The Daimyo Residence's Desperate Counterattack and Shikaku's Economic Strangulation

Land of Fire, Kyoto.

In the lavish courtyard, koi lazily swished their tails in the pond, while prized maple trees rustled in the morning breeze. Everything exuded the dignity and tranquility of centuries past.

But that tranquility was utterly shattered by the crisp sound of porcelain breaking.

"Trash! A bunch of useless trash!"

The chief elder, Hojo Tokugawa, looked mad. He swept the priceless tea set before him onto the floor in one motion, his eyes bloodshot, his luxurious kimono drenched in cold sweat, leaving him in a thoroughly disheveled state.

He had not closed his eyes once from last night until this morning.

Yoshikawa Shin, the liaison officer sent to Konoha, had been thrown back like a dead dog. He had lost his mind, and the "bill" carved into his chest with a blade burned into his sanity like a brand.

The bounty he had spent a fortune posting on the black market had also vanished without a trace.

Those famous S-Rank Missing-nin, those greedy, bloodthirsty desperadoes, were like stones cast into an abyss. They had not even stirred a ripple.

Fear—unprecedented fear—gripped his throat like countless icy hands.

That newly appointed Fifth Hokage... that young man named Baishi was no ninja at all. He was a complete and utter monster! A demon who toyed with rules in the palm of his hand and treated human lives as worthless grass!

"We can't just sit here and wait for death! Absolutely not!"

Hojo Tokugawa panted heavily and forced himself to calm down. He knew begging for mercy was a dead end. Sending Yoshikawa Shin back had been that monster's clearest declaration of war.

He suddenly rose to his feet and paced around the room, the madness in his eyes growing ever more intense.

"Guards! Invite Elder Matsushita, Elder Ito, and