"Sōkyū Hatake?" Daimyo of the Land of Wind's scolding stopped suddenly, like a rooster that had its neck strangled. He snatched the document handed over tremblingly by his staff and stared at the name that seemed to carry an invisible weight. The anger was instantly replaced by a chilling fear.
"Yes... yes, Lord Daimyo. It's that Sōkyū Hatake... who has become very famous in Shinobi World in recent years..." The staff member's voice was shaking, and his back was soaked in cold sweat.
"Legend... Legend has it that his strength... is comparable to or even... surpasses that of Master God of Shinobi Hashirama Senju... Rasa Kazekage... It is said that he was... defeated by him on Five Kage Summit..."
The staff did not dare to say any more, but the unspoken meaning was clearer than any words. The name itself represented absolute power and unfathomable will.
Even when Five Kage were gathered together, Rasa "committed suicide in shame"? Daimyo of the Land of Wind felt a chill rush from his tailbone to the top of his head, and the rage that he had just been offended by his authority disappeared without a trace, leaving only the fear that penetrated his bones.
He thought of those secret and creepy rumors: one person suppressed Tailed Beast, waved the sky thunder World-Ender, killed strong men while talking and laughing... These "ninjas" who he originally scorned "Exaggerated", but at this moment it was extremely real in his heart. Sōkyū Hatake was in Sunagakure! He supported Pakura! He killed Rasa!
"Stronger than... than Hashirama Senju?" The daimyo muttered to himself, his face as pale as paper, and the wine glass in his hand slipped again.
It smashed to pieces with a clang, and the wine splashed onto his luxurious robes. The surrounding dancers and musicians were already kneeling on the ground in fear, trembling, and the entire luxurious banquet hall was eerily silent.
"He... what does he want to do? Support a puppet Kazekage... and then annex Land of Wind?" The daimyo suddenly grabbed the arm of his staff, his nails almost digging into his flesh, and his voice was trembling uncontrollably.
"Da... daimyo, please calm down... no, calm down... calm down your fear!" The staff grinned in pain but did not dare to break free.
"The document says... Your Excellency Sōkyū Hatake only 'supported' Lord Pakura's succession, and... expressed his willingness to engage in 'economic activities' with Sunagakure... perhaps... perhaps it was not malicious..."
"Economic activities?" The daimyo seemed to grasp a life-saving straw, but also seemed to hear more terrifying words.
"He... what does he want? Sunagakure Is there anything else worthy of his plot? Is... is it for the treasury? Or..."
The more he thought about it, the more afraid he became. Sōkyū Hatake's unfathomable strength and behavior made him feel that the other party might appear in this magnificent palace in the next second and crush him like an ant.
"Quick! Send the order!" The daimyo jumped up suddenly, his voice sharp.
"Immediately! Immediately! Prepare gifts with the highest standards! Congratulations to Mr. Pakura for being crowned Fifth Kazekage! No... I will go in person! Prepare a car! No, prepare the fastest carriage and horse! I will go to Sunagakure in person... Congratulations to Lord Kazekage!"
Daimyo of the Land of Wind was incoherent. He just wanted to rush to the evil star as soon as possible, express his "sincerity" that he had no intention of resisting, and pray that the other party would not set his sights on Land of Wind's capital city and his poor name. No authority or face was worth anything in the face of survival.
A few days later, when Daimyo of the Land of Wind brought a mountain of precious gifts, he completed the "authorization" ceremony for Pakura in an almost flattering manner (actually it was just a formality, and his eyes were secretly searching throughout the process. That figure that frightened him, he was relieved to find that Sōkyū Hatake really seemed to be "traveling"), and Pakura was finally able to truly begin to fulfill the duties of Kazekage.
After sending away the daimyo who had lingering fears, Pakura sat on the chair that symbolized Sunagakure's highest power, but he didn't feel at all relaxed. Sōkyū Hatake's "Lyuyou" was endless Although Chiyo and Ebizo cooperated with each other, she could clearly see the complexity and alienation deep in their eyes. More importantly, Sunagakure had many disadvantages and was waiting for improvement.
"Elder Elder Chiyo, Ebizo, please send the village's financial files, mission entrustment records, armaments inventory list... all relevant documents here." Pakura took a deep breath and ordered in a deep voice. Now that she has taken this position, no matter how difficult it is, she must shoulder it.
Chiyo and Ebizo looked at each other and nodded silently. Soon, the mountains of scrolls and account books almost overwhelmed the large desk.
Pakura first opened the latest financial revenue and expenditure report. After just one glance, her heart sank.
Deficit! Shocking deficit!
Sunagakure's financial situation is ten times worse than the worst-case scenario she imagined! In the later years of Rasa's rule, in order to maintain armaments and develop Magnet Release: Gold Dust, the village had already been overrun The reserves accumulated over the years have been exhausted. Not only is the treasury empty, it is even burdened with huge debts from the Land of Wind nobles and underground banks! The hole in the books is big enough to swallow up the entire Kazekage Building!
"How... is this possible?!" Pakura flipped through the ledger in disbelief, his fingers turning slightly white from the exertion.
"Where is Gold Dust Veins's income? Where is the reward for S-Rank missions in those years? Where is the military expenditure allocated by the daimyo? Where have they gone?!"
Ebizo sighed bitterly, took a step forward, and pointed at several deliberately blurred entries in the ledger.
"Lord Kazekage...Rasa's later period, Gold Dust Veins's production has dropped significantly, and most of the proceeds... are used for his personal Ninjutsu research and... to expand the power of Anbu directly under him. As for the S-Rank mission..."
He paused and his voice became lower.
"There has been a sharp decline in commissions in the past two years. The few high-remuneration missions, after deducting losses and pensions, are very little left... The daimyo's military allocation was cut by 70% last year, and this year... not even a penny has been received."
Chiyo added coldly from the side, "Not only that. In order to maintain the basic operation of the village and the ninja salary, Finance Department has advanced part of the mission fees for the next three quarters, and also borrowed loan sharks from three banks. The interest... is like a snowball, increasing every day."
Pakura felt dizzy. She finally understood why Rasa was so keen on foreign wars and plunder - Sunagakure had long been hollowed out and turned into an empty shell that was hard on the outside but rotten on the inside!
Without money, the ninja team will be scattered, the ninja tools cannot be updated, the medical supplies cannot keep up, and even maintaining the village's basic defensive barrier will be a problem! Not to mention the start-up funds for "economic activities" promised by Sōkyū Hatake... That is simply a fantasy!
She looked at the bright red huge deficit figure on the account book, which seemed to be flowing with blood, and then thought of Sōkyū Hatake's seemingly casual but controlling smile.
He put the "Fifth Kazekage" hat on her head, where was the kindness? This was clearly a potato hot enough to burn someone to death, a mess on the verge of collapse, Sheer Force!
"Sōkyū Hatake... you bastard..." Pakura said through gritted teeth.
She looked at the mountains of debts and shortfalls in front of her, and for the first time she truly felt the weight of this Kazekage bamboo hat, which was so heavy that it almost crushed her.
Sunagakure's future seems to be swallowed up by this huge fiscal deficit desert, with no trace of an oasis in sight.
What's the next step? Pakura is in an unprecedented predicament.