The Promotion That Was Really a Demotion at the High-Level Meeting and the Establishment of an Idle Institution

The door closed behind him, shutting out Chiyo's ashen face.

Baishi returned to the Hokage's Office, where Shikaku Nara had already been waiting. Two freshly brewed cups of tea sat on the desk.

"Is everything settled?" Shikaku asked. He did not look at Baishi's expression, merely lowered his head and toyed with the tea leaves.

"She signed it." Baishi undid the button at his collar and sat down.

"What about Advisor Mitokado Homura..." Shikaku began, but stopped halfway.

"The old fox caught the scent of blood, but they can't guess that we've taken the entire fishing ground." Baishi lifted his teacup but did not drink, simply feeling the warmth spreading through his palm. "The matter with the Land of Wind is temporarily concluded. Now it's time to deal with the village."

Shikaku raised his head. He knew the real hard battle was about to begin.

The next morning, in the conference room on the top floor of the Hokage Building.

The atmosphere around the long conference table was even gloomier than the weather outside.

Baishi sat at the head of the table, with Utatane Koharu on his left and Mitokado Homura on his right. The two advisers were unusually silent today. From the beginning of the meeting until now, neither had taken a sip from the teacup before them.

Shikaku Nara sat below Baishi, holding a copy of the meeting minutes. His eyes watched his nose, and his nose watched his heart.

"Regarding this diplomatic friction with Sunagakure, we've reached a preliminary result after several rounds of consultations." Baishi's voice was not loud, but it carried clearly to everyone's ears.

He did not mention the humiliating "Leyline Environmental Protection Cooperation Agreement." Instead, he lightly characterized the result as "Konoha having safeguarded the Land of Fire's border security and core