The Meeting Room door closed.
The people had gone, leaving the air still tinged with the stifled clamor from moments ago.
Baishi sat upright in the Hokage's seat, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the rim of his warm teacup.
The teacup marking Adviser Utatane Koharu's seat had already been quietly removed by the duty ninjas.
Sometimes, the end of an era was nothing more than the disappearance of a teacup.
Yet the void it left behind was like a magnet, drawing the eyes of everyone in the village who craved power.
Baishi knew that the real game had only officially begun at this moment.
"Hokage-sama."
Shikaku Nara's voice rang out through the empty Meeting Room. He had not left.
"The financial audits and logistical support formerly overseen by Adviser Utatane have been left leaderless. Budget requests and material transfers from every department have piled up and need someone to take over as soon as possible."
Baishi set down his teacup. Its bottom touched the tabletop with a soft clink.
"No rush."
He looked at Shikaku.
"Let them be in disarray for a while first. If things don't get messy, we won't be able to see how many fish are hiding beneath the water."
Understanding flickered in Shikaku's eyes. He nodded and said no more.
He began sorting through the documents on the table, separating discarded drafts from meeting records with unhurried movements.
The Hokage's Office needed someone like this—someone who could understand what went unsaid and keep his mouth shut.
Half an hour later, Baishi returned to his office.
Before he had even settled into his seat, the ANBU captain knocked and entered.
"Hokage-sama, Captain Fugaku Uchiha of the Konoha Military Police Force requests an audience to submit his report on this quarter's public security work."
Here he came.
The corner