Hokage's Office's curtains were drawn tightly, blocking out the too hot afternoon sun, leaving only a quiet light in the room.
Baishi's eyes moved away from the memo sent back by Sunagakure's dedicated line and stamped with Kazekage Rasa's seal. The ink on the paper had dried, and every word was like sand that Sunagakure had swallowed, dry and stinging.
Shikaku Nara stood in front of the desk, he had already read the document.
"Kazekage Rasa finally chose to compromise." Shikaku's voice was very low. "This memorandum is equivalent to opening a legal hole for us on the Land of Wind border."
"One opening is not enough." Baishi pushed the memo aside, "What is our identity when we go in? Investigation team? Law enforcement team? These names are too small and too temporary. We have to leave after we finish the work, and we can't leave anything behind."
He stood up and walked around the office.
"Since it is joint law enforcement, there must be a permanent organization to coordinate and coordinate. If the name is correct, the words will be followed."
Shikaku's thoughts raced in his mind, and he immediately understood Baishi's intention.
"You mean... set up a command center?"
"That's right." Baishi stopped and looked at Shikaku, "It's called 'Anti-Transnational Biological Smuggling Joint Command Center'. The office is located at Konoha. I will serve as the commander-in-chief."
Shikaku's eyes narrowed.
This arrangement seems to be to implement the memorandum, but in fact it firmly holds all the legal power and command power of the investigation in the hands of Konoha.
"Then over there Sunagakure..."
"Isn't Baki still in the village?" Baishi said in a very calm tone, "Give him the title of deputy commander-in-chief. Let him participate. Let him sit in the command center and watch with his own eyes how we 'joint law enforcement'."
Shikaku couldn't help but take a breath.
This move is equivalent to maximizing the value of the hostage Baki. As long as Baki is still sitting in the position of deputy commander-in-chief, Sunagakure must hold his nose and admit the legitimacy of this command center and the dominant position of Konoha in this operation.
"I understand." Shikaku bowed, "I will immediately ask General Affairs Department to coordinate the venue and personnel. Within three days, the command center will be listed."
"It doesn't have to be so troublesome." Baishi waved his hand, "Just use the original 'Pulling the Snake's Fangs' special action office and change the brand. Announcements should be made to the public and the ceremony should be held, but it should be concise. The key point is that representatives from various countries stationed in the village must be invited to watch the ceremony, especially Mr. Baki, who must be present."
Two days later.
Konoha held a brief and formal listing ceremony in front of the original special operations office building.
The brand-new plaque "Anti-Transnational Biological Smuggling Joint Command Center" glows with the luster of wood paint in the sun.
Fifth Hokage Baishi took off the red silk with his own hands, and there was sparse but polite applause. Representatives from each village who were invited to watch the ceremony had different expressions. Baki, who was standing next to Baishi with the "Deputy Commander" badge on his chest, looked a little blue.
He didn't say a word the whole time, but when Baishi glanced over, he forced a stiff smile.
The whole ceremony ended in less than ten minutes.
After the crowd of spectators dispersed, Baishi led Baki into the command center.
The layout inside the center is the same as before. The huge sand table is still covered with topographical maps of Land of Fire and surrounding countries. There is just an extra duty list on the wall. The name of Baishi is written in the column of the general commander; Baki is written in the column of the deputy commander.
"Your Excellency Baki," Baishi pointed to the location of "Withered Cicada Workshop" on the sand table at the border of Land of Wind, "According to the memorandum, we need to conduct the first round of inventory of the area. Konoha's Border Defense Force has entered a standby state and can cooperate with Sunagakure's actions at any time."
His words sounded like he was asking for advice, but in fact, they were a form of information.
Baki looked at the sand table and was silent for a moment.
"What Lord Kazekage means is that Sunagakure will conduct an internal self-examination on this matter first, so we won't bother Konoha's colleagues."
This is the last struggle, trying to keep the power of Konoha away from the national border.
"Self-examination is of course necessary." Baishi smiled nonchalantly, "But the spirit of the memorandum is 'jointness'. Let's do this. In order not to alert the target, our regular forces on both sides will remain on hold. The command center will hire a third-party security force to conduct preliminary business liquidation and asset assessment of the area. What do you think?"
"Third-party security force?" Baki was stunned.
"Well, there are some bounty hunter organizations that work for Underground Black Market. They deal with troubles in this gray area and are more professional than us ninjas and less likely to cause diplomatic disputes." Baishi said it in an understatement, as if talking about an ordinary business.
Baki's throat moved. He smelled something unusual in these words, but he couldn't grasp the specific clue. In the end, he could only nodded vaguely.
"Everything is decided by the commander-in-chief."
That night, it was quiet.
General Staff Headquarters, combat command room.
Shikaku Nara submitted a newly prepared instruction to Baishi.
The title of the order was not issued to any Konoha troops, but to "General Staff Headquarters Special Liaison Officer".
The content is not a combat mission, but a strictly worded power of attorney for a commercial contract.
Client: Konoha Hidden Village.
Contractor: Akatsuki Security Contractor.
Entrusted matter: Compulsory commercial liquidation of "Withered Cicada Workshop" located at the border of Land of Wind due to its long-term default in debts to an affiliated chamber of commerce of Konoha.
Action code: Rent Collection.
Baishi read it carefully, picked up the pen, and signed his name at the end.
"Send it to Kakuzu through the encrypted channel." He ordered, "Tell him that this is the 'advance payment' for the first batch of supplies. If you do it neatly, the subsequent winter supplies will be sent to him in batches."
"Yes." Shikaku took the order, turned and left.
Baishi looked at the map on the wall with deep eyes.
Package a S-Rank terrorist organization wanted by Five Great Nations as a legal "security contractor", and then use a seemingly compliant "commercial entrustment" to direct them to attack the gray industry of another country.
The transformation and layout itself is a dimensionality reduction attack.
The official power of Konoha has never crossed the border line from beginning to end. All blood and fire will be isolated from that cold business contract.
However, the direction of the chess game does not always follow the player's wishes.
Just one day later.
Late at night, there was a quick knock on Hokage's Office's door.
A member of ANBU stepped in and knelt down on one knee.
"Lord Hokage, Highest Level encrypted emergency report from 'contractor'!"
Baishi took the small Scroll and unfolded it.
The handwriting on Scroll is scrawled and urgent. It is the handwriting of Kakuzu.
The content is very short.
"The target area encountered an unknown self-discipline Puppet Corps. The intensity was extremely high and exceeded the scope of the agreement. Our team suffered heavy casualties and has lost two people. The mission is suspended and we are asking for an additional doubled reward or technical support. Otherwise, we will unilaterally terminate the contract."