"We should discuss who will represent Konohagakure as an envoy. Starting a war at this time would be tantamount to a fight to the death. Iwagakure isn't that foolish."
Sarutobi Hiruzen gazed at his old comrades, awaiting their opinions.
"Let Orochimaru go," Shimura Danzō suggested.
Danzō knew he couldn't sway Hiruzen's resolve, so he opted for a strategic retreat. Hiruzen was getting old, nearing the time for retirement. At this juncture, boosting Orochimaru's reputation and favor among the people would increase his chances of becoming Hokage.
"And you?" Hiruzen didn't respond to Danzō, instead turning to Mitokado Homura and Koharu Utatane.
"Namikaze Minato," Homura said.
It was clear that Hiruzen favored Minato. The young ninja possessed the necessary skills, humility, and composure, making him a suitable choice for negotiations.
"I agree," Koharu added, her aged head nodding lightly in approval.
"Minato's too young, isn't he? And he's your disciple, Hiruzen," Danzō countered, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "Orochimaru has the reputation. It should be him."
"No, it'll be Minato," Hiruzen decided after a back-and-forth with Danzō.
"Hmph." Danzō flicked his sleeve and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
If everything was already decided, why bother with this pretense of a meeting? Was it to mock him, Shimura Danzō?
"Damn it," Danzō cursed under his breath.
In the end, it came down to Orochimaru's lack of appeal. If more people supported him, Hiruzen wouldn't have overlooked him so easily.
"A snake in the shadows can never stand in the light," Danzō muttered, venting his frustration at Hiruzen before turning his resentment toward Orochimaru. If Orochimaru were more capable, Danzō wouldn't be in this position. Yet, he failed to realize that he and Orochimaru were cut from the same cloth.
"So, we're going with Minato-sensei to sign a peace treaty?" Shimizu Uchiha asked, rubbing his chin as he listened to Hatake Kakashi and Nohara Rin, feigning a thoughtful expression.
He already knew about this through his simulator but didn't want to draw too much attention. Never showing surprise could make him seem too cunning.
"Rin's going too?" Shimizu glanced at Nohara Rin.
She wore a pristine white dress today, so immaculate it barely had any creases—clearly a new purchase.
"Can't I go?" Rin asked, puzzled by Shimizu's question. Was it strange for her to be assigned a mission outside the village?
"Of course you can," Shimizu said, shaking his head.
Rin carried the Three-Tails within her, yet she was still being sent on an out-of-village mission. It was likely a test to gauge how much Kirigakure cared about the Three-Tails. If they wanted to seize her, acting early would be better for Konoha. After all, once outside the village, any fallout wouldn't affect Konoha directly. The higher-ups always preached about protecting the village, but Shimizu had never heard them mention safeguarding civilians from other villages.
"When do we leave?" he asked.
"Tomorrow," Kakashi replied.
Shimizu nodded in acknowledgment. Rin, seeing that Shimizu was already informed, turned to Kakashi. She had been helping Shimizu with his research in the lab when he quietly called her over. Upon arriving, she was startled to see a haggard-looking Kakashi.
Concerned, she subtly prodded Kakashi about what was wrong, but he dodged the question, speaking vaguely and refusing to explain.
Rin's brows furrowed slightly. This wasn't the first time. Kakashi and Shimizu had been secretive about something before, too. Did they trust her so little?
"Kakashi, if something's going on, you can tell me. Don't bottle it up," Rin said.
Kakashi gave a bitter smile. What could he say? That he was tasked with monitoring her? His eyes instinctively darted to Shimizu, silently pleading for help.
Shimizu patted Rin's shoulder and said, "It's just that Kakashi's favorite book, Make-Out Hell, got discontinued."
"Make-Out Hell?" Rin asked, confused. She'd never heard of it. Was it some kind of classic?
"Ahem, if you don't know about it, never mind. I've got something to do, so I'll head out," Kakashi said quickly, sensing Shimizu was making things worse. Not wanting to ruin his image, he made an excuse and left.
Rin watched Kakashi's retreating figure, biting her lip. Her eyes glistened with a faint redness. She hated this feeling—Kakashi was increasingly treating her like an outsider. She feared that one day, they might not even be able to maintain their friendship.
"Ha~" Shimizu exhaled softly, his breath brushing against Rin's ear before he lightly nipped it. "Kakashi's always hiding things from you, but you can come to me. I won't keep anything from you."
