Sachinobu took a deep breath and let out a wry smile. "You're honestly giving me no choice by doing this," he said, his voice carrying a mix of resignation and bitter amusement.
Antares remained perfectly composed, his expression unreadable, silently allowing Sachinobu to continue.
"Very well," Sachinobu finally said. "If you help me ascend to the seat of Daimyo, then I swear to you that a deep friendship will exist between the Land of Sea and the Land of Uzumaki. I will stand together with the Uzumaki village — advancing and retreating side by side.
However, let me make one thing absolutely clear." His tone hardened. "If the Land of Uzumaki ever undermines the prosperity or well-being of my people, then I will not cooperate. At that point, you are free to control me like a puppet. But as long as I possess free will, I will never allow harm to come to the citizens of my country."
Hearing these words, a faint smile curved across Antares' face. "You've made the right choice," he said evenly. "And I assure you, you will not regret the decision you've made today."
Antares extended his hand, and without a moment's hesitation, Sachinobu clasped it firmly. Their handshake sealed a fragile yet powerful alliance between the Land of Sea and the Land of Uzumaki.
Now that Sachinobu had decided to cooperate with the Uzumaki clan, he and Antares began planning their next steps. Their first priority was dealing with his middle brother, Takeda Harunobu, and the forces allied with Kirigakure.
"Give me until tomorrow night," Sachinobu said, "and I will outline the full structure of my brother Harunobu's forces. Then we can coordinate and take action together."
Antares nodded in agreement.
"Until then," Sachinobu continued, "you can stay in my mansion as my guest."
Antares shook his head. "No. We cannot take that risk. There may be spies from both Daimyo and Takeda Harunobu among your forces. Any unusual presence could cause problems. It's safer if we remain away from your mansion. That way, nothing raises suspicion, and it will be best for both of us."
Sachinobu understood and nodded. It was undeniable that his forces likely contained spies loyal to both the Daimyo and his middle brother. Even though Antares and Makima could alter their appearances with their transformation technique, two unknown figures appearing at this time might arouse suspicion. Such attention could alert the Daimyo and his middle brother — a risk he was not willing to take.
Antares and Makima left Sachinobu's mansion just as silently as they had arrived, disappearing without a trace. Once the two were gone, Sachinobu couldn't shake an uneasy feeling. Even though he was now cooperating with the Uzumakis, it felt as if he had invited a tiger into his own house — and that was a sensation he could not ignore.
He rang the small bell on his table twice, signaling his servants to enter immediately. When they stepped into the room, their eyes widened in alarm at the sight of Sachinobu's advisor, who had fainted. They instinctively feared that some attack had occurred, or that the subordinate had been harmed by an intruder.
Sachinobu quickly waved his hand. "No need to worry. He simply fainted. Isao collapsed while speaking with me — it seems he has overexerted himself these past few days. Take him to his room and let him rest. Once he wakes, have him come to meet me."
The servants nodded obediently, lifting Isao, the advisor, and carrying him out of the room toward his quarters, careful not to disturb him further.
----
The next evening, Antares and Makima entered Sachinobu's mansion as planned, fulfilling the arrangement they had made the previous night.
Both of them stepped into the same room where they had met Sachinobu yesterday, the air still carrying the faint tension of their prior encounter.
This time, Sachinobu was not alone. Sitting beside him was the very same man whom Antares had rendered unconscious with a single hand-chop to the back of his neck the night before. He now sat upright and alert, fully conscious, yet still under the watchful presence of his master.
Antares and Makima took their seats opposite Sachinobu and his advisor, maintaining their calm, composed demeanor. Antares' eyes flicked toward Sachinobu, silently questioning the presence of the additional person in the room.
"You need not worry," Sachinobu said smoothly. "This is Isao Kurosaki, my advisor. He is exceptionally loyal to me, and you have no reason to fear any leaks of information from him."
Antares glanced at Makima, conveying a command without words. Makima, understanding his silent command, fixed her gaze on Isao. "Are you truly loyal to your master, Sachinobu," she asked, her tone sharp, "or do you harbour designs to conspire with someone else?"
Isao, who had appeared perfectly normal just moments before, suddenly went dazed. In a blank, puppet-like voice, he said, "Yes… I am loyal only to my master, Sachinobu, and to no one else."
Makima's eyes narrowed slightly. "If someone offered you greater profit than your master," she asked deliberately, "would you betray him?"
Isao's expression remained vacant, his words monotone. "I will not betray my master, whatever the cost."
Satisfied, Makima snapped her fingers. Instantly, Isao returned from his trance, blinking in confusion. "What… what happened?" he asked. "I feel… different, somehow."
Sachinobu, seated beside him, could hardly hide his surprise. Makima had managed to control Isao, interrogate him, and extract the truth from his heart with astonishing ease. The display confirmed the warning he had received from Antares the day before: Makima Uzumaki truly possessed the power to subjugate the wills of others with effortless ease.
At the same time, Sachinobu felt a measure of relief. Through this demonstration, he could confirm one vital fact: Isao was utterly loyal, and his trust in him was well-placed.
"Nothing happened," Sachinobu said calmly, offering a reassuring smile. "You don't need to worry." He then picked up the scroll in front of him, handing it to Antares. "This contains all the information I have gathered about my brother, Harunobu. Everything is here — every detail, every piece of intelligence."
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