At ten in the morning, inside the capital—
Kaito was strolling through the morning market with his family.
Although the market was close to closing, it still possessed a unique charm.
He couldn’t help but mutter to himself,
“This scene really feels like Assassin’s Creed.”
There were countless things here that the people of Konoha had never seen before: exotic foods, luxurious clothing, fine silk and brocade, cosmetics, ironware, and grand restaurants.
The sheer variety left his family dazzled.
Since opportunities to relax were rare, Kaito encouraged them to shop as much as they wanted.
Along the way, they overheard the conversations of local residents.
“I don’t know what happened last night.
I was so scared I slept under my bed.”
“I heard the notice said that Konoha’s Hokage and someone called ‘Hashi’ came together.
Could it have been those ninja?”
“Didn’t you go out this morning?
The notice said the Daimyo was overthrown, and Senju Hashirama is becoming the new ruler.”
“No, that’s not what it said.”
“Whatever.
It’s all the same.”
Kaito understood that there was still much work to be done if they wanted the people to truly trust them.
Places like gambling houses, brothels, and underground fighting arenas all had to be addressed.
The moment he heard “gambling house,” he thought of Tsunade.
He absolutely could not allow her to develop a gambling addiction.
As for underground fighting rings, they were places where people profited from bloodshed and cruelty.
They had to be abolished.
Kaito clapped his hands.
A guard immediately appeared beside him.
“I stand against gambling and exploitation.”
“Shut down the gambling houses and underground arenas.
Confiscate the money, but keep the personnel alive.
Have the Senju advisors take them away and re-educate them.”
“Yes, sir!”
Mito asked curiously,
“Then why aren’t you shutting down the brothels?”
Kaito coughed awkwardly.
“You can’t ban everything.
People need an outlet, otherwise there’ll be riots.”
The others fell into thoughtful silence.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Kaito changed the subject and turned toward Shumo.
“If it were you, how would you govern this city?”
Shumo hesitated for a long time before finally answering dejectedly.
“Father, your son is untalented.
I only feel that governance should be entrusted to those who are good at governing.”
“Oh?”
Kaito smiled approvingly.
“Knowing how to employ talented people is a virtue.”
“Not bad, boy.”
“You’d make a capable ruler.”
“Was…
that a compliment?”
Shumo quietly asked Reiko.
“I think so.”
“Father seems happy.”
“And what about you, Mito?”
Mito nodded.
“Our son isn’t especially gifted, but he possesses a kind heart.”
“In that respect, he’s quite similar to how you used to be.”
“He could become a benevolent ruler.”
“Then we’ll continue cultivating him.”
Kaito grinned.
“Shumo, your good days are over.”
“Yes!”
“I’ll…
do my best not to disappoint you.”
At that moment, a commotion erupted ahead.
People hurriedly fled and hid.
As Kaito and the others approached, they saw a fat man dressed in luxurious robes standing in the middle of the street.
More than ten of his subordinates were surrounding a young man.
The young man protected someone behind him with all his strength, yet he still managed to hold his own through sheer martial skill.
The fat man cursed his subordinates before ordering them to attack with clubs.
Seeing this, the young man immediately picked up the person behind him and prepared to flee.
This finally allowed Kaito to get a clear look at his face.
He was fairly handsome and possessed distinctly foreign features.
The only thing Kaito disliked was the pair of thin mustaches.
Wait.
Two thin mustaches?
A possibility suddenly flashed through his mind.
If this really was that person…
Then he absolutely had to save him.
“Stop!”
Kaito instantly appeared before the young man.
“In broad daylight, who dares cause trouble here?”
The fat man sneered.
“Who are you?
Everyone in this city knows me, Yamanoue Tomohiro.”
“Don’t tell me you’re some country bumpkin?”
Kaito chuckled.
“So what if I am?”
“Does this city have no laws?
No rules?”
“Bullshit!”
“My rules are the law!”
Then his eyes landed on Uzumaki Mito.
His breathing immediately quickened.
“Country boy, you’re lucky today.”
“Leave the beauty behind, and I’ll pretend none of this happened.”
As he became increasingly intoxicated by her beauty and temperament, his mind filled with increasingly depraved fantasies.
Then a clear, bell-like voice interrupted him.
“That man is disgusting.”
“Mother, let’s leave.”
He froze.
Only then did he realize there was another stunning married woman among them.
Jackpot!
She was exactly his preferred type.
Elegant.
Graceful.
Beautiful.
Mature.
Refined.
Mother and daughter.
The combination overwhelmed him.
He swallowed repeatedly, his eyes filled with lust.
In his imagination, the two women trembled on a tatami mat while he slowly stripped away their clothes.
Back in reality—
“No.”
“I don’t care what it costs.”
“I’m taking both of you.”
“None of you are leaving!”
“Men!”
“Capture them!”
At first, Kaito had merely watched the fat man with amusement.
But as the man’s thoughts grew increasingly vile, Kaito ‘s expression gradually became colder.
He stopped smiling altogether.
Even his family felt uneasy.
