Tsunade slammed the document onto the table. "Word came from the higher-ups. It bears the joint signatures of Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura."
Nawaki picked it up and flipped through it. "A shortage of war supplies, centralized allocation?"
Tsunade punched the wall. "An excuse! The materials list Orochimaru's laboratory submitted this morning was sent straight back. The herb supplier for our clinic said the village intercepted the order. Most outrageous of all, Mikoto just went to the market to buy meat, and the butcher said he had orders from above: the Senju Clan's credit account was canceled. Cash only, and with purchase limits!"
The more Tsunade spoke, the angrier she became. "They can't beat you, so they're resorting to dirty tricks. I'm going to the Hokage Building right now to flip those two old fossils' desks!"
"Sis." Nawaki reached out and caught her wrist. "Sit down."
Tsunade glared at him. "You can put up with this?"
"Flipping tables takes no skill." Nawaki pulled out a chair and pressed Tsunade into it. There wasn't the slightest anger on his face; instead, he wore a brilliant smile. "Those old geezers' brains still work well enough. They know they can't beat us by force, so they've started an economic blockade."
"And you're still smiling?"
"Why wouldn't I? This is a good thing." Nawaki poured a glass of water and handed it to Tsunade. "Sis, think about it. Why are they able to choke us?"
"Because they hold the power."
"Wrong." Nawaki shook his head. "Because we rely on them too much. For all these years, the Senju Clan has bought everything through the village's centralized procurement channels. Once they turn off the tap, we'll die of thirst. That's what it means to put your lifeline in someone else's hands."
Tsunade took a sip