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  Kumogakure – Raikage Tower.

  A, the Raikage, held Minato's letter, delivered by Mabui, while listening to her ret Gojo Kaigetsu's terms. He was deep in thought.

  Minato's "personal correspondence" was filled with—pleasantries.

  It praised A's strength as a ninja, suggesting that despite their rivalry, he was—quite remarkable.

  A knew better than to take it all at face value, but a small part—resonated.

  A boween heroes, perhaps.

  The thought made him feel—strangely warm.

  "That Minato Namikaze—he has a good eye for talent," A grunted, carefully st the letter in his drawer. He'd dispy it promily when Kumogakure quered Konoha. He'd even take a photo with Minato's face carved on the Hokage Rock, his shirt strategically unbuttoo showcase his impressive physique.

  He'd initially po destroy the Hokage Rock, but now—for Minato's sake, he'd spare it.

  After all, he didn't want to appear—ruthless.

  "Mabui, what did you say earlier? Repeat it."

  "Konoha refuses to dispatch their Aveo eliminate Elder Advisor. But they're willing to—simute a war, to give you, Raikage-sama, the authority te the Elder cil."

  "Simute a war?" A frowned. "Would those old fogies even believe that? They've lived through two Shinobi World Wars."

  "Gojo Kaigetsu anticipated that. He pns to unch symbolic attainor vilges within the Co-Prosperity Sphere and insignifit border towns within the Land of Lightning."

  "Onews of their—occupation reaches the Raikage Tower, even the most skeptical elders will be forced to believe it."

  "What?! They'll actually—attack?" A's frown deepened.

  Somethi—off.

  He vaguely recalled a simir strategy from the icles of the Land of Fire. How did it apply to Kumogakure's current situation?

  Something about—g territory for temporary peace.

  And then—Kumogakure's superiistics, Konoha's overextended supply lines, Kumogakure's trated forces versus Konoha's scattered defenses, and the unwavering loyalty of the occupied territories.

  A's frown softened.

  A few insignifit vilges and border towns? They weren't essential. Perhaps g them to Konoha would even be Kumogakure.

  "What was—Konoha's tone during the iations?"

  "Sincere."

  "Then—we'll agree to their terms." A waved his hand dismissively.

  Given Minato's letter, he trusted that Konoha's as would be purely symboliot a genuine invasion.

  It was merely—temporarily entrusting those territories to Konoha, letting them bear the costs. He could always recim them ter.

  "There's one more dition. In exge for Konoha's—assistahey want access to the Falls of Truth for their ails Jinchuriki. Either now, or iure."

  "They even know about the Falls of Truth…" A's fists ched.

  So, their Two-Tails Jinchuriki had betrayed them.

  "How should we respond, Raikage-sama?"

  "The Falls of Truth are deep within the Land of Lightning. Do they think being a perfect jinchuriki is that easy? Foolish."

  "We'll agree, but if the ails goes berserk—they're on their own! And I will personally vet the ninjas they send as escorts."

  A's eyes gleamed.

  He'd trol the number of Konoha ninja allowed to enter. If they sent too few, and were overwhelmed by the ails…

  He and Killer B could then step in and—recim the ails for Kumogakure.

  Eliminate Konoha's elite, acquire a ailed Beast. A two-for-one deal.

  Konoha had takewo-Tails. It was time for payback.

  Mabui flipped to the st page of the report. "Raikage-sama, what about Konoha's Avengers Initiative? Should we join?"

  "To eliminate rogue ninja, bounty hunters, and their employers…" A sighed. "We lose many ninja to bounty hunters every year."

  "Though we have no proof, I suspeoki is behind it. Only he would do such a thing."

  "We might be rivals with Konoha, but we share a on enemy in the underworld. We'll join. On behalf of all members of the Kumogakure Co-Prosperity Sphere."

  "Let's see how ōnoki operates without his bounty hunters. He'll be forced to stay hidden in Iwagakure like the turtle he is."

  "Send the message to Samui. Three days from now."

  Mabui left the Raikage Tower, rubbiemples.

  The pressure withiower was immense. If the Raikage's fa lost this power struggle—her future was uain.

  The elders' chosen sucight purge anyone associated with the previous Raikage.

  "You have to win, Raikage-sama," she murmured.

  She entered a ninja tool shop on Kumogakure's ercial street, ordered five muscle-boosting tonics, and sat down, a hint of disappoi in her eyes.

  Setting aside military matters, the eic disparity between Kumogakure and Konoha was evident.

  Though her time in Konoha had been brief, the prosperity of its new ercial district was undeniable. She'd seen tless new shops, new products…

  Like that—coffee, and that—milk tea. Though ridiculously expehey appealed to her—sophisticated tastes.

