By the end of Konoha 47 (mid-way through Sand 47), envoys from various nations began streaming toward the two great hidden villages for their respective Kage inauguration ceremonies.
The Hidden Sand's ceremony was scheduled for mid-December, while Konoha's was set for the very end of the year.
A luxurious carriage rattled along the road leading toward the New Hidden Sand Village. Judging by the intricate patterns and ornate decorations, the vehicle was of immense value—clearly the sort of transport reserved for the high nobility of the Land of Fire.
"They say the folk of the Land of Wind are fierce and possess high combat literacy.
Looking out now, it seems the rumors are true," remarked Mr. Akimiya, the official envoy of the Land of Fire. He sat within the plush interior with his disciple, observing the changing landscape.
Numerous Sand shinobi flickered through the surroundings, maintaining a vigilant watch over the safety of the international envoys.
According to Shiraishi's new regulations, any envoy entering the Land of Wind could be escorted by no more than two shinobi from their home village.
It was a domineering rule, but the envoys swallowed their pride and endured it. The Hidden Sand had risen to such heights that it was now a legitimate contender for the title of the world's strongest village.
Akimiya was no stranger to the bureaucracy of the shinobi world. He watched the Sand shinobi closely and noted an undeniable air of pride in their movements. This newfound confidence was undoubtedly a byproduct of the recent war.
"Black Mist" Shiraishi, the rising legend of a new generation, had single-handedly thwarted the Konoha army. Icons like the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Sannin Jiraiya, and the elite masters of the Uchiha and Hyuga clans had all become stepping stones for his fame.
The youth are truly to be feared, Akimiya thought. Rumor had it that Shiraishi was even younger than Minato Namikaze—barely eighteen years old—yet he had achieved such heights.
Konoha's crushing defeat had shifted the global paradigm. While some were loath to admit it, the Hidden Sand had become a juggernaut co-existing on equal footing with the Leaf.
To show proper respect, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire had specifically sent Akimiya, a man with a prestigious court background, to lead the delegation.
Akimiya, a high-ranking minister, fanned himself with a folding fan, his mood somewhat sour. Opposite him, a middle-aged man spoke with a hint of helplessness: "Konoha grew too complacent, leading to this disaster."
In every Great War, Konoha was usually the passive party, but this rare proactive strike had resulted in a bloodied nose and the humiliating loss of half the Land of Rivers. The Daimyo of the Land of Fire was furious.
Unlike his uninspiring cousin, the Daimyo of the Land of Wind, the Fire leadership possessed grand ambitions of Konoha eventually uniting the shinobi world.
Though this dream had been stalled, the Daimyo still provided massive funding to help the Leaf recover.
In Akimiya's estimation, the battle between the Sand and the Leaf had set the geopolitical stage for the next decade.
Shiraishi would only grow stronger; he hadn't even reached his prime yet. Fortunately, Konoha still had the Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze.
Had it not been for the threat Minato posed, the Sand likely wouldn't have settled for so little during the partitioning of the Land of Rivers.
However, when the carriage reached the Oasis Ring, the scenery changed so drastically that Akimiya's eyes widened. "Are those... White Tangerines? And Purple Fruits? These are precious fruit trees, yet the Land of Wind uses them as mere roadside decoration?"
These delicacies were highly sought after by the Fire nobility, each piece commanding a high price. Yet, upon disembarking, Akimiya saw children freely picking fruit from the vast groves lining the streets.
"I heard that fruit production originated in the Land of Wind, so large-scale cultivation isn't surprising," explained the middle-aged man, a representative of the warrior class and a former Konoha shinobi who possessed significant intel on the Sand.
The envoys were curious about everything in the New Hidden Sand. As they walked, Akimiya noticed another peculiar phenomenon: a staggering amount of electronic equipment.
New models of home appliances, communication devices, and even air conditioning units were displayed in shop windows.
"The Sand's ability to 'imitate' is quite formidable..." Akimiya muttered.
Many of these items were originally based on technology from the Land of Fire, but Shiraishi had successfully manufactured them with higher quality and lower price points.
Over the last two years, many companies in the Land of Fire had gone bankrupt because of this competition, leading to civil unrest.
Even "gray market" groups had formed to smuggle Sand-made parts into the Land of Fire to sell them under different labels.
However, in the last six months, the Sand had moved beyond imitation. Most of their products were now original designs.
Akimiya realized that the change Shiraishi brought wasn't just measured in combat power, but in economic influence.
As the official envoy, Akimiya's first task was to pay his respects to the Kazekage. Although Rasa was still technically the Kage, the office had already been moved to Shiraishi's quarters. Rasa was currently at the Medical Department, tending to his wife, Karura, who was nearing labor.
The new Kazekage office was situated between the Oasis Ring and the New District. It was less of an office and more of a sprawling estate.
Two lifelike statues of a ginger cat flanking the entrance immediately caught Akimiya's eye.
"Those are statues of the Lord Kazekage's pet. The cat usually lounges in the office all day; you'll likely see both the Lord and his pet shortly," the Sand receptionist explained with a smile.
Is it necessary to give a pet such a long introduction? Is everyone in this village a cat fanatic? Akimiya resisted the urge to scoff as he entered with the warrior representative and his student.
The doors opened to a spacious hall. Shiraishi, clad in the exclusive robes of the Kazekage, was perusing documents. Despite not yet having his ceremony, he was already buried in a staggering amount of administrative work.
He was currently reviewing mission requests from several smaller nations. These countries, situated between Fire and Wind, were notorious "fence-sitters" who were now currying favor with the Sand following their victory.
Closing the folder, Shiraishi rose slowly and walked toward the envoys from the Land of Fire.
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