The night was still.
The lights in the Hokage's Office were the only ones burning in the Konoha building.
Baishi tapped his fingertips against the desk, producing a steady, dull rhythm. Spread before him was an urgent intelligence report ANBU had just delivered.
The report was simple.
An hour earlier, seven long-established ninja tool merchants led by Yamashiro House and the Iron Society had simultaneously suspended all supplies to the joint exercise forces at the Fire-Rain Border, citing year-end stocktaking and inventory checks.
Every frontline order had been rejected.
Shikaku Nara stood beside the desk, frowning at the report.
"Lord Hokage, they're striking together."
"This isn't a test anymore. It's outright coercion."
Shikaku's voice was low. He knew these seven merchants controlled nearly forty percent of Konoha's standard ninja tool supply. Their interests were tangled with those of many old-guard factions in the village. By making their move at a critical point in the joint exercise, they had effectively put a blade to the Hokage's throat.
Even a single day without supplies could trigger an unpredictable chain reaction on the front lines.
Baishi stopped tapping.
He did not look at the report. He looked up at Shikaku.
"They moved faster than I expected. They were more foolish, too."
His tone was calm, as though he were discussing something that had nothing to do with him.
Shikaku sensed something in that calm: the Hokage had seen this coming.
Baishi picked up the internal communications handset.
"Notify the General Staff Headquarters, Logistics Department, Finance Department, and Konoha Military Police Force. Emergency meeting in Room 3 in half an hour."
He paused, then added,
"Agenda: a special discussion on improving military procurement and securing the supply of war materiel."
Shikaku's expression shifted slightly when he heard the agenda.
Improving.
The choice of word