The windows of the Hokage's Office reflected a harsh glare in the afternoon sunlight.
Shikaku Nara stood at the village entrance until the audit delegation's convoy had vanished completely into the distance. Only then did he turn and head toward the Hokage Building.
His steps were far heavier than when he had arrived.
When he pushed open the office door, Baishi was standing before the enormous map of the Land of Fire, his back to him.
There was not a trace of post-victory relief in the room.
"Lord Hokage." Shikaku's voice was slightly hoarse.
Baishi did not turn around.
"What did he say?"
"Chiriku said the hive in the Capital had been stirred up. But it was never just one bee that got stung."
Shikaku paused, then repeated the most important words exactly as they had been spoken.
"He told you to beware of the Queen Bee."
Baishi remained motionless, like a statue.
A long silence settled over the office.
Only the monotonous ticking of the clock on the wall marked the passage of time.
"The Queen Bee..."
Baishi finally spoke, seemingly to himself.
He turned, his expression unreadable, and looked calmly at Shikaku.
"What do you think?"
Shikaku Nara took a deep breath.
"Chiriku is one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja. His loyalty is to the Daimyo, but even more so to the institutions of the Land of Fire itself. He wouldn't make a baseless warning."
"This warning carries considerable weight."
"The 'dirt' we sent to the Capital probably brought down more than just Ito Masamune. We thought we were striking a snake, but instead we stirred up a hive. Ito was, at most, a worker bee."
Baishi walked behind his desk and sat down, his fingers tapping lightly against its surface without conscious thought.
"For Chiriku to describe