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  He'd always known that many in Sunagakure still held Rasa in high regard, secretly resenting his—removal.

  If he could—marry Temari? The age gap was—siderable, but he'd—treat her well. Marrying Temari would silehose dissenters.

  They wao restore the old ways. But if Rasa's daughter became his wife—what grounds would they have for opposition? Would they dare challenge him with—two children as leverage?

  A cruel smile twisted Baki's lips. He summoned his guards, instrug them to—attend to the children. Then, he headed for the Kazekage Tower.

  Gaara's training as a jinchuriki would take time. He cked the necessary trol. Even with Shukaku sealed within him, he roo—episodes.

  He'd wait.

  Baki's first act as Kazekage was te the opposition. Those who disagreed with him were—relegated to insignifit positions.

  The Kazekage Tower was now his. Except for a few disgruntled Shinobi protesting oreets, all dissent was silenced. An air of—uneasy peace settled over the vilge.

  As he ehe meeting room, the chatter intensified.

  "The Kazekage's—funds are—insuffit. We o—increase revenue," one of the Thirty-Two suggested.

  The same amount of wealth, but with a new leadership, it wasn't enough.

  "We've exhausted all—legitimate options. Further—measures might—cause problems. We ck a—justifiable pretext."

  "Raise water prices?"

  The Konoha-Suna Trade Route had solved Sunagakure's water she. Cheap water flowed through the newly structed pipelines, managed by the Suna Water pany.

  "No. We've already increased water aricity prices by thirty pert. That's—risky. We've practically—emptied the vilgers' pockets."

  3,300 ryō.

  That was the average annual ine of a Sunagakure household, barely enough to cover basic living expenses.

  Rice, oil, salt, water, electricity—all trolled by the Kazekage Tower.

  With a few—adjustments, they could make the vilgers' lives—difficult, leaving them with no time or energy for—dissent.

  By pushing their expeowards that 3,300 ryō limit, they maintained trol.

  Any further increase—could spark a rebellion.

  3,300 ryō was the limit for ordinary vilgers, not for Shinobi.

  The extra taxes collected from the vilgers were—redistributed. A rge portioo the Thirty-Two, the rest—elsewhere.

  This was the foundation of Baki's power.

  He listeo their discussion, his patience wearing thin.

  He was a warrior, not a—bookkeeper. Why was he dealing with such—trivial matters?

  He'd listeo Kosaka Kaoru and his ilk drone on about finances before. Now, with Kosaka imprisoned, he still had to ehis?

  What was the point of his coup? Had those stockpiled ons been for nothing?

  Thump—

  He smmed his fist oable, sileng the room.

  "I didn't bring you here to discuss—household budgets. How do we seize Konoha's assets in Sunagakure? How do we send our Shinobi to Konoha and—Iwagakure? That's what I want to hear."

  "But—we need money, Kazekage-sama. The vilge's coffers are empty."

  "Then—find some! Stop w about—petty expenses! Do you think the vilgers' pints are louder than—explosive tags?"

  "What good are our ons if we don't use them?"

  "Do you think the vilgers' pints are louder than—explosive tags?!" Baki's voied, his ruthlessness sileng the room.

  The elder who'd just been pining about the budget gulped, realizing Baki wasn't bluffing.

  He recalled an article from Iki, about—Uzushiogakure's—unique s.

  Blog sunlight? Charging fines for—airing out bedding?

  Though—absurd, the idea was—intriguing.

  And while Sunagakure didn't have grass, they had—sand.

  "I have—a pn," the elder announced.

  "I think—Sunagakure's citizens shouldn't be allowed to—block the sand's access to sunlight! We'll—fihem! No, not a fine, a—tax. A Sunlight Tax."

  "A Sunlight Tax? What's that?" Baki asked, intrigued. The self sounded—ingenious.

  "No—objects on the sand. No c the ground. If they do—we tax them."

  Baki's eyes widened. Was this—genius?

  Sunagakure was mostly—sand. Practically every vilger would have to pay this tax.

  "Wouldn't that be—too much?" Even Baki, a warmonger, hesitated.

  "The Sunlight Tax is just the beginning. It's about setting a pret. It'll—please Konoha, ence them to i, and lower their guard. They're alreag about—pead respeg life."

  "So, we'll give them what they want. We'll show them how much we value life—by taxing sunlight. And while they're distracted, we'll—expand our military, train more Shinobi, and prepare for—the iable flict with Konoha."

  "That's my pn."

  "Excellent! You'll be in charge of implementing the—Sunlight Tax." Baki was impressed.

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