This Game of Life

Chapter 25

Duty

"So. This is the Land of Swamps, huh?"

As we rode into the capital, I couldn't help but stare at my surroundings. While the capital wasn't nearly as large as the one in the Land of Fire, it was equally majestic.

Some of the larger buildings, while not as large, were decorated just as extravagantly as the Fire Daimyo's own palace had been, being adorned with colourful banners, dotted with spires and painted in a combination of white, gold and purple that simply exuded a sense of nobility.

And these were just the compounds of some of the lesser nobles, as I was told by Chichiatsu-dono himself. The larger, more important nobles' domains threatened to match the Fire Daimyo's in size, and blew it out of the water in terms of decoration.

And Chichiatsu-dono's own palace dwarfed even theirs in both measures.

It was a clear message. Despite the size of both the country and the city, there was an absolutely staggering amount of wealth contained here, and seeing the city for myself helped me to truly understand just how much.

But yet, I wasn't amazed. Rather, I was disgusted.

With the larger amount of wealth seemed to come a proportional disparity of it. Of the four major cities I had been to – the Leaf, along with the capitals of Wave, Fire and the capital I was currently stood in – this was the only one where I had seen entire families living in filth while trapped between two opulent estates.

It and Wave were the only two of the four where a simple glance into the streets would give you a glimpse of poverty, no matter where you looked. But unlike Wave, where everyone had been poor due to Gato's influence, here short, rich men in the most crisp business suits I had ever seen, chatted happily with beautiful women way out of their league in elegant, flowing yukata, while they walked past the sick child begging for food without a second glance, like his existence didn't even register in their eyes.

And this wasn't a singular occurrence. In almost every street, I saw a similar situation play out. And each and every time, I felt my blood boil, and the urge to go tear those people a new one for being so callous – and then Gamer's Mind quashed it down, and I stayed put, with an ever growing pit of disgust in the bottom of my stomach.

"This is it, Sakura-kun. My palace." Chichiatsu-dono chirped cheerfully.

"Cool." I grunted, before catching myself. "I mean, it looks, um, beautiful, Chichiatsu-dono."

He glanced at me, before turning, looking back at the way we had come. "You don't like it? The wealth differential?"

I blinked. Had I been that easy to read? I suppose I hadn't been trying to hide it, but still… "No, I don't. Frankly, I think it's both disgusting and unfair."

He sighed. He looked at me again, and I almost recoiled in surprise. Had I not known better, I would've thought I was looking into an old man's eyes.

"Do you not think there's such a wealth difference back in your home? It might not be as evident as it is here, but I can tell you, it definitely exists. It's almost impossible to remove, after all. I should know. Even as Daimyo go, I've been blessed with more wealth than I could use in ten lifetimes, incredibly loyal and helpful servants and advisors, and my people love me.

"Yet even still I can't make this problem of poverty any better. I've tried everything, from artificially increasing the number of jobs available in the city, up to giving out portions of my fortune to every family living below the poverty line. Yet even still, the problem is rampant. I can't find an answer. And it pains me every time I have to admit that."

I blinked. Looking at him… Being a Daimyo isn't as easy as most people would think. At least, not if you want to be a good one.


"Welcome home, Chichiatsu-sama." A handmaiden greeted Chichiatsu-dono and I at the entrance to his palace. "Mitsuki-sama is waiting for you in your office."

"Thank you, Touka-san. Please, could you tell her I will be with her in just a moment?"

"Yes, Chichiatsu-sama." Bowing, Touka smiled at me, before leaving to go tell this MItsuki that Chichatsu-dono was on his way.

"Now then, Sakura-kun. Most likely Mitsuki-san is going to tell me that the nobles wish to dine with me tonight. It's a common occurrence, and considering I just returned from the Land of Fire, they're likely curious about the trip.

"Naturally, I would like for you to join me. But you shinobi like to operate in secrecy, so… I will send you out with Retsu-san, my chief tailor, to find you the best fitting kimono and hair arrangement possible. I will introduce you as a minor noble from the Land of Fire that I have taken a fancy to and wish to make my wife. Does that work, or would you rather something different? I'm still not entirely sure how I can help you work as efficiently as possible, I'm afraid."

I smiled at him. "No, that'll be fine. Hiding in plain sight shouldn't be too much of a hassle. Is there any specific way you want me to act?"

"No, that is entirely up to you. I don't wish to interfere with how you prefer to work."

"Perfect. I also imagine we'll be seated together?"

"If you need us to be, then I'll ensure it. Why?"

"Just in case something comes up. If I lay down my chopsticks for whatever reason, and I reach out and touch you on the shoulder, and I touch your foot with mine, could you stall for me? Answer any questions directed at me for me, and make sure no one comes close to touching me until I touch you again."

"Yes, I can do that. But again, why is this necessary?"