  She wasn't g in funds, after all.

  Ba Kumogakure, she could only order muscle-boosting toni these dingy ninja tool shops.

  Even these establishments were struggling. Only inja, with their stipends, could afford to be regur ers.

  Kumogakure's ey seemed to be teetering on the brink of colpse.

  Four kunoichi, all wearing Kumogakure headbands, entered and sat with Mabui. They were her friends from the Academy.

  "Mabui! I heard you went to Konoha."

  "Yes."

  With kunoichi gathered, gossip flowed freely. "Did you hear about that wedding in Konoha? The Uchiha Head and an Uzumaki—so lucky. Married to Fugaku Uchiha—she'll never have tain."

  "Yeah, the Land of Whirlpools was destroyed. I wonder what he saw in her."

  "Is it true that the Uchiha Head paid a million ryō dowry?"

  "No."

  "I k! A survivor from a destroyed vilge—how could she be worth that much?"

  "It was 7.98 million ryō and a house he Hokage Tower."

  "7.98 million?! That's practically eight million. How many missions would I have to plete to earn that much?"

  The envy in their voices alpable. Mabui shifted unfortably.

  "Omoi, you're ae in. With a few extra missions and some—financial discipli million ryō isn't that much," another kunoichi teased.

  "No way! I love baking, traveling, and fitness. My expenses are high. And the Raikage Tower's taking a bigger cut from our mission rewards. I have no hope of being a Special Jonin. My ine is stagnant."

  "I'm even studying for the Raikage Tower clerical exam. And there are thousands of applits, mostly men! Why don't they just focus oraining?!" The ninja world wasn't just about bat; there were also administrative positions.

  "I'm so jealous of Mabui—A Special Jonin and the Raikage's secretary. You'll never have to worry about money."

  Mabui smiled but said nothing, turning to her other two, quieter friends.

  "Hiroi, how are things with your boyfriend?"

  Hiroi, who'd been silently sipping her drink, looked up. "Not—great. I'm thinking of breaking up with him."

  "What?! Why? You two seemed happy," Omoi asked, surprised.

  Hiroi's face fell. "We're—not patible. And he's—not ambitious."

  "And you, Toroi? Weren't you about to get married?"

  "We broke up yesterday," Toroi said ftly.

  "What?! Why?!"

  "He said he could only offer a 200,000 ryō dowry—I don't care about the money. Even if he offered 300,000 or 500,000, I wouldn't take it. It's the thought that ts—All I wanted was—a gesture of siy. He doesn't even have the ce to—it. I'm so disappointed."

  "He probably thinks I'm a gold-digger. But he doesn't uand—it's about his itment! "

  "Don't bme yourself, Toroi," Omoi said, her voice filled with indignation. "It's him, not you…"

  Oer ahe nameless boyfriends were beled "trash."

  Mabui, cradlionic, felt a growing distaween her and her friends.

  Their chatter seemed—distant, their s—trivial.

  She kheir boyfriends. Though Hiroi and Toroi werely—attractive, their partners seemed happy enough. They were likely to marry and have children, tributing to Kumogakure's future ninja force.

  But now—what had happened?

  Why were they all breaking up?

  "What's going on with you all? You seemed fine before," Mabui asked, genuinely puzzled.

  "Mabui, you don't uand. You work at the Raikage Tower, surrounded by elite ninja. You don't see the—disappois we fa our missions."

  "What makes a ninja 'elite'?"

  "Money? Power? At least Special Jonin level, right? Not some—nobody."

  "Exactly. We deserve better. Even if they're not as—aplished as the Uchiha Head, they shouldn't be that far off, right?"

  "Am I truly less desirable than a survivor from a destroyed vilge?!"

  "We shouldn't limit ourselves to Kumogakure. We should—expand our horizons!"

  Mabui was stunned.

  This was—absurd.

  True "elite" ninja wouldn't even look at them.

  Objectively speaking, these kunoichi weren't even close to Samui's level, in terms of talent, looks, or—physique.

  And those who fit their definition of "elite"—they wouldn't care about a woman's feelings.

  Look at what Samui had endured in Konoha!

  If even a skilled Kumogakure kunoichi was treated like that—they, who fell short of their own standards, would likely be—discarded.

  Mabui shuddered, recalling the—i she'd withrough Samui's eyes. Suddenly, her muscle-boosting tonic tasted bitter.

  She couldn't eheir ivity any longer.

  "I have work at the Raikage Tower. I'll take my leave."

  "But—it's past quitting time. What work could she possibly have?" they whispered, watg her depart.

  "She's probably just going home to—de-stress."

  This little se at the ninja tool shop was a mi of Kumogakure's current social climate. Everywhere, retionships were falling apart.

