Chapter 80: Scales of Justice (Part-11/12) [Illegal Ice Cream Interference]

Chapter 80 - Scales of Justice (Part-11/12) [Illegal Ice Cream Interference] Once the Konoha delegation returned to the residence provided by the Land of Iron, they naturally split into two groups. The adults, including Ambassador Shikeru, who was now released under partial custody gathered in the main hall. Though still under watch, his status as a prisoner had shifted into a strange gray area. With no official charges and a duel looming, he was technically free. Utakata moved to the corners of the room and began placing seals along the walls and entrances, ensuring privacy. Once the barrier was set, the group settled in. Homura wasted no time. He looked at Shikeru directly. "What went wrong with your plan?" Shikeru stretched his arms and gave a long, lazy yawn. "Nothing." He shrugged. "I'm free. The one who framed me is now the one who has to fight for his life. The rogue elements inside the Land of Iron are exposed to their own generals. And the village got exactly what it needed." He leaned back against the wall, looking almost proud. Homura stared at him for a long moment. Then he sighed and shook his head, muttering something about naras under his breath. He turned his attention back to the room. "So, who'll fight in two days?" His eyes moved to the corner, where Yoru stood silently as always. "One of your subordinates?" Homura asked. Before Yoru could respond, Juichi leaned forward. "I'll do it." A grin crept across his face. But Homura frowned. His gaze dropped to Juichi's side, specifically, to the empty space where his right arm used to be. "If this were before, you would have been the one without question," Homura said flatly. "But now, I'm not so sure." Juichi looked down at his side, then back up. "Old man, I haven't been sitting around for the past three years. I might've lost a hand, but I've still got plenty of bite left. I could even take on old man Mifune if I had to." His voice was half-challenge, half-pride. Homura didn't respond immediately. But before he could, Shikeru spoke from his seat. "I agree with Elder Homura." His tone had shifted to something more serious. "This isn't a normal match. This is a political game now. And if we lose, especially with you fighting the village takes a big hit. Maybe it's better to leave it to one of the ANBU." Juichi frowned, turning to Shikeru. "You shut up. I already have a few things I want to settle with you. But I'm telling you, I can handle Shunpei." Shikeru looked back at him, expression unreadable. "Even if I believe you can handle him, I highly doubt the 'easy' part." He leaned forward slightly, voice calm but serious. "If something goes wrong, let alone my life, yours will be in danger too. Maybe the village could negotiate for me, but for you? You'd be the one on the stage. And once you step into a death duel arena, you're not allowed to come down until you win or die." Shikeru then looked toward Homura. "As Elder Homura said, if this was a few years ago, I would have picked you without hesitation too. But now..." He paused for a moment, gaze softening just slightly. "Think of your son before you decide anything." The silence that followed was heavy. Before anyone could respond or escalate it further, Utakata spoke up from where he sat, "Then let's not debate it. Let's hold a match. Here and now." Everyone turned to look at him. "A match between Juichi and the person Yoru would've chosen. The one who wins represents us in the duel." Juichi nodded immediately, no hesitation in his eyes. After a brief pause, Homura gave a small nod as well. Yoru finally moved. Without a word, he raised a single hand in signal. A moment later, a figure flickered into the room, an ANBU wearing a 2-star mask. Silent and alert, he stood at attention, waiting. Juichi turned without a word and walked out into the open courtyard. From his storage pouch, he pulled out a sword. A longer-than-average saber with a green hilt wrapped in sturdy banding, a wide circular beige guard, and an additional thin guard running around the handle. The blade had a slight curvature, gleaming under the courtyard light. Yoru whispered something to the ANBU operative. The masked shinobi nodded and stepped outside, drawing a standard katana from his back. ~~~ By the time the sun had set, the courtyard had emptied, and silence returned to the compound. Now, Juichi and Utakata sat on the roof of one of the courtyard buildings, quietly drinking sake. Neither spoke. Eventually, Juichi broke the silence. "Thanks for believing in me." Utakata said nothing. He simply lifted his cup and took a slow drink. The two of them sat like that for some time, sake in one hand, words left unspoken. Then, without warning, Utakata flickered away. A few seconds later, Ren appeared, jumping up onto the rooftop with a half-eaten butterscotch ice cream in one hand. He sat down beside his father, casually kicking his legs over the edge. They sat there in silence, one drinking and one licking ice cream, until Ren finally spoke. "You're the one fighting the duel, right?" Ren didn't just guess this, he had the thought that his dad might be proficient in kenjutsu when he heard the story with the statues earlier and his connection to General Sayo, so if someone was fighting from Konoha's side, it might just be his dad that volunteers. Juichi nodded. Another pause. Ren continued, "Well, I'll jump in and save you, just in case you're on the losing side." He said it like a joke, eyes still on his ice cream. But deep down, it wasn't a joke. Back when he first arrived in this world and saw his dad missing a right arm, Jacob had quietly promised himself for the original Ren Takahashi that, if a day like this came, he would step in. But everything changed