Starting with rogue ninjas, building the insect kingdom.

Chapter 421 The Youngest Shadow in History

New Iwagakure, Tsuchikage Building.

Although it's called a building, it's actually only three stories high and more like a business hall. But that didn't dampen the spirits of the young man sitting in his office on the third floor.

Deidara wore a Tsuchikage robe tailored for him, with the character "土" (tsuchi, meaning earth) embroidered on the back of the white robe, and his signature conical hat with the characters "土影" (Tsuchikage, meaning earth knight) hanging on it.

He sat in a large earthen chair, his legs propped up on the desk, a toothpick dangling from his mouth. He looked left and right, a smile that hadn't faded since he woke up that morning.

"Hahahaha!" He suddenly burst into laughter, laughing so hard he almost fell off his chair.

The ninjas from Shin-Iwa Village standing nearby were bewildered by his laughter and exchanged puzzled glances.

"You don't understand." Deidara waved his hand, laughing so hard that tears were almost streaming down his face.

"I just remembered the old man's face when he sat in this chair. He never imagined that one day I would be sitting in this chair!"

He patted the armrest of the chair. "Old man, old man, I'll sit in your seat today too!"

He was laughing heartily when he said this, but his smile suddenly froze halfway through.

He suddenly realized something: what should he do after sitting in this chair?

Deidara lowered his legs from the table, sat up straight, placed his hands on his knees, and looked around at the ninjas below.

The ninjas were all looking at him, their eyes filled with expectation, curiosity, doubt, and a hint of... awkwardness that was hard to describe.

After all, their new Tsuchikage is actually only ten years old, or even younger, because he hasn't had his birthday yet. He only appears mature because he started training in ninjutsu very early.

Deidara coughed lightly. "Who can tell me what the Tsuchikage does every day?"

The older Jonin stepped forward and said cautiously, "Lord Tsuchikage, your main duties include... reviewing documents, handling government affairs, receiving visitors, attending ceremonies, assigning tasks, approving budgets, supervising training..."

"Stop, stop, stop," Deidara interrupted him, raising his hand. "You mean, we have to do this every day?"

"No," the Jonin shook his head, "it's something I have to do all the time. Especially reviewing documents; the Tsuchikage's office receives about two hundred documents every day."

Deidara's mouth dropped open in surprise. "Two hundred portions?"

"Yes, this does not include urgent correspondence."

Deidara was silent for three seconds, then took off his straw hat and placed it on the table, seriously contemplating life.

"I quit," he said.

The surrounding ninjas were all petrified.

"No," Deidara waved his hand, "I was just kidding. But I really don't know how to approve any documents. Can someone help me with that?"

The Jonin looked at him as if he were an alien.

"Lord Tsuchikage, the document requires your signature and seal; no one else can do it for you."

Deidara's lips twitched.

He looked down at the mountain of documents piled on the table and suddenly realized that the earthen chair wasn't so comfortable after all.

Just then, a familiar voice came from the doorway.

"It seems our new Tsuchikage has run into a little trouble."

Deidara looked up and saw two people.

Leading the way was Kakuzu, whose perpetually cold face now bore a rare, faint smile.

No, that wasn't a smile; that was schadenfreude.

Walking behind was a young man, about twenty years old, wearing a simple gray-blue long gown, with his hair neatly combed and a gentle face.

His eyes weren't large, but they were very bright. When his gaze fell on Deidara, he was neither humble nor arrogant. He showed neither excessive respect because the other was the Tsuchikage, nor did he look down on the other because he was young.

"Kakuzu!" Deidara jumped off his chair and hopped over to Kakuzu. "What are you doing here?"

"Let's see how our new Tsuchikage is doing." Kakuzu looked him up and down. "Looks like he's not doing very well."

Deidara's face fell, but he couldn't lash out, because Kakuzu was one of the people he couldn't beat.

"And who is this?" Deidara's gaze turned to the young man.

The young man bowed slightly: "Shibuki, Takigakure Village. Greetings, Tsuchikage-sama."

Deidara's eyes lit up: "You're Takikage?"

"I dare not accept such praise." Shibuki straightened up, his tone calm. "I am merely temporarily assuming the position of Takikage. I am only accepting this role because of the trust placed in me by Daimyo Heiji."

Deidara circled Shibuki, looking him up and down, as if he were examining a newly arrived piece of merchandise.

"Then you must be very strong, right?" Deidara's eyes blazed with a fighting spirit.

Shibuki smiled slightly: "No, that's not it. I've only barely reached the level of an elite Jonin; my main strength lies in handling internal affairs."

"internal affairs?"

"It's about things like approving documents, managing finances, setting up systems, and handling personnel," Shibuki explained.

Deidara paused for a moment, then suddenly realized something and turned to look at Kakuzu: "You brought him here to help me with chores?"

Kakuzu didn't give a direct answer, but instead looked at Shibuki: "It's up to you."

Shibuki nodded, walked to the pile of documents, picked up one at random, unfolded it, glanced at it, put it back, and then picked up another one...

He moved quickly, almost reading ten lines at a glance. In less than half an incense stick's time, he had divided the mountain of documents into six stacks.

"Lord Tsuchikage," Shibuki said, turning to Deidara, "I've categorized these documents by urgency and department. Red indicates urgent military matters, requiring your personal review and signature; blue indicates routine administrative matters, which can be approved by the secretariat; yellow indicates personnel appointments and dismissals, requiring your approval; green indicates financial transactions, requiring the Tsuchikage's office seal; black indicates official correspondence, which generally doesn't require a reply and can be archived; white indicates..."

"Stop, stop, stop, this seems like such a hassle."

Shibuki's expression remained unchanged, still gentle and patient: "It's alright, I can teach you. Or, if you authorize me, I can transfer a group of clerical staff from Takigakure to help you set up a secretariat."

"Secretariat?" Deidara asked curiously, because the original Tsuchikage Building did not have such an organization.

"Yes, people who specialize in approving documents."

"Alright!" Deidara waved his hand. "Just send people. As many as you want, just don't let me touch these papers."

Shibuki glanced at Kakuzu, who nodded slightly.

Shibuki was clearly prepared, as he took out a scroll from his pocket, which was covered with names written on it.

"This is a list of forty-two civilian personnel I brought from Takigakure. What does Lord Tsuchikage think?"