"Lord Yoichi, these are the envoys from the Hidden Sand Village. Lord Hokage asked me to bring them to you."
Upon entering, the Konoha Ninja leading the way spoke to Uchiha Yoichi.
"Let them come in."
Uchiha Yoichi smiled when he saw Pakura, then said to Yuhi Kurenai, "Kurenai, go brew some tea."
"Yes, Teacher Yoichi."
Yuhi Kurenai got up and brewed some tea, then served it to several Hidden Sand ninjas.
After Yuhi Kurenai finished distributing the tea, Uchiha Yoichi spoke, "Does the Hidden Sand Village want to hold a joint Chunin Exam with Konoha?"
"Yes, Uchiha Assistant."
Upon hearing Uchiha Yoichi's question, the Shaluo envoys answered solemnly; after all, the person speaking was Konoha's Lightning Fang, almost the strongest person in Konoha.
"Lord Kazekage hopes to co-host the Chunin Exam and wants the Hidden Sand Village to also become the exam venue...."
"It's out of the question for the Hidden Sand Village to be an exam venue; if we're going to host the exam, it should be held entirely in Konoha Village. If you insist on having the Hidden Sand Village be an exam venue too, then the Hidden Sand Village should host the exam on its own."
Uchiha Yoichi interrupted the Shaluo envoy directly, and upon hearing this strong reply, the Shaluo envoy was momentarily at a loss for words.
But the Shaluo envoy quickly recovered, thinking that if they couldn't host it, then they wouldn't participate—they were here for a more important mission.
"In that case, we'll hold the Chunin Exam in Konoha as agreed. As for matters related to the Chunin Exam, the Hidden Sand Village can fully follow Konoha's requirements; but Lord Kazekage has one more request, and hopes Uchiha Assistant can help coordinate it."
The Shaluo envoy paused, then continued, "Recently, the Hidden Sand Village has had trouble purchasing food supplies. After inquiries, it was found that this seems related to the Uchiha Trading Association. We hope Uchiha Assistant can help coordinate this..."
"Can't buy supplies? Is it because no one is selling to you?"
"Not exactly, it's just that the prices have increased significantly, making it difficult for the Hidden Sand Village to afford them."
The Shaluo envoy quickly explained, as the Hidden Sand Village had recently been struggling. The Rain Village had seized resources and mission quotas from the Land of Rivers; the village had just ended a war with the Hidden Mist Village and signed a peace agreement.
Plus, the Fourth Generation Kazekage and Pakura were subtly at odds, making it difficult to wage war against the Hidden Rain Village.
The only option was to slowly refine gold from the sands using Magnet Release Gold Sand, combined with some domestic mission commissions, to barely sustain village operations.
But now, if basic commodities like food and clothing couldn't be bought, the Hidden Sand Village might have to emulate the Hidden Mist and implement a Blood Mist Policy.
"I never meddle in business affairs, but if you want to negotiate, go find the president of the Uchiha Trading Association."
Uchiha Yoichi said firmly to the Shaluo envoy, then said to Yuhi Kurenai, "Kurenai, take them to the Uchiha Trading Association building to find Mikota."
"Yes, Teacher Yoichi."
Yuhi Kurenai, upon hearing this, directly approached the several Hidden Sand envoys, saying, "Everyone, please follow me."
But just as they were about to leave, Uchiha Yoichi suddenly spoke, "Jonin Pakura, please stay; I have something to discuss with you."
Hmm?
Not only did the Hidden Sand Envoys pause, but even Yuhi Kurenai was taken aback, her inner radar suddenly triggered.
Smooth pale skin with no clothing obstruction, a lovely face, the main thing being those two criminally smooth peaches on her chest—this woman was outrageous, growing so large for what?
Yuhi Kurenai bit her lip and thought, she'll grow big too, eventually.
"Uchiha Assistant, may I ask why you want Jonin Pakura...."
"You all go on, this is my business!"
The Shaluo envoy's words were cut off by Pakura; the Shaluo envoy was from Rasa's side, how could she let Rasa seek out her affairs.
After everyone else left, only Uchiha Yoichi and Pakura remained in the room. Hyuga Satomi was representing Uchiha Yoichi to inspect progress on several village projects and wouldn't return soon.
"Have a seat; I heard you've been having a tough time inside the Hidden Sand Village lately, being suppressed uncomfortably by Rasa?"
Uchiha Yoichi spoke directly to Pakura, the latter heard and a trace of discomfort flashed across her beautiful eyes, but she responded stubbornly, "That's not true; the village elders support me. Rasa is just a petty man selling out his village comrades, how dare he suppress me."
"One is the Fourth Kazekage, officially issuing any policy, capable of using Magnet Release Gold Sand to pan gold in the desert to alleviate village finances when Hidden Sand Village is short on money....The other is merely a Hidden Sand hero, who might be adored by many during wartime, but when the war ends and the village needs peaceful development, what can you do without family support...."
Uchiha Yoichi spoke plainly, his words entirely truthful; Pakura in the Hidden Sand Village faced exactly such a situation. If not for her substantial wartime reputation, she would already have been marginalized by Rasa.
After all, those who support Pakura also need to eat; when the ninjas can't obtain high commissions through mission tasks, they're no better than employees in an Izakaya.
Additionally, Chiyo and Ebizo, who support Pakura, are essentially retired; though they disapprove of Rasa's behavior of betraying village comrades, they won't support Pakura in stirring up internal strife. Together, Chiyo and Ebizo can only use their limited prestige to make Pakura's life slightly more bearable.