After days of travel, Kazuku and his team arrived at the Land of Waves.
Led by Kabi, they met the daimyo.
To Kazuku's surprise…
The daimyo was a young woman.
And not much older, likely around Koharu's age.
Kazuku couldn't help but wonder who…
Would target such a seemingly harmless daimyo.
"Ninja of Konoha, your mission is to ensure the daimyo's safety for the next month."
An elderly man beside the daimyo spoke slowly.
He appeared at least fifty or sixty, yet his words were clear.
Clearly, he was an elder or advisor.
Notably, though Kazuku was seven and the shortest in the team…
Only a decade had passed since the Warring States era.
To someone like the elder, a six- or seven-year-old ninja on missions…
Fighting enemies…
Wasn't strange.
A decade ago, four- and five-year-olds died on battlefields regularly.
It was the ninja's fate.
Their purpose.
So, he didn't question why a seven-year-old was in the team.
His only concern…
Was whether they could protect the daimyo.
Hiruzen, beside Kazuku, spoke, "Since it's an S-rank mission, we're likely to encounter ninja."
Though Kazuku was the captain…
He left such discussions to Hiruzen.
Hiruzen could handle them easily.
"To ensure the daimyo's safety and complete the mission, we need the full context."
"And details on potential ninja we might face."
Though Kazuku speculated on the ship that the enemies were likely Mist Village ninja…
Confirmation from the daimyo…
Would be ideal.
Ninja excelled at analysis, but ignoring provided intelligence for one's own assumptions…
Was foolish.
"Ninja battles are about information."
"Knowing the enemy's details…"
"Gives us the advantage."
Hiruzen spoke calmly, composed.
The Land of Waves was their ally.
Hiruzen couldn't imagine the daimyo requesting protection while withholding information.
"Then…"
Seeing Hiruzen's serious request, the daimyo stopped the elder from responding, speaking softly, her voice gentle and pleasant.
"Let me explain."
As Kazuku knew…
The Land of Waves was small, surrounded by sea.
Its people lived poorly, the land barren.
A weak nation.
To change this…
The newly appointed daimyo decided…
To open the country!
She saw the land's poverty and scarce arable fields.
Doing nothing…
Changing nothing…
Would keep the people in poverty.
So, she proposed opening the country.
Establishing maritime trade to exchange resources.
"I'm not sure if this choice, this path, is correct."
"But hesitating, doing nothing out of fear…"
"Won't improve my people's lives."
"I…"
"Want to try."
The elder added…
"The daimyo's policy is bold, unacceptable to some."
"Recently…"
"There was an assassination attempt."
Per the elder, they stopped the ninja's attempt…
But lost over a dozen samurai.
Recently, through their intelligence network, they learned…
Those opposing the daimyo's policy…
Hired new ninja to assassinate her.
To stop the policy!
Unlike the previous unknown ninja…
This time…
"They hired Mist Village ninja, known for fighting to the death."
The elder paused, "You're young, perhaps unaware of Mist Village."
"During the Warring States, when wars were clan-based…"
"Their ninja were infamous."
"The Hozuki and Kaguya clans are particularly fearsome."
This fear of Mist Village…
Prompted the daimyo to pay two million ryo to hire Konoha ninja.
To protect her…
Until the open-country policy succeeded.
"Once maritime trade is established, even if I'm killed, the policy will proceed."
Kazuku studied the daimyo.
This fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl…
He thought she feared for her life.
But her concern was the trade system.
No wonder she paid two million ryo.
It wasn't just about her.
It was…
The future of the Land of Waves!
"Yet, maritime trade didn't lift the nation's poverty but pushed it into an abyss."
Kazuku sighed.
Often, most didn't want to end chaos…
For a better life.
They just fled one chaos for another.
Their tragedy, the nation's misfortune.
The world was built by laborers.
Everything should belong to them.
Landlords, capitalists, were parasites.
No different from venomous beasts.
"I understand."
Kazuku took a deep breath, "Then, for the next month, we'll ensure your safety."
"And help your policy succeed."
The daimyo, surprised by Kazuku's words, stared at him.
This six- or seven-year-old seemed so reliable.
"Thank you, little friend."
Smiling, she reached to pinch Kazuku's cheek.
But…
Kazuku dodged easily.
"First, I'm not a little friend."
Kazuku chuckled, shaking his head, "I'm the captain of this ninja team."
"Second."
"And most importantly."
"No need for thanks, because you're paying."
"As long as you pay, even the Mizukage couldn't kill you!"
"My word!"
(End of Chapter)