"It's a signal. If I feel something's wrong, I'll use that to alert you before I replace myself with a clone and go and investigate. The clone can't think for itself and if anyone touches it, it'll go away, so I'll need you to cover for me to ensure that it doesn't become obvious that I'm not really there."

"I see. That makes sense."

I smiled at him, nodded, and then fell behind him and followed, our conversation now over.


"Who exactly will be in attendance, Mitsuki-san?" Chichiatusu-dono asked his advisor.

"Katsuya-sama, Akai-sama, and… Abarai." The black haired woman's lip curled up in disgust at the mention of this last name. "Plus entourages." She hastily added.

Marsh-Born Faith
LV 1
Hideyaki Mitsuki

Chichiatsu-dono scowled for the first time since we had met, causing me to raise an eyebrow. Focusing on the woman who had been in control of the country for Chichiatsu-dono's short absence, I asked, "Who is this… 'Abarai'?"

"A criminal."

My head tilted to the side. "Then why...?"

"He's a yakuza head." Chichiatsu-dono stated simply.

"Ah. I know the type." I quietly remarked, thoughts turning to Wave and Gato. "I'm guessing that the forces you have stationed here aren't enough to fight through his own to arrest and capture him?"

"Even if they were, we have no proof that he is actually doing anything illegal," Mitsuki-san stated. "He's intelligent, and he covers his tracks well. We're aware of what he is, there isn't anyone in the capital that isn't, but until we actually see him or his associates committing a crime…"

"Your hands are tied." I finished for her. After a moment, I added "But mine aren't."

At their curious gazes, I decided to elaborate. "It's not common knowledge that I'm here, right?" At Chichiatsu-dono's nod, I continued. "We should ensure it remains that way. It gives me freer reins to act. I could try infiltrating his home to find any incriminating evidence, or if necessary… just eliminate him outright." I held back a grimace at the thought. Assassination… did I really want to do that?

Mitsuki-san's confusion mixed with concern. "How could you possibly manage that on your own? Not our best could-"

"I'm a shinobi." I interrupted, flicking my forehead protector, as Mitsuki-san's eyes widened in recognition. "Not a very old one, mind, or all that experienced, but… I think I'll be able to find my way around a few thugs."

"I see..."

Once again, my head lolled to the side. "Hm." A cloud of smoke obscured me, and when it disappeared, I was replaced with an older, taller and more feminine version of myself, with incredibly exaggerated curves that were almost impossible to obtain on any real human.

My hair was arranged in a style similar to what I had seen Madam Shijimi wear when we returned Tora to her, and I wore an expensive, yet revealing kimono. I made sure to look young enough that it made sense that Chichiatsu-dono and I could court each other yet also old enough that any older men wanting to do so wouldn't look like pedophiles.

"If he's anything like how I imagine, he'll have no qualms showing his interest even if we were said to be courting if I looked like this, Chichiatsu-dono," I murmured. "Grabbing his attention sexually grants me a free pass into his home, and leaves me in a position where I could just as easily search for evidence as I could execute." Gamer's Mind, thank you for everything. No way I could even talk about doing this without you, let alone plan on going through with it.

"Besides," I continued, "this saves you the expense and trouble of outfitting me."

Mitsuki-san stared at me in shock, while Chichiatsu-dono seemed surprised at first, but quickly recovered. It seemed he had started getting used to what I could do. "I see. So you plan to, uh seduce him?" He seemed uncomfortable at the thought.

"Of a sort, yeah." I said, letting the transformation fade, returning me to my regular appearance. "Nothing overt. I'll just show off some skin, act sultry, all that kind of stuff. I imagine that this guy's only difference from an animal is the fact that he's bipedal, so even that should catch his interest, and then… well, we'll take it from there should it happen."

I idly tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "Don't worry. Unless he's secretly been hiring shinobi bodyguards, I should be fine. I should be able to escape if they somehow find me out." Even as I said that, I bit my lip. If things didn't go according to plan, I wouldn't have anyone to bail me out. Am I ready for this?

"Well… If you're sure, Sakura-kun. If you're successful in doing this, it would be a great boon." Chichiatsu-dono seemed reluctant to even admit that, but he and I both knew it would be beneficial – to him, and his country.

"Is there anything specific I should look out for?" I quickly asked Mitsuki-san. Her worried frown didn't break, but she thought for a moment before answering.

"I very much doubt that you'll find any real documents lying around, legal or not. He's not an imbecile, he'll be sure to keep that hidden. His men however, most likely are not."

"So listen in to what they say, and report anything incriminating. Simple enough. I can do that." I pulled up my scarf over my mouth and nose, stepping back in silence for Mitsuki-san and Chichiatsu-dono to continue their conversation.