They had never seen Hashirama wear such an expression.
“Anyone who harbors evil intentions toward my family deserves to die.”
“Even thinking about it is unforgivable.”
He raised his hands.
“Wood Release—”
Then he stopped.
This was his city.
Wood Release would cause too much destruction.
Besides…
Using his fists sounded more satisfying.
“I’ll help you!”
Perhaps afraid Kaito would be overwhelmed, the young man courageously rushed into the crowd.
Kaito deliberately slowed down and observed him.
The more he looked, the more convinced he became.
The appearance.
The taijutsu style.
The emphasis on kicks.
The age.
The timeline.
Everything matched.
After confirming his suspicions, Kaito moved.
To the young man’s astonishment, he sent the thugs flying one after another with a single punch each.
In an instant, he appeared before the fat man and lifted him into the air by the throat.
“Let go!”
“Do you know who I am?!”
“Your surname is Yamanoue, right?”
“My father is Yamanoue Hiroshi!”
“If you touch me, the Yamanoue family will never let you go!”
“Finished with your last words?”
“Then die.”
Kaito tightened his grip.
The fat man’s struggles became increasingly frantic.
He realized that this man genuinely intended to kill him.
“I…
was wrong…”
“Please…”
“Spare me…”
His face turned from red to purple.
The young man hurried over.
“Big brother, forget it.”
“Please let him go.”
“His family has tremendous influence.
Commoners like us can’t afford to offend them.”
“Let’s run before we’re surrounded.”
Kaito turned to him.
His voice was ice cold.
“He tried to harm my family.”
“If I spare him today, will he spare you tomorrow?”
“If I were weak instead of strong, would I even have the chance to resist?”
The young man fell silent.
He knew the answer.
If he had been weaker, Oda would already have suffered a terrible fate.
“Stop!”
An angry shout echoed from afar.
Kaito relaxed his grip slightly.
“Looks like the next act is beginning.”
The fat man immediately gasped for air.
Soon afterward, the sound of galloping horses filled the street.
More than forty heavily armed samurai arrived in perfect formation.
The man leading them roared the moment he saw that Kaito hadn’t released his son.
“Are you blind?!”
“The city defense general is here!”
“Release my son!”
Kaito blinked.
“Did I hear that correctly?”
“He actually spoke to me like that?”
Shumo nodded seriously.
“Father, you heard correctly.”
“I don’t care who you are!”
“You never should have touched a member of the Yamanoue family!”
“Release him!”
Kaito smiled.
“And if I don’t?”
The general laughed darkly.
“Besides the Daimyo, nobody has ever dared say no to me.”
“I’ll torture you and your family slowly.”
Crack.
A crisp sound interrupted him.
“Fa…ther…”
Yamanoue Tomohiro’s neck snapped.
The arrogant expression remained frozen on his face.
“Oh dear.”
Kaito smiled.
“You threatened my family.”
“My hand slipped.”
Then his expression turned cold.
“What are you going to do about it?”
“My son!”
The general’s scream was heartbreaking.
Then he glared at Kaito with bloodshot eyes.
“Kill him!”
“Skin him alive!”
“And kill everyone behind him too!”
The young man sighed and walked beside Kaito .
“You should’ve escaped with me.”
“You still can.”
“I’ll cover your retreat.”
The young man shook his head.
“You stepped in because of us.”
“Please let your family take Oda away.”
“I’ll fight beside you.”
Kaito laughed.
“Then you’ll be disappointed.”
“You’ll have to become the greatest taijutsu master in the world before you’re qualified to fight beside me.”
“Are you joking?”
The young man turned—
And froze.
Kaito still stood where he had been.
But everyone else had already collapsed.
Not one remained standing.
“How…”
“Who are you?”
“You killed people in the Daimyo’s Capital!”
“The Daimyo will never forgive—”
“The Daimyo?”
Kaito laughed.
“The Daimyo is already dead.”
“This city.”
“This world.”
“They’re about to be rewritten.”
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
Several guards instantly appeared.
“Take this man away.”
“Interrogate him thoroughly.”
“Don’t let him die.”
“Take your time.”
“Yes, Lord Hashirama.”
Sarutobi Sanshan stepped forward with a savage grin.
“What?!”
“You’re Hashirama?!”
“The new ruler?!”
“I was wrong!”
“My son deserved to die!”
“Please spare me!”
Kaito ignored him.
“Clan Leader!”
“Save me!”
No one came.
Nothing happened.
“Tch.”
Kaito looked disappointed.
He had almost expected the clichéd rescue scene.
Just then, he noticed a suspicious figure disappear into an alley.
He was about to pursue them when—
“Report!”
“A message from Lord Hokage!”
An ANBU appeared beside him.
“Oh.”
Kaito nodded.
Then he turned toward the young man.
“What’s your name?”
“My lord…”
“My name is Chen.”
“Everyone just calls me Chen.”
Kaito smiled.
“This world isn’t fair.”
“But I have a dream.”
“Come help me achieve it.”
Chen hesitated for only a moment.
“…Alright.”