  An Anbu operative diligently recorded the phenomenon, then crossed it out. Such petty squabbles between ninja seemed—trivial.

  The Raikage's orders were to suppress dissent, and Kumogakure's focus was on—the bigger picture.

  Retionship problems, no matter how widespread, couldn't possibly overshadow the power struggles between vilges, could they?

  So, despite the arming trend, no oed it.

  A sembnce of pead tranquility prevailed.

  …

  …

  While Kumogakure maintais facade of stability, Sunagakure was in an uproar.

  Thanks to Iki's distribution els, and the pletion of the Konoha-Suna Trade Route, The Forest Reader had reached every bookstore in the Land of Wind.

  Unlike Iki's subtle influenbsp;The Forest Reader's arrival was like a Tailed Beast Bomb detonating in Sunagakure, unleashing a sandstorm of epic proportions.

  Retly, a series of positive reports had reached the Kazekage Tower, painting a rosy picture of Sunagakure's prosperity.

  Sacrifig Pakura to recile with Konoha, establishing trade—it had been the right decision.

  The inpetent sed-geion ninja had beeo Kumogakure to—enjoy themselves. The talented youngsters, to Konoha for training.

  Sunagakure's younger geion had a bright future.

  Konoha had built the trade route, was extrag chakra metal ore from Suna's deserts, and paying market value. Sunagakure ractically printing money.

  Though settling transas in Land of Fire currency was slightly inve, their access to the market was now guaranteed. For a vilge aced to poverty, it was a dream e true.

  With the profits, they purchased water from Konoha and Yugakure, ung ambitious irrigation projects.

  As the projects progressed, Sunagakure's water restris eased.

  From an outsider's perspective, it was like watg a vilge simution game. The vilgers' angry, red faces gradually turned into smiling green ones.

  "We have water! This is wonderful!"

  As the vilgers' spirits lifted, so did Sunagakure's ey.

  Reports piled up on the Kazekage's desk.

  Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, smiled, his wrinkles seeming to lessen.

  He'd never appreciated the Statistics Bureau so much.

  Rasa leased.

  The Sunagakure Eic Report showcased the vilge's remarkable growth. And it had all happened during his tehanks to the trade agreement with Konoha, their ey was booming. They'd solved the vilge's ic water she. These were his aplishments.

  Perhaps, in future history books, his name would be etched in gold.

  Both Rasa and Kosaka Kaoru beamed.

  But acc to the Law of servation of Smiles, happiness in the ninja world wasn't created or destroyed, it simply—transferred.

  Baki, the leader of the War Hawks, wasn't smiling.

  Trading with Konoha, in his view, was a dangerous game. Sunagakure would bee increasingly reliant on them. Eventually, they'd lose their independence, being a mere vassal state.

  Eic prosperity meant the dee of the military—A future he, a staunch militarist, couldn't tolerate.

  He held the eic report, his face grim. "How much of this—profit has been allocated to military development?"

  The celebratory atmosphere in the room evaporated.

  Kosaka Kaoru's smile faltered. "We're celebrating the vilge's prosperity, and you want to—ruin the mood?" He produced another report. "Acc to ret polls, over half the vilgers want us to build a 'Kazekage Rock,' like Konoha's Hokage Rock. Or at least a Suna cultural park. The Konoha-Suna Trade Route will soon be pleted. We'll see a surge in tourism. Promoting a positive image of Suna is essential. We o attraerts and travelers. I've been to Konoha. Their tourism industry is booming. We should emute their—hotels and specialty shops. We need a luxury hotel to aodate visitors, and high-quality local products. That requires funding. Imagine—a magnifit, sailboat-shaped hotel in the middle of the desert! As for specialty products—we 't produything that refined, so let's import from Konoha. The 'Soft Konoha' and 'Hard Konoha' cigarettes mentioned in Iki…"

  Kosaka Kaoru, as if he'd just had an epiphany, unched into a passionate speech about his eic development pns.

  His words painted a vivid picture of a prosperous Sunagakure, captivating the elders.

  One, seemingly entranced, murmured, "Lounging in a sailboat hotel, smoking a 'Hard Konoha'—paradise."

  Baki, however, lost his patience. "How much will all this cost?!"

  "A preliminary estimate—eight hundred million ryō."

  "Eight hundred million?!" Baki g the eic report. After ating for essential expenses aing projects, the vilge had roughly one billion in disposable funds.

  This left…

  He smmed the table. "Are you treating us like beggars?! Do you even realize that spending on eic development now exceeds the military budget? We are ninja! Not shopkeepers! If we don't prioritize the military, what happens when Konoha or Iwagakure attacks? The intelligence reports indicate a signifit increase in Konoha's military budget! They're growing stronger, while we're—pying shopkeeper! What's ? Are we going to build a Hokage Rock? Or perhaps fly Konoha's fg over the Kazekage Tower?!"

