- Summit -
"We can't be content to keep things as they are. The world is changing, and we must change with it." Hitoshi says.
"If it were that easy, we would have done something like this already." Rain replies, crossing his arms over his deep blue robes. "But an interconnected network of medical clinics? Something of this nature only succeeds as long as there is an alliance between our countries. I'm not taking funding away from my military to bankroll a project that only exists as long as our allegiances do."
"But only the physicians will be part of the international network." Sakura says, refusing to give his argument an inch of validation. "The physical land, the buildings themselves, all of it will be owned and governed by their respective countries of residence. In the unlikely event one country decides to defect from the alliance, you could still staff the clinics with physicians of your choosing. You say the funding is a risky gamble, but health services are evergreen-"
"Healthcare is different from the mercenary industry in the one important way you're not acknowledging." Grass begins, loudly cutting her off. "Ninja services are revenue generating. Healthcare services are a financial liability. Funds invested into our Anbu network have an 18% return on investment. Healthcare services generate a net loss."
Hitoshi retaliates here, taking back the argument. "Just because you don't see the ROI in dollars does not mean the investment is a failure. Returns can be seen in the improved quality of life for your average citizen. People won't have to travel 50 miles for a decent doctor. Laborers can return to work faster when they get injured. We have already begun building clinics within Fire country. Within the first year alone, our national GDP has seen a substantial uptick. People are willing to work harder when they know work related injuries won't go untreated."
"That's all well and good," Rain chimes in, "But it doesn't change the fact that this project is prohibitively expensive. You have start up construction costs, ongoing staffing, the need to stock disposable supplies as well as prescriptions. For the amount of money you're asking, I could expand my Genin program two fold and double our ninja work force over a 5 year span."
Here, Sakura shoots Rain a withering glare. "For years, our countries have relied more heavily on Genin than Chunin because you can justify paying Genin less. It's extorting children who don't know any better, and don't know how to advocate for themselves. On top of that, when these kids get hurt, they have to travel all the way back to their hidden village just to access the medical attention they need."
Her mind flashes back to Zabuza. To Sasuke skewered through like a pin cushion. Naruto exhausted from chakra depletion and Kakashi only barely better.
"Last week, I had a twelve year old girl on my table suffering from near fatal injuries. She was bleeding internally her whole trip back from Mist. If she had returned an hour later, she would have arrived dead."
"Why didn't her teams medic just treat her?" Rain asks indifferently.
"She was her teams medic." Sakura replied coolly. "The clinics will be staffed by a civilian doctor who can generate revenue for the state by serving the civilian population. Those services alone will mediate the cost of staffing a full time medical-nin. Someone able to perform chakra surgeries for mission related injuries. If you're going to expect kids to become soldiers, you have an ethical obligation to provide resources for them, no matter where they travel."
She takes a breath, regulating her tone. "Having our clinics be a connected network means your Ninja will be able to access emergency medicine, even in a foreign nation. It is the duty of this generation to protect the next. These clinics are how we can do that."
"Not everyone is resource rich like River, or has the plentiful territories of Fire or Wind. My territories are smaller, and space is more coveted-" Rain continues to rattle off excuses, the Grass Daimyo nodding his head in agreement.
"You're wrong." The Wind Daimyo says here. The momentum of the argument crashes to a halt. This is the first time he's spoken during her presentation. Sakura looks to Wind, heart pounding in her chest. He is about to unveil the plan they spent so much time cultivating last night.
"You think your hands are empty by comparison, but you are rich in the resource that matters most. Allies."
River, Rain and Grass all exchange silent looks that speak a thousand words. Wind and Fire too lock eyes, confirming they are both still in agreement.
River decides to speak up first. "Are you saying Wind country would be willing to subsidize the cost of running these facilities? Facilities outside its own country?"
"Actually," Gaara says, pulling out a series of pamphlets and passing them around, one by one. "Fire and Wind together would be subsidizing. Here you will find a rough estimate of funds we would be able to contribute. Priority funding would be given to the clinics that serve the most children. Those clinics would be reevaluated on an annual basis."
The room is silent for a long time as each Daimyo reads over this new proposal. As Sakura expects, it's Rain who finds a problem even with the idea of free funding.
"Two military powers giving financial aid that could otherwise prop up their mercenary economy. It makes me suspicious, with all due respect. You say you're just offering to supplement material costs. But next thing you know, I'm suddenly in your debt. I would have a wolf at the front door and one at the back."
