Land of Fire, Konoha, Hokage's Office.
Naruto's Shadow Clone stood by the window, overlooking the village, which had gradually transformed after his series of reforms.
Everything was proceeding according to his plan. Before long...
Those feudal lords would meet their end, and the ninja world would soon be unified.
Knock, knock, knock!
Someone knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Naruto did not turn around.
The door opened, and Nara Shikaku entered holding a scroll, a trace of gravity on his face. "Lord Hokage, we've just received urgent intelligence from the Land of Wind."
Naruto turned around, took the scroll, and swiftly read through it.
It detailed Sunagakure's devastating attack by an unidentified powerful enemy the previous night, as well as the outcome of the emergency meeting its upper ranks had held afterward.
When he saw the line stating that Gaara had officially become the Fifth Kazekage, Naruto knew that Uchiha Hikari and Gaara's mission had been successfully completed.
Naruto casually set the scroll on his desk and said evenly, "It looks like Sunagakure and the Land of Wind are no longer something we need to worry about."
Shikaku nodded slightly. "Gaara becoming Kazekage means we've removed a major obstacle from our path toward unifying the ninja world. At the same time, we've gained a steadfast ally."
Naruto walked behind the desk and sat down, lightly tapping his fingers against its surface. "Sunagakure has just suffered a severe blow. This is when it most needs help—and when it will most readily accept 'help.'"
"I understand." Shikaku immediately recalled the plan Naruto had laid out after becoming Hokage. "We'll send our people into Sunagakure under the name of aiding an allied nation in rebuilding its village."
"Mm. How is the progress on the preparations on your end?"
An expression that said he