Hokage's Office
Qu Zhen had heard that only important people ever came and went here. He'd never had a chance to enter—but today, he was here, with all eyes on him.
"Qu Zhen," Hiruzen Sarutobi said kindly. "Look at you. You've grown so much."
"Hokage-sama."
Qu Zhen was touched. He hadn't expected the Hokage to remember him despite being so busy.
"Good boy. I can see the Will of Fire burning within you. You're Konoha's pride."
Hiruzen paused. "Has Hoshino Maki been making you suffer?"
"No, Lord Hoshino has been..." Qu Zhen seemed to think of something and hesitated. "He's, he's been all right."
Hiruzen saw his reaction and felt reassured. He stepped forward and patted Qu Zhen on the shoulder. "I know you suffered a lot in Sunagakure. Don't be afraid. You're back in the village now, and I'll see that justice is done. Come, tell me about all the hardships you endured there."
Qu Zhen scratched his head. "I, I didn't really suffer any hardships. It's just that Lord Hoshino's way of doing things is a little... unpredictable."
"That's all right. Then tell us what Hoshino Maki said and did."
Qu Zhen nodded. He was a Konoha ninja, after all, and naturally wouldn't hide anything from the Hokage.
After Qu Zhen finished telling them everything he knew, the Hokage's Office fell silent.
Most of Konoha's forces were away from the village, and more than half of its mid- and upper-level leadership had left as well. Only a few advisers remained to make decisions.
"This is an outright insult to Konoha! Shikaku, you're actually going to give this scum twelve billion?!"
Utatane Koharu couldn't contain her fury. Since when had Konoha ever paid someone else?
The Peace Talks with the Cloud Ninja during the Second Hokage's time were still