Uchiha: Strongest Shura

Following the conflict at the Amamiya estate, the visit was promptly cut short. The four returned to the embassy to regroup and evaluate their findings.

After ensuring the room was secure, Uchiha Kagami addressed the team. "Renji, did you learn anything from the visit?"

Renji nodded, his expression calm. "Yes. The Amamiya clan is aware of the danger surrounding the Daimyo. While they're not outright traitors, they're also not loyalists. They're opportunists, waiting to see which side will benefit them the most before making a decision."

Naoki Inuzuka, unable to contain his curiosity, interrupted. "What's with all the riddles? And why did you start a fight back there, Renji? I thought you said the Amamiya were supposed to be our allies. This whole thing is so confusing!"

Kagami chuckled lightly. "Naoki, you've improved—you held that question in longer than I expected. That's progress!" Then he gestured toward Renji. "Let him explain."

Renji sighed, turning toward Naoki and Marina. "Remember what we discussed yesterday: if the Amamiya clan were disloyal, they would consolidate their forces. If they were loyal to the Daimyo, they'd defend him with everything they have. But we found a third scenario—they're neither traitors nor loyalists. They're playing both sides."

Marina frowned. "How can you tell?"

Renji asked in return, "What was your impression of the Amamiya estate?"

Without hesitation, Marina replied, "It was simple and elegant."

Renji snapped his fingers. "Exactly. That's where it doesn't add up. A family with their history and status wouldn't allow their home to fall into such a state. A wealthy family maintains appearances, and the most obvious way to display heritage isn't wealth—it's the number and quality of their servants."

Naoki scratched his head, puzzled. "Why not wealth? Doesn't that show status too?"

Renji rolled his eyes. "Wealth can be deceptive. Nouveau riche spend extravagantly to flaunt their newfound riches. But true noble families focus on maintaining their structure—servants, traditions, and legacies. The Amamiya estate was severely understaffed, and even their decor was inconsistent. This suggests they're prepared to abandon their home at a moment's notice. They're hedging their bets to protect their interests no matter who comes out on top."

Marina's eyes widened. "So that's why you provoked Ishida? You wanted to see how well-prepared their staff was?"

Renji nodded. "Exactly. Their response—or lack thereof—told me everything I needed to know. They're trying to appear neutral while keeping themselves ready to flee.

Naoki, now deep in thought, asked, "Doesn't that make the Amamiya clan pretty smart?"

Renji scoffed. "Smart? No, it's short-sighted. Their wealth and influence come from the Daimyo's trust. By sitting on the fence, they risk losing that trust. If the rebellion succeeds, they'll have betrayed the Daimyo. If it fails, they'll still lose favor for their cowardice. Either way, they're digging their own grave."

Kagami interrupted, steering the discussion back on track. "Enough speculation. What's our next move?"

Naoki and Marina exchanged glances before turning toward Renji. It was clear they expected him to provide the answer. Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Renji took a moment to think.

"The most direct approach would be to assassinate Hojo Yuji, but that's too risky. Not only would it alert the other Daimyo to Konoha's interference, but Hojo's guards are likely skilled enough to make such an attempt costly. That option is off the table."

Renji sipped his tea thoughtfully before continuing. "The better approach is to manipulate the Amamiya clan. First, we need to restore their confidence in defending the Daimyo. Show them that victory is possible. Second, we have to force a rift between them and Hojo Yuji—make them realize there's no safe middle ground. Finally, we need to rebuild the Daimyo's trust in the Amamiya clan."

Naoki frowned. "I get the first two points, but why does the Daimyo's trust matter?"

Renji replied coolly, "Because for Konoha, the ideal outcome is a balance of power between Hojo Yuji and the Daimyo. That creates a stable, predictable environment for Konoha to exploit. To achieve that, the Daimyo and the Amamiya clan must be united. Otherwise, we risk destabilizing the entire region."

Marina nodded slowly. "And how do we make this happen?"

Renji smirked. "It's simple. We orchestrate a scenario where the Amamiya clan kills one of Hojo Yuji's key allies. We'll make it look like the Amamiya clan acted on behalf of the Daimyo, proving their loyalty while eliminating one of Hojo's strengths. This will force the Amamiya clan to commit fully to the Daimyo's side."

Naoki, wide-eyed, said, "That sounds... really underhanded."

Kagami stepped in, his tone firm yet reassuring. "This is for the greater good, Naoki. By preventing civil war, we're saving countless lives."

Renji remained silent, watching as Kagami expertly spun the moral justification. He's good at this, Renji thought. I guess that's why he's the Second Hokage's student.

With the plan in place, Kagami wasted no time gathering intelligence. Using his mastery of low-level genjutsu, he quickly mapped out Hojo Yuji's operations, identifying key vulnerabilities. Within hours, Kagami had everything they needed, including the schedules and locations of Hojo's key personnel.

Renji, Marina, and Naoki could only watch in awe as Kagami worked with surgical precision. While Kagami gathered intel, the trio had little to do but explore the Land of Fields.

As they strolled through the bustling streets, Renji took a moment to reflect. If only missions were always like this—strategizing, traveling, and exploring. If you take away the danger, being a ninja wouldn't be such a bad life.

End of the Chapter.