At the Hokage Tower.
Inside the Third Hokage's office, the smoke was much thicker than usual.
"These are last month's statistics." A chūnin wearing glasses stood in front of the desk, holding a thick stack of reports. "Sunagakure's completed mission volume increased by thirty-five percent compared to the month before last. Among them, A-rank missions increased by forty percent."
The Third took a puff from his pipe and said nothing.
The chūnin turned to the second page and continued reading. "The additional budget from the Wind Daimyo has already arrived. Sunagakure has opened a new ninja tool production line and established two new outposts along the border."
"It isn't just missions like border patrols and caravan escorts," Utatane Koharu also said. "Even several high-ranking missions among the nobles of the Land of Fire have been taken by them. Their quotes are twenty percent lower than ours, and their proposals are prettier than ours."
"They have money now," Mitokado Homura said. "After Pakura won the Chūnin Exams, the Wind Daimyo said Sunagakure had been underestimated all these years and approved a special allocation on the spot."
He paused, then added, "On top of that, several major nobles here in the Land of Fire were very satisfied with Pakura's performance. Quite a few missions that were originally ours have been transferred to Sunagakure."
The office fell quiet for a while.
The Third Hokage removed the pipe from his mouth and lightly tapped it against the desk.
"Has Konoha's mission completion rate dropped?"
"No." Utatane Koharu shook her head. "But Sunagakure's prices are lower, their response speed is faster, and they even include intelligence updates along the route."
"They had these capabilities before too," the Third said. "Where is the difference?"
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu looked at each other.
"Money," Mitokado Homura said. "In the past, they didn't have enough funds. Their equipment couldn't keep up, and they couldn't support enough ninja."
The Third put the pipe back in his mouth and took a puff.
"This is only the beginning." Shimura Danzō's voice came from beside the window. "When nobles choose ninja, they don't just look at price. They also look at face. Sunagakure is now the new rising star. Hiring them for work is something they can talk about in social circles."
Mitokado Homura frowned slightly, but did not refute him.
"Root's intelligence shows," Danzō continued, "that Sunagakure has already started contacting some merchant associations in the Land of Fire. The proposals they offer are not simple escort services, but complete packages that include intelligence sharing, route optimization, and emergency response."
"You mean our service standards are outdated?" The Third Hokage frowned.
"What I mean is," Danzō's voice did not fluctuate, "comfort makes a ninja village dull. Konoha has gone too many years without suffering a loss."
Mitokado Homura sighed. "Pakura's championship was only the trigger. What truly allowed them to rise was the change in the Wind Daimyo's attitude. He gave money very readily."
"If Sunagakure uses this momentum to grow, then five years from now, ten years from now, how much Konoha's influence among the neighboring small nations will shrink—I don't need to tell you," Danzō said immediately after.
The Third Hokage placed his pipe beside the ashtray and stood up, walking to the window.
In the distance, the three faces on the Hokage Rock silently overlooked the village.
"Leave Sunagakure's matter to Danzō," the Third Hokage said, turning around. "Intelligence gathering and the formulation of countermeasures will all be handled by you."
Danzō nodded slightly. Clearly, he already had a plan in mind.
The Third picked up his pipe again and tapped it twice against the ashtray. "Is there anything else?"
"One more thing." Utatane Koharu took out a letter. "Kirigakure's envoy will arrive in Konoha in three days."
The Third Hokage's hand paused in midair.
"Kirigakure?" Mitokado Homura frowned. "They haven't sent an official delegation in a long time."
"That is exactly why this is worth paying attention to." Utatane Koharu unfolded the letter. "The leading envoy is Ao, a jōnin from Kirigakure. The delegation is not large, and some of them are young ninja. Supposedly, they are coming to broaden their horizons."
Utatane Koharu continued, "The letter is written very politely. It says Kirigakure's recent internal reforms have been rather effective, and that they hope to strengthen exchanges with Konoha, learn from each other's ninjutsu experience, and jointly maintain peace in the ninja world."
"A grand-sounding excuse." Danzō knew Kirigakure definitely had another purpose.
"There is more." Utatane Koharu's finger moved down the letter. "They specifically mentioned one matter: the security of the trade route in the Land of Waves."
The Third put the pipe back in his mouth and waited for her to continue.
"The letter says that pirate activity in the waters of the Land of Waves has become frequent recently and has already affected maritime trade among several surrounding countries. As the ninja village of the Land of Water, Kirigakure hopes to join hands with Konoha and maintain order along the Land of Waves shipping routes."
The office fell silent.
The Land of Waves was an island nation with a very special location, positioned right on the sea route between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water.
From the Land of Water to the mainland, no matter which route one took, one had to pass through the waters near the Land of Waves. Whoever controlled the ports of the Land of Waves would have their hand around the throat of maritime trade.
"Kirigakure's interest in the Land of Waves is not new," Mitokado Homura said, removing his glasses and wiping them with his sleeve.
"Sunagakure turned things around through the Chūnin Exams. The entire ninja world is watching that," Danzō said. "Kirigakure probably wants to try as well. The role of young ninja in a delegation has never simply been to broaden their horizons."
He paused. "During the Chūnin Exams, the performance of Konoha's genin was there for everyone to see. Sunagakure has already proven through Pakura how strong their genin are. What Kirigakure wants to prove is probably the same thing."
"You mean they will use the name of a genin sparring match to provoke us?"
"If the genin they bring win in the sparring match, once the news returns to the Land of Water, the Daimyo's attitude will change," Danzō said. "And if they lose, they can simply smile and say, 'Konoha truly lives up to its reputation,' then return with intelligence on the Land of Waves. No matter how you look at it, they don't lose."
Utatane Koharu suggested, "Since we've already seen through their intentions, we can simply refuse their request for a sparring match."
"Refusal itself is a kind of weakness. They will become bolder and make even more probes. At that point, what we face won't just be the young ninja of Kirigakure."
The Third Hokage took the pipe from his mouth. "Has the delegation's itinerary been arranged?"
"It is already being arranged," Utatane Koharu said. "After they arrive, there will be an official welcoming ceremony, followed by visits, exchanges, and talks."
"Send the itinerary to me. I will arrange the exchange segment."
Utatane Koharu nodded, indicating that she understood.
"As for the candidates for the genin sparring match..." The Third Hokage paused for several seconds.
"Nohara Shinnosuke."
"Hatake Kakashi."
"And..." The Third Hokage hesitated for a moment. "Uchiha Toru."
"A civilian genius, the son of White Fang, and an Uchiha. If Kirigakure wants to test the strength of Konoha's genin, then let them see enough all at once."
~~~
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