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  A's efforts to solidate power were—successful. Elder Advisor and Elder Arai were gone.

  The Raikage's authority, during this "wartime" period, was absolute.

  The skirmishes at the border towns tinued.

  Everything roceeding acc to pn.

  The Raikage Trip tightened, and the s' resources—dwindling.

  Merts, fearing the esg flict, began selling their assets at a loss, some even abandoning their businesses and fleeing with whatever they could carry.

  Kumogakure, in turn, acquired valuable resources and teology at bargain prices, bolstering its ey.

  And those fleeing merts?

  A few went to the Land of Earth. But Iwagakure, though peaceful, was—isoted, its semi-militaristic regime little—freedom.

  Some chose Kirigakure.

  With the Bloody Mist era over, they were eager for iment.

  And their alliah Konoha brought—new ideas.

  Though the humidity was high, and the risk of a Bloody Mist resurgence remai was still a desirable location.

  High risk, high reward!!

  Most, however, went to the Land of Fire. Konoha, a bea ress, offered the best—amenities.

  As long as you had the money, you could enjoy the fi seafood from the Land of Water, imported chocote and coffee, and—other—services.

  They earheir money in the Land of Lightning and spent it in the Land of Fire — nothi for home.

  These—refugees, having tasted luxury, were—captivated.

  They'd spend their fortunes, and then, oheir pockets were empty, be discarded like—yesterday's trash.

  The Land of Fire aradise for the wealthy—especially near Konoha.

  Some eve half their fortunes just for a Konoha Green Card, a ce to experierue luxury.

  This influx of wealth, however, created—opportunities.

  In Konoha's shadows, "underground clubs" emerged, exclusive, high-priced services.

  Kumogakure's loss was—everyone else's gain.

  And the Raikage's temper had—improved.

  Perhaps, after a few more—demonstrations of strength against the remaining dissenters, he could finally—call for a truce.

  Having Konoha occupy their border towns wasn't—ideal. They were losing face, and Konoha rofiting.

  Kumogakure had increased tariffs orade, and Konoha's presence had made nd routes more expensive.

  They'd tried opening a new route through the Land of This, but with their resources stretched thin—it wasn't sustaihough their ey was growing, it wasn't—stable.

  And in the shadows, Kumogakure's spirit was—eroding.

  ...

  ...

  Mabui, sipping milk tea at a newly opened Café, rime example.

  She'd read the test issue of [Ik and marveled at the Uzumaki's—tolerance.

  If they tried taxing sunlight, Kumogakure's citizens would—revolt.

  Most of them were dark-skihanks to the sun. Taxing sunlight? That would be—adding insult to injury.

  She'd have to—respect Uzushiogakure's s.

  [Ik hadn't offered musight this time. She'd hoped for more—Suna jokes in The Forest Reader.

  No, not jokes. Perhaps—Iwagakure jokes.

  She preferred The Forest Reader's—direess, and its critical perspective. It was—cathartic, to judge other vilges.

  She took a sip of her milk tea and g the headline. Her face—twitched.

  "Land of Fire Observations: One Coffee, Three Prices; Konoha Hospital's Hustle; Refles of a Land of Lightning Citizen?"

  "That's a—long title."

  Mabui's heart sank. The author—the same one who'd written the Summer Camp article?

  That—Shinobi World idealist? She'd been hoping for—criticism of other vilges. Now, it was Kumogakure's turn?

  She took a deep breath and began reading:

  [Foreword: I am a Land of Lightning citizen, a firm believer in—Shinobi World Unity. My anonymity is due to my—small social circle.]

  [The following are my observations in the Land of Fire, after witnessing the—disparities between Konoha and Suna students at the Summer Camp. These disparities—they reveal a profound differeween the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning.]

  [On a busirip to the Fire Daimyo's capital, I met an old friend who invited me to a coffee shop. I readily accepted.]

  [Coffee, a new Konoha beverage with—invigorating properties, is still—expensive and scarce. A true—loss for the Shinobi World.]

  [The coffee shop, "Sili Valley's Secret Coffee," was—unremarkable. Its décor was simple, but the atmosphere was—warm and inviting. It was bustling with ers.]

  [I was immediately struck by the—warmth of the Land of Fire's people. A man, upoering, embraced a woman at aable. She returhe embrace. He then ordered a coffee and paid 666 ryō. Expensive, but the shop's popurity spoke volumes about the Land of Fire's prosperity.]

  [My friend arrived, and I went to the ter. I g the menu and, in my—broken Land of Fire dialect, ordered a "Cappuo." The server looked at me, a bit puzzled, and asked me to repeat myself. I did. He then handed me the coffee and said, "That'll be 999 ryō, sir." I was—surprised. I asked again. Still 999. Though I wondered about the other man's 666 ryō coffee, I paid.]

  [Back at our table, I pio my friend, "Why 999 for me, but 666 for him? That's not fair!"]

  [A womaered and ordered the same coffee. She paid 777 ryō. The same coffee, three different prices. I was—ed.]

  [My friend ughed and expined, "It's about—how you address the server. 'Give me a Cappuo,' it's 999. 'Please give me a Cappuo,' it's 777. But if you say, 'Hello, may I please have a Cappuo?' and perhaps offer a hug—it's 666."]

  [I was—enlightened. In the Land of Lightning, we simply—point and grunt. I felt ashamed of my rudeness.]

  [Acc to Land of Fire folklore, when the 'red phone' was first introduced, they wasted nearly two million ryō because of the word 'please.' Even so, they persisted. Such is their dedication to politeness.]

  [A clever way to ence courtesy, I thought. 'Sili Valley's Secret Coffee' was teag people to be—respectful. A 'polite coffee,' f a warm atmosphere, a subtle lesson iiquette, a testament to the vilge's civility.]

  [But then, my friend—introduced another cept. "Did you notice? They don't—expect tips here."]

  ["Tips? What are tips?" I asked.]

  ["I fot you're new here. It's—a in servidustries, a way to shoreciation. The servers provide excellent service, and the ers, in turn, leave a—tip."]

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