"My first order is this: putting aside the ongoing requests, from now on, our ninja village will stop assassinations, spying, and all of our other current jobs!"
"What?!"
Everyone was shocked. Not only the Clan Heads, but even his father-in-law and Tengen were stunned. Indeed, change was needed—but it had to be gradual. How could someone drop something like this out of nowhere?!
One had to understand that the very thing Kiyoshi wanted to stop was their only source of income! How could it simply be halted?!
All the Clan Heads shared one thought—could they take back their "We welcome Kiyoshi-sama as the new Leader of the ninja village"?! Sorry, but they didn't want to welcome him anymore!
"Kiyoshi-sama, if we stop doing all this, how will we make money?"
A valid question. The same concern lingered in everyone's mind.
"I have thought of something. If everything goes well, we might be able to earn even more money than from these outdated jobs."
Clearly, the man who asked the question wasn't satisfied with the answer. Nor were the others. They exchanged glances, unable to understand the reasoning behind such a sudden decision. None of these small reactions escaped Kiyoshi's notice.
You want change, but aren't willing to change your work? Then what kind of change do you even want?!
Of course, he was a little annoyed. These people had accepted him as their Leader, yet they couldn't even trust his very first order?
"If Kiyoshi-sama has thought of something, then I have no problem with it. I will follow Kiyoshi-sama's order."
A voice suddenly cut through the doubt in the room, showing firm support for Kiyoshi's decision.
It was Hanzo.
"Hanzo-sama!"
"This..."
Why does Hanzo-sama support this?!
Given Hanzo's prestige among the smaller clans, most didn't dare speak openly, though they remained unconvinced. Hanzo glanced at them and cursed them inwardly for their foolishness.
Why can't they just agree to it?! Have these idiots forgotten that the Leader seized power through a coup? Just because he smiles and jokes, do they really think he won't kill them if things go wrong?! And there was still one more person yet to speak.
Just as Hanzo expected, the silent man—Kiyoshi's father-in-law—finally spoke.
"Kiyoshi-sama is the new Leader of the ninja village. We only need to follow his orders. Kiyoshi-sama has given a command, and it is our duty to obey and enforce it. Or do you intend to disobey?"
Seeing his gaze, filled with killing intent, directed at them, all of them trembled.
Now they remembered—the Leader wasn't someone who inherited power peacefully. He had taken it. And with just him and his father-in-law, they commanded the largest forces in the village. If they wished, they could remove heads as easily as breathing.
How had they become so careless and complacent?
"How could we disobey orders?! Kiyoshi-sama, we will do as you say!"
"Yes! If Kiyoshi-sama has thought of something, then it must be right!"
"Yes, yes! Kiyoshi-sama…"
Kiyoshi simply watched them, their words dripping with flattery as they tried to save themselves. Seeing them bow and speak so desperately… he had to admit—it felt amazing. No wonder people in power enjoyed this so much.
Still, he couldn't force them blindly. That would only allow dissatisfaction to build beneath the surface. He couldn't risk them abandoning the village.
His father-in-law had played the bad cop.
Now it was time for him to play the good cop.
"Father-in-law, you don't have to be so harsh. It makes me look like a tyrant."
His father-in-law cursed him inwardly. Wasn't he doing all this because of him?! What an unfilial son-in-law! Still, he bowed respectfully on the outside.
"Sorry, Kiyoshi-sama."
"It's alright."
Sorry, father-in-law. But you know the game.
After lightly reprimanding him, Kiyoshi turned back to the others with a warm, amicable smile—as if he had never harmed even a single ant.
"Everyone, your concerns are valid. You all have families, and to ensure their well-being, we need money. But haven't you noticed that the income we earn has been declining over time? Isn't that exactly what we want to change?"
He paused, letting his words settle.
"I know you all have doubts. But trust me—give me one month. If within a month I fail to find an alternative, then I will place myself in your hands. Just one month."
...
"You said one month—and with such confidence. You do have a plan, right?"
