Chapter 88: Seeding Doubt, Emperor Heart Technique
A few days later, just past 3:20 in the morning, the sky was beginning to pale with dawn. Most of the residents in the Daimyō's mansion were still deep in sleep when Uchiha Tonan abruptly shattered the silence, bursting into the First Prince's chambers once more. Without hesitation, he dragged Naraku mercilessly out into the courtyard of the study hall.
Crack, crack, crack… The sharp snaps of the whip echoed relentlessly through the night air, reaching the farthest corners of the estate.
"Please… forgive me!" Naraku begged desperately, wishing he could vanish from this world immediately, but his cries fell on deaf ears. He knew without doubt that Abe Seimei was deliberately tormenting him. At first, the grueling routine of dragging, dousing with cold water, and whipping began at four in the morning.
But each day the start time crept earlier—until now, Seimei would barge into his room moments before he even opened his eyes. In the last few nights, rest had become a stranger; new wounds festered even before the old ones healed.
Every night, Naraku tossed and turned, writhing in pain that stole his sleep. Just as dawn neared and he'd finally drift off, he'd be dragged out once again for more punishment.
He endured as long as he could—but he was still flesh and blood. Both mind and body were pushed beyond their limits.
"Father… please save me!" he cried, using the last scraps of strength to call out. But no salvation came.
At that moment, the Daimyō himself stood silently beyond the courtyard walls. The sound of whip lashes and anguished cries pierced through the cold morning air, tightening the pain in his chest. A shadow guard emerged from the darkness to stand beside him.
"Your Majesty, Seimei-dono's treatment of the First Prince is excessively cruel. I fear the prince's body will not withstand this much longer. Do you truly not care for him?"
The Daimyō's face flickered with pain. His son was the one suffering inside—but he shook his head, steeling himself with the words Tonan had spoken earlier.
Crack!
"There is no value to jade without being cut and polished!" Tonan's loud shout rang out from within the courtyard, snapping the Daimyō back to cold reality.
"You old dog… when I become Daimyō, I swear I'll kill you!" Naraku, driven beyond his limits, glared fiercely at Tonan, bloodshot eyes bulging and veins throbbing on his forehead.
"That's fine… I'll be waiting for that day," Tonan said, unfazed.
Crack!
"Heaven has entrusted me with a great responsibility."
Crack!
"I must first temper your resolve."
Crack!
"Refine the body."
Crack!
"Empty the self."
Tonan spoke these words not only for Naraku to hear but also for the Daimyō outside the wall.
Half an hour later, Naraku's head drooped and his eyes narrowed. His vision blurred; pain and exhaustion dragged him toward unconsciousness.
Before the darkness could claim him—a brief reprieve—Tonan drenched him with a bucket of cold water, jolting him awake.
"Tell me what we learned in yesterday's lecture."
Naraku gasped for breath, weakly answering, "Peaceful Strategy… heavy punishment in troubled times…"
As his eldest son recited the Peaceful Strategy, the Daimyō's eyes shimmered with unshed tears. He sighed silently, thinking, "Good… Naraku, you suffer so much, but I hope you can break free from Konoha's oppression and become a true Daimyō…"
Unable to bear it any longer, the Daimyō clenched his teeth and turned away.
Inside the courtyard, after Naraku finished speaking, Tonan loosened the ropes binding him. Naraku collapsed, sweat-drenched and bloodied, but somehow forced himself to stand again.
Tonan squinted, impressed despite himself. "This kid still has the strength to rise? If only he'd been trained like a ninja from the start, maybe he'd have been exceptional."
"Good. Now, follow me." They entered the study hall's classroom. Naraku sat down, staring blankly at Tonan, who took the seat opposite him. After a moment of contemplation, Tonan spoke solemnly, "Do you know why I treat you and the Second Prince so differently?"
Naraku shook his head. Despite the torment, he didn't understand the reason. He had always studied hard and sincerely.
"Because you're far more capable than the Second Prince—and you're the one best suited to be Daimyō."
The moment Tonan mentioned Daimyō, Naraku instinctively straightened.
Tonan glanced at him, then sighed, "But your father doesn't see it that way."
