.
~Few months later, Kumogakure~
.
Raikage leaned onto his chair as he listened to the report from intelligence beuro. He sighed as most of the information roundabout to Konoha.
No matter where it starts it all has connections to Konoha in some way. The new improved transport wagons… Senju clan's new innovations connected to Konoha. A new kind of grain from Akihara village… A village allied to Konoha. A sharp decline in prices of almost all things, food, grain, clothes and other essentials that too connected to Konoha's Senju clan, Akihara village, Uzumaki village, and other sources. Not only that with dirt-cheap wheat grain, there are a lesser number of hungry people.
Kumo is also buying these wheat grains in heavy quantities because he knows the decade-long peace is coming to an end very soon. Conflict is inevitable.
The greed of humans knows no bounds. Even at this point, small skirmishes are happening and their scales are increasing with every passing day. Sunagakure especially with their food problem under control are becoming bolder. They are already pressuring Akihara village to sell them more wheat grain with lower prices but there is so much they can sell to other Great Villages with them being allied to Konoha.
Raikage knew some details of Akihara and Konoha's alliance. The former gives a certain mission quota to the latter for protection and sells most of its grain to them. Although the mission is of no great importance but it gives stapple income to a large number of Genin and Chunin. An income that they needed to take risky missions to earn before. Konoha also used the increased money it got from these missions to double the money on those risky missions making Jonins take them decreasing the mortality rate of Genin and Chunin considerably.
These missions became an essential part of a cycle that helped their Genin and Chunin gain experience in relatively safe environments, something Konoha values greatly.
Raikage knows Konoha has already warned Sunagakure but those Sand brains have tendencies to overestimate themselves.
They have no idea how powerful those three huggers have gotten in this decade. As much as it hurts his pride even Kumo cannot defeat them singlehandedly. That's why he has been planning to weaken Konoha, to cripple them and strip their power as much as possible.
Uzumakis… Konoha's greatest allies and the biggest and strongest clan in the current world. They wield too much power to be left alone. Be it personal, financial, or political. Their seals have become almost essential for nobles and high-level government officials. Uzumakis have too much influence in their circle. Thankfully another player has emerged. Their cheaper and better-performing seals are already devouring Uzumaki's business.
And Although Raikage knows the supplier is an Uzumaki he knows the creator is some other party. A party is still unknown to him.
Regardless the unshakable position of Uzumaki finally is no more. Now the repercussions of attacking them will not be as severe. Still he should gather some other people to share the blame.
"Jiji!" Suddenly the door of his office burst open and a small muscular boy barged in. The boy had white hair and tan skin.
"What is it A?" Raikage asked with a headache slowly building in his brain.
"I want a real mission! I'm tired of all these chores you call missions!!!" His son frustratingly yelled making him shake his head.
His son's impatience is the only reason he isn't handling any tougher missions. He's too strong-headed and wants to solve all problems with force. Problems that couldn't be solved with strength make him angry. A small problem, something he will learn with time like he did.
"A get out my office or I'll break your nose!" Raikage shouts back. His massive chakra pressuring the boy but he didn't buckled.
'Good.' He praised inwardly as an idea struck him.
"You want a mission? Fine! I have one for you. Arui call Sui and Zy!" His secretary nods and flickers out of his office. A few minutes later two tall and muscular Jonin entered his office and knelt before him.
""Lord Raikage!!""
He nods at their greeting before starts instructing them. "Here take this scroll. This is your mission. You have to infiltrate this Akihara village and acquire the secrets behind their new wheat grain. I want every detail of how to sow, grow, their growth cycle, and some seed samples."
""Hai!!! Lord Raikage!!""
"Hmm." He nods at them before gesturing to his secretary. "Arui will explain the details. And take my muscle head son with you. I hear this Akihara village is training Shinobis. Have him fight their Shinobis and gauge their limits.
Both Jonins nodded their head seriously already thinking about the safety of his stupid son without him mentioning it.
Nodding his head he dismissed them before turning to his son.
'I'm having second thoughts.' He almost changed his mind when he saw his idiot son trembling with excitement.
"Sigh~" 'Forget it. None be done now…' he thought remembering the stubbornness of his son.
.