The room was now empty, leaving only Kiyoshi, Tengen, and his father-in-law. Though he had shown strong support for Kiyoshi earlier, as a Clan Leader, he was just as worried as the others. He supported Kiyoshi because he had to. Otherwise, he might have denounced him like the rest.
"What? You don't trust me either? Should I order Tengen to—"
Kiyoshi spoke in a teasing tone, but the words didn't land well. His father-in-law immediately touched his neck, as if checking whether it was still there, and snapped back at him.
"Don't make such jokes! Didn't you see that no one was laughing?"
"Alright, alright. You all are very boring people. When I joke, my wives laugh all the time."
Kiyoshi wasn't lying. His wives did laugh all the time.
"Hmph! Who knows if they're just laughing out of respect?"
"What?!"
Really? Were they only laughing to show respect?
No! He couldn't trust this old man. He was clearly trying to drive a wedge between him and his wives. There was no way their laughter was fake!
…Right?
"Anyway. Kiyoshi, tell me. Do you really have a plan?"
Hearing the same question again made a vein twitch on Kiyoshi's forehead. Was he really that unreliable? He had planned the coup in advance—how could he not have a plan for something even bigger than that?
"Of course I have a plan. Do you think I would give such an order without something viable in mind? Father-in-law, when I said I wanted this village to prosper, I wasn't joking."
Hearing the seriousness in Kiyoshi's tone, his father-in-law fell silent. He studied him carefully, then after a moment, stood up.
"If you have a plan, then that's enough. I will trust you. Don't worry—I will handle the other clans."
"Good. Now leave quickly. That meeting stressed me out. I want to go relax and play with my wives."
Kiyoshi shooed him away, making his father-in-law's face scrunch up in irritation. He had been worrying about this son-in-law, and here he was—carefree, thinking only about playing with his wives.
How did their ninja village produce someone like this? A ninja who indulged in debauchery all the time?
'What is so good about women?'
Just like Tengen, this man simply didn't understand Kiyoshi.
If Kiyoshi had heard his thoughts, he would've been equally confused—wondering how this man could possibly be Hinatsuru's father. That girl clearly didn't inherit this level of cluelessness.
Under Kiyoshi's relentless shooing, his father-in-law finally left, leaving only Kiyoshi and Tengen behind.
With everyone gone, Kiyoshi took a deep breath and let out a long sigh.
"Tengen… managing a village is much harder than I thought."
Tengen, still clad in his dark attire and looking every bit like a proper ninja, nodded.
"Yes."
Standing in the background as a bodyguard, he had observed the entire meeting—the words spoken, and the meaning behind them. Though trained to be a tool, Tengen was capable of thinking and understanding. He wasn't an idiot. He could see how difficult it was to make everyone follow orders willingly.
'If I were in Kiyoshi's place…'
There was no way he could have done what Kiyoshi just did.
That realization strengthened his belief that supporting Kiyoshi had been the right choice. A quiet confidence settled within him, softening his cold demeanor just a little—making him resemble less of a rigid ninja, and more of the flashy man he would one day become.
"By the way, Tengen. I have a task for you. It's quite important for the village."
Important for the village?
What could it be?
Could it be—
"Yes. What you're thinking is right. The one-month deadline… the alternative way to earn money besides assassinations and all that. You're the one who can make it happen."
"W-What? Kiyoshi… are you out of your mind? How am I supposed to do that?"
Did that meeting fry his brother's brain? How could he, Uzui Tengen, come up with an alternative source of income for the entire village?!
"You idiot! I don't want you to think of it. I've already figured it out—I'm assigning you the task. And it suits you perfectly."
"Then say it like that! You almost gave me a heart attack!"
"Hahaha! It's good to see you showing more emotions. Tengen, I like you this way. You should try living a bit more… flashy."
"Flashy…"
For some reason, that word resonated deeply within him.
Maybe… he should try living more honestly. More freely. More flashy, just like Kiyoshi said.
But before that—
"So, what exactly is the task?"
Kiyoshi grinned.
Then he revealed the plan that could pull the village out of its financial pit and set it on the path to prosperity.
The ultimate shortcut to wealth.
"I want you to find Demon Slayers."