News of Cloud Village's high-profile Chūnin Exam preparations reached distant Sunagakure and Iwagakure among the mountains.
Fourth Kazekage Rasa and Ebizō received a new guest—envoy Akatsuchi from Iwagakure.
This new envoy showed no fear despite his predecessor's untimely death here, still conveying "goodwill" from the Tsuchikage.
"Konoha's relationship with Cloud Village trends toward easing. They even reached peace agreements with Kirigakure."
"Can Sunagakure still obtain cheap materials and grain from Konoha as before?"
"After they completely stabilize eastern situations and no longer need forward barriers, investments and support for Sunagakure will probably be viewed as unnecessary burdens."
Due to last year's warfare impacts, Sunagakure's pressure this year remained enormous.
Iwagakure was the instigator causing Sunagakure's current predicament. However, as Kazekage, Rasa still had to personally face this envoy from Earth Country, listening to these inflammatory words.
He did not refute, merely listening silently.
Last year, Elder Chiyo negotiated a relatively favorable plan for Sunagakure, though still inferior to the year before.
Though allies, Sunagakure sincerely hoped Konoha could not manage relations with neighboring shinobi villages well. That proved most advantageous for them.
Ebizō broke the silence. "Does Ōnoki take Sunagakure for fools? The one who brought Sunagakure enormous disaster now expects Sunagakure betraying current allies?"
Akatsuchi turned toward this elder. "Precisely because Sunagakure two years ago first betrayed tacit understanding with Iwagakure, killing our envoy, the Tsuchikage had no choice but launching necessary actions to maintain Iwagakure's dignity."
"All this, tracing roots, resulted from Sunagakure's choices."
"Had Sunagakure stood with Iwagakure two years ago rather than shortsightedly accepting Konoha's conditions, current predicaments would not exist."
"Kazekage-sama, Ebizō-sama, according to our knowledge, that man named Mui whom Konoha supports has already effectively controlled Kusagakure. The east has also stabilized. What they will do next can be predicted."
"Now, those truly facing similar circumstances with potentially more aligned interests are Iwagakure and Sunagakure. As for past unpleasantness, merely some sand and wind."
Regarding this rhetoric, Rasa made no response, merely having Iwagakure's envoy depart.
Only afterward did he speak. "News came from Konoha's side. They plan hosting a joint Chūnin Exam themselves in September."
Ebizō frowned. "They already confirmed participating in Cloud Village's exam this year, yet still want hosting another joint Chūnin Exam so soon?"
Rasa said coldly, "To humiliate us, since they inevitably cannot achieve victory on Cloud Village's home field."
"Just like last year, Cloud Village inevitably failed in Konoha's exam."
"Therefore planning to recover face from us."
Sand dwellers did not care about slight face issues. They only cared about survival. However, since Konoha deemed face useful, meaning valuable, therefore something should be exchanged back.
As for Iwagakure's instigation, Rasa planned waiting. Rashly acting would only bring Sunagakure greater losses.
Inside the Hokage's office, Tsunade finished that sake bottle with slightly tipsy comfort before running to the adjacent rest room for a nap.
She truly left the office and accumulated documents to Shuji.
When Shizune entered carrying files, what she saw was Shuji handling affairs at another office desk.
She first helplessly sighed before showing Shuji an apologetic awkward smile.
Though the smile proved somewhat awkward, this did not prevent her skillfully placing new document stacks on Shuji's desk that had cleared slight space.
"Um... I'll immediately call Lady Tsunade back," Shizune said quietly before hurriedly turning and exiting.
Shuji casually opened the topmost document. This was Uchiha Itachi's regular report.
Besides daily patrol reports and guard circumstances, most noteworthy was Uchiha Enblade's portion.
After Shuji's PUA session, he settled down for a period, transferred into Itachi's squad. Besides applying to participate investigating Sharingan theft incidents, no other movements occurred.
Until the second Hyūga branch family squad entered Police Force.
Enblade's attention seemingly shifted back toward the Hokage's office. He began consciously collecting information he believed might prove useful to the Uchiha clan regarding village leadership movements.
Moreover, he would regularly submit information summaries he compiled to Itachi as squad captain.
These summaries then reached Tsunade.
Tsunade's attitude toward this proved quite magnanimous, merely treating it as adding one uniquely-perspectived supplementary observation point within ANBU sequences.
After all, guard perspectives versus perspectives peering with certain purposes could see vastly different things.
Next came Barrier Team's submitted annual report regarding this year's barrier node maintenance and reinforcement arrangements at various village locations, plus ANBU-compiled recent movement briefings on village major ninja clans...
Naturally, primary focus fell on the two great clans—Uchiha and Hyūga.
Since Hyūga branch families entered Police Force, conflicts increased between both great families.
Even Uchiha Fugaku, clearly understanding this was village leadership arrangements, found completely suppressing clan members' instinctive rejection and competitive consciousness toward the Hyūga clan difficult. Conflicts began gradually spreading from Police Force interiors to other public venues.
Besides this, the Hyūga clan recently seemed strengthening alert and protective measures around clan grounds.
The reason was... Hiashi's wife was about to give birth?
Eh? Hyūga Hanabi was about to be born? The due date matched Cloud Village's Chūnin Exam timing—both March.
However, nothing regrettable existed. After all, Shuji had little Hyūga contact. Obviously he was not a guest at the younger sister-in-law's birth celebration.
Therefore, whether in the village or not, probably could not join festivities.
Reviewing these reports involving village various dynamics proved far more interesting than handling those tedious budget approvals and material allocation documents. Shuji read while gradually becoming immersed.
Until Tsunade was pulled in by Shizune.
"Really, so annoying, Shizune. Rarely able to rest."
"You're bullying Shuji too much, Lady Tsunade."
Shuji glanced at files Shizune placed on his desk. Sounded quite nice, yet when adding his burdens, no soft hands were seen either.
Since Tsunade already returned, Shuji felt he should also leave work.
He still needed returning home preparing for imminent Cloud Village departure.
"Wait."
Before Shuji could respond, Tsunade raised her voice slightly, calling toward outside the office door. "Uzuki Yūgao, Gekkō Hayate."
Following her call, two shinobi wearing standard ANBU attire yet not wearing masks walked inside.
One with long purple hair, one with a sickly pale face.
"Starting today, you two are under Shuji's command until Chūnin Exam mission conclusion."
"Yes!"
Chapters in advance there: patreon.com/Thaniel_a_goodchild