Hokage Office.
Akashi Sora leaned back in his chair, feet shamelessly propped up on the desk, holding a gaudily covered copy of Icha Icha Paradise.
Sunlight streamed through the window, warm and comfortable.
[Senior Kakashi's treasured collection. Taste really isn't bad.]
[Just updates way too slowly. Sensei Jiraiya needs to step it up.]
A gentle knock sounded at the office door. Yamanaka Kaede entered, arms full of documents.
She paused for a moment upon seeing her Hokage in full slacker mode, but still neatly placed the files on the corner of the desk.
"Lord Sora, the envoy from Suna Village has arrived."
Her voice was cool and emotionless.
"Oh?"
Sora didn't even lift an eyelid, casually turning a page.
"What for?"
"They request peace negotiations and demand we release the prisoners of war."
"Heh."
Sora let out a low, ambiguous chuckle and finally set the book down.
He straightened up. His amber eyes looked out the window, carrying a lazy trace of mockery.
"Coming here with a fat face to ask for their people back — they really have the nerve."
[Can't win, so they call for backup. Backup fails, so they surrender. Surrender done, now they come asking for their people.]
"Who came?" Sora asked.
"Suna Village's advisor elder, Ebizō."
"Ebizō…"
Sora repeated the name, the curve of his mouth growing wider.
"Heh heh. Looks like Suna really has no one left — sending an old fossil who's one foot in the grave."
Sora stretched lazily, leaned back again, and resumed his boneless slouch.
"Kaede, go fetch Senior Shikaku."
Kaede didn't ask questions. She gave a slight bow and vanished from the office.
[An opponent of this level doesn't require my personal attention.]
[Killing a chicken doesn't need an ox knife. To deal with an old fox like this, send another old fox.]
Soon after, Nara Shikaku wandered in yawning, face full of "what a drag."
"Lord Fifth, what trouble now?"
"Shikaku-senpai, this is good news, actually."
Sora grinned and pointed toward the door.
"Suna sent someone. They want to take their little problem child and a bunch of defeated soldiers back home."
Shikaku raised an eyebrow. He instantly understood Sora's intention.
"You want me to handle it?"
"Of course." Sora nodded as if it were obvious. "Talking to me would be beneath his level."
"Go tell that old man called Ebizō."
Sora raised one finger, tone as casual as discussing tonight's dinner menu.
"First: we can release the people — including the One-Tail jinchūriki."
Shikaku's gaze sharpened.
"But — they have to pay ransom." Sora's smile turned sly, like a cat that stole the cream.
Shikaku sighed. The word "trouble" was practically etched into every wrinkle on his face.
"Lion's share demands?" he repeated, a glint flashing behind his glasses. "How big are we talking?"
"Simple." Sora took his feet off the desk and leaned forward slightly. The sharpness in his amber eyes completely contradicted his lazy demeanor.
"Money. Resources. People."
He held up three fingers, voice calm, but the demands made even Shikaku's heart skip.
"First: war reparations. Thirty percent of Suna Village's national revenue for the next ten years must be paid to Konoha as compensation."
"Second: resource cession. Konoha demands half of all chakra ore mining rights within the Land of Wind, plus priority purchasing rights — at thirty percent of market price, naturally."
"Third…" Sora paused, his smile turning downright malicious, "Gaara can go home. But Temari and Kankurō will remain in Konoha as 'exchange students' for 'study and exchange.' They return only when we decide they've completed their education."
Shikaku sucked in a cold breath.
This wasn't just a lion's share — this was swallowing Suna whole, skin, bones, and all!
Thirty percent of fiscal revenue for a decade — that was strangling Suna by the throat.
Ceding half the mining rights was pulling the rug out from under them.
And keeping Temari and Kankurō as political hostages was blatant.
"Sora… you're planning to force Suna to the brink of destruction." Shikaku's voice sounded a little dry. "They'll never agree."
"They will." Sora leaned back again, returning to full slacker mode.
"Tell the old man: these terms are non-negotiable."
"Let them understand that attacking Konoha comes with a price. This isn't some red-light district — they don't get to come and go as they please."
"The Third was too soft-hearted, and that's why they got the mistaken impression that Konoha is easy to bully."
