Inside Hokage's Office, the lights are brightly lit.
The ANBU wearing Crow Mask has quietly retreated into the shadows, as if he had never appeared.
In Shikaku Nara's hand, he held a roll of official reply letter that had just been delivered from Amegakure. Scroll was made of fine Japanese paper, and the edges were sealed with silver thread. There was a sense of regulation and dignity belonging to envoys of a great power.
But the words above are completely shameless.
Shikaku laid Scroll flat on Baishi's desk. His finger pointed at the end of the reply. The wording there could no longer be described as tough.
"...Amegakure is an independent and sovereign entity. Its internal trade and financial transactions follow the Fire-Rain Bilateral Friendship Agreement framework and do not allow any external forces to interfere in any name. Konoha's unilateral request for review is unfounded in law and unreasonable, has seriously hurt Amegakure's feelings, and constitutes a gross interference in the internal affairs of our village. We express strong protest and solemn concern over this, and reserve the right to take further measures."
Every word seems to be cast with cold molten iron.
The signature is the autograph of Amegakure leader Konan, and there is also a steel seal representing the highest authority of Amegakure.
The air in the office seemed to have solidified a bit because of this reply letter.
"Uncharacteristically." Shikaku's voice was deep. "Every time Konan communicated before, she was extremely restrained and knew how to seek the best interests within the rules. This time, she almost overturned the table."
He raised his head and looked at Baishi.
"Lord Hokage, she is showing off her cards. She is using the fiercest diplomatic rhetoric to cover up her inner weakness and fear. She is betting that we have no direct evidence and that we dare not completely tear up the bilateral agreement because of an unclear account."
Shikaku's fingers tapped lightly on the table.
"I suggest that we immediately summon Amegakure's liaison officer stationed at Konoha to escalate the situation. At the same time, we can consider publishing some of the desensitized information on Shell Companies to put further pressure on her. We must take the absolute initiative in this diplomatic game."
What Shikaku proposed is the standard General Staff Headquarters response plan. It is reasonable, well-founded and measured.
Baishi looked away from the stern reply, but there was no trace of anger on his face.
He even smiled.
The smile was very faint and looked a little unpredictable under the light.
"Shikaku, Amegakure, is winter coming soon?"
Baishi suddenly asked an irrelevant question.
Shikaku was stunned for a moment, but quickly replied, "Yes. According to Weather Squad's report, this year's cold wave will arrive in the north of Land of Fire and all of Land of Rain half a month in advance. Amegakure has rainy and humid weather all year round, and their winter supplies reserves have always been very tight."
"Yeah, I'm very nervous." Baishi repeated.
He stood up and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking the bright lights of the huge village below.
"What does a small country need if it wants to survive in the cracks? Money, weapons, food. Especially food."
Baishi turned around and looked at Shikaku.
"Konan talks to us about politics, sovereignty, and internal affairs. She wants to raise the issue to the level of diplomacy between two villages. Because at that level, she can use various rules and rhetoric to spend months or even years with us."
"Why are we playing this game with her?"
Baishi walked back to the desk and picked up another document on the table without looking at the reply letter.
That is the import and export trade summary report of Konoha Customs and Commerce Bureau last quarter.
"She wants to talk about politics, but we won't talk about it."
Baishi's tone was very calm, as if he was talking about a trivial matter.
"Let's talk to her about quality inspection."
Shikaku's eyes narrowed.
Baishi picked up the internal dedicated phone on the table and dialed a short number.
The call was quickly answered.
"I am Baishi."
"Notify the customs and Commerce Bureau to immediately initiate the 'Level-One Special Quarantine' procedure for exporting materials to Amegakure."
Baishi's voice was so calm that there was no wave.
"Yes, all supplies. Especially coal, food, and medical supplies."
The person on the other end of the phone seemed hesitant, probably confused by the sudden instruction.
Baishi did not give him a chance to ask questions and continued, "The quarantine standards refer to the best grades during wartime. I don't care what method you use, whether it is a microscope or Chakra Probe, check it carefully for me."
"Remember, Konoha is a responsible village. We will never allow any substandard product to flow out of our borders and endanger the health and safety of the people in the brotherly village. This is a matter of principle."
He emphasized the pronunciation of the word "principle".
"Lord Hokage, what do you mean..." The voice on the other end of the phone was a little uncertain.
"What I mean is that from now on, all supplies sent to Amegakure will be 'unqualified'."
After Baishi finished speaking, he hung up the phone.
There was deathly silence in the office.
Shikaku stood there, looking at Baishi, his Adam's apple rolled up and down.
He finally understood why Baishi laughed.
This is not a diplomatic game at all.
This is a dimensionality reduction blow.
Konan is still on the first floor, thinking about how to use diplomatic rhetoric to start a beautiful war of words.
And Baishi was already standing on the fifth floor and grabbed her neck directly.
I won't quarrel with you, won't make trouble with you, and won't even acknowledge that I received your letter of protest.
I am just a serious and responsible manager, just fulfilling my management responsibilities. My territory, I set the rules. Do you think my rules are unreasonable? Yes, we will have a meeting to study, discuss, demonstrate, and evaluate. By the time we come up with the results of our discussion, I am afraid that half of the people in your village will have frozen to death.
This is more severe and fatal than any severe sanctions.
Because this set of rhetoric is procedurally flawless.
"Lord Hokage, this move..." Shikaku took a deep breath and couldn't find the right words to describe it.
"Taking fire from under the cauldron."
Baishi said calmly, and he put the trade briefing back to its original place.
"She will soon understand that pride is the most expensive luxury for the weak."
Baishi leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes to rest, as if he had lost interest in the results.
Shikaku looked at the young Fifth Hokage in front of him, and for the first time, an indescribable chill filled his heart.
This is not a conspiracy, this is a conspiracy.
It is a legal strangulation using a huge, strict, and irrefutable system to kill an opponent who has no power to fight back.
Just then, there was a knock on the office door again.
This time, the knock on the door was quick and short.
"Come in."
A ANBU flashed in and knelt on one knee, his voice a little hasty from running.
"Lord Hokage, Chief of General Staff!"
"Emergency information came from the border. Supply Transfer Station, which we deployed at Land of Fire and Land of Rain Border, detained all the winter supplies ordered by Amegakure. The reason is that the routine quarantine failed."
"Amegakure's material supply line has been completely interrupted."
ANBU paused, looked up at Baishi, and added.
"According to the secret report from our lurking personnel, Amegakure is in urgent need of supplies, and panic has already occurred internally. Just half an hour ago, a mysterious 'Private Trade Delegation' team composed of Amegakure senior officials set off overnight and is rushing to Konoha at full speed."