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*****
In the shinobi world, a piece of explosive news spread like wildfire—reaching all corners of the Five Great Nations in mere days.
"Did you hear?! Konoha developed a new kind of rice! I think they're calling it... hybrid rice?"
"Yes! I heard the yield per mu has reached an astonishing five hundred kilograms! That's insane! I won't have to worry about food shortages anymore!"
"What's next? What else is Konoha plotting...?"
"The sky is changing. No, it's already changed!"
While the public marveled, those grain merchants who had declined Konoha's invitation—driven by fear or hesitation—now sat in silent regret. They felt as though a revolution had passed right before their eyes, and they had turned their backs on it.
The doors to a new era had opened, and they had chosen not to step through.
…
Land of Fire — Daimyō's Mansion.
"Daimyō-sama! Daimyō-sama! Something terrible has happened!"
Several servants burst into the inner courtyard, their foreheads soaked with cold sweat, nearly tripping over each other as they rushed to deliver the news.
The Fire Daimyō was lounging lazily, reclining on a silk cushion with a painted folding fan in hand. His face carried the relaxed arrogance of someone who had lived far too long with absolute power.
"Why the panic?" he asked, fanning himself slowly, not even bothering to open his eyes fully.
"Daimyō-sama! Konoha has begun... cooperating with merchants in food production!"
"Cooperating?" The Daimyō raised an eyebrow. "With merchants? That sounds ridiculous."
"Exactly! It's a breach of protocol! The grain industry of the Land of Fire has always been under your governance, Daimyō-sama. But now Konoha is overstepping, using this new hybrid rice to stake their claim!"
The servant's voice cracked, and his eyes filled with desperation. "You must act, Daimyō-sama! You must stop them!"
He tried to paint Konoha as the villain, meddling in affairs reserved for nobles and royal ministries. After all, most of the grain production—and the profits—were monopolized by the aristocrats. If Namikaze Mirai succeeded in pushing this new rice through commercial channels, the grip of the nobles would loosen... and perhaps even crumble.
Behind the servants were whispers of more than just outrage. There was fear. Fear of losing power.
The Daimyō, however, merely yawned.
"I see. I'll discuss the matter with Konoha."
He waved his fan dismissively.
The servants froze in disbelief.
"D-Daimyō-sama... you must take this seriously!"
"I said I understand."
"But—!"
"Am I the Daimyō, or you?!" he snapped.
The servants flinched. Silenced, they bowed quickly and retreated from the room.
Outside the chamber, the panic in their voices turned to whispers.
"The Daimyō-sama doesn't seem to care much about this."
"Shh! Be quiet. We're just servants. Do you want to lose your tongue?"
Still, unease lingered.
Back inside the chamber, a shadow detached itself from the wall behind the Daimyō's cushion.
A man emerged silently, wearing a forehead protector with the Konoha symbol. His hair was silver, and the red glow of a three-tomoe Sharingan spun slowly in his left eye.
Hatake Kakashi.
His expression was unreadable as he gazed at the door the servants had exited through.
"Controlling the Daimyō through genjutsu isn't a long-term solution..."
Ever since he had become one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, Kakashi had secretly used genjutsu to suppress dangerous nobles and manipulate key political decisions. He had eliminated dissidents, strangled revolts before they began, and protected the growing reform initiated by Namikaze Mirai.
But even so, there were whispers.
Rumors.
And suspicion.
"How long can this charade last?" Kakashi muttered to himself. "No... perhaps it doesn't need to last much longer."
Because maybe, just maybe—when the Daimyō's role was completely obsolete...
That was when the Land of Fire itself would undergo an earth-shaking transformation.
…
Sunagakure — Kazekage's Office.
"Hybrid rice...?"
In the wind-battered tower of the Kazekage, Pakura—now the Fifth Kazekage—raised an eyebrow as she listened to the latest report from her Anbu agent.
"Yes, Kazekage-sama." the Anbu operative nodded. "It's said that the grain merchants across the Land of Fire are swarming to Konoha, fighting to be part of this... agricultural revolution."
The man swallowed, then continued, "Not just them. Merchants from the Land of Rivers, Grass, and even the Land of Earth have begun traveling to Konoha as well."
This was unprecedented.
A ninja village had not only developed agricultural techniques, but had turned them into economic weapons.
Pakura's eyes sparkled.
"As expected of that man. He always manages the impossible."
The Anbu operative almost slipped.
'Did she just praise Konoha's Hokage… out loud?'
He fought back a twitch, bowing respectfully. "If there's nothing more, Kazekage-sama, I will take my leave."
Before his rational mind betrayed him into asking why the leader of Sunagakure was looking at another village's Hokage with such fondness.
With a whoosh, he disappeared.
Pakura sat back in her chair, rubbing her chin in thought.
The Land of Wind—her homeland—was mostly desert. Farming was nearly impossible. The village was constantly plagued by food shortages, and it had always been a key reason for Sunagakure's aggressive posture toward the Land of Fire.
But this hybrid rice...
If Konoha was willing to share...
If she could negotiate a partnership...
Just as she was beginning to piece together a diplomatic approach, the doors slammed open.
"Pakura! Don't tell me you're actually considering it!"
A voice filled with fury echoed through the chamber.
It was Chiyo.
The legendary puppeteer stormed in, her eyes blazing.
"I've already heard about the rice." Pakura said coolly. "It might be a real opportunity. If we cooperate with Namikaze Mirai—"
"Are you mad!?" Chiyo snapped. "You're the Kazekage of Sunagakure! That man humiliated this village! He crushed Rasa—your predecessor—and now you want to bow your head to him?"
Years ago, Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, had faced Namikaze Mirai in the Third Great Ninja War many times.
And lost.
Each time more humiliatingly than the last.
Those defeats cost him both his reputation and sanity. Rasa eventually spiraled into paranoia and madness, and it had been Chiyo herself who had handpicked Pakura as his replacement.
At the time, she thought Pakura would serve as a puppet Kazekage.
But she had been wrong.
After gaining power, Pakura had moved quickly. She purged opposition, crushed dissidents, and consolidated control. Even Chiyo found herself slowly pushed to the margins of authority.
And now, her chosen Kazekage was praising the man who had destroyed Sunagakure's honor.
"You forget how much pain Namikaze Mirai brought to our people in the Third Great Ninja War?" Chiyo roared. "Are you abandoning your village for the sake of trade?"
Pakura didn't flinch.
She smiled, soft but sharp.
"Chiyo-sama... the world is changing. If we cling to past grudges, we'll be left behind."
"Our people are starving. Our land is dry. You ask me whether to value your pride... or feed thousands of villagers?"
Her words were like cold wind cutting through the flame of Chiyo's rage.
For a moment, the old puppeteer could only stare.
But her pride would not let her relent.
"Pakura, you'll regret this!" she hissed.
"Chiyo, I am the Kazekage!"
*Bang!*
The door to the Kazekage's office slammed shut behind Chiyo as she stormed out.
*****
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