Hokage Building, assistant's office.
Sunlight slanted through the gaps in the window, laying a long, narrow strip of light across the desk.
Kato Shizune sat behind the desk, clutching a Scroll she had just untied from a Ninja Crow's leg. Her eyes lingered on the last line for a long time, as though she needed to chew over every word again.
She looked up and pinched her cheek hard.
It hurt. She wasn't dreaming!
"Those barbarians actually backed down! The sun must have risen in the west!"
She muttered to herself, rolled up the Scroll, and stood. Then she rounded the desk and headed for the door, walking faster than usual, a proud, excited smile on her face.
The corridor was dimmer than the office, with the walls casting long, slanting shadows in the afternoon light. As she turned the corner, she caught sight of someone standing in the middle of the hallway.
Uchiha Yongye.
Kato Shizune stopped at once. Her back straightened, and she brought her hands together in front of her before bowing slightly.
"Lord Yongye, are you here to see Lord Hokage? Please wait a moment. I'll announce you right away."
Her voice held undisguised gratitude and admiration. Even the eyes she raised to Yongye shone.
Those fierce, stubborn barbarians from Kumogakure had actually agreed to their exorbitant compensation demand. They had asked to pay in installments, but the word "agreed" alone was enough to let Konoha's entire leadership hold their heads high!
Kumogakure had walked all over Konoha more than once before, acting as arrogantly as they pleased! The Hyuga Byakugan incident was hardly the only example.
She knew why things had changed. Those barbarians had yielded because of the Uchiha boy standing before her.
Yongye's gaze rested on her face for a moment. Then his