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Kamihane returned to the conference hall, and in response to the daimyo's eager inquiries, he shook his head with a look of regret.
"Ah, that guy has too many tricks up his sleeve. I fought him for three hundred rounds, but he still managed to escape."
The daimyo's face instantly darkened.
Kamihane casually rested his hands behind his head and spoke with an air of calm authority, "However, since I'm now a part of the guild, as long as I'm here, our guild will remain. And as long as the guild stands, that guy won't dare to target the Land of Iron. You… understand?"
The daimyo immediately nodded. How could he not see what Kamihane was implying? This was clearly an attempt to pressure the daimyo.
The matter of Hozuki Gengetsu was, in reality, incredibly complicated to handle. Gengetsu had already stated that his actions were his own and had nothing to do with the Land of Water. This meant that pursuing the matter further wouldn't yield any favorable results.
Whether Gengetsu's claims were true or not, even if it really was a conspiracy by the Hidden Mist Village, they could simply cut him off as a rogue ninja, and what could the Land of Iron do about it?
If this were brought into the open, it would mean openly antagonizing the Land of Water. As a neutral nation, they could endure some bullying, but if they truly provoked the other side, they could easily find themselves dragged into the ranks of hostile nations.
Sure, the Shinobi World had the God of Shinobi maintaining peace, but who knew how long he'd live?
Kamihane's proposed solution not only protected the "Blade Forging Hall" but also preserved the last vestiges of the Land of Iron's dignity, deterring strong enemies from daring to invade. It was already quite a good outcome.
Moreover, it allowed them to forge a connection with this ruthless killer…
The daimyo wiped the sweat from the tip of his nose and decided that upon his return, he would restrain the nobles, preventing them from targeting the "Blade Forging Hall" any further.
He would also mobilize samurai from the shogunate to guard the guild's headquarters and its major branches, ensuring the safety of its members and providing full support for the flourishing development of the "Blade Forging Hall."
There was no other way… After all, they had already lost a portion of their revenue to the Land of Water. If they didn't support their own, the people would surely condemn him as a foolish and tyrannical ruler.
And so…
Kamihane resolved the crisis of the guild's ownership, safeguarded the legacy of the "Iron Triad," and successfully acquired a stake in the guild.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Mayonaka immediately offered to step down, but after much insistence from Kamihane, they created a new position tailored specifically for him.
He wouldn't be involved in daily operations but would receive dividends at the end of the year, intervening only during crises to steer the guild away from disaster.
He was given the esteemed title of… "The Helmsman."
All members of the guild, regardless of rank or age, were required to address Kamihane as "Young Master."
With a single "Helm Token" forged from fine steel, he could mobilize all resources across the various branches of the Land of Iron.
Early in the morning, a light snow drifted over the city of Takeo.
Kamihane stretched lazily after finishing his training, pushed open the door, and was greeted by the sight of a graceful figure.
Mayonaka Yukino stood on the terrace, dressed in a plain white robe, quietly admiring the plum blossoms.
The falling snow, the plum blossoms, and the beauty formed a scene straight out of an artist's masterpiece, stunningly picturesque.
Kamihane resisted the urge to disturb her and was about to retreat into his room when Yukino called out to him.
"Kamihane-kun, are you leaving today?"
Her gentle voice, even in this cold land, felt like a warm breeze.
Kamihane exhaled, slightly straightened his expression, and turned with a smile, "Yes, I have my own mission to fulfill."
If there was one person in the Land of Iron he least wanted to face, it was the woman before him.
He had killed so many, his hands long stained with blood, but he remained forthright and unburdened by guilt. He never felt he owed anyone or had wronged anyone.
Yet, whenever he thought of this lonely figure and the look of brokenness in her eyes, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.
The reason was simple: he had personally killed her childhood sweetheart.
"Don't leave. Stay here." She looked at Kamihane, her gaze gentle yet distant, speaking softly. "Stay here."
Kamihane turned his head away, avoiding her eyes. Those eyes were like a flame, threatening to burn away the coldness in his heart, leaving only pity and guilt.
For the first time in his life, this pureblooded Uchiha couldn't bring himself to meet someone's gaze.
When he didn't respond, Yukino gently removed her veil, revealing her breathtakingly beautiful face. Her eyes were as soft as water, her lips as tender as fresh petals.
She whispered, "Kamihane-kun is like a gust of wind, coming and going in haste. But if you stay here, even the guild will eventually be yours."
Kamihane thought to himself that even if he didn't stay, the guild was already his. Oh, and let's not forget, he had won the martial arts tournament, so technically, even she was his…
"Lady Yukino, you jest. Don't you know that the wind is free and unrestrained? Besides…" He gazed at the gray sky, watching the snowflakes drift down. "My thoughts lie in distant places."
Yukino pursed her lips, falling silent, but her glistening eyes stubbornly focused on his refined and gentle profile.
Kamihane took a deep breath and turned to face her. "Do you hate me for Hozuki Tetsuya's death?"
"I don't hate you."
"Heh, so you did hate me at some point."
Yukino puffed out her cheeks. Always poised and graceful, she now displayed a rare, girlish demeanor. "No matter what, he was someone who grew up with me."
"Ah, and also someone who wanted your father's life," Kamihane added, his words cutting like a blade.
White on the outside, black on the inside—typical of an Uchiha.
"Hating me is useless. I've said it before: I'm just a blade, a sharp one. Your father used me to protect the guild from falling into enemy hands, and that's why I killed Tetsuya. It's as simple as that."
"If… Father hadn't cared so much about the guild… If the guild hadn't been so important…"
"Choose your words carefully," Kamihane immediately interjected. "Do you think your father didn't feel pain when I killed Tetsuya? Sentimental matters pale in comparison to larger principles. If the Hozuki clan had truly taken over the guild, the Land of Iron would have been on the brink of collapse."
"What larger principles… It's just the interests of more people…" Yukino murmured quietly.
"You're not wrong," Kamihane said, extending his hand and watching the snowflakes slowly melt in his palm. "In this messed-up world, only strength matters. With strength, your interests become the interests of the world. The people you want to protect become the people the world wants to protect. When you speak, no one dares to ignore you."
"So, to protect those you care about, you must fight and seize opportunities."
"If I hadn't fought and seized opportunities, I would've been killed the first time I stepped onto the battlefield at the age of four."
Kamihane's voice seemed devoid of warmth. "If I had to choose again, I'd still kill Hozuki Tetsuya, because he stood in my way. If you want to seek revenge, feel free to try. I'll give you the opportunity."
With that, he turned and walked away.
With the matter resolved, Kamihane summoned his ninja cat, Zosuke, and left it at the "Blade Forging Hall," repeatedly instructing, "If the guild faces a crisis, have Zosuke summon me. Agree to any of its conditions."
Just as Kamihane was preparing to return to the Land of Fire, Zosuke brought him good news.
"Bochi is back. I told it about you, and it said it's prepared the Reverse Summoning Jutsu, ready to use it anytime, meow."
"Ah, Zosuke, you're my favorite ninja cat! You remember to prepare the Reverse Summoning Jutsu too!"
Kamihane immediately formed hand seals and vanished in a puff of white smoke.
When he regained his senses, the surroundings had completely changed. He was back in the Cat Room.
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