In Hokage's Office, the official letter regarding Daimyo Residence's pension has been placed in the pile of files to be processed by Shikaku Nara.
A silent confrontation ended with Konoha's watertight procedural victory.
But on the desk, another list that had just been delivered made the air in the room that had just calmed down become heavy again.
That is an asset delivery list.
The paper is very thick, and all the materials shipped back from the "Sea of Death" base are densely listed on it. After each entry, there is a long series of numbers that make your heart beat faster.
Shikaku Nara's finger is pressing on the last page of the list.
His fingertips could feel the bulge of ink under the paper, and its heavy weight was far heavier than the paper itself.
"Lord Hokage, the value of this batch of materials cannot be measured in money."
Shikaku's voice is very low.
"Especially these 572 copies of Hashirama Cell Culture Medium, once they are improperly handled and flow into Underground Black Market, the consequences will be disastrous."
Baishi didn't read that list.
His gaze fell outside the window. The village looked calm and peaceful in the afternoon sunshine. But under this calmness, no one could tell how many pairs of eyes were staring at the convoy transporting supplies.
"Bang, bang, bang."
There was a knock on the office door, the rhythm was neither urgent nor slow, with a unique majesty.
"Come in."
The door was pushed open, and those who walked in were Konoha Military Police Force Captain, Fugaku Uchiha.
He was wearing a dark blue Konoha Military Police Force uniform, with an upright posture and no expression on his face. He first nodded slightly to Baishi and Shikaku as a greeting, and then his eyes fell on the list on the table.
Fugaku Uchiha's eyes only stayed on the list for less than a second, and then he looked back.
"Lord Hokage."
Fugaku Uchiha spoke with a steady voice.
"On behalf of Konoha Military Police Force, I am here to report on the disposal suggestions for the subsequent confiscated assets of 'Pulling the Snake's Fangs'."
Baishi raised his hand to signal.
"Sit down and say."
Fugaku Uchiha did not sit down, but still stood upright.
"Thank you Lord Hokage. My suggestion is very simple. This batch of materials, especially Chakra-Conductive Metal and High-Precision Experimental Equipment, has extremely high strategic risks and security requirements. Conventional warehouses cannot meet the storage conditions at all."
He paused, his tone neither humble nor arrogant.
"Konoha Military Police Force has the most complete underground storage warehouse in the village and the most professional security system. I suggest that this batch of materials be handed over to Konoha Military Police Force for storage, registration and subsequent management."
It's very quiet in the office.
Shikaku stood aside, looking at his nose and his eyes, as if he had not heard these words.
Baishi picked up the tea cup and gently blew the tea leaves floating on the water without saying anything.
Fugaku Uchiha's proposal sounds reasonable. Konoha Military Police Force does have this ability and this responsibility. But everyone knows that once the materials enter Konoha Military Police Force's warehouse, it is equivalent to being labeled as Uchiha. The so-called "storage management" will soon become "internal digestion".
Uchiha Clan has gained huge benefits from the previous bond crisis and military procurement. Now, they are eyeing this bigger piece of cake.
"Fugaku Uchiha Minister is very thoughtful."
Baishi finally spoke, he put down the tea cup and made a soft sound.
"The safety of materials is indeed the first priority. But..."
His conversation changed.
"This batch of supplies is not only Trophy, but also the village's public assets. Many of the equipment, Medical Department, Barrier Team, Ninja Tool Research Room, have urgent needs. If all are sealed by Konoha Military Police Force, will the subsequent application and transfer procedures for each department be too cumbersome?"
Fugaku Uchiha seems to have been prepared.
"Lord Hokage, please rest assured. Konoha Military Police Force can set up a special material allocation team to simplify the approval process and fully ensure the normal needs of each department."
This was said with perfect accuracy.
It's called "simplification", but in fact it firmly holds the final distribution rights of materials in its own hands.
Baishi smiled.
"Fugaku Uchiha Minister thinks very carefully. However, I have a different idea."
He leaned forward slightly and crossed his hands on the table.
