Izuna, restore the glory of the Uchiha!

A majestic vermilion gate loomed before us, flanked by towering walls made of bluish-gray stone, their tops covered with thick snow that reflected a blinding glint of white in the winter sun.

Although the walls here are high, one could easily leap over them in one step.

But Izuna stopped and looked up at the plaque that symbolized supreme power. To show respect, he chose to walk through the main entrance properly.

The master of ceremonies had already checked the procedures with him beforehand, so his movements were natural and smooth as he ascended the steps.

Just as one of his feet was about to step across the vermilion threshold, an accident occurred.

A rough, powerful hand blocked his way.

"Uchiha Izuna, please wait."

The speaker was a middle-aged ninja, dressed in light dark brown armor. He was not tall, but surprisingly sturdy, and his eyes, etched with the marks of time, shone with a sharp light.

What's unusual is that they showed no fear of the Uchiha name.

"Remove your sword."

He spoke in a harsh tone, as if giving a command.

Izuna's gaze lingered on that hand for a moment, then moved upwards to meet the person's eyes.

He's not someone to mess with.

"And who are you?"

Izuna's hands hung naturally at his sides, without touching the hilt of the sword.

The middle-aged man's expression remained unchanged as he raised his eyelids.

His tone revealed a businesslike arrogance.

"Sarutobi Sasuke".

……

Several imperial braziers were placed at the four corners of the main seat, with gold lacquer and maki-e embroidery complementing each other on the braziers. The binchotan charcoal inside the braziers burned slowly, releasing a reassuring heat.

The temperature inside the hall was quite high, and even the servants in their everyday clothes felt hot.

Even so, the daimyo, sitting in the main seat, wearing layers of silk-lined cotton undergarments and a fur coat, still held Wen Shi tightly in his arms.

But it did nothing to change the chill that gripped my body.

"Quick, quick... add more, add a little more..."

His lips trembled, and he nervously waved his withered arms, urging the palace maids and servants to add charcoal to the stove.

After the maidservant had left, he turned his cloudy eyes to look at the attendant beside him, his expression showing a mixture of anxiety and displeasure:

"That Uchiha guy... hasn't come in yet? He's really not being sincere enough..."

The attendant, who was kneeling to one side, poking at the embers with tongs, looked up at the words and gave a fawning smile:

"My lord, didn't you previously instruct us to give him a break and deflate the Uchiha's arrogance?"

Daimyo slumped back on the cushion, trembling as he spoke.

"That being said..."

Daming sniffed and hugged Wen Shi even tighter.

"That Sasuke guy is really stubborn. If I keep blocking him from getting in, how am I supposed to put on this show?"

The attendant's eyes darted around, and he got up to replace the hot stone with a freshly heated one from the nearby stove. He respectfully handed it to the daimyo, replacing the one that had already cooled down.

"What if...that Uchiha lord refuses to remove his sword?"

Sensing the new heat source, Daimyo's expression finally softened a bit. He sighed comfortably, and a glint of light suddenly flashed in his previously cloudy eyes.

He leaned back lazily, a shadow falling across his gaunt face, making his already sickly features even more distorted.

"Then don't blame me for being impolite to him."

……

For ninjas, the sword is more than just a weapon.

It is an extension of the limbs, a vessel of chakra, and a trustworthy partner in chaotic times.

I will never leave it unless absolutely necessary.

Is the current situation sufficient?

Izuna raised an eyebrow.

He doesn't think so.

As the second-in-command of the Uchiha clan, one of the top ninja clans in the Land of Fire, he should be seen by the Daimyo not only as the hilt of a blade, but also as an equal ally.

Bringing a sword into the inner hall of a daimyo is a privilege and dignity that the strong should possess.

not to mention……

Izuna's gaze slowly moved down and landed on Sarutobi Sasuke, who was blocking his way.

The head of the Sarutobi clan stood steadily inside the vermilion threshold.

The sword, clearly showing signs of wear, still hung neatly at his waist, rising and falling with his movements.

If even the gatekeeper can cross this threshold with a knife, then what about the so-called rules?

It was nothing more than a show of force against the Uchiha clan.

Having figured this out, Izuna looked at Sarutobi Sasuke with a warm smile.

"It seems that I have indeed been living in seclusion in the clan's territory for too long and have become somewhat out of touch with worldly affairs."

Upon hearing this, Sarutobi Sasuke frowned subconsciously, a look of bewilderment flashing across his face.

It doesn't seem like he was the one who made Izuna remove his sword.

However, Izuna's reaction was quite different from what he had expected.

He had assumed that this arrogant second-in-command of the Uchiha clan—

He will be furious;

They will raise an objection on the spot;

They might even draw their swords and fight each other.

Or at least they'll argue a bit.

But to my surprise, the other party was so indifferent.

Just as he was lost in thought, Izuna suddenly took half a step forward.

It instantly shortened the distance between the two.

Izuna tilted his head slightly and leaned close to Sarutobi Sasuke's ear.

"I really didn't expect this..."

The once mighty Sarutobi clan has actually fallen to such a state—

"He's so willing to be a watchdog for the daimyo."

Time seemed to stand still.

A crack appeared on Sarutobi Sasuke's face, which was as hard as a rock.

His pupils contracted, his eyes widened, and his facial muscles twitched uncontrollably and violently due to anger.

It was extreme shock, anger, and disbelief after being struck in the back.

His killing intent surged, and he wished he could draw his sword immediately and, with a vow to fight to the death, cut down this arrogant Uchiha right in front of this vermilion gate.

However, when his hand instinctively pressed down on the hilt of the knife, veins bulging, and a low growl of suppressed anger rose in his throat.

The threshold beneath his feet, representing the Daming Prefecture, was like an invisible seal, pinning his feet firmly to the spot.

The dignity of a ninja lies in loyalty, not in begging for mercy at the gates of the powerful like a slave samurai who has lost his freedom.

Izuna's light whisper directly tore away the fig leaf he cared about most, exposing the Sarutobi clan's current awkward political status in broad daylight.

In terms of martial prowess, he is inferior to the Senju and Uchiha.

In terms of strategic brilliance, they are not as good as Nara and Hyuga.

Why should I use your name?

Isn't it because—

It can be picked up easily, without any effort.

Can you just let it go and not care at all?

Despite Sarutobi Sasuke's fiery gaze, Izuna's smile remained unchanged.

After saying this, he didn't look at Sarutobi Sasuke again, slowly unfastened the long sword from his waist, and casually tossed it behind him with a light and leisurely motion.

"Watch closely."

"Yes, Lord Izuna!"

He managed to catch the sword steadily.

Izuna straightened his sleeves, ignoring Sarutobi Sasuke who was frozen in place and trembling all over, and walked into the inner hall with his bare hands.

The wind and snow were howling outside the door.

Some people, even after removing their weapons, can still walk with their heads held high as if no one is there.

Some people, even fully armed, have already trapped themselves, dying under high walls.