Before the cross-border passage could open, Qian Ye was summoned to the Hokage Building on short notice.
The smell of tobacco hung in the air of the Hokage Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind a redwood desk, his expression dark as a storm cloud.
Mitokado Homura stood beside the desk, holding a thick stack of logistics bills.
"Qian Ye, the South District has been causing far too much of a stir."
Mitokado Homura adjusted his round glasses, his tone stern.
"The fighting on the front lines is intense, and every clan is cutting expenses."
"Yet your Seventh Special Guerrilla Corps has not streamlined its ranks. Instead, you have recruited more than three hundred additional personnel without authorization."
"The premium meat and medicinal supplies you consume every day equal the total consumption of three regular companies."
Qian Ye leaned back in his wooden chair, calmly sipping hot tea.
"Advisor Mitokado, soldiers need full stomachs to fight."
"The South District's soldiers undergo intensive Taijutsu training every day. How are they supposed to build strength without meat?"
"Would you rather send them to fight the Hidden Cloud on empty stomachs?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi knocked his smoking pipe against the desk with a dull thud.
"Qian Ye, the village has its rules."
"Now that the situation on the front lines has stabilized, the Seventh Legion should be broken up and reorganized."
"I intend to transfer the South District's eight hundred elite soldiers to the borders of the Land of Grass and Rain Country."
"As for you, you will return to the ANBU as deputy commander and assist me with routine defense matters."
Mitokado Homura nodded along and pushed over a transfer order that had already been prepared.
"Qian Ye, Lord Hokage is grooming you for greater things."
"Hand over your military authority and spend a few