Ryuunosuke nodded with his eyes never breaking contact with Haruo's. The mood had definitely turned more serious than before. Thus, Ryuu solemnly responded "I understand your concern Haruo-san. It appears that you are very well aware of the situation that I face. The branch family in the capital has certainly stepped a bit too far out of line. Therefore, my first step as the new leader of the Wolf Clan is to consolidate my power. See who is still loyal, and see who is threatening the stability of the nation. Then, I plan to have provocateurs stomped out, but that does not have to be through military might. In the end, I must secure the loyalty and trust of my people. I plan to wage a war of hearts and minds rather than a war of swords and bows within my nation. The people will be the ones who ultimately root out anyone who seeks to profit from my uncle's reclusiveness. Then, under a unified banner, we will then reclaim Fort Saida and settle it to establish a clear buffer and signal that the Wolf Clan has not lost any of its power. Rather, this will be a symbol that the Wolf Clan is more united and stronger than ever."

Ryuunosuke then took a moment, and continued "Although, I must express some concern as well. My plan requires time, which the Tiger Clan could potentially not provide. It is very possible that in the midst of my attempt to consolidate the Wolf Clan's power that the Tiger will strike. I do not doubt that my people will be able to rally together to push the Tiger back, but the losses will be significant. On the other hand though, I believe that there are others who may want to maintain the current balance of power. If push comes to shove, these people, I believe, can be convinced to pressure the Tiger Clan from launching a significant attack. I also think that, perhaps, a catalyst that can unify my people is a war against the Tiger Clan. The future is impossible to predict, but I am ready to face the infinite choices that I must make and the challenges that await me."