Chapter 289 — A New Mission
"What? You're going to the Land of Water?"
"Although it might be a bit improper, and somewhat beyond my station… I genuinely want to take on a mission like this."
Inside the Hokage's office, Minato Namikaze looked at Kei with a mixture of disbelief and exasperation.
Kei, on the other hand, felt awkward under Minato's gaze.
He hadn't expected this himself. Twice, in his mind, he had sworn he would never set foot in the Land of Water. Yet here he was, having to approach Minato for a mission to leave the village.
There was simply no other way. His position in Konoha had reached such a level that it made leaving the village awkward.
Kei's status was high—so high that he couldn't casually step out of Konoha. He wasn't like Uchiha Fugaku, who could be sent to the battlefield for various reasons in his time.
Even then, Fugaku only went to relatively safe zones—the kind of places where one could easily earn merit without too much risk.
Kei's current standing in Konoha was so significant that, even if some still saw him as Fugaku's proxy, he held real authority. And with that authority came limitations whenever he tried to leave the village.
Furthermore, his power, while considerable, hadn't yet reached its peak. Compared to Danzo, Kei still had a long way to go. Danzo, after all, could leave the village at will—he even managed to stir up chaos in the Land of Rain.
Although that incident cost Danzo dearly, it showcased the sheer extent of his power.
"Why?"
After a long pause, Minato finally asked, curiosity and concern in his tone. "To be honest, your position is far too sensitive. I trust you won't get into trouble, but your actions could still have undesirable consequences.
So I need a reason. Is it… about that guy? Is there some problem over there?"
"Something like that," Kei admitted, forcing a grin.
"It's not exactly a problem," he continued, "I just feel he deserves some reassurance. Last time, he came to see me alone—it might have caused some trouble. If I go personally, I can find some excuse, show him a measure of trust, and maybe help him feel more secure."
Kei was bluffing through most of it. There was a kernel of truth in what he said, but at its core, he was lying. He had no desire to go to the Land of Water. Life in Konoha suited him perfectly; why chase trouble?
Ultimately, it all came down to Ayaka Hyūga. This woman had made things complicated. She seemed convinced that the Kaguya clan held the key to her advancement. Kei had no reason to refute her, and the whole situation spiraled from there.
Originally, his plan had been simple: wait until Orochimaru took Kimimaro, then approach Orochimaru to retrieve him. Years of research had made Orochimaru vulnerable once he gained the Edo Tensei, making him essentially defenseless against illusions. Handling him wouldn't have been difficult, and geographically, the Land of Fields was much closer than the Land of Water.
But Ayaka's discovery of certain data disrupted all of his plans. Kei had tried to refuse, but his objections were ignored. She had made up her mind—she had to see it for herself.
The reasoning was simple: she was anxious. If Kei's power advanced too quickly, or if Kenta Imai gained strength using White Zetsu cells, she wouldn't be able to tolerate it.
Their trio required balance, and in their dynamic, Ayaka's role was temporarily irreplaceable. The other two collaborators had found tools suited to themselves and achieved great results with her assistance—but she remained stuck in the theoretical phase. Anyone in her position would grow impatient.
Kei understood her thinking. Imai Kenta did as well. When she made her demands, neither of them knew how to respond. Kei even suggested obtaining what she wanted via the ANBU under Kakashi, but she rejected the idea outright—she didn't trust the ANBU, and doubted Minato would approve. She wanted the three of them to act personally, despite the risks.
Kei's identity, combined with Minato's support, offered a protective umbrella. With Minato's backing, they could return safely to Konoha.
"Although I can't fully agree with your reasoning…" Minato mused after long contemplation, finally sighing. "I can approve your plan, but can you tell me your real intentions?"
"My intentions?" Kei knew his previous explanations were insufficient, but he wasn't stupid. He had two strategies in mind.
The first was emotional appeal—but as much as Minato valued feelings, as Hokage he had to consider the bigger picture. Minato likely knew Kei well enough to suspect he had other motives.
