Path Of War

Kimimaro, who’d been quiet until now, said, "I’d like to ask something."

"Speak freely," Ryugetsu replied, giving him permission.

"As you three lords know," he began, "my team and I have done our best to ensure security within these borders. If lord Arthur’s missing, I suggest we continue our tasks until his return."

There was a pause. Then Ashina spoke with a hint of challenge in his tone, "And what gives you the impression that lord Arthur’s not going to be gone a long time?"

"What was that?" Kimimaro asked, furrowing his brows at Ashina.

Brie was quick to intervene by adjusting her glasses and speaking with a tone of reason.

"Let’s all relax for a moment. There’s a lot of things lord Arthur had us working on before this happened. So I think we should discuss those before jumping to conclusions or halting any operations."

She was on point, especially considering the multifaceted responsibilities that each figure bore. Running a nation—particularly one as secretive and powerful as this—was not a matter of simply sitting on a throne; it involved complex processes, covert missions, and strategic planning.

The room settled into a more contemplative silence as they began to address the state of their country’s affairs.

First, they discussed security.

Kimimaro, in charge of the sanctuary forces, reported that his team had been deploying patrols along the borders, preventing unauthorized entries, and maintaining surveillance over potential threats.