The River General turns to Hitoshi. "I have my reservations about this as well. Fire Country has been known to give with one hand while taking with the other. Plainly speaking, what's the catch?"
Sakura isn't surprised it's River who cuts strait to the point. She expects her Daimyo to answer carefully, but instead Hitoshi turns to Sakura, gesturing that she proceed with her proposal.
She takes a deep breath. The Knight tile is a heatsink in her palm. She knows this is where she will get the most push back.
"Any country that accepts subsidized funding would be bound to uphold all of our policies of care. You'll find them listed in section 13 of the new proposal. You would specifically be bound to item No. 1:. All satellite clinics accepting subsidiary funding must provide medical care to any child under the age of 10, regardless of nation of origin or Ninja status."
The Summit chamber is empty silence until it explodes into shouts of outrage. The bickering crescendos to an untenable pitch. She clutches the Black Knight tile in her palm, and tries to keep from shaking at the noise.
"All children? Even nations outside of the alliance? This is insanity." The Grass Daimyo shouts. "Children are entering the academy earlier and earlier. A ten year old ninja is still a ninja. You want my country to treat soldiers from the other side?"
Sakura's hands tremble in rage. It takes all her effort to keep from shattering her chess tile. "I was under the impression this was an alliance, that we were all on the same side. And you may call them soldier, but they are still children. We can no longer continue to ask everything of them and offer them no support in return."
Rain looks like he is about to pop a blood vessel when the River General holds up a hand. The gesture is sharp, cutting him off before he can say another word. Grass too is stunned at Rivers audacity, unable to continue his argument. River, for her part, looks as if she's actually considering the bill in earnest now.
This. This is what Sakura was banking on. If her hunch from yesterday was wrong, this whole thing is about to blow up in her face. Everything comes down to what ever the River General is about to say next.
Sakura says a prayer to Tsunade. To Kakashi. To Shikamaru. To all the people who helped get her here, and to all the people whose lives she wanted to change. She prays with every spark of chakra in her body.
River gives her a cold, calculating look. It's the same piercing gaze they exchanged last night. Sakura knows deep in her bones that River is looking for the lie, is looking for the double-cross. Sakura stares back openly, baring her soul for the project she believes in.
"River is open to considering this proposal, but I have further questions."
The Grass Daimyo absolutely loses it here. "You fucking cunt. You can't be fucking serious."
This is when Gaara stands up with a jerk, a monstrous hatred in his eyes. The wolf has not been at their back door, he is standing in this very room. The tension coming off Gaara smothers the chamber, suffocating even Sakura with his killing intent. The sound of sand stirring in his gourd is a preternatural warning sign. It is the warning of a rattlesnake, preparing to strike for the kill.
Silently, Kankuro is there, a gentle hand resting on his brothers shoulder. He does nothing, says nothing. He is just a reassuring presence at his brothers back. The sand in Gaara's gourd begins to settle.
Slowly, the tension eases from the room. Gaara remains standing, the death like rattle of sand is gone. The tension in his face however is not. After another terrifying moment, Gaara of the sand is replaced once more by the Kazekage. The wolf inside him is asleep once more.
Kankuro takes a single breath. "A reminder to keep all discourse civil while the Summit is in session." He says. He returns to his corner after that.
Rain is obviously shaken by this display, but doesn't look nearly as cowed as the Grass Daimyo does. Even Sakura feels a little put in her place, and is likewise reminded to keep her temper in check.
River, to her ever growing credit, continues on as if nothing happened. Not a single hair on her head is out of place, but she's starting to look a little nauseous…
"I want to know where the money to subsidize these clinics will be coming from." River says. She takes a deep drink from her water glass.
"I would be interested in this information as well." Rain chimes in, though much more quiet than before. "River, Rain and Grass are primarily trade countries. Suna and Konoha are mercenary states. I'm not interested in a medical system that's paid for with foreign blood money."
Hitoshi smiles widely here. He and Sakura exchange hopeful glances. "Actually, Sakura's travel companion has come up with a very clever funding solution." He says. "We have taken a page right out of your book, Lord Rain."
At this, Rain has the wherewithal to look surprised. Grass finally returns to his seat.
