Stock up, contact the seller, ship.
By now, the routine for entering candidates into the Chunin Exams was second nature to Baki. The only difference this time was that Konoha's shinobi seemed to be watching every move more closely than usual.
He couldn't figure it out. The Five Kage Summit was proceeding smoothly, the Joint Bureau had been formally established—by all logic, Sunagakure should've been under less scrutiny, not more. So why the sudden tightening?
He didn't understand, but the work still had to be done. Whatever the reason, Baki planned to ask about it once he reached Konoha.
"Mutual communication?"
Sunagakure and Kumogakure?
Baki understood and felt a jolt of shock. Konoha had already concluded that Kumogakure was targeting Sunagakure at sea? If they knew that, were they actually prepared to uphold justice for Sunagakure?
"Konoha, Kumogakure, and Sunagakure were the first to confirm a close alliance," Kitai said. "Even if there were some setbacks along the way, that basic situation has never changed. Whatever problems arise, sitting down to talk will always resolve them."
"Before we begin, Konoha hopes both sides can keep that in mind."
Baki studied Kitai's expression, then carefully chose his words. "Sunagakure has no wish to break the alliance. We only want to survive."
Kitai answered without hesitation. "Kumogakure feels the same. Our recent movements at sea may have overlapped a bit, but that's only due to coinciding mission routes. We have no other intentions."
"If our ally Sunagakure has misunderstood, we're willing to apologize. We'll also make sure to keep an appropriate distance from Sunagakure's units during future maritime missions."
Kumogakure would actually apologize? And they weren't going to keep fighting over Sky Ninja technology?
Baki couldn't help glancing at Roshi, but Kitai continued before he could speak.
"However, Kumogakure hopes our personnel can be returned."
Sunagakure's jonin froze. "Kitai-san, I'm not sure what you mean."
Kitai's lips pressed into a thin line.
He stated Kumogakure's position more directly: "We admit our earlier actions caused a misunderstanding and promise not to continue them. But we hope the people detained by your side can come back."
A bad feeling rose in Baki's chest, and his reply came faster. "Sunagakure has made no moves recently. Although our fleet was followed, our actions never went beyond investigation."
"Especially after Sunagakure suffered that monster resurgence, then took part in the Joint Training Exercise and the Five Kage Summit—throughout that entire period, our policy has been conservative."
"Your willingness to clear up the misunderstanding is a great thing for Sunagakure—but—"
He spoke the next words with absolute certainty:
"Sunagakure has not fought Kumogakure shinobi, nor has it detained anyone."
Kitai's face went completely dark.
——
Joint Chunin Exams, Joint Training Exercise, Five Kage Summit.
In the busy days of the Joint Bureau, the Five Great Ninja Villages had been interacting so frequently that even Obito could no longer sit still.
All of it came down to power.
Outside the great nations, Nagato watched new conflicts flare up, then briefly subside.
It only strengthened his conviction in his own path.
What Konoha was doing now wasn't much different from what Senju Hashirama had done decades ago—only this time, Konoha relied on the unity of an alliance, using that collective pressure to force down the opposition and create a short-lived, false peace.
"Using the agents Sasori left in Sunagakure to hijack Sunagakure's original investigation plan, then striking at Kumogakure's people."
"No matter how Konoha and Kumogakure investigate, all they'll see is Sunagakure as the suspect."
"This way, the organization's tracks are wiped clean, and Hiruko gets enough material to use the Chimera Technique."
"This operation was perfectly planned."
Zetsu was clearly flattering him.
"For now, they'll be too busy to deal with anything else. The very alliance holding them together will also drain their strength—that's the opening we need to push the new plan forward."
Obito sat by the window.
"Jiraiya and the others already investigated this area last year. Amegakure is no longer completely safe."
"Once Iwagakure joins the Konoha-led alliance, exposure will only come faster."
Obito tilted his head, the single eye visible through his mask turning toward the Deva Path of Pain.
"You should start preparing to relocate, Nagato."
The Rinnegan in the Deva Path shifted slightly, reflecting the endless rain outside the window.