"!" Rin touched her ear and stepped back quickly.
Shimizu was no different from Kakashi—no, he hid even more. What was he doing with those cloning solutions? Why did he meticulously compile even flawed experimental data every month? And what about Hyuga Natsu and Yuri Kurenai? Shimizu was keeping too many secrets, yet he had the audacity to say that with a straight face.
Rin turned to leave, but Shimizu grabbed her arm. A faint crackle of electricity sparked from his palm, and Rin's body went limp, her strength sapped. Then, she saw him pull out a pair of training chakra handcuffs, glinting with a cold, silver sheen.
"Ninjas need to constantly hone their spirit to increase their mental energy and refine more chakra. You understand that, right?" Shimizu said.
With a mission looming that would involve days of rough travel and potential enemies, Shimizu decided it was time to boost Rin's strength. A medical ninja needed some combat ability to protect herself.
Rin's eyes widened as Shimizu fastened the cold metal cuffs around her wrists, the icy sensation making her shiver. Her ankles were similarly restrained.
"Honing my spirit? Are you going to blindfold me again?" she asked, a chill running through her as the cold metal touched her skin.
As expected, a black cloth covered her eyes, plunging her into darkness. She felt her balance shift as Shimizu carried her somewhere. Soon, she sensed she was in a dark room, seated on a cold chair—her hands resting on its armrests. This was Shimizu's chakra chair, inspired by martial arts novels from his previous life. The colder the environment, the more it tempered one's spirit, much like how Xiaolongnü trained in those stories.
Rin grew uneasy, her heart pounding in the darkness as she waited tensely. The blindfold was meant to sharpen her ability to discern sounds, she knew. Her ears picked up the sound of wind, and her nose twitched at a familiar floral scent, one that lingered deep in her memory.
As the sun set, the sky took on a faint orange hue. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, creating a serene atmosphere.
Kakashi, halfway to his destination, suddenly stopped. He remembered something: Shimizu had mentioned that the Make-Out Hell series had indeed been discontinued, and he'd promised to give Kakashi a prequel. With days of travel ahead, Kakashi needed something to distract himself from thinking about Obito's promise.
He turned back toward Shimizu's house, noticing the door was slightly ajar. "Shimizu, I'm coming in," he called.
Click. The door closed softly behind him as a breeze swept through.
"Shimizu? Rin?" Kakashi called out, but no one answered. The only sounds were his own echo and the faint rustle of leaves outside.
He changed into indoor slippers, stepped past the entryway, and entered the living room. The room carried a faint homely scent mixed with a subtle fragrance. Books and decorations were neatly arranged on the table, and the curtains swayed gently, casting dappled shadows.
"Rin's ninja pouch?" Kakashi noticed Rin's gear on the table but got no response when he called out again. "Where are they?"
After waiting in the living room with no results, he spotted a closed door. Deciding to check if Shimizu and Rin were inside, he approached the bedroom, his fingers brushing the doorknob.
Click… The handle turned halfway, and the door creaked slightly.
But then, Kakashi's gaze caught something under the coffee table—a book with a familiar cover. Curiosity piqued, he let go of the doorknob and walked over. Pushing the table aside, he revealed the book's title: Make-Out Hell Prequel: The Lady's Temptation.
"Why's Shimizu using this to prop up a table?" Kakashi muttered, blowing dust off the cover. "Shimizu, I'm taking the book!" he shouted, leaving a note on the table before heading out.
The next day, Shimizu and the others gathered around Namikaze Minato. The mission's lineup was simple: Minato's team, including Kakashi, Rin, and Shimizu, accompanied by a few other Jonin.
"Since everyone's here, let's move out," Minato said warmly.
As Konoha's envoy, he carried the will of the Hokage, a responsibility shared by the representatives of other ninja villages. Before departing, Sarutobi Hiruzen had met with Minato, outlining how to negotiate the treaty and Konoha's stance.
"Let's go," Minato said, nodding as the group, laden with supplies, followed him out of Konohagakure.
Hiruzen had instructed Minato to prioritize peace, even if it meant sacrificing Konoha's interests to secure a treaty with Iwagakure. It was a bold move, one that Minato knew would spark fierce debate. For a leader to forgo any gains after his people fought so hard to repel invaders was, without question, a form of betrayal.
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