The Wind Daimyo takes over the explanation here. "Rain. As you know, the educational lottery in your capitol has been very profitable over the years. People buy lottery tickets with dreams of hitting the jackpot, but they do so knowing the proceeds for tickets helps to fund inner city schools. Suna may be one giant desert, but we are also the gambling capitol of the continent. We plan to implement your same lottery system in both Wind and Fire countries. All net proceeds from this lottery will go to subsidizing the satellite clinics. No blood money involved."
"In addition," Hitoshi continues, "Konoha's Hokage herself will have a hand in the curriculum for the Med-nins ongoing education. Fire country will also subsidize a big chunk of the materials to build the initial clinics. As you know, we have the lumber in spades. Likewise, I've already purchased some commercial real estate in Wind to manufacture our own medical supplies, rather than import them from up North."
River looks to the Kazekage with dawning realization. "So you will manufacture in Suna and utilize Wind's tax breaks to produce cheaper supplies."
Hitoshi nods again. "Cotton bandages are industry standard, but we are working on manufacturing bandages from wood pulp and bamboo. If we can get it right, they will be cheaper than cotton imports and we won't have to deal with supply chain issues."
Through all of this, Sakura keeps her eyes firmly locked on the River General. River continuines to flip through the proposal pages they had drafted up last night.
'Come on.' Sakura thinks. She just needed the General to see the note slipped into her specific pamphlet. This note was her final hail-mary, a way for Sakura to get the clinics she wanted as well as possibly change the way the entire Ninja community operated. River and Fire, for once, could be real allies…
She thinks back to the dinner last night. To the way the General pushed around her food and effortlessly threw back shots of Shochu.
'Come on!' She begs to the gods again.
And there. Sakura sees the moment River flips to the correct page- to the small note written in Sakura's own hand, prompting her to once more bring up a bill the General herself had drafted over two years ago.
The silence stretched on for an eternity.
"River Country will agree to support Fire's healthcare proposal, contingent on the simultaneous passing of Bill 6213: The Raising of Age of Eligibility for Ninja Employment."
Rain and Grass again start shouting their protestations over each other, but this time the discourse fades rapidly. The two Daimyo can tell that something has shifted in the air. River seems to no longer be in their corner. River controls the money, and by proxy their exported goods.
The General turns to Sakura, suspicion in her eyes. "Doctor Haruno. All today you have spoken about supporting children's health. I think this is common ground we can cultivate together. I would consider agreeing to fund your clinic project if, and only if all 5 allied nations agree to raise the Genin Academy entrance eligibility from 5 years old to 8 years old. Likewise, Chunin licensing eligibility will be raised from 8 years old to 12. I would want all satellite clinics to treat any child, regardless of nationality, until the age of 12, not just 10."
River continues to make her demands, but Sakura can't help notice her face is turning from pale to nauseous green.
Grass seems to have finally found his balls again. He rounds on River with suppressed fury, but still wary of upsetting the Kazekage again. "You are not an official Dignitary of River. You are a General, not the Daimyo. How do we know you even have the authority to agree to such a momentous bill? Your own Daimyo rejected this bill the last time it was proposed. We all rejected it."
"You will not tell me what authority I do and do not have." River growls. The threat in her voice is sharp as a scalpel.
"We rejected that proposal because it jeopardizes the financial stability of River, Rain and Grass alike." Rain says. "Rain and Grass are landlocked states. Your international ports are our only connection to the broader shipping markets. Raising the age of eligibility reduces our military security, which jeopardizes all our economic security."
Grass chooses to chime in as well. "The Eligibility proposal would barely put a dent in Wind and Fire's mercenary forces, but it will severely handicaps the forces of Grass and Rain! This is a bill beyond your jurisdiction. You dont have the power to approve this."
River is starting to look really aggravated, her dark skin nearly white as a ghost. She's visibly clenching and unclenching her teeth, her normally stoic reserves falling apart.
Grass continues going off on her. "Your own Daimyo rejected this bill all the way back when you first proposed it. How do we know you truly speak for him now?"
All at once, River erupts into a violent shout beyond anything Sakura has seen her do before. "Because now he has a CHILD, you drunk simpleton!" Her voice is venom in Sakura's veins. The escalation in tone is blatantly savage.