Become a god, gain overwhelming, eternal power.
He would make sure no war ever had a true victor again, so that everyone would share in the suffering war brings.
He would bring eternal peace.
——
Silence had stretched too long in the conference room.
Baki steadied his breathing. Kumogakure had secretly targeted an ally; they were in the wrong. With Konoha pushing for a negotiated solution and setting the tone, he had some room to maneuver.
Roshi spoke first. "To begin with, both sides agree that the incident at sea was a misunderstanding."
Kitai nodded. Baki followed. "Yes."
"Secondly, Kumogakure promises that no such incident will occur again."
Kitai immediately added, "But Kumogakure hopes to recover our ninja."
Roshi raised a hand, signaling him to wait.
"Kumogakure pledges that this misunderstanding will not be repeated—may I take that as your official position, Kitai-san?"
"…You may."
"Sunagakure still maintains that it has no record of any engagement with Kumogakure or with ninja suspected of being from Kumogakure." Roshi turned to Baki. "Please confirm this one last time. Is there any possibility of an omission in your reports? During the time of the Five Kage Summit, was anything overlooked?"
At that, Baki hesitated; he could no longer simply insist that Sunagakure had done nothing. After all, on overseas patrols… if someone had been injured by accident and the report had listed them as rogue ninja…
Kumogakure's certainty was shaking his own.
"I will request another full review of the mission reports from before and during the Five Kage Summit."
"Would Kumogakure be willing to provide the missing squad's mission log to assist Sunagakure's investigation?" Roshi asked Kitai.
Kitai was silent for a few seconds, then nodded.
"So, for now, Kumogakure and Sunagakure have reached a basic consensus: both are willing to launch a joint investigation."
"May we consider this agreed?"
"Sunagakure agrees."
"…Kumogakure agrees."
"Konoha, as an ally to both villages, will also participate," Roshi said. "But before that, we need to resolve one issue."
He paused until both men were fully focused on him.
"Even in routine missions, accidental injuries can't be completely avoided. If, during overlapping missions, there are clashes that cause unintended harm… it can be understood."
"There is also the possibility of malicious interference from a third party."
"After all, anything can happen on a mission."
Kitai and Baki exchanged a look.
"Therefore, before the investigation begins, we must make one thing clear: no matter what the final conclusion is, both sides must accept it."
"If either side is found to bear serious responsibility, it must compensate the other."
"And if it is proven that a third party is behind it…"
"Then Konoha will ask the joint village bureau to intervene. Even if this incident isn't directly tied to the Exercise, its impact on the alliance could be… unpredictable."
"At that point, it won't just be a problem between Kumogakure and Sunagakure."
Sunagakure almost certainly wasn't holding any Kumogakure prisoners—both Konoha and Kumogakure could read that much from Baki's attitude.
Whether Sunagakure had actually killed any Kumogakure ninja, however, remained unknown—and irrelevant. There's no rule that says Kumogakure can attempt to steal technology and yet never take losses.
Still, Kumogakure is Konoha's close ally, so the situation has to be packaged as an "investigation" to create room for a resolution. Once the terms are set, a third party can be brought in even if one doesn't really exist; the ninja world already has a ready-made candidate.
Consider it a rehearsal for future operations.
When the simplest form of mediation fails, only the complicated paths are left.
And complicated they have to be.
Friction between Kumogakure and Sunagakure is only one of the many headaches waiting for Konoha. If the alliance system is going to function, most of the worst problems will come from outside the village, not within.
After the meeting, Roshi spoke privately with Baki first, then prepared to deal with Kumogakure.
No matter how unreasonable Kumogakure might be in this matter, they were still the side closer to Konoha—for now.
Roshi ran through the possibilities in his head, predicting which cards Kumogakure would play. But the person who stepped in wasn't Kitai.
"Good evening, Roshi."
Roshi let out a soft laugh. "Good evening, Samui. Just so you know, your request for leniency has already been withdrawn."
"I'm operating under normal parameters," Samui replied, closing the door behind her. "Otherwise, Kitai-san wouldn't have allowed me to discuss what comes next. But you brought it up first, which suggests it's weighing on you."