The second approach focused on practical benefits. Thanks to Imai Kenta revealing some information earlier, Kei could craft reasoning to cover his real plans.
Ayaka had lucked out. Had this been the past, even with urgency, she wouldn't have coerced Kei into leaving for the Land of Water. They likely wouldn't have even left Konoha.
"All right, I admit I have some motives," Kei nodded. "Do you remember the document he provided?"
"Of course," Minato replied. "Although I burned it, I still remember the contents. Are you planning something?"
"Yes," Kei confirmed, scanning the room. When he noticed Minato's nod, a slight smile crossed his face. With the ANBU under control, they wouldn't act disrespectfully anymore.
"Captain Minato, don't you think this is an excellent chance to strengthen Konoha?" Kei asked.
"A good chance?" Minato paused, then realized something. "You mean… meeting the Water Country's leadership? No… it would benefit Konoha if the Water Country fell into chaos, especially now. You're targeting the bloodline clans?"
"Yes." Kei's smile grew broader. Speaking with Minato was surprisingly easy—he wasn't as calculating as the Third Hokage, nor as difficult to communicate with as the future Naruto. Minato balanced kindness with a ninja's pragmatism, thinking fast.
According to Uchiha Obito's plan, chaos in the Water Country would trigger numerous problems, possibly causing the bloodline clans to rebel. Kei's goal was precisely those clans, openly or secretly.
"My plan was to send Homura and Koharu," Kei continued, lying smoothly. "But considering intelligence and the two's reluctance to leave Konoha—they'd be risking too much. After all, they offended the Uchiha on the night of the Nine-Tails. So I'm the best choice."
"Those two won't leave Konoha anyway. We'd better stay cautious." Minato felt a bead of sweat run down his forehead. Sending them could have escalated things beyond control.
"Yes, so I'll lead this mission myself. I'll secretly enter the Land of Water, meet the heads of the bloodline clans, and plant a seed. I don't need them to trust me fully, but at least they'll know a path remains open."
"But the situation hasn't erupted yet. How do you know they'll meet you? Or that…" Minato frowned. "They might attack you and hand you over to the Mizukage or elder council. You're a Konoha high-ranking official—I don't believe their ANBU hasn't relayed your identity."
"I've considered that," Kei sighed. "Normal combat won't be an issue. If the Water Country launches a large-scale purge, I'll rely on you, Captain Minato. Dangerous as it is, planting this seed could bring unimaginable gains for you and Konoha. I must try."
Minato was silent for a long moment, then nodded. "I approve this mission, and I'll provide all the support you need. Take my kunai. Thank you, Kei—for everything you've done."
"No thanks needed. I have only one request."
"Go on."
"This time… don't be late."
"..."
Standing at the ship's bow, Kei watched the sea mist swirl, exhaling quietly. After convincing Minato, he wasted no time informing Ayaka and Kenta.
The underground lab would be left idle, but Kei didn't concern himself with tidying it; he trusted the others could handle it.
He then visited Uchiha Fugaku. Fugaku was astonished by Kei's decision, yet he knew once Kei decided, little would sway him. Fugaku's only concern was whether Minato had approved and whether the "rescue plan" was reliable.
With Kushina Uzumaki's support and the Nine-Tails' stable sealing, Kei could safely channel its power. Traveling from Konoha to the Water Country was mostly straightforward, barring some chakra transmission delays.
Kei's greatest worry was Minato's notorious habit of "being late"—he'd never seen him arrive on time.
After clarifying things with Fugaku, Kei shared a proper meal with his parents. He didn't reveal that he was leaving Konoha—or even the Land of Fire. He simply said he was undertaking secret training for about a month. Keisuke's response was minimal, while Ryoko expressed concern but calmed down after his reassurance. Kei told Iori she needn't enter the lab during his absence; she seemed calmer, though still timid around him.
"This is the end of a nightmare," Kei thought. "From now on, I'll ensure her nightmares end completely."
