: What about the Uchiha clan that finally joined our alliance?
Akira: Yes, I am being told they want to prove themselves as well.
Hikari: Hmm...then ask the Uchiha clan to send 3 capable shinobis. Tell them they shouldn't be child shinobis. I want adult ones who have experience. They will lead the 3 teams in this recon mission.
Akira: Are you sure this is a good idea? It hasn't been long since that night.
Hikari moved her right hand to her beautiful chin and thought for a moment then she came at a decision. This happened in 30 secs.
Hikari: You don't get it. Based on what the merchants are telling me, Hayami is making good money and using that money to further strengthen her domain. That is why it is important that we find those mines and either destroy them or take control of them.
Akira: Still, you know she has that lunatic as her shinobi. Ryuga-sama is not here as you have sent him on another mission. Can't you wait until he returns?
Hikari: Don't worry. We are only sending these shinobis to find the location of the mines. The attack to destroy them will happen once Ryuga returns.
...
At the same time, Asano Nagamasa, the old diamyo in his 60s was planning something as well. Currently, he was having breakfast with the clan heads of the clans he employ.
Old diamyo Asano: Let us now start this breakfast. Also, Let's welcome the Sarutobi Clan in our alliance as well.
[Clan Heads]: Hai!
Old diamyo Asano: I know Hikari well. By now, she is getting impatient and would probably do something against Hayami. After all, she can't see Hayami becoming stronger. We must do everything in our power to make sure that Hikari doesn't create problems for Hayami.
[Yamanaka Clan Head - Age: 40s]: But won't it be better if we allow Hikari to create problems for Hayami?
[Nara Clan Head - Age: 40s]: No. Hikari is more of a threat than Hayami. If she defeats Hayami and gets her territory then she would be more out of control. That is why, it is best that we support Hayami and weaken Hikari.
[Akimichi Clan Head - Age: 40s]: What if Hayami becomes too powerful then? Also, she has a really strong shinobi in her service. If she becomes more powerful then won't she be a much bigger threat.
[Senju Clan Head - Age: 40s]: I agree with Akimichi-san as well.
[Sarutobi Clan Head - Age: late 40s]: I also agree with Akimichi-san as well.
Old diamyo Asano: What you are saying is true but it is something that we will worry about in the future. Right now, weakening Hikari is a bigger priority. Besides, Hayami would require quite a lot of time to become powerful enough to threaten us. From what I have found out till now, she hasn't employed any shinobis yet. So, she is still weak. No matter how much stronger her one shinobi is, in a full scale war, you need numbers to occupy your enemy's territory, which she doesn't have yet. The only reason Hikari hasn't launched a full scale attack is because she has too many enemies and Hayami's territory is far away. Hayami is lucky that none of her close neighbours are strong otherwise they would have launched a full scale attack from multiple fronts. Even the shinobi she employs doesn't have infinite stamina so a full scale assault can weaken her greatly. After all, her shinobi can't be everywhere at once and our shinobis can then take control of villages or plunder while that shinobi is busy elsewhere.
[Nara Clan Head]: I agree with you diamyo-sama.
Old diamyo Asano: Although, we are gonna support Hayami for now, we still need to know the location of those mines. I think it is time that we send some shinobis to find this information.
[Sarutobi Clan Head]: As my clan is the newest in the alliance, please allow my clan to do this.
Old diamyo Asano: No, your clan alone shouldn't bear the risks. Let's send a 5 man squad having shinobi from all the clans.
[Nara Clan Head]: Yes, diamyo-sama. I will start making plans.
...
Later that day, close to evening, in a cave inside Hayami's territory, people were screaming.
[Old man]: Please let my daughter and her family go (weeps).
The old man said while prostrating and crying towards his captors. around him were cages in the caves and people inside those cages. Some were crying in cages and some just lost hope.
[Jashin Cultist]: THROW THIS HERETIC IN THE CAGE AS WELL.
[Old man]: NO! PLEASE! YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT WITH ME BUT LET MY DAUGHTER AND HER FAMILY GO.
A Cultist came and smacked the old man. Knocking him out. He then dragged him and got to a cage that was made using Earth style. He made hand signs and the bars of the cage, which were made of earth opened. He threw the old man inside with the others and made hand signs again and the cage was closed.
[Jashin Cultist-1]: Just how long do we have to listen them wailing.
[Jashin Cultist-2]: Just be patient for a few more days. Once we gather 200, then we will sacrifice them for Jashin-sama.
The cultist that threw the old man came back to his mates.
[Jashin Cultist-3]: If others don't kill most of the people in every village we find, then we would already have 200 to sacrifice.
[Jashin Cultist-1]: Shut up. You said this in front of us but don't say it in front of the saint.
[Jashin Cultist-3]: I know, I know. Still, I think we can reduce the number of offerings we usually do. That way we can gather 200 quickly and complete the blood festival.
[Jashin Cultist-1]: Shhh...Do you want to die? If the saint found out you are dead.
[Jashin Cultist-2]: Just be patient a little while longer. The blood festival will be successful and we will rewarded by Jashin-sama.
...
The next day, at Hayami's Castle, in a meeting.
Hayami: WHAT? Repeat it again.
[Minister-1]: Hayami-sama, several villages haven't sent their representatives with taxes. Not only that but people from different villages would go to bigger towns to buy food and other things of necessity but for a few weeks people from the villages that have yet to pay taxes haven't come to the towns.
Hayami: Do we know the reason?
[Minister-2]: No, Hayami-sama. The people governing the towns near the villages sent their own people but from the letter that I got, they say even the people they sent didn't come back.
Hayami: So, why are you telling me this? send more people.
[Minister-1]: Hayami-sama something is really weird here. We suspect there is an invasion from across the border. We request you to send Sasuke-sama for investigation.
Sasuke was hidden in the ceiling and he heard this.
[Sasuke-inner-thought: WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON? NOW A FUCKING INVASION FROM ACROSS THE BORDER? WHY? FUCK! JUST WHAT HAPPENED ACROSS THE BORDER THAT THEY DECIDED TO INVADE OTHER LANDS? DID A DIAMYO DEFEATED ALL OTHER DIAMYOS AND BECAME THE SOLE RULER? FUCK! FFFFFFUUUUUCCCKKKK! THE HISTORY IS FUCKING CHANGING. I NEED TO QUICKLY GO AND INVESTIGATE. But I can't leave Hayami, who knows if there is an attack by some other group or if someone tries to assassinate her.]
Hayami thought for a while by bringing her right hand to her chin.
[Hayami-inner-thought: As a ruler I need to do something. There are 8 villages who haven't paid taxes. The amount from those although isn't too much but can't be ignored. Also, according to what Sasuke has taught me, as a ruler if I ignore my people, then down the line it will create more problems for me. I need to send Sasuke but then who will protect me?]
[Sasuke-inner-thought: I need to investigate this but I can't leave Hayami unprotected. Let's send a shadow clone. Even if something too dangerous is happening, I would know due to my clone. If this is a trap then even if my clone dies there would be no damage to me.]
Sasuke appeared in the room on one knee with his head bowed.
Sasuke: Hayami-sama, please leave it to me. I will investigate this.
Hayami: But then who will protect me.
Sasuke: Don't worry Hayami-sama. I have a plan. After this meeting I will let you know.
Hayami: Hmm(thinking)....Fine.
Sasuke: Hai!
Sasuke then disappeared from the room and hid again.
[Sasuke-inner-thought: Let's first discuss my plan with her then send a shadow clone tomorrow morning.]