Even during the legendary era of the Shinobi Sect, when the Six Paths Sage still walked the world, the Daimyo remained supreme. Their authority was absolute, unquestioned, and nearly sacred. No matter how widespread the wars among Ninja became, the Daimyo's status was untouched.
All Ninja, no matter how powerful, would consciously avoid confronting the Daimyo. Even if they could easily kill him, they refrained—out of respect, fear, or the invisible chains of tradition.
This reverence persisted even during the chaotic Warring States Period.
And yet… here was Uchiha Su, standing in the very heart of the Land of Water, facing the supposed divine authority of the Daimyo, Seto Toru, and pulling him down from his throne with terrifying ease.
Not only had Su brought him down, he had publicly beaten the Daimyo to death with a mere paperweight, an act that dragged the sacred, divinely ordained office through the mud. It was audacious, shocking, and unprecedented.
The assembled nobles stared at Su, frozen by disbelief and terror.
"Oh? No one willing to answer my question?" Su's voice was soft, almost casual, but it carried the weight of authority. He pointed at one of the nobles at random. "You. Speak."
The man trembled, as if attending his own funeral. His face was ashen. He rose, trying to compose himself, but words failed him.
"Drag him away and kill him," Su said impatiently, waving his hand. "Since you hesitate, why prolong the inevitable?"
An Anbu moved instantly, dragging the noble from the hall, leaving the others silent and tense.
Su's crimson eyes swept across the room. "You, next."
The next man hesitated. "Perhaps… we could pretend nothing happened? Announce to the outside world that the Daimyo died suddenly?"
Su's lips curled. "Not to my liking. Drag him away."
He pointed again. This time, the man gritted his teeth, steeling his resolve. "We… we can appoint you as Seii Taishōgun," he said cautiously. "You would gain full control over military, financial, administrative, judicial, and diplomatic power in the Land of Water. You could depose or install the Daimyo at will, becoming the true master of this great nation."
Su's eyes darkened with thought. Seii Taishōgun… he mused silently. A General from the Shogunate period of my past life… yet in practice, almost equivalent to an Emperor.
"Then… do I need to decline three times and yield three times?" Su asked, his tone half-serious, half-curious.
"No need for such tedious formalities," the noble replied, "but to maintain appearances to the outside world, we should announce that the General declined three times and yielded three times before formally accepting the title. That way, your reputation will be untarnished."
Su studied him, noting the flexibility and prudence in the man's words. Interesting… a mind that can adjust to circumstances. That could be useful.
"What is your name?" Su asked.
"I am Ashikaga Yoshiaki," the noble replied, bowing respectfully.
Su's eyes locked onto him, unblinking, making Ashikaga Yoshiaki feel a prickling discomfort that ran through his body like ice. Finally, Su spoke again, softer this time.
"Ashikaga-san… do you not wish to be Seii Taishōgun?"
"I would never dare to have such a thought!" Ashikaga stammered, his words tumbling out in fear and respect.
Su shook his head, a faint smirk touching his lips. "What a waste of that name." He leaned back slightly. "Then it seems the position will fall to me. I, Uchiha Su, shall assume the title of Seii Taishōgun."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle over the hall. "Furthermore, you will release the following news: Seto Toru, colluding with Senju Tobirama of Konoha, allegedly assassinated the late Daimyo. I, Seii Taishōgun Uchiha Su, received intelligence from an informant and rushed to the capital. But Seto Toru, fearing punishment, committed suicide, leaving behind a note denouncing Senju Tobirama for inciting him to kill his father."
Ashikaga Yoshiaki lowered his head, acknowledging the instruction. Though the claim was fictitious, it would serve Uchiha Su's purpose: to humiliate Senju Tobirama, even if only for a fleeting moment.
"Three days from now, I will arrange the ceremony for the General's ascension to Seii Taishōgun," Ashikaga said. "And, General, you shall personally designate the successor to the position of Daimyo."
"Very good." Su nodded. "Send your eldest son to the Hidden Mist Village for study and training. As for you… you will remain in the capital to manage administrative affairs on my behalf. Any issue beyond your capability, you may consult me."
In any normal world, Su would never have entrusted such responsibility to another. But this was a world of Ninja, a world where supernatural abilities existed. Power dictated loyalty. As long as he held it, and as long as Ashikaga Yoshiaki possessed a functioning mind, betrayal would be impossible.
Afterward, Su ordered the assets of the executed nobles to be seized. Nearly a hundred carriages were needed to transport the wealth from the noble estates. Every noble's household harbored hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people, and countless samurai served them. Su killed the samurai outright, resettling the common people on the spot.
He even appointed a member of the Seto family, intellectually disabled and incapable of managing his own life, as the successor Daimyo. Su's intent was clear: to utterly undermine the authority of the Daimyo, leaving the nobles dependent and fearful.
Three days later, nobles from across the Land of Water gathered in the capital. Uchiha Su ascended to the position of Seii Taishōgun, taking control of the Land of Water entirely.
During the ascension ceremony, Su's first decree reshaped the nation:
"From this day forth, every child in the Land of Water, upon reaching six years of age, shall undergo aptitude testing for Ninja potential. Those who qualify will be sent to the Hidden Mist for training."
The second decree followed on the second day:
"The samurai establishment is hereby abolished. The Shogunate shall assign Ninja to protect the safety of nobles and officials in its place."
On the third day, as he departed the capital, Su issued his third decree:
"All incomes of local nobles shall be taxed at 45% for the state. Any high noble wishing to rebel or stage a coup is encouraged to do so; I, Seii Taishōgun Uchiha Su, will personally pacify each rebellion and confiscate the lands of those who fail. By year's end, hidden populations must be reported and financial allocations to the Hidden Mist increased accordingly."
This decree was carefully crafted. Su had considered every detail for the high nobles: how they might rebel, how to bribe or manipulate the Ninja tasked with protecting them, and even the potential reactions of external forces.
Uchiha Su governed with caution, fully aware that he now ruled a nation, not a mere village. Every policy could affect thousands of lives. He needed to observe, wait, and introduce reforms at precisely the right moment.
He understood that ordinary people had low tolerance for risk. High nobles, by contrast, were accustomed to navigating danger. To manipulate them, Su had to combine fear, opportunity, and cunning.
Moreover, many people in the Land of Water were tenant farmers, landless and vulnerable. Should the nobles rebel and fail, the land would be redistributed—strengthening his rule and the Hidden Mist simultaneously.
"What if they refuse to rebel?" Ashikaga Yamato asked, his voice tinged with apprehension. He was the eldest son sent by Ashikaga Yoshiaki to the Hidden Mist, effectively a hostage under Su's watch.
"If they refuse, we will force them," Su replied, eyes glittering with amusement. "Ideally, all high nobles will rebel together. I will raise a grand army, pacify them individually, and sweep across the entire Land of Water. The Shogunate will then hold all lands, to distribute to wanderers, tenant farmers, and loyal subjects."
He smiled faintly, darkly. "I am the one holding the hilt of the sword. If I cannot outmaneuver the nobles with politics, I will use the sword. That is my forte."
Ashikaga Yamato shivered. Even from the corner, he could sense the raw danger emanating from the newly appointed Seii Taishōgun. Su's intentions were clear: survival for the nobles would be impossible unless they played exactly as he dictated.
The Land of Water had entered a new era. The era of the Ninja, the era of Uchiha Su, had begun.
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