CHAPTER 338: KAZEKAGE NINJA-CHAPTER 127: SHŌGUN OF THE CONQUEST (PART 2)

"Is this how retainers of the Fire Country Daimyō conduct themselves?! When meeting the Wind Country’s Shōgun of the Conquest, what should you do? Do I need to teach you?"

Jinghang’s tone grew stern, and a commanding aura suddenly erupted, startling the samurai guards into stepping back two paces.

"Useless fools."

Masanobu Izu cursed silently. After a moment’s hesitation, he bowed to Jinghang.

"Foreign retainer Masanobu Izu pays respects to Wind Country’s Shōgun of the Conquest."

"Mm. Rise. Sit."

Jinghang waved his hand grandly, completely adopting the manner of a lord.

Sure, I’m ninja-born, but I’ve seen how nobles act. It’s all about putting on airs, right? Who can’t do that? You’re Fire Country nobility? Well, I’m Wind Country nobility! And my rank’s higher than yours, so don’t act all high and mighty in front of me.

Masanobu Izu quickly adjusted his mindset, sitting upright and addressing his samurai guards.

"You two, wait outside the tent."

"Sir, he’s a ninja. What if..."

One samurai whispered hesitantly.

"Ridiculous! This is Fire Country territory. Would Wind Country’s Daimyō’s retainer dare assassinate a Fire Country envoy here?"

Masanobu Izu scolded sharply, though his eyes glanced toward Jinghang.

Heh, clever verbal sparring. Worthy of an old fox who’s navigated Fire Country’s political waters.

First, he established this as Fire Country territory—even as Wind Country’s Shōgun of the Conquest, Jinghang was still an invader.

Second, he acknowledged Jinghang’s noble status—since they’re both nobles, they must follow noble protocols.

Third, he clarified his own identity as an envoy—in war, envoys aren’t killed. A protective talisman for himself.

Plus, sending those two samurai idiots outside meant some matters weren’t for their ears.

"Come, serve Lord Izu tea."

Jinghang

called.

This was noble language—serving tea meant negotiations could begin.

Soon a ninja brought two cups of tea, then withdrew.

Masanobu Izu didn’t rush to speak, instead rapidly organizing his thoughts and considering strategies.

Jinghang’s changed status had rendered all his prepared arguments useless. Every strategy needed complete adjustment.

Why would a Fire Country retainer come here during a ninja war?

This traced back to Kakuzu’s plundering of Jade City.

Normally, when ninja attack other countries and steal money or grain, it’s nothing special—war inevitably brings some profiteering. Who risks their life for nothing? But this time Kakuzu’s actions were excessive. Not only did he blockade Jade City and strip it bare, he also sent his five top disciples along trade routes like locusts, systematically targeting Fire Eight Pillars Trading Company’s assets.

Looting wealth was one thing, but they even auctioned off the company’s shops, storefronts, properties, and farmland at discount prices.

This crossed the Daimyō’s bottom line. A foreign ninja traveling all this way to our country to beat up landlords and redistribute land—what are you trying to do?! Overthrow Fire Country Daimyō’s rule? Challenge the entire noble class?

If so, the nature changed completely. The Daimyō absolutely couldn’t tolerate it. Though ninja wielded absolute force in this world, ruling authority still belonged to the noble class. If you stole their "hats" and "positions," they’d fight desperately.

Moreover, Fire Eight Pillars Trading Company was Fire Country’s major taxpayer. Now Sunagakure and Kumogakure had nearly reduced them to refugees—wasn’t this undermining Fire Country’s foundation?!

Originally Masanobu Izu came intending to use noble status to pressure Kazekage Jinghang into stopping the "robbery." If persuasion worked, fine; if not, they’d fight. Fire Country’s Daimyō still commanded 5,000 samurai—considerable force. If he could unite other great nations’ Daimyōs and turn this war into "class warfare," Sunagakure Village would instantly become everyone’s target, facing condemnation from the entire ninja world’s noble class. That force was massive enough to crush Sunagakure—they’d not only have to return everything stolen but lose their accumulated wealth too.

He came as an envoy partly to avoid pushing Jinghang too hard—if it became a desperate fight to the death, things would get messy. After all, the Wind-Cloud Allied Forces hadn’t touched Fire City yet. If Jinghang lost his head and redirected forces—even just half—Fire City had virtually no chance.

Mutual destruction wasn’t what Fire Country’s Daimyō wanted to see. Incidentally, the current Fire Country Daimyō wasn’t the medal-obsessed fool from the original story, but his father.

So negotiate first. Masanobu Izu’s bottom line: the Wind-Cloud Allied Forces must stop "plundering" immediately. As for war with Konoha

—let them fight. Wars end eventually. Dead ninja didn’t cost Daimyōs anything.

But now the situation had completely reversed. Jinghang raised the banner of "Wind Country Shōgun of the Conquest." With this title, the war could become a "noble war" anytime—one country’s nobles fighting another’s. Other great nations’ nobles couldn’t interfere. Though such wars last occurred before the First Great Ninja War when the Five Great Nations were just established, they had historical precedent—existence meant legitimacy.

Though Wind Country’s Daimyō ranked last among the Five Great Nations in power and wealth, his noble status was genuine. As the saying goes: "You build your mountain, I’ll make a grave mound—that’s still a mountain! You raise your banner, I’ll hang a rag—that’s still a flag."

Jinghang now held this "rag," meaning he had war’s "legitimacy."

Though Wind Country might be the unjust side, so what? This was between Wind and Fire Countries—other great nations’ nobles had no business interfering. Anyone meddling would turn class struggle into taking sides. No one would wade into those muddy waters. Simple reason: first, Wind and Lightning Countries couldn’t participate; the remaining nations were too far away—who’d even pay travel expenses? Small countries were out of the question.

Moreover, they’d only robbed some merchants so far—hadn’t touched the Daimyō yet.

Jinghang’s dual identity as Kazekage and Wind Country Shōgun of the Conquest meant he could switch war justifications anytime—civil or military, he could handle both.

Of course, Fire Country’s Daimyō could go all-in, fully allying with Konoha against the Wind-Cloud Allied Forces. But the risk was enormous—losing meant sacrificing all of Fire Country.

Fire Country’s Daimyō couldn’t afford that gamble, and Masanobu Izu even less so.

Masanobu Izu had completely lost the initiative.

But as an experienced politician, he quickly reorganized his thoughts and devised a new negotiation strategy.

"May I ask, Lord Jinghang, in what capacity are you receiving this foreign retainer—as Sunagakure Village’s Third Kazekage, or as Wind Country’s Shōgun of the Conquest?"

Good! This one understands the situation and knows his place—not some fool who only knows how to throw around noble titles. Since that’s the case, we can negotiate terms.

Jinghang nodded inwardly.

"My identity depends entirely on what Lord Izu

wishes to discuss with me."

Jinghang smiled slightly.

~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~

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