when he got the Observe Function from his system. It allowed him to see up to 20 levels higher than his own level. For the longest time, he couldn't even see Juichi's level. It just said ???, which only meant one thing, he was way out of Ren's range. But a few weeks ago, Ren finally broke through level 52 and that's when the number revealed itself. Level 72. Even after losing his dominant arm, Juichi still sat at level 72. That was nearing the peak of the Jonin Rank (Level 80). Maybe he had even been S-rank before. Ren didn't remember any stories from the original Naruto about there being a great swordsman like Juichi back in his previous life, but honestly, with the world he was in and the system in front of him, it no longer mattered. His dad had the power. The power that was needed to win this duel and that's all that mattered. He was quite confident in his dad winning because earlier he had seen Shunpei's level, which was 69, so although not completely certain he felt assured he would win, but he still said what he said just in case his dad was having some thoughts. Juichi, sake cup halfway to his lips, stopped. He glanced sideways. "You do know it's illegal to interfere in a death duel, right?" Ren shrugged, now reaching the crunchy part of his ice cream. "Maybe for samurai," he said, "but we're shinobi. If the village decides to call us guilty too, we'll just go rogue." Juichi choked, sputtering out his drink as he turned to look at him. Ren, still chewing the crunchy center, didn't even blink. Juichi sighed and set his cup down. Then he reached out and rubbed Ren's head roughly. "Don't go saying things like that out loud, you brat. If someone hears you, it'll become a diplomatic nightmare." Ren popped in the last chocolate part of the ice cream in his mouth then dusted off his hands and stood up. "Well, you better win then." And just like that, he flickered away. ~~~ Two days passed. The appointed day arrived. And so did the Arena of Final Accord. It was located just beyond the outskirts of the Iron Capital, a place built in ancient times for trials that couldn't be judged by word or law. There were no seats, no grandstands, no cheering crowds. This wasn't a place for public entertainment. It was a place where diplomacy ended, and the blade took over. Only the delegations of the Five Great Nations stood along the edges, except the Land of Water, who had chosen not to attend. The delegations stood atop elevated platforms, slightly above the central ring, high enough to observe everything yet far enough to not intervene. The central ring itself was bare. A circular field of chakra-forged iron, scorched and battered by the battles of generations past. Old blood had long since faded, but the marks left by countless duels remained etched across the surface. From the Land of Iron's side, General Takeshiro Honzen stepped forward. He moved to the center of the highest platform. "Let the arena bear witness." Everyone fell into silence as he continued. "This trial was born not from law, but from doubt. From words twisted and truth lost. As the Code of the Samurai dictates, when such matters cannot be judged by reasoning, they shall be judged by the blade." He turned his gaze to both sides. "Let the duel of Final Accord begin." From the Land of Iron's side, a figure stepped forward and descended into the ring. Minister Shunpei. He wore no armor, only dark robes with light armor reinforcement underneath. At his side hung a katana with a jet-black sheath. His expression was calm, though his brow held a slight crease. He hadn't held the blade in a long while, but neither did he look unprepared. He chose to fight for himself. The whispers among the delegations were faint. A few wondered if this was arrogance, or simply a sign of confidence. Others suspected that he didn't trust anyone enough to stand in his place. From the Land of Fire's side, the Konoha delegation remained quiet as another figure stepped forward. Juichi Takahashi. He descended slowly from their platform, cloak rustling with every step. His right sleeve was empty, tied neatly at the shoulder. His left hand rested on the long saber he had retrieved before. The Land of Iron delegation's eyes locked onto him. Many had heard the whispers, seen his name buried in old reports. Some had even fought him, and lost. But over the past few years, those stories had gone quiet. He was one of the rare shinobi swordsmen whose skill had earned the respect of even the most traditional samurai. The one who stood against the strongest of their warriors on their own soil, and walked away. His blades were forged from chakra metal refined in the Land of Iron itself, the same used in the statues of their greatest generals. They called him the Twin Reaper of Konoha, a title born from the twin sabers he wielded, but now the Twin Reaper was no more. He stepped into the ring without a word, standing across from Shunpei. Above them, Takeshiro raised one arm. "Ambassador Shikeru has chosen a stand-in. Juichi of the Leaf will fight in his place." He then turned to the other side. "Minister Shunpei has chosen to represent himself." He looked to both men. "The rules are absolute. No interruptions. No surrender. The one who dies shall be judged the guilty party." Takeshiro's arm dropped. "Begin." And just like that, the duel had begun. ~~~~~ {Well??? I hope Juichi's introduction felt good and not forced (I am open to some nicknames that would suit him, but its just temporary and would change after this fight)} {Now we are only left with one Chapter till this arc ends. Also, even though I don't like talking in between the fights, but, there will be some in the upcoming fight, just to give some backstory.} {Now you know that Ren is also a real bro} {Anyway, you know what to do} {STONES!!!!!!}