  His words, though impassioned, had little effect.

  Rasa frowned. "Baki, that's enough. Sit down and calm yourself."

  "Hmph." Baki sat back down, his arms crossed, his gaze sweeping over the elders' faces. His heart sank.

  His warnings had fallen on deaf ears. The War Hawks' influen Sunagakure wasn't due to some charismatic leader, but rather the vilge's precarious situation. Suna had to fight to survive.

  Now, however, their main source of ine wasn't missions or the Daimyo's funding, but rather resource extra and trade…

  They'd found an easier way to survive.

  Why fight when you could simply—follow Konoha's lead and profit?

  Who would support his militaristic approaow?

  Even the elders who usually sided with him seemed—less enthusiastic.

  This was a dangerous sign.

  "You—you…" Baki sputtered, his anger making him speechless.

  Just then, an Anbu operative entered, carrying a magazine and whispering something to Rasa.

  "What?!" Rasa's face paled. He snatched the magazine, his eyes widening in shock. "Go! Buy copies for everyone!"

  Soon, every elder held a copy of The Forest Reader. The silence was broken only by the rustling of pages.

  The Law of servation of Smiles was in effect. Only this time, the smiles had transferred from Sunagakure to Konoha.

  No Suna elder could smile after reading this. No one.

  "Suna students' shuriken missed their targets repeatedly, while Konoha students' accuracy was met with cheers."

  Missing their targets? Sg off during training? Going hungry? Lag teamwork and discipline?

  How was that possible?! These were Suna's most promising students, not the inpetent sed-geion brats sent to Kumogakure.

  parisons were cruel. The Suna students, pced beside Konoha's prodigies, were exposed for all their fws.

  Sunagakure's pride, already fragile, shattered pletely.

  Not only were they eically and culturally inferior, but now, even their "spirit of hardship," the very foundation of Sunagakure, had been—mocked.

  Had the Suna students truly lost their discipliheir ability to endure hardship?

  In the past, Rasa and Baki would have proudly decred, "No one uands hardship better than Suna!"

  But now…

  "Perhaps—we shouldn't limit ourselves to Konoha. We should also—colborate with Kirigakure. Learn from their Bloody Mist policies! Implement a Blood Sand regime in Suna! Whip these undisciplined brats into shape!" One of the elders, whose child had participated in the Summer Camp, excimed, his face red with anger.

  Rasa's expression turned grim. "If this article spreads—the sequences will be severe. Order the bookstores to remove it."

  The damage would be more than "severe." Sunagakure's younger geion would be beled "weak" and "undisciplined." Their reputation would plummet. Sunagakure, onown for its resilient ninja, might bee the ughingstock of the ninja world.

  "No! We 't do that!" Kosaka Kaoru interrupted. "This magazine is distributed throughout the ninja world. Banning it now would only firm its tents. We'll—prove them wrong during the joint in Exams. We'll crush Konoha aore Suna's honor!"

  "Wait—Kosaka, are you saying this article is—false?"

  "I'm not sure. But look—it was written by a Land of Lightning citizen and published in the Land of Hot Water. And the Land of Hot Water is a member of the Kumogakure Co-Prosperity Sphere. They likely have ties to Kumogakure."

  "This publishing house—it could be Kumogakure's propaganda tool. People often emphasize what they ck. This 'Land of Lightning citizen' keeps prog his rality, his objectivity—I suspect he's a Kumogakure agent, trying to sabotage our retionship with Konoha, to undermine our trade agreement. Though we ck crete evide's the most pusible expnation. We 't fall for Kumogakure's tricks. We'll question our students when they return."

  This honorary Konoha citizen had unknowingly bee Suna's greatest ally.

  If Gojo Kaigetsu knew, he'd award Kosaka Kaoru a Konoha Green Card.

  The elders' anger shifted from their own students and Konoha to Kumogakure.

  "Those damned Cloud bastards! How dare they snder Suna!"

  "We'll show them who's weak during the in Exams!"

  The meeting room erupted in angry shouts.

  Only Rasa and Baki's expressions remained—plex.

  Rasa's gaze was fixed oicle mentioning the "exorbitant costs" of the sed phase of the exge program.

  Baki, oher hand, was staring at the sed article in The Forest Reader: "Konoha's Wedding of the tury."

  'I 't hesitate any longer. If I don't act—the Kazekage Tower will fly Konoha's fg!'

  'Times make heroes. And this—this is my time. I, Baki, will bee Suna's hero!'

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