Namikaze Minato didn't waste words.
Yes.
Now that he had fully realized the man he once respected as Hokage was nothing more than a ruthless and unscrupulous politician, he naturally had no interest in dragging things out with Sarutobi Hiruzen.
If there was official business, say it and he would carry it out.
If not, he would leave!
As for personal relations, he had no interest whatsoever.
"Oh, there really is a mission." Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled faintly. "This task… is one that only you can handle."
"But I'll let you know in advance, so you can be prepared. It may not happen in the immediate future."
"Still, this mission is extremely important."
Even though he was reluctant, Sarutobi still forced a shallow smile at the man before him.
After all, regardless of his personal feelings—
This was the future Fourth Hokage.
Without more pointless chatter, Sarutobi explained the whole situation from beginning to end.
Then, his tone grew solemn.
"Minato!"
"I dream every night of ending this war as soon as possible. Konoha can't withstand more turmoil."
"Hidden Stone Village, Hidden Mist Village , Sunagakure—all have agreed. Only Hidden Cloud Village refuses. There's nothing I can do."
"Shikaku's suggestion, I think, is reasonable."
"So you don't need to feel any burden in your heart. In truth, everyone wants the Third Raikage dead!"
Sarutobi made his case—
First expressing his own stance, then blaming Hidden Cloud Village for being uncooperative, and finally dragging Nara Shikaku's name into it as the one who proposed the plan.
The meaning was simple:
Yes, the scheme was dirty, but it had nothing to do with him, the Hokage.
Clearly, he still cared a great deal about Minato's opinion of him.
Because when Minato eventually became Hokage, the more respectful he was toward Sarutobi, the easier it would be for Sarutobi to pull the strings behind the scenes.
On the other hand, Minato didn't grasp Sarutobi's real intent.
But to him—it didn't matter.
He merely shook his head slightly, then smiled.
"Hokage-sama, there's no need to explain."
"The only ones I truly care about are the civilians of the Land of Fire, and the shinobi of our village."
"I am just an ordinary man. I cannot influence the entire shinobi world."
"As long as it benefits the village, then I am willing to do it."
Yes.
Though Minato was a righteous "little sun," he was also a realist.
What he cared about most was the village!
Even if the plan was dirty, as long as it meant victory for Konoha, he didn't mind.
Sarutobi was stunned for a moment.
Then he felt reassured, his eyes glinting slyly as he chuckled.
"Well then, Minato!"
"To be honest, I'm worried this mission might be too much for you alone."
"If possible, I'd like Uchiha Kai to accompany you."
"Of course, the village and the Uchiha clan… don't see eye to eye."
"But I've heard you get along with Fugaku, and you've even worked with Kai before. So I hope you can personally act as a mediator."
"Of course, there's no pressure."
"If you don't want to, you can refuse!"
"At worst, this old man will visit him personally."
"All of this—for the sake of the village!"
Sarutobi wore a look of lofty determination.
Just a few words, and he had painted himself as the Hokage who worked tirelessly for the good of the village.
But in truth, he was acting on impulse.
Because when he thought about that bastard Uchiha Kai, he felt no certainty at all.
Last time, it had taken two forbidden jutsu just to get him to move.
Who knew what kind of outrageous demands that vampire would make this time?
So when he remembered Minato's good relations with Fugaku, and his fair, gentle attitude toward the Uchiha, and the fact that he had even done missions with Kai—he decided to let Minato try first.
If it failed, Sarutobi would go himself.
If it succeeded, then he would profit greatly.
Minato frowned.
He truly hadn't expected Sarutobi to throw another mission onto his shoulders.
Honestly—he didn't want to accept.
Yes.
Now that he understood Sarutobi's true nature, it was easy for him to see this old man was simply using him.
But—
For the sake of the village, he fell silent for a long while before finally nodding.
"Alright, I understand."
"When I return, I'll pay Kai a visit."
"But I can't guarantee success."
Minato spoke with a smile.
Yes—
For peace, for the village…
Even if he knew Sarutobi was exploiting him, he was still willing to give it his all.
That was simply the kind of man he was.
Hearing this, Sarutobi also broke into a smile.
The two chatted briefly before Minato took his leave.
Meanwhile—
In the Uchiha compound, inside Kai's small courtyard.
At the tea table in the living room, Uchiha Kai sat staring at the two Nara clansmen before him, his brows tightly knit.
Yes.
He couldn't make sense of it.
His mind was full of doubt.
Especially recalling the scene just now in the Uchiha compound—the stance of the Ino–Shika–Cho trio's clans had left him completely dumbfounded.
Damn it all.
Originally, in Kai's imagination, if Nara Kazama could bring over a dozen or two members of the trio's clans, he'd be grinning in his sleep.
Even if the number was small, the prestige of the Ino–Shika–Cho was enough to tear away the Hokage faction's façade.
But the problem was—
This time it wasn't too few, but way too many!
Good grief!
Looking at the dense crowd just now, there had to be at least fifteen hundred clansmen.
Even if most were civilians, there were still five or six hundred shinobi among them, with more than seventy Jounin alone.
Holy crap.
That was practically half of the entire Ino–Shika–Cho!
And he wasn't stupid.
There was no way this was Kazama's doing alone.
Did they really think Nara Shikaku and the rest were fools?
Without their approval, how could so many clansmen leave their compound?
Especially when he thought about—
How he had sent Shisui to infiltrate the Sarutobi clan, and now here he was with something eerily similar happening on his own side…
His eyes narrowed.
Looking at the awkward Kazama and the lazy Hiroshi sitting across from him, Kai took a deep breath before speaking.
"Kazama…"
"We've known each other for a while now, I'd say we're good friends, right?"
"Do I look like an idiot to you? Like some gullible fool?"
"So, stop with the games."
"Tell me honestly—what the hell is going on today?"
"Don't tell me you just stood on a rooftop, gave some rousing speech, and suddenly half the Ino–Shika–Cho decided to defect to you!"
"I know exactly what kind of guy you are, Nara Kazama."
"You pull in a few dozen, I could believe—it'd just mean you have lots of friends. But fifteen hundred?! With five or six hundred shinobi?!"
"Even if you had nothing else to do all day, could you even know that many people? And get them to follow you?"
"What are you trying to pull—burning paper at a grave, hoping to fool the ghosts?"
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