"Say something! Come on, speak up! Why is everyone suddenly mute? Talk! I want answers—now!"
Yahiko was shouting at the Akatsuki leadership, his voice raw and wild, like a man on the edge.
The past three months had been absolute hell for Amegakure—a whiplash of fortune and disaster.
First, Aotu Tailuo, who doubled as both ANBU Chief and Finance Minister, dumped the entire village's 3.5 million tons of iron ore stockpile at 468 ryō per ton, making a killing. But to everyone's shock, iron ore prices kept soaring, rising like crops on a heavy dose of fertilizer.
A faction of Akatsuki elders, led by Kijima, tore into Aotu Tailuo for selling too early. Even Yahiko started to doubt him. With no one backing him, Aotu Tailuo could only resign in disgrace, handing over control of the finances.
Kijima took over and immediately spent most of Amegakure's cash reserves to buy six million tons of iron ore at the peak price—560 ryō per ton.
He wasn't even greedy. His plan was simple: wait for the price to hit 600 ryō, then sell and pocket a cool 240 million profit. Easy money, way better than digging in the mines, right?
But then Sunagakure abruptly canceled its military exercises, and iron ore prices crashed like a runaway horse. They didn't even get a chance to cut their losses.
Now, staring at a mountain of six million tons of worthless iron ore, Yahiko was on the verge of tears. Forget Aotu Tailuo's earlier windfall—the village had almost lost everything. If it hadn't been for Nagato stubbornly holding back 500 million ryō for "industrial chain improvements," Amegakure would be flat broke.
The elder faction, led by Kijima, sat around like wilted eggplants, too crushed to even speak.
"We should go to Tailuo. He might have an idea," Nagato said softly.
"Sigh. Where is he?" Yahiko asked, defeated.
"At home, I think."
Yahiko let out another long sigh. "Fine, I'll go myself. I let him down last time—I need to make it right."
—————————————————
"I don't think your peace declaration made any difference, Lord Hokage. Whether you issued it or not, the Kazekage would've called off the exercises. Danzo is just using it as a scapegoat for the failure of his so-called economic war," Minato Namikaze said, his tone calm and analytical.
"Yeah." Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a long, heavy cloud of smoke, his face etched with exhaustion beneath the dim office light.
"You knew?" Minato looked genuinely surprised.
"Mhm." Hiruzen nodded, his voice flat. "That day, when Danzo started bawling and flipping tables, I was caught off guard. But once I calmed down, it was obvious. The Fire Daimyo's merchant association and Konoha lost nearly eight billion. There's no way Danzo could shoulder that blame. He had to pin it on me—or else the Fire Daimyo's people would tear him apart."
"Then why…"
"Why didn't I expose him?"
Hiruzen set his pipe down with a bitter smile.
"Yes," Minato said, unable to hide his frustration.
"Danzo is just the ANBU chief. If he screws up, he can push the blame up to me. But where could I push it? Down onto my subordinates? Don't forget—he and I are in completely different positions. I'm the Hokage. I have to take responsibility."
"Then why not hold Danzo accountable?"
"Because it's pointless." Hiruzen tapped his pipe, knocking out a clump of black ash.
"Danzo's economic war plan was authorized by me. I bear responsibility. Besides, Konoha's own losses—one billion—are small potatoes compared to the Fire Daimyo's association's seventy billion. They're Konoha's main backers. Without their support, we're finished. As Hokage, I have to give them a satisfactory answer. Compared to that, punishing Danzo is trivial. What matters is solving the problem. Minato, you need to start thinking like a Hokage."
Minato froze.
Think like a Hokage? Is he… grooming me?
"Enough of that. We need to look ahead. Bring me the map—it's time to figure out our next move."
"A map? You're planning for war!" Minato instantly understood Hiruzen's intent.
"With debts this huge, how else can we redirect public anger and appease the Fire Daimyo's fury? War is the only way," Hiruzen said with a bitter smile.
Reluctantly, Minato fetched the massive map of the ninja continent and spread it out on the floor.
Hiruzen Sarutobi lit an oil lamp, his sharp eyes scanning the map with laser focus.
Finally, his gaze landed on Amegakure.
"Is Lord Hokage's target… Amegakure?" Minato whispered.
"Amegakure lost everything in this economic war, just like we did. There's nothing to gain from attacking them. We have only one real target—"
Hiruzen Sarutobi jabbed a finger at the western edge of the map.
"Sunagakure!"
"What?!" Minato was stunned.
"It's not surprising," Hiruzen said coldly. "Suna cleaned up in the iron ore crisis—they're swimming in cash. Only they can pay off these debts. If we crush them and force reparations, it's Konoha's only way out."
"But Sunagakure's military is strong. Plus, they've got Kumogakure as a powerful ally. Taking them down won't be easy," Minato warned.
"Difficult or not, it has to be done. I've got a plan—help me refine it," Hiruzen said, his face shadowed.
Minato nodded.
"We'll mobilize every ninja in Konoha. Set aside the five thousand under Orochimaru guarding the northern front against Kumogakure—that leaves us with about twenty-three thousand. Three thousand will be reserves; the other twenty thousand will split into two columns. One will cross the Yellow Buddha Desert and strike Sunagakure's main village from the east via Lishi Fortress.
The other will march through Amegakure, cross the Black Prince Desert, and hit the Moon Lake New District directly. That'll force Suna to split their defenses—they won't stand a chance."
"Amegakure? But we don't control Amegakure!"
"Then we'll take it first," Hiruzen said, his tone icy—gone was any trace of the "peaceful elder."
Minato was silent for a long moment, then spoke up, thinking it through. "If that's the plan, why not send envoys to Iwagakure? Offer the Fourth Tsuchikage a fat reward to send ten thousand troops to attack Suna from the west. With a three-pronged assault, not even Jinghang could hold them off!"
"Excellent!" Hiruzen Sarutobi clapped his hands, eyes gleaming.
"If we pull this off, Konoha will survive this crisis."
"But what about Amegakure…"
"Send Danzo. He should know what's at stake. If he's not willing to shoulder any responsibility, then his time as ANBU chief is over."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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