Naruto: Dominating with JOJO Gacha

"Hundreds of years ago, the Land of Water suffered an extremely severe plague."

"It was a saint who fetched immortal water to heal the sick and wounded, and only then did people see hope of life."

"In order to thank the saint, after his death, people spontaneously began the Water Garden Festival. To this day, the Water Garden Festival has become the biggest celebration in the Land of Water."

After listening to Kamihara Hayato's introduction, Ryosuke pondered for a while and asked, "That saint who saved the people from fire and water… wouldn't happen to be surnamed Oda, right?"

Kamihara Hayato let out a light laugh.

"That's right."

To be exact, even if he wasn't, after the Oda clan rose to power, that saint would only ever bear the surname Oda.

So-called celebrations, either they involve the divine right of kings, or ancestral inheritance. In short, nothing more than tools for those in power to consolidate their rule.

But many things, if you dig too deep, you lose the original romance.

Even if the deeper purpose is to strengthen the daimyo's legitimacy, one cannot deny, a grand celebration truly becomes the greatest anticipation of the year for many people.

Girls wear beautiful kimonos, boys puff up their chests, standing stiffly like guardian knights at the girls' side.

Men are either busy building the festival platforms and floats, or shouting and peddling on the streets.

Women stroll through the marketplace choosing meat and vegetables, preparing to cook a fine feast for the whole family.

Bustle, laughter, setting aside the vexations of the past, this is the meaning of a festival.

Ryosuke strolled down the streets, feeling some nostalgia for Spring Festival in his previous life, missing the bits and pieces of the past. It seemed even the stacks of practice workbooks from those years had become dear.

Well, maybe not the workbooks.

Even now, Ryosuke occasionally still dreamed of returning to the gaokao exam hall in his senior year of high school.

That suffocating tension… he felt that if he possessed the power of "D4C", it would have been triggered in his dreams.

Terumi Mei leaned close and gently bumped his shoulder.

"What are you thinking? Your face looks so serious."

"Thinking about some… very terrifying things."

"There are even things that you would find terrifying?"

"Of course."

Ryosuke wasn't a robot, naturally, there were many things he feared.

Everything he did was so that the fears in his heart would remain forever inside, never descending into reality.

Terumi Mei glanced at Ryosuke, then with a nonchalant tone said,

"They say during the Water Garden Festival, there will be a grand fireworks display."

"Mm."

She turned her head away, but from time to time glanced at Ryosuke with the corner of her eye, "I've grown up this much, and I've never watched a fireworks display together with someone else."

Ryosuke nodded, "Such coincidence. Neither have I."

Terumi Mei waited with eager expectation for his next line.

Yet unexpectedly, under her gaze, Ryosuke just kept walking forward, with no intention of continuing the topic.

Terumi Mei puffed out her cheeks slightly.

"This guy…"

Suddenly, Ryosuke looked back at her, "On the night of the Water Garden Festival, if there's nothing else happening, let's go watch it together."

Terumi Mei lifted her chin, "Then I'll reluctantly agree."

The two exchanged smiles and continued forward.

Kyoto was a perfectly square city, with the central main avenue as the axis, its left and right sides strictly symmetrical.

They followed the central main avenue inward, from the outer city into the inner city.

The further they went, the sparser the crowds became. People's clothing grew more luxurious, and in their speech and manners, there was an indistinct, hard-to-describe accent of superiority.

If one had to describe it precisely… it was about the tone of voice where a plate of pickled radish could sell for 198.

Ryosuke's plainly dressed group seemed out of place here.

"How did a bunch of country folk get in?"

The words, undisguised arrogance and disgust, came drifting over.

But when they drew closer and saw the forehead protectors on the group of ninjas, the disdain froze on their faces.

Hidden Mist Village ninjas.

The assassination of the previous daimyo in the middle of the street had been the favorite topic of these old Kyoto residents for nearly half a year.

These crazy ninjas dared kill even the daimyo, let alone them, "common people."

The arrogance on their faces shifted to fear. One by one they shrank back like little quails to the sides of the street, giving way.

Occasionally, some couldn't resist their curiosity and stole cautious glances, spotting the man walking in the lead.

"Is that him, Ryosuke?"

Contrary to their imagined image of a brawny, fierce, bloodthirsty thug, he was actually…

Young ladies, wealthy wives, and delicate young masters all swallowed hard at the same time.

"Born this good-looking."

Luckily, Ryosuke's skin was thick, ignoring all the chatter, he made his way to the residence prepared for them.

Said to be a residence, it was in fact the estate of a wealthy household, complete with attendants, servants, and samurai guards.

The entire several-thousand-square-yard compound was only for Ryosuke and his group, showing the daimyo's importance attached to them.

They settled in, arranged their luggage.

The staff who had accompanied them came under Terumi Mei's lead to liaise with Kyoto officials, discussing matters of military funds allocation.

Meanwhile, under Zabuza's secret protection, Kamihara Hayato connected with local Kyoto intelligence organizations.

His job was equally heavy, too many people had their eyes on Ryosuke now. Kamihara Hayato had to guard against them from the intelligence side.

Everyone was busy with their work. Instead, Ryosuke found himself with nothing particular to do.

