Precious Gift

"Taiga, get me a beer, and a mint fruit tea for her."

The izakaya owner smiled and nodded, "Understood, less ice."

"What's going on?"

Hoshino Maki hid his hands behind his back, curiously poking his head near the other person's cheek.

"Get lost!"

Pakura pushed his face away and turned her head to the side.

Hoshino Maki scratched his head, then his expression cleared as if he understood. He cupped his hand over his mouth and whispered a couple of words in her ear.

"Ugh~"

Hoshino Maki felt a sharp pain in his abdomen and doubled over like a shrimp.

Pakura's face was flushed red, and she gritted her teeth, her voice emerging from between her clenched jaws, "If you dare to speak nonsense again, I'll cripple you!"

Hoshino Maki skillfully performed a French salute, "My apologies, my apologies. I thought about it and realized it's not for these few days."

"You!"

Hoshino Maki leaped back a good ten feet. Seeing the surrounding people's gazes occasionally flicking towards them, Pakura took several deep breaths, forcing herself to calm down.

"Speak. What do you need me for?"

Hoshino Maki glanced around and pulled Pakura to a quiet corner.

"You know the village is about to dispatch troops, right?"

Pakura rolled her eyes at him. She had heard that exact sentence just a few minutes ago.

"I know. You're not asking me to help you, are you?"

Pakura crossed her legs, folded her arms, and leaned back in her chair, looking at him somewhat mockingly.

Hoshino Maki cleared his throat, "Help? What help? This is a win-win! I have the brains, and you have the strength. Together, aren't we a perfect match?"

Seeing her increasingly dangerous gaze, Hoshino Maki's voice gradually weakened, and he changed his tune, "You have the brains, alright?"

Pakura rested her chin on her left hand, tapping her cheek with her index finger, "I can help you, but it'll cost 10 million."

"Are you robbing me!"

Hoshino Maki's shriek attracted the attention of the surrounding people. He quickly lowered his voice, "As an ordinary medical ninja, where would I get that kind of money? How about I sell you some supplies?"

"You dare!"

Pakura raised her delicate eyebrows and said in a low voice, "Have you forgotten I was present during the negotiations with the Cloud Ninja back then?"

"How could I forget? That was my biggest failure in life."

"Hmm?!"

They bickered for a long time, and Pakura 'reluctantly' accepted an appearance fee of 8 million.

"Thank you."

Hoshino Maki picked up the beer on the table and raised his glass to her.

He knew she agreed to help him not for the money. Their competition was already public at the higher levels, and this was essentially a form of taking sides.

"Hmph! I'm doing this for the village."

Pakura casually picked up her cup and clinked it against his, then, as if by chance, she casually asked, "Who was the first person you approached?"

"Who else could it be? Besides Kojima, the elite Jonin I know are you. Who else would I look for?"

"Heh, don't you usually have good relationships with them? Why do you only know the two of us?"

Hoshino Maki shook his head, "It's different~"

His rise to prominence had only been a few months. His relationships with them were mostly based on mutual benefit.

It wasn't that those relationships weren't solid, but they still needed time to be polished. And time was what he lacked the most.

Asking those people to take sides now, especially in a decision that would shape the village's future, he had no confidence in competing with Rasa, who had years of experience.

After all, the benefits he brought to the village were one-time, while Rasa's mine veins could last for generations, not to mention the blood he had shed for the village.

Currently, the only ones he was confident about were Pakura, Kojima, and the ninjas from Chōjūrō's clan. Chiyo was still guarding the village's safety, so even if she could offer support, the combined strength of those two clans might be less than the sum of their parts.

Of course, he wouldn't only bring such a meager force. The competition was only for the top-tier Jonin combat power. The subordinates would still obey the orders of the Elder Council, so Hoshino Maki's troops wouldn't be significantly worse.

The Kazekage faction also agreed to this. After all, if they were to allow completely free team formation, Rasa's side might find themselves in a predicament with no medical ninja at all, which would be too embarrassing.

Pakura saw his difficulty and, holding her teacup with both hands, hesitated, "How about... I can call some people over."

Hoshino Maki was stunned, then shook his head, "I don't eat soft rice."

Pakura sneered upon hearing this, "Is that so? Does Lord Chiyo's meal count as soft rice?"

"She already..."

"Already what?"

"Nothing. My teeth aren't good. The doctor told me to eat more soft rice on a daily basis."

Hoshino Maki felt it was inappropriate to speak ill of an old lady behind her back, especially in a place like an izakaya, which was full of gossip.

Pakura shot him a look and stood up to leave. "Wait for my news."

Dispatching troops wasn't a decision made on a whim; it involved negotiations with Yunyan, the coordination of supplies, and choosing the right timing. The rotation of defensive lines was like a machine, with countless gears working in unison behind the scenes.

During this time, Hoshino Maki was not only responsible for recruiting soldiers but also for coordinating supplies and negotiating with the Cloud Ninja.

The elders had also noticed that this guy was good at internal affairs and negotiations, so they handed everything over to him. As long as the Kazekage faction supervised, there wouldn't be any major issues.

"Lord, news from the Intelligence Department."

"Bring it here."

In the Kazekage's office, two desks were placed opposite each other, with a guard beside each.

Hoshino Maki and Rasa were both working there, but their states were vastly different.

Rasa's desk was piled high with two stacks of documents, and he was frowning, buried in his work. Hoshino Maki, on the other hand, had his legs crossed on the desk, sipping tea with mint and orange peel, leisurely reading the last document in his hand.

The ninja who came in to deliver the intelligence glanced inside and immediately lowered his head, presenting the intelligence with both hands.

