Four Kage Summit

The daimyō folded his fan away, forgetting even to touch the wine in his cup.

He had already seen Sunagakure's envoy bowing beneath the steps.

"Steward, how much old grain is left in the storehouse?"

The steward froze for a moment.

"When Rasa arrives with his people, allocate the old grain to him."

"People from poor places should learn the rules once they have full bellies."

The steward bowed in acknowledgment, the fabric across his back already soaked through with sweat.

Staring at the swirling snow beyond the palace gates, he knew that old grain might not be enough to buy an obedient dog.

The daimyō continued making arrangements before his desk.

"Make your tone firmer, but give them enough face on the surface."

"We are doing this to rid the Shinobi World of a scourge."

"Tell Rasa as well that the Land of Fire lacks a loyal dog to guard its gates. The position is being reserved for him."

The finance minister lowered his head and acknowledged the order, only hoping Sunagakure would not truly accept such a job.

The steward looked at the four secret edicts, sweat trickling from his temple along the side of his face.

The wind beyond the palace gates grew ever fiercer.

Snow slowly covered the steps, while the soil before them had already softened from melted snow.

A jet-black shoulder pushed out of the earth, followed by half a bloodless face.

Black Zetsu lay beneath the snow, every word spoken inside the hall reaching his ears.

He had slipped that letter through a crack in the floor beneath the soft couch while the music within the hall had yet to stop.

He had intended to use the daimyō's fear to drive the villages onto the field of Battle.

Who knew all he would