The Agenda Division and Delegation of Tricky Responsibilities at the Closed-Door Briefing

On the eve of the formal talks, the confidential Meeting Room on the top floor of the Hokage Building was lit as brightly as day.

The door was closed from the outside, shutting out every sound from the corridor.

The core members of Konoha's delegation were all seated around the long conference table. The Fifth Hokage, Baishi, occupied the seat of honor, his expression calm. Namikaze Minato sat to his right, while Shikaku Nara sat to his left.

The other officials from ANBU, the Foreign Affairs Department, and the Finance Department took their seats in order of rank.

A cup of freshly brewed hot tea sat before each person. White steam rose in wisps before slowly dispersing in the oppressive silence.

No one spoke, and no one touched their teacup.

"Tomorrow is the formal meeting."

Baishi spoke, breaking the stagnant air. His voice was not loud, but it carried clearly to everyone's ears.

"Sunagakure and Amegakure have different demands and their own agendas. We can't respond to them with a single plan. Tonight's briefing has only one purpose: to unify our position and clarify our division of responsibilities."

He swept his gaze around the room before finally settling it on Namikaze Minato.

"To improve efficiency and make the most of everyone's strengths, I suggest that we divide the agenda for these talks into separate parts."

Divide the agenda.

Shikaku Nara's fingers, wrapped around his teacup, paused almost imperceptibly.

"First is the most difficult part, and also the one most likely to spark controversy." Baishi's tone did not waver in the slightest, as though he were stating an official matter unrelated to himself.

"Calculating compensation for the border clashes."

When he spoke those eight words, the temperature in the Meeting Room seemed to drop several degrees.

Everyone present knew that this