She sat down opposite him. "Judging from the meeting, the chances of finding our missing personnel alive are vanishingly small."
"With the primary goal unattainable…"
"…getting Sky Ninja technology from Sunagakure as compensation isn't realistic either. It's one of the few bargaining chips they have left."
"But the Village's problems remain, so Kumogakure wants to expand on the Ninjutsu exchange Konoha proposed earlier."
"As for Sky Ninja equipment—Konoha should have captured some last year."
Roshi answered, "Fragments, at least."
"From the way you received the Tsuchikage, Konoha has already drawn up countermeasures for high-altitude units."
"Kumogakure has been working on similar preparations, but our progress has been underwhelming."
"Therefore, we'd like a technical exchange with Konoha in this area," she said. "For both sides, the threat posed by flying units must be addressed. Anti-air techniques are necessary, but they're not core to village survival, which leaves room for cooperation."
"Kumogakure proposes sharing research on aerial reconnaissance, interception methods, and basic studies of flight-capable vehicles."
"Specifics and depth can be settled in later talks."
Roshi thought it over, then nodded. "Konoha agrees in principle to negotiate on those points."
Kumogakure did have its own technical strengths—when the meteors fell from the sky, they'd turned the event into a wide-range chakra cannon.
More importantly, this offer meant they were finally ready to stop clinging to the "investigation results."
Most of the issue was now resolved. Unless Sunagakure caused trouble again, the matter could be handed over to the Joint Village Bureau(JVB) as its first real assignment.
For a moment, Roshi let himself relax, realizing this year's work had already eaten up half the calendar. Maybe it was time to let someone else be Hokage.
"Roshi." Samui's voice pulled him back. "You look exhausted."
"I'm naturally lazy. The moment work ends, I think of rest," he replied. "Already planning my vacation."
Samui rubbed her shoulder, then suddenly asked, "Do you have any money on you?"
"Yes—" He stopped mid‑word as a sense of déjà vu hit. "Samui, are you asking for a loan?"
She frowned at the implication, finding it rude, and instead set five thousand ryo on the table.
"I've decided to lend this to you."
"…Huh?"
She stood and came around the desk. Roshi moved as if to rise, but her hand came down lightly on his shoulder.
Not heavy, not forceful—just a gentle pressure.
"You're cold and rational, Roshi. Careful not to overstep. As long as there's no prospect of something deeper, you're unreachable."
Her voice was close now, the usual metallic calm softened by a warmer note.
"So, limiting ourselves to 'diplomats'…"
Her fingertips brushed his cheek and came to rest at his temple. Roshi tensed.
Calloused from years of gripping kunai and sword hilts, her fingers pressed only lightly. She didn't start kneading right away; she simply let her warmth seep into his cool skin, then slowly began to ease away the first layer of tension.
A faint breath ghosted past his ear, soft as a sigh. "Please rest for a while."
Roshi closed his eyes.
The wind outside faded. The conference room fell still, until all that remained was the quiet slide of her fingertips and the slow, heavy pulse of blood in a tired body.
"You've worked hard, Roshi."
—
The work wasn't over.
The next day, Roshi still had to clock in.
Someone was waiting for him.
Kabuto stood before his desk, posture polite, expression composed.
"I've completed all advanced courses in the Medical Division. I believe I can now be of use to you."
"Please give me any order."
Roshi studied him for a moment, then pulled a folder from the drawer and slid it across the desk.
"Top Secret" was stamped on the cover.
The characters flashed in Kabuto's lenses; his pupils tightened almost imperceptibly.
"These are partial research notes left by the Sannin Orochimaru before he defected, plus the Village's own follow‑up studies," Roshi said, his tone even. "Your next task is to digest them and deliver a detailed evaluation and analysis to me."
"If you need assistance or additional materials, apply through Village channels."
He met Kabuto's slightly widened eyes.
"Any questions?"
"None." Kabuto quickly smoothed his expression and accepted the file with both hands. "I will complete it to the utmost."
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