Finally, a couple of hours after we had actually entered into the palace, I was lead to my accommodation for the duration of my mission. To call my room extravagant would be an understatement. It was huge, the size of Naruto-kun's entire apartment at least and decorated in the same whites and purples and golds that adorned the palace and the rest of the rooms inside it. The walls were painted white with purple banners with gold trim dotting the walls and ceiling.

One wall was entirely covered by a white curtain with intricate flower designs of red, pink and gold inscribed on it. Opening it revealed that the wall was actually a gargantuan window, and natural light flooded in, staining the room in the vermillion of sunset. The dusky orange complimented the room rather than clashing, and I found myself smiling at the warmth it seemed to imbue into everything in the room.

The smile faded as I thought about what I had said I would be doing in just a few hours. I walked back to the window-wall and opened it, walking out onto an expansive balcony, overlooking fields of personal land to be used by the people living in Chichiatsu-dono's palace.

I jumped over the railing, landing down in the fields two storeys below me, before I quickly walked out to an expansive clearing where there wasn't anything around I could accidentally destroy, and I began to train, quickly weaving through the motions of Suzaku's style, in an attempt to botth raise the skill levels of the Vermillion Bird abilities, and to get some progress in increasing my physical stats.


I cleaved through a boulder with a knife hand and kicked the top half up into the air. With a combination of Lunge and Vermillion Bird's Beak, I launched myself at it and plowed straight through, shattering it to pieces. Twisting around, sixteen Magic Bullets blasted into the pieces of rock, and I incinerated the dust that remained of the pulverised boulder with a Flamethrower.

Landing with one leg bent and the other outstretched to the right, using my left hand to steady myself, I surged forwards, my already extended right leg swinging forward in a body shot to an invisible enemy.

My momentum swung me around so my back faced the enemy shinobi I was envisioning. Thinking quickly, I raised my left hand and released a Magic Blast, forgoing a brace. The recoil sent my elbow shooting back towards my enemy, crashing into his face, and arrested, and then reversed, my spinning momentum, turning me back to face him.

Moving with the momentum, my right hand closed into a fist, and I unleashed a Power Strike that ripped through his body and crashed into the ground, sending up a cloud of dust and dirt as it did so.

I let out a sigh, wiping some of the sweat from my brow, as the presence that had been watching me for the past 10 minutes came closer before retreating once again. "You can come out, you know. I don't bite."

The bushes they had been hiding in rustled as they likely flinched in surprise, before shaking as the person hidden stood and walked out. My eyes quickly raked the figure, before quietly darting up to the name and title above her head.

She was dressed in a traditional maid's outfit, with short and dark purple hair that had absolutely no frills to it, being just worn straight. She looked about Chichiatsu-dono's age, and as my eyes flitted to her own strikingly red ones, I briefly recognised her.

Anything For You
LV 1
Touka

No family name, huh?

"Did you need something?" I casually asked the maid that had greeted Chichiatsu-dono and I as we had entered.

Her cheeks coloured in embarrassment. "N-No, not at all! I, um, just happened to come across you while performing my gardening duties, and it was absolutely entrancing to watch you, Sakura-sama."

"You know my name?"

"Yes, Sakura-sama! Chichiatsu-sama has tasked me with being your personal maid for the duration of your stay here. I hope I will be up to the task!" She responded cheerily, before bowing deeply.

"Oh… Right." I said, scratching the back of my head. I get a personal maid? Chichiatsu-dono's not sparing any expense is he? Between her and my room, I- I froze, as the rest of what she had said sunk in. "Wait, you were meant to be… gardening?" I looked to the ground where I had been training, and gulped. It was absolutely ruined. I turned back to her, but she was only smiling softly at me.

"Please don't fret, Sakura-sama. Chichiatsu-sama told me that you would likely need some space in the grounds, so my duties were simply to mark out a space for you. I will just ensure that this area is within it, and all shall be well."

I blinked. "You're taking this quite well."

She laughed. It was a pleasant sound, like a bell. "I am not the one who would worry about the state of the grounds; after all I don't tend to them. However, if Mikuro-san were to see this… Again, not to worry. I will divert all attention from you. I will take the blame myself if need be."

"You're... very dedicated. We've barely even met."

"Is it not my job to be?"

I tilted my head in concession. She had a point.

"Well then, Touka-san. When will the dinner be taking place?"

"In an hour and a half, Sakura-sama."

"Then let's get ready for it then, hmm?"

"Yes, Sakura–sama. As you wish."


God. Well, it's here, finally. Guys, I want to make a promise that you're never going to have to wait this long for another chapter ever again. It's not fair on you to wait so long, especially considering I already have most of the plot planned, even if not written. Anyway though, I wanna get the next chapter out in at most a week, and the one after that in about the same. After that I start university, so we'll have to see about the schedule from there, but we'll make it work.

I'll see you guys later.