They're promoting the "Konoha threat" theory, and spouting nonsense about the Hidden

Chapter 68 Kusaka Masato

Two o'clock in the morning, at the residence of Kusaka Masato, a favorite retainer of the daimyo of the Land of Water.

The outer courtyard was brightly lit, with gleaming lanterns hanging high everywhere, illuminating the entire mansion without a single blind spot. Fully armed guards patrolled the outer courtyard frequently, their focused and diligent demeanor a testament to the ruler's skillful management.

In contrast, the inner courtyard was quiet, with no guards patrolling, no lanterns hanging, and very few maids serving and cleaning.

In this silent environment, a thin mist rose from an unknown place, slowly enveloping the entire inner courtyard. As the mist formed, a shadow quietly appeared in Kusaka Masato's bedroom.

"This environment...it's not quite what I expected!"

Hozuki Shingetsu frowned as he looked at Kusaka Masato, who was lying peacefully asleep alone in bed. He surveyed the bedroom and found it rather unbelievable.

When did these important ministers of the ninja world become so health-conscious? They don't even have a few beautiful women by their side when they sleep. How can they call themselves a favored minister of a daimyo?

And... this bedroom is so shabby!

Hozuki Shingetsu looked at the bedroom. It wasn't as luxurious as he had imagined. There were no luminous pearls or gold decorations. The only decoration in the room was a wooden print hanging above the bed.

The bed that Masato slept in was made of the most ordinary wood, and the mattress was just a thin layer. The overall layout of the room was completely at odds with his status.

Hozuki Shingetsu was certain that the person before him was a favorite courtier of a daimyo he had met. Unable to figure it out, he could only attribute it to the fact that everyone has their own unique quirks.

So Hozuki Shingetsu came to the bedside and secretly released an illusion, intending to get some information about the daimyo from Kusaka Masato.

Under the influence of the illusion, Kusaka Masato, with his lifeless eyes, told Hozuki Shingetsu everything he knew.

Just as Hozuki Shingetsu had expected, the daimyo was already displeased when he learned that Kirigakure had sent an envoy. In particular, when he learned that the leader of the delegation was a member of the Hozuki clan, he was reminded of Hozuki Gengetsu's unannounced and presumptuous behavior in the past, and became even more dissatisfied with this envoy whom he had never met before.

So, with the encouragement of the Prime Minister, he decided to take advantage of the time before lunch to finish explaining the matter of cutting Kirigakure's military budget for next year, and then he planned to have Hozuki Shingetsu pack his things and get out of there—he didn't even want to see what gifts they brought, which shows how much the Daimyo hated Kirigakure.

After hearing this explanation, Hozuki Shingetsu, aside from feeling a headache over the daimyo's affairs, was quite impressed with Kusaka Masato. Regardless of his character, at least he took the money and actually did the job!

Not only did he go to great lengths to offer advice and strategies, but he also resolutely resisted the financial offensives of his competitors—he's practically a model official, isn't he?

If it weren't for the fear of being detected by the castle tower, Hozuki Shingetsu would have loved to use illusion magic to manipulate him right now and whisper in the daimyo's ear.

However, Hozuki Shingetsu could only sigh regretfully, dispel the illusion, erase all traces, and leave.

Time passed quietly, and as the sky began to lighten, Hikaru Masato slowly opened his eyes.

The first thing he did after getting up was not to wash up, but to pick up the woodblock print hanging by his bed, habitually stroking the scratches on its back, and then closing his eyes to recall it.

After a long while, he opened his eyes and muttered to himself, "Two marks are missing. Was someone here last night...? A ninja? A daimyo? Or Hozuki Shingetsu?"

-

After returning to the embassy district, Hozuki Shingetsu shared the information he had gathered with Yukinagi and Yagura Karatachi, emphasizing the daimyo's dissatisfaction with Kirigakure and their current predicament.

"Judging from the information we have now, this daimyo's obsession with face has truly reached a pathological level!" Yagura Karatachi said, feeling somewhat incredulous after hearing this.

After all, even if the daimyo didn't take the ninjas seriously and thought that Kirigakure had offended his authority, it shouldn't have come to this, right?

This is practically a blatant declaration to other countries that I am very dissatisfied with Kirigakure and that Kirigakure has no support from the daimyo.

Even if a daimyo lacks political acumen, it's still unreasonable for him to make such a gesture towards the armed group responsible for protecting the country.

Hozuki Shingetsu had the same doubts, but unfortunately, before he had the power to overturn the table, he had to follow these rules.

After much deliberation, they could only come up with one way to break the deadlock: to launch a financial offensive, sending several ministers to speak well of the daimyo in hopes of persuading him to change his mind.

I don't ask for anything else, I just want a normal opportunity to meet.

In that case, Hozuki Shingetsu's various methods can be put to use.

However, just as Hozuki Shingetsu had finalized the list of ministers and was preparing to make public relations efforts, he suddenly received a request for a visit from Kusaka Masato.

"Did they discover your whereabouts last night?" Yukinagi joked with Hozuki Shingetsu.

Of course she knew this was impossible. With Hozuki Shingetsu's strength, combined with the concealment ability of the Shanghai Mirage, she would have to be at least an elite Jonin to detect that something was wrong.

To say that a minister's household has ninjas of this caliber would be to underestimate the importance of elite Jonin.

Hozuki Shingetsu was equally baffled by Kusaka Masato's purpose, but from all perspectives, it was impossible to keep a high-ranking official outside for long, so they quickly opened the door and welcomed him in.

However, to their surprise, Masato didn't mince words. Seeing that no one was around, he went straight to the point and asked, "Last night, you were the ones who came to my room, weren't you?"

Hozuki Shingetsu wanted to deny it outright, since this was something that couldn't be brought up in public, but just as he was about to deny it, he heard Kusaka Masato repeat his words in an affirmative tone.

"...As expected, it was you guys last night."

Suspicious, Hozuki Shingetsu turned to look at Yukinagi and suddenly realized—having not experienced much, she couldn't hide anything, and the strange expression on her face practically told the whole story.

"Then, Lord Kusaka has come not to interrogate me, but to demand an explanation, right?" Hozuki Shingetsu glanced at Kusaka Masato, who seemed unremarkable, and pondered his intentions.

"Of course, it's not to interrogate anyone. Rather, it's to cooperate with Minister Hozuki." Kusaka Masato smiled slightly, not denying his ulterior motives.

"Oh? What kind of collaboration could possibly catch Lord Kusaka's eye?" Hozuki Shingetsu asked tentatively, somewhat surprised.

"Cooperation means...killing the daimyo, how about it?"

Inside the room, Kusaka Masato uttered these words with a smile.

(End of this chapter)