Naraku's eyes sharpened like a blade as he fixed Tonan with a piercing stare. "What do you mean?"
Tonan stroked his beard thoughtfully. "I possess a skill called the Chakra Insight Technique. Everything under heaven has chakra. And you… you bear the aura of the Purple Star."
"The aura of the Purple Star?" Naraku echoed, surprised. "What does that mean?"
Tonan nodded gravely. "The Purple Star sits at the very center of the starry sky, surrounded by many others. I call it the Emperor Star. Should you become Daimyō, you could sweep through the eight wildernesses, unify the six directions, and conquer all lands. Yet His Majesty favors the Second Prince, intending to pass the throne to him."
Naraku lowered his head, silent for a long moment. Slowly, he shook his head. "I don't believe you."
Disguised as Abe Seimei—the figure who had filled Naraku with fear and hatred—Tonan planted the oldest seed of discord between father and son.
But Naraku doubted his master's words. Anyone with eyes could see he was far better than his carefree younger brother. He refused to believe his wise father was so short-sighted or foolish.
A small smile curved Tonan's lips as he spoke smoothly, "Haven't you noticed? No matter what the Second Prince does, His Majesty never punishes him. If anything, he spoils him even more. That alone shows where his heart truly lies."
"More importantly—why doesn't His Majesty intervene when I punish you so harshly? Why do I never dare treat the Second Prince the same way? Because I know that if I harmed him, I'd lose my own head."
Naraku's mind reeled at this explanation. He thought it over and realized some truth was buried in those words. Despite his injuries, his father showed no concern. He'd heard from attendants that his younger brother spent every day after lessons by their father's side, dining and handling affairs together. Wasn't this grooming him to inherit the reins of power?
His eyes filled with panic. "Impossible… impossible…"
Tonan saw his doubts taking root and switched tactics to temptation. "There's still hope. I value you greatly, and I'm willing to teach you how to wield everything you've learned. Do you remember the Sweep Over Strategy I taught you?"
Naraku nodded. "Yes, I remember."
"In fact… the Sweep Over Strategy can influence major events…"
Naraku's eyes flashed as he murmured, "King's Heart… Minister's Heart… People's Heart… Ruler… influential officials… common folk… If I can win the support of two of these groups, I'll ascend to become Daimyō."
Tonan nodded with admiration. "Exactly. This is called adapting to the times."
But Naraku's expression hardened. "No… you're deceiving me."
"This one seems simple, but he's not easy to fool," Tonan said with calm confidence. "No matter. The stage is set and the seed of doubt planted. I just need to wait for it to sprout on its own."
"Whether I deceive you or not, you'll soon see. His Majesty plans to abdicate soon, and his favoritism has become clear. From now on, I'll teach you for an hour every day. Pay close attention—what I'm about to teach you is called the Emperor Heart Technique. It will be vital for your future."
As the lecture began, Tonan's expression deepened with the weight of one who had seen the rise and fall of eras. Naraku had no choice but to focus.
"A majestic presence in all directions, the world declares itself your vassal—that is the Emperor. But the Emperor walks alone…"
That night, inside the North City Guard Residence, Tonan sat at a desk wearing a night robe, absorbed in the book Economic Policy.
"Enter." He sensed a presence outside communicating through Wind Release but did not look up from his book.
Yoshiwara Ao entered carefully, bowed, and said, "My lord, the task you assigned earlier is complete. All black market casinos, brothels, smuggling rings, and gangster dens in our jurisdiction are now under our control."
Tonan nodded, sipping tea without looking away. "Did they notice?"
"Yes, but I ordered the city guards to accept their tributes."
"Well done. Now, gather the troops. I want to root out all these social evils at once."
"Yes, my lord." Ao accepted the orders respectfully and left.
Tonan knew he wouldn't remain long in the Fire Capital. He intended to use the remaining time to amass quick fortune—and gain influence.
If successful, he would secretly control the nation's power, and perhaps even deal with Sarutobi Hiruzen and… Sarutobi Asuma.
"Hiruzen… you like playing tricks to exploit others? Then I'll play with you. Let's see who outplays whom in the end."