The Exchange of Bargaining Chips in Closed-Door Consultations and Chiyo's Humiliating Signature

The closed-door consultation at Guesthouse No. 3 was not held in the Hokage's Office.

The location was a small conference room on the second basement level of the Hokage Building. There were no windows. The walls had been poured from special concrete mixed with Chakra-Conductive Metal, enough to block any form of surveillance.

When Chiyo was led in by an ANBU wearing a blank Mask, only one person was seated in the room.

The Fifth Hokage, Baishi.

He was not seated at the head of the table, but along one side of the long conference table. Before him sat only a cup of steaming tea. This arrangement diminished the gulf in status between them, making it seem more like a conversation between equals.

But Chiyo knew perfectly well that equality did not exist in this room.

"Advisor Chiyo, please sit." Baishi raised a hand, indicating the seat across from him.

There was no unnecessary small talk.

The ANBU withdrew, and the heavy metal door silently shut behind her with a dull click, as though sealing the Coffin Lid on this negotiation for good.

Chiyo pulled out the chair and sat down, her back ramrod straight. No emotion could be read from her wrinkled face.

Baishi said nothing. He merely slid a document before him gently to the center of the table.

The document was not thick.

Chiyo reached out, picked it up, and opened the first page.

It was a photograph recorded using Byakugan Sky Net technology. The image was black and white, yet exceptionally clear. Sunagakure Jonin Baki's face was twisted with rage, while an enormous Wind Release attack took shape before him, aimed directly at a battered Exploration Team.

In the lower-right corner of the photograph, the exact time down to the second and the geographical coordinates were