The Exchange of Interests in the Ward and the Secret Trump Card of Dragon Beard Grass

Konoha Hospital's special care ward was so quiet that only the steady hum of medical equipment remained.

The scent of disinfectant hung in the air, washing every emotion pale and bland.

When Baishi pushed open the door, the injured Amegakure envoy was leaning against the headboard, his right arm wrapped in thick Bandages and his face pale. A Konoha medical ninja was changing his medicine. Upon seeing the Hokage, the ninja bowed, then silently withdrew with the tray.

Only the two of them remained in the room.

"Hokage-sama is truly busy with countless affairs, yet you came personally to visit an insignificant man like me." The Amegakure envoy spoke weakly from his injuries, but the barb in his words was unmistakable.

Baishi pulled over a chair and sat beside the bed, neither too close nor too far away.

"You are an envoy from the Land of Rain. Since something happened to you on Konoha territory, naturally I had to come and see you. How are you feeling?"

"Thanks to you, I'm not dead yet."

Baishi smiled without taking offense. Rather than respond, he took a document from his robe and set it on the bedside cabinet.

"The investigation into last night's incident has made preliminary progress. We are still doing everything we can to track down the attacker's identity. However, Konoha's negligence is an established fact, and we are willing to offer compensation."

The Amegakure envoy glanced at the document but did not touch it.

"Compensation? How does Hokage-sama intend to compensate me?" He sneered. "My deputy nearly died in Konoha. That fright and humiliation are not something money can measure."

"Of course." Baishi nodded. "That is why I came today to discuss something more sincere than money."

The Amegakure envoy sat up slightly straighter.

"For example, Konoha can unilaterally