Whether he would talk about what happened here was unknown. After all, so many people came and went from the Kazekage's office; who knew who would leak it?

Hoshino Maki took the intelligence, glanced at it, and his brow furrowed. He pondered for a moment and waved the ninja from the Intelligence Department away.

"Rasa, are you done?"

Rasa didn't reply, continuing to review documents with his head down.

"It's not that I'm saying this, but with your efficiency, by the time you're done, the Elder Council will have been replaced."

Since their relationship had been made clear, Hoshino Maki wouldn't miss any opportunity to strike at the other party.

If you haven't experienced the life of a corporate slave and the torture of your superiors, how can you improve your work efficiency?

"Shut up!"

Rasa irritably scratched his hair and growled.

He considered himself a calm person, but this guy was too noisy!

Yet, he couldn't refute him, as the other party was faster and did a better job.

"I'm sorry, but I don't think I can shut up."

Hoshino Maki stood up, waving the document in his hand. "Meet in the Elder Council Hall in half an hour. You'll listen carefully to what I have to say then."

With that, he closed the door.

Bang--!

Rasa slammed his hand on the desk. "The most important thing for a ninja is actual combat. Timing and control are crucial. All this internal affairs stuff is just a side path!"

After speaking, he smoothed his clothes and left the room. Only the four guards inside were left looking at each other in bewilderment.

"Yesterday, the Cloud Ninja's largest granary on the front line was raided by a Konoha squad. They used a lot of Fire Style jutsu. By the time the AB Combo arrived, the granary had suffered heavy losses."

"According to intelligence provided by the Cloud Ninja, Minato Namikaze is initially suspected."

"Is he faking his injury?" Moyuzi asked with a frown. As a medical ninja, her greatest concern was facing an assassin as fast as Minato. He was a nightmare for medical ninja. If Minato had fully recovered, the safety of the medical corps would be a major test.

Hoshino Maki shook his head. "Not necessarily. So much time has passed, and with Tsunade's return, it's highly possible his injuries have been healed. But no matter how much he has recovered, we must make plans to face the fully recovered Minato."

"Moreover, I suspect Konoha's attack on the granary was premeditated. Even if it wasn't Minato Namikaze, someone else would have carried out this plan. The autumn harvest just ended, and the weather is gradually getting colder. If the Cloud Ninja don't have enough winter clothes and food, they can only choose to attack forcefully or retreat. A forceful attack would mean facing Konoha's impenetrable fortress. Retreating would mean a disastrous winter for the Cloud Ninja."

The elders looked at the expressionless Hoshino Maki. Even those from the Kazekage faction felt a sense of admiration for him.

Weren't you the instigator of the Cloud Ninja's miserable situation?

How could you act like nothing happened?

As they were thinking this, they heard Hoshino Maki say, "I'm more inclined to believe that the Cloud Ninja will gamble on a forceful attack. That will put us in a more advantageous position at the negotiating table with the Cloud Ninja."

They've suffered so much, and you still want to squeeze them for more. Truly...

"Well said!"

The elders nodded in agreement.

Only at this moment could they be 100% sure that this kid was a Sand Ninja through and through.

"As for the Stone Ninja, with Ōnoki personally intervening, Jiraiya's Konoha forces are currently at a disadvantage against the Stone Ninja. This is good news."

Hoshino Maki had not yet received news of Jiraiya using Sage Mode. It was unknown whether he hadn't been pushed to that point yet or if there were other reasons. However, even if he entered Sage Mode, Hoshino Maki didn't think he could completely defeat Ōnoki. After all, facing Dust Release, it was very difficult to fight without Space-Time Ninjutsu.

"The Sannin are not acting together. Is there some conspiracy?"

One elder frowned, and others began to ponder. Some even wondered if it would be better not to fight this war. After all, the Ino-Shika-Cho, the Uchiha clan, and the Hyuga clan had not yet participated in the battle. Coupled with Tsunade and Orochimaru, who had not appeared, it would not be easy for the Sand Ninja to deal with these tough opponents.

"Whether there is a conspiracy or not, it is a good opportunity for us."

Hoshino Maki looked around and said loudly, "If the Cloud Ninja choose to attack forcefully, Konoha will definitely have to send reinforcements. Minato Namikaze alone cannot solve the problem. The most likely reinforcements would be from the Uchiha clan. As for the Stone Ninja, Choza Akimichi's physique is not suitable for facing Ōnoki, so it's likely the Hyuga clan will be sent to reinforce. Then our opponents will most likely be the Ino-Shika-Cho and other Jonin from Konoha, with at most one of the Sannin. Regardless of whether it's me or Rasa, these are the best opponents we can face."

Even though he knew Tsunade wouldn't be on the battlefield and Orochimaru would likely feign compliance if he were, he still included them.

After all, Tsunade's hemophobia and Orochimaru's double-agent status were things he couldn't explain clearly.

"My suggestion is mid-October. Dispatch troops after a three-party consultation."

The elders exchanged glances and remained silent. Finally, Chiyo made the final decision.

"Since there are no objections, we'll proceed as Hoshino Maki suggested."

With that, she stood up and looked directly at Hoshino Maki. "I heard you obtained A's belt during your engagement with the Cloud Ninja. If possible, I hope you can give me a gift of equal value. This isn't Chiyo's request, but a mother's plea."

Hoshino Maki was silent for a moment. He clenched his right fist over his heart and bowed. "I will certainly not disgrace the mission!"

Thanks to @Juicy Grilled Meat and @Cat's Hangar for 2 monthly tickets!

Thanks to @cyfight, @Melon Skin Watermelon, and @Book From Tribe 123 for their monthly tickets!