"What's on your mind?" Kenta's voice came from behind.
"Since we're here, what's the point of hesitating?" Kei shrugged.
"As the head of the Police Force Division, few could challenge my authority. You, on the other hand, should continue learning from your leader. Even with Hokage's notice, this seems cumbersome."
Kenta, still in a learning phase, understood that their unusual mission would affect him. Aware of the risks, he reluctantly followed. After all, with Kei and Ayaka heading the mission, he couldn't afford to stay behind.
"Captain, are we ready?" A middle-aged man approached quietly, his face weathered and sun-darkened, body strong as if living off fishing and ferrying. In reality, he was an ANBU stationed in the Water Country.
After obtaining a map and some brief intel, the three bid him farewell. The fewer people who knew of their presence, the better.
"So, do we have a plan?" Kenta asked once the ANBU figure disappeared.
"You weren't told the details of this mission," Kei said, "but we have orders from the village."
"Yes." He looked at Ayaka. "Be vigilant. Our identities are too unique."
"Yes," she replied, eyes rolling back into Byakugan mode. Kenta did the same, confirming their surroundings. They knew that any carelessness could be fatal.
"Let's move," Kei said. "In short, our task is to plant a 'seed' among the bloodline clan ninja. Whether it grows is beyond our concern."
"A seed?" Ayaka frowned.
Kei's words were vague, so naturally she found them a bit puzzling.
But this woman was extremely sharp. After a moment of thought, she suddenly asked, "Did you get some kind of intelligence?"
"Why don't you guess?" Kei smiled. "It's been almost a year since I left the battlefield. Let's see if your instincts are still as keen as before."
"It's not really that hard to guess, Captain," Kenta Imai suddenly spoke up.
"I noticed some clues back when I was in the Missions Department. Tasks near the Land of Water have suddenly increased, especially around the Land of Waves.
"Although the rise isn't particularly striking, I naturally paid attention when we were headed to the Land of Water.
"And we were checked four times on our way here. That suggests the Land of Water might be closing off its passages. Combine that with what you just said…"
At this point, Kenta Imai paused, and Ayaka Hyūga widened her eyes in disbelief as she looked at him.
Kei was more composed, but still attentive.
Kenta had always been smart—a fact that had shown during their team missions. Now, working in the Missions Department and having a task that involved going to the Land of Water, it wasn't entirely surprising that he had noticed something. Especially after Kei had hinted at some sensitive topics.
"The Land of Water is closing off? Do you think that would provoke the bloodline clans?" Ayaka asked incredulously.
"That's impossible, right? Even if they close off, it wouldn't cause such a huge upheaval. Or did they go rogue? Or maybe the intelligence you received is wrong?"
Ayaka still couldn't believe what she was hearing. She seriously wondered if Kei had gotten some false information.
Indeed, the number of missions near the Land of Water had increased for Konoha.
Aside from wartime bonuses, it was likely that the Land of Water had abandoned some of these tasks themselves.
On their journey, they had been subjected to strict inspections. For them, it wasn't much of a problem, but it indirectly confirmed the Land of Water's intent to close itself off.
Yet even if they did, it would only mean a loss of revenue. Why would Kirigakure take action against the bloodline clans?
"Relax. The intelligence is accurate. Have you ever looked into some of Kirigakure's policies?" Kei glanced at Ayaka, already guessing what she was thinking.
"Policies?" Ayaka frowned. "You mean that so-called 'one graduate per class' elite program that was rumored?"
"Something like that. But I can't say too much. And this won't all explode at once—otherwise, I wouldn't be here planting the seed."
Kei nodded, acknowledging Ayaka's insight. "Besides, this isn't exactly a mistake by the Land of Water's decision-makers. It's more likely that the entire leadership has been manipulated."
"Who on earth would do something like this?" Kenta asked, puzzled. "This is practically destroying the country."
"Exactly. It is destroying the country," Kei said with a faint smile. "Because this… is a retaliatory operation."