"This time, I'm going to make them hurt. Make them afraid. All at once."
Shikaku fell silent.
For the first time, he truly felt the aura of sheer "domineering" radiating from this young Hokage.
"Of course, we can't push them too far."
[Right now the village is still rebuilding. I don't have time to play Second Great Ninja War with them.]
[Just a small punishment to teach a big lesson. Enough to make them remember who's daddy.]
"Understood." Shikaku rubbed his temples and turned to leave. "What a drag…"
…
Konoha Reception Room.
The atmosphere was heavy, like solidified lead.
Suna Village's advisor elder, Ebizō, sat rigidly at the table. His wrinkled old face had already turned iron-blue.
His turbid eyes were locked on the lazy-looking Nara Shikaku across from him — the man who looked like he might fall asleep any second. Ebizō's withered hands trembled slightly from the force of his grip.
"Nara Shikaku! This is extortion! This is humiliation of Suna Village!"
"Lord Ebizō, please watch your language." Shikaku yawned slowly. "This is called 'post-war reparations.' After all, we weren't the ones who started the war."
"Thirty percent of our revenue for ten years? Half of all mining rights? You're trying to destroy Suna!" Ebizō's voice rose sharply with agitation.
"No, no, no." Shikaku waved a hand. "Lord Fifth said this is to help you rebuild more efficiently. Too much money at once can breed corruption, you know. Konoha is kindly helping you store it for safekeeping."
"Pfft—"
One of the Konoha shinobi standing behind Shikaku couldn't hold it in and nearly spat out the tea he'd just sipped.
Helping us store it?
Was there no limit to their shamelessness?!
"As for Temari and Kankurō…" Shikaku continued as though he hadn't noticed the reaction, "Konoha Ninja Academy has just opened an international exchange program. Lord Fifth is very fond of talent and believes the two of them have great potential. He wants them to stay and deepen their studies — all for the sake of cultivating talent for future friendly relations between our nations."
Ebizō trembled with rage, lips quivering, unable to speak a single word.
Deepen their studies?
Cultivate talent?
It sounded nicer than singing!
This was clearly taking the Kazekage's own children as hostages!
"Too far! You've gone too far!" Ebizō slammed the table and stood up. "I demand to see your Fifth Hokage! I want to ask him face-to-face — is this how he treats allies?!"
"Sorry." Shikaku spread his hands with an expression of "I'm really troubled too."
"Lord Fifth is extremely busy with official duties. He has no time to meet you."
"And these terms are Lord Fifth's exact words. Not a single character can be changed."
Looking at Ebizō's face turning the color of pig liver, Shikaku slowly delivered the final blow.
"Oh, right. Lord Fifth also asked me to pass along one more message."
"Either accept the terms, and we remain 'allies.'"
"Or refuse — and then we'll just have to have a nice, long chat on the battlefield."
"Konoha is always ready to oblige."
BOOM!
It was as if thunder had exploded inside Ebizō's mind.
He staggered back a step and collapsed into the chair, eyes suddenly vacant.
Madman!
This newly appointed Fifth Hokage was an absolute madman!
He didn't play by any rules!
Political maneuvering? Greater good? In his eyes, all of it was nonsense!
He believed only in the most primitive — and most effective — law: the fist.
Shikaku looked at the shell-shocked Ebizō and felt a wave of emotion.
This Fifth Lord's way of doing things was… domineering in the most reassuring way possible.
He stood up and straightened his clothes.
"Lord Ebizō, you have three days to consider."
"If we receive no reply after three days, we will assume your village has chosen the second path."
With that, he ignored the old man completely and walked straight out of the reception room.
…
Hokage Office.
Akashi Sora set down his copy of Icha Icha Paradise and stretched.
[Tch. Senior Shikaku is still too gentle — actually giving them three whole days to think.]
[If it were me, I'd make them sign and stamp right on the spot. Refuse? Straight to Konoha prison to keep the One-Tail company.]
He picked up another document Kaede had just delivered — the preliminary plan for rebuilding the security force.
Seeing Uchiha Fugaku's neat signature at the bottom, a satisfied curve formed at the corner of Sora's mouth.
The first step of the power reshuffle was complete.