And then River is scrambling away from her podium towards a potted house plant wilting in the corner. She starts violently wrenching up her guts, the wet coughing noise echoing through the stone-walled chamber. She vomits up liquid, then yellow bile. Her gagging seems to go on for ages.
Sakura is instantly by her side. Without being asked, she pulls River's hair back, ready to help at a seconds notice. "I can help you with your morning sickness. It's a small trick, no one in the room will notice it. Do I have your consent to treat you?" Sakura's voice is the lowest whisper she can manage.
River pauses from throwing up her intestines long enough to pin her with a calculating glare. "Is this Sakura the Doctor or Sakura the ninja talking?" She asks.
Sakura is stunned that even while vomiting, the General has the foresight to look for the double-cross. "Doctor." Sakura whispers honestly.
After a moment, River nods. Sakura brings her hand up to the back of River's neck. The tiniest bead of chakra condenses in her palms, so subtle you would need a Byakugan to see it. It shoots an icy chill down the back of River's neck, cooling her body temperature almost immediately. The change is instantaneous and powerful. The color floods back into Rivers face, her expression one of sweet relief. The woman is clearly exhausted…
Sakura helps her stand back up, helping River walk back to her seat.
"Do we need to take a short recess?" Gaara asks the General.
"Forgive me, no Kazekage-sama. I seem to have acquired food poisoning on the road. I'm able to continue for now. Let's proceed with the Summit, please."
It takes a moment before the momentum of the debate picks back up again in earnest.
"The argument over the Generals authority here is not for us to debate." Rain says. "Instead, let's get back to the real subject at hand. River is trying to hijack the Clinic bill in order to further her own agenda. But the fact is, the Age-Increase bill failed for a reason. No one supported your bill last time, and no one is going to support it now."
"Wind country would." Gaara says casually. Beside him, the Wind Daimyo nods in agreement.
This changes the energy of the entire room.
Hitoshi raises his hand as well. "Fire country would also vote in its favor this time. My father before me did not see the bills merit, but I disagree with many of his policies."
This is the blow Rain does not see coming. It is the checkmate created, not by maneuvering their forces, but by revealing what was already in play the entire time. It is the move Sakura planned the night before after guessing the River General was pregnant. The Black Knight chess tile is cool and reassuring in her hands. She wishes Shikamaru were in here to see their imminent victory.
Sakura chooses now to proceed with her closing argument. "If we don't protect the most vulnerable of our populations, then we are only protecting those already in power. If we unify our resources, we can protect those ninja who are willing to sacrifice everything in order to protect you."
"And how are we suppose to come up with all this money while limiting our Ninja program?" Grass asks viciously. Gone is the jovial, drunk man from the night before. Gone is the man who drank deep from his cup, happy to indulge in luxury while doing nothing to deserve it.
Sakura's temper is a trip wire ready to detonate at the tiniest whisper. "I am just one person." She says, eyeing the man down, singling out his weakness. He is tall, overwhelmingly so. He's use to being the biggest person in the room.
She walks over to where he sits, putting her head well above his. He can not look down on her anymore, not when she is this close. "I can only see one piece of the puzzle. I can not solve this on my own. That's why you are here, because you were entrusted with powers that can create change. We are trying to give you a gift, Lord Grass. If you want it, fucking do your God damn job and apply yourself to be worthy of it."
Sakura towers over this giant man, knowing she could break him with a single touch. At a look of warning from Gaara, Sakura releases the chakra she's unintentionally pooled into her palms. Rain and Grass exchange frustrated looks.
Finally, it's Rain who turns to her. "If we can come to an agreement, when will Konoha and Sunagakure be ready to assist with resources?"
Sakura looks to Hitoshi, and he nods. "We have already begun rolling out satellite clinics in our region." She says. "With each clinic we establish, we improve the design. Lumber is already being milled and made ready to ship out. We are ready to move when you are."
River gives Sakura a nod of understanding. It's the first look of neutral civility the woman has actually given her. "I think us Daimyo have a lot to discuss. Dr. Haruno, why don't you step outside for now."
It isn't a promise to accepting her proposal, but it isn't the outright rejection Sakura had expected either. Instead, Sakura see's the statement for what it is: The beginning of a long and arduous bridge that must be built from two far off sides.
Sakura prays that soon, the Daimyo will manage to do the right thing and meet her somewhere in the middle. Kankuro shows Sakura from the summit chambers, escorting her back out to the sweltering hallway.