"The amount of these assets is too huge, and there are too many departments involved. If any one department is solely responsible, it will inevitably attract criticism, and it is easy to favor one over others in the allocation of resources."
"I mean, open, fair, just."
Baishi One word at a time.
"I propose that a temporary 'State-Owned Assets Disposal Office' be established, with the office director concurrently serving as the director of Shikaku from General Staff Headquarters. This office is not responsible for specific allocations, but is only responsible for one thing - organizing a public bidding meeting."
"Bidding meeting?"
Fugaku Uchiha's brows wrinkled almost imperceptibly.
"That's right." Baishi nodded, "All confiscated equipment and materials are listed and clearly marked with prices. All qualified departments and families in the village can participate in the bidding."
"The bidding method is not based on money. It is based on the village's public task indicators that each department and each family needs to undertake in the next year, and the value that can be created for the village."
"For example," Baishi looked at Fugaku Uchiha, "If Konoha Military Police Force wants those Chakra Metal, they can come up with a plan and promise to reduce the incidence of security cases in the village by a certain percentage in the next year, or to undertake a certain proportion of border patrol tasks."
"For another example," Baishi turned his attention to Shikaku, "Hyuga Clan, if you want those precision instruments that can be used to strengthen Byakugan, you can also Yes. They need to promise how many hours of free investigation support they will provide to the village, or how many S-Rank missions they will cooperate with ANBU in using Byakugan."
"The same goes for Ino-Shika-Cho Clans. The one with the highest price gets it."
After Baishi finished speaking, he picked up the teacup and took another sip.
There was a long silence in the office.
Fugaku Uchiha's face has returned to calmness, but there is an undercurrent surging in those deep eyes.
His carefully prepared annexation plan in the name of "security" was easily resolved by Baishi using a "public bidding" conspiracy.
He couldn't object.
Because Baishi's plan stands on the moral high ground of "for the benefit of the whole village". Any objection is tantamount to admitting that one has selfish motives.
What's even more cruel is that this plan has dragged everyone down. Uchiha wanted to monopolize it, but now he has to compete openly with Hyuga, Ino-Shika-Cho, and even all other powerful families.
The bargaining chip for competition is contribution to the village.
This is equivalent to Baishi not only not spending a penny, but using these assets as leverage to leverage all the big families to work for him and Hokage in the next year in vain.
Shikaku stood aside, feeling huge waves in his heart.
This young fifth generation was no longer satisfied with simple checks and balances of power. He began to use rules to create increments for the entire Konoha.
After an unknown amount of time, Fugaku Uchiha slowly bowed.
"Lord Hokage's plan is high-level and well-thought-out. Konoha Military Police Force... completely agree."
When he said this, his voice was still calm, but Shikaku could hear the suppressed reluctance in it.
"Very good." Baishi nodded, "Then this matter is settled. Shikaku, you put up the office shelves as soon as possible and draw up a detailed bidding plan. I will see it on Expanded Conference in three days."
"Yes." Shikaku responded.
Fugaku Uchiha didn't say another word, saluted Baishi again, turned around and exited the office.
When the office door was closed again, Shikaku breathed a long sigh of relief.
"Lord Hokage, with this move, Uchiha may have to settle down for a long time."
"Peace?" Baishi shook his head, "They just find a smarter way to get the benefits they want. There is nothing wrong with that. Competition within the rules is beneficial to Konoha."
As he spoke, he stood up and walked to the filing cabinet, as if he was ready to find something.
At this moment, the office door was pushed open violently.
The visitor didn't even knock on the door.
Tsunade strode in. She was not wearing the iconic green coat, but a simple medical ninja uniform. There was an irrepressible gloom and exhaustion on her face.
In her hand, she only held a thin folder.
She walked to her desk and slammed the folder on the table with a muffled sound.
Baishi and Shikaku both looked at her.
Tsunade took a deep breath and seemed to calm down his emotions.
"Lord Hokage."
Her voice was hoarse, with an imperceptible tremor.
"This is the resettlement report about the survivors of Namikaze Minato...Uzumaki Kushina."