Shamon's ambition!

Sunagakure was engulfed in swirling yellow sand.

Though winter had already arrived, the desert was still oppressively hot. Outside, fierce winds hurled fine sand against the windows, filling the air with an endless rustling.

"Why? Why does the Puppet Corps need another budget increase?" Shamon slammed his palm onto his stone desk, his brows tightly knitted and his voice thick with suppressed anger.

"Sajie and I take turns leading teams to mine ore and pan for gold! We work ourselves to the bone to support this entire village!"

"Where has all that money gone?"

"Look at you! All any of you ever do is ask for money. I don't want to spend another day as Kazekage!"

"Hmph!" The elders of Sunagakure High Command sat with their heads lowered in dead silence, letting Shamon's anger engulf the office. Not one dared answer.

"I hear some people insist on high-grade hardwood for their puppet shells, then cram the insides full of alloy components. Even the concealed weapons, blades, and poisoned needles are all forged from refined steel?"

"What? Is ordinary iron not good enough for you? Is my iron sand beneath you?"

At those questions, quite a few faces flushed with embarrassment, but everyone remained silent.

"It seems you've forgotten what I'm capable of..." Shamon's icy gaze swept over them one by one.

"Lord Kazekage, you know me. I never do anything illegal or break the rules."

"Lord Kazekage, you know that if I were lining my own pockets, word would never get out."

Just as everyone began offering excuses, a calm, steady female voice cut through the chaotic argument. "Enough, Lord Kazekage. There is no need to suspect anyone here. I can tell you for certain that no one has embezzled the village's funds."

"The village has so little money