Unable to sit idle in the big house, he took a notebook and wandered the streets of Kyoto, learning of the local customs and ways.

With each passing day, the festival atmosphere and the flow of travelers grew denser and more fervent.

At the Water Garden Shrine in the west of the city, shouts of people rehearsing could be heard every day.

The day of the Water Garden Festival.

A squad of samurai and attendants arrived at the residence where Ryosuke and his group stayed.

"Lord Ryosuke, the banquet is about to begin. Please follow me."

Ryosuke nodded, looking toward the daimyo's mansion at the city center.

A Hongmen Banquet?

Or something else planned?

And what exactly had been the meaning behind Hori Masashi earlier?

Today, there would be an answer.

Ryosuke withdrew his gaze, "Lead the way."

"Yes."

Attending the banquet were Ryosuke, Terumi Mei, Zabuza, and Kamihara Hayato, four in total.

Zabuza's identity was as the Mizukage's guard. Kamihara Hayato's responsibility was intelligence support, untangling the web of interests among today's powerful attendees.

On the way to the daimyo's mansion, the sun sank bit by bit. Lanterns along the streets lit up one by one, hiding the star-filled sky.

By the time Ryosuke and his group arrived at the banquet hall, night had completely fallen. Two rows of low tables stood on the tatami, with many familiar faces in view.

From Konoha, Kurenai Yuhi.

From Cloud village, Samui.

And from Sand and Stone villages, ninjas had also arrived.

Ryosuke did not know them, but nodded slightly, which counted as greeting.

A servant guided Ryosuke's group to the Hidden Mist's table.

From the head seat came a voice, "Mr. Ryosuke, please come sit over here."

The voice was very pleasant, carrying both the steadiness of a grown man and the clarity of a youth.

Just by hearing it, one would instinctively feel he was an open and upright gentleman.

Ryosuke raised his eyes, and saw Oda Ieyasu striding over barefoot.

He tightly clasped Ryosuke's hand, saying, "Come, Mr. Ryosuke, sit by me. Between you and me, there's no need for formality."

Ryosuke stared into Oda Ieyasu's eyes.

A man who held the power of the nation, in front of his father's killer, in front of a "rebel" who sought to overthrow his regime, yet showed genuine respect from the heart.

"Truly remarkable."

Ryosuke sighed sincerely.

At least he himself could not achieve that.

Oda Ieyasu made a gesture of invitation.

"Please."

Terumi Mei and the other three sat at the Mist's table. Ryosuke alone sat with Oda Ieyasu.

Whenever a new guest arrived and saw Ryosuke seated beside the daimyo, side by side, they would be dazed for quite a while.

They could not figure out what it meant, only that behind it must lie heavy significance.

At six o'clock, the banquet began. Envoys from various nations presented gifts to the Land of Water's daimyo.

Oda Ieyasu introduced them one by one to Ryosuke, his speech witty and humorous, citing classics. Between the two exchanging cups, the tense nerves of the guests gradually relaxed.

Ryosuke set down his wine cup, collecting his smile.

"That's about enough, isn't it."

This play.

Oda Ieyasu likewise set down his cup. "That's about enough."

He stood, gesturing. Ryosuke followed behind.

Seeing this, Kamihara Hayato, who had been exchanging glances with a dancer, his eyes sharpened. He nudged Zabuza with his elbow.

"Let's follow."

Zabuza, gnawing meat and drinking, glanced at the two figures' backs.

"Is that appropriate?"

The leaders of both sides talking, they should just wait here.

"That's a ninja's rule!" Kamihara Hayato said.

"Politicians are a disgusting lot who use any means to achieve their ends. They don't follow rules."

"Even more ruthless than ninjas?"

"That's right."

Zabuza exclaimed, "That's disgusting enough."

Terumi Mei, already near the doorway, turned back and urged, "Stop doing manzai skits, hurry up."

They jogged a few steps, just about to follow when two halberds blocked their way.

Samurai guards.

Oda Ieyasu turned back, glanced once, and waved his hand, "Since they wish to come, let them follow."

They came to the daimyo's study. After a maid served tea, she withdrew and shut the door.

On the table was tea, not wine.

That meant, time to talk serious business.

"I can see, Mr. Ryosuke, that you have many questions. As it happens, so do I."

Oda Ieyasu poured tea for Ryosuke, softly saying, "Why don't you begin?"

"Alright."

Ryosuke drew a folded piece of paper from his robe.

Opening it, written on it was the word "Awakening," stained with blood. He pushed it before Oda Ieyasu and tapped it lightly.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"My goodwill."

"You call this goodwill?"

Oda Ieyasu smiled. "Mr. Ryosuke, you see, in this incident, your friend gained a powerful summoning beast, and you got advance knowledge of the issue of the 'Awakening Movement.'

The price paid was nothing more than the life of a man fallen into desire, a vulgar being."

"This, for people like us, is goodwill."

"'People like us'?" Ryosuke asked.

"That's right."

Oda Ieyasu pointed at himself, then at Ryosuke and his three companions.

"'You' and 'us.'"

"Now then, Mr. Ryosuke, I've answered your question. Next, it's my turn."

═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═

patreon.com/XenosX

🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