Chapter 222: I’ll Go
During the month of cold war between Kitahara Kaede and Tsunade, Konoha underwent a massive transformation.
The alliance with the Hidden Rain Village brought newfound stability. Through resale channels in smaller nations, arms shipments were converted into a steady stream of gold and silver. Konoha’s previously strained finances were completely restored. Seeing the advanced weaponry Konoha now possessed, surrounding small nations proactively submitted requests to establish diplomatic ties.
Watching the dazzling political achievements Minato Namikaze had delivered, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally announced his official retirement on an ordinary day.
The weather was beautiful on the day Minato donned the Hokage robe. Ninjas and civilians alike packed the streets, looking up at the freshly carved Fourth face on the Hokage Rock as cheers echoed through the sky.
Konoha had entered a new era.
Inside the Hokage’s office, Minato sat behind his desk, facing three stacks of scrolls that reached halfway up his torso. He paused his pen and gazed out the window at the streets below, lost in thought for a moment.
He shook his head with a wry smile.
’Now that I’m actually in this position, I can finally appreciate how hard the Third worked.’
Minato murmured to himself, his tone tinged with a hint of helplessness. Just then, hurried footsteps sounded from outside.
*Tap, tap.*
"Come in."
Minato set down his pen and looked toward the door. An ANBU from the Intelligence Department entered and presented a letter. The envelope was sealed with a water-ripple wax stamp, and a red "Urgent" mark was clearly noted in the upper right corner.
"Hokage-sama, a secret urgent letter from the Hidden Mist Village."
Minato’s brow furrowed slightly.
The Hidden Mist Village?
Since the death of the Third Mizukage, Kirigakure had remained in a state of total isolation, severing even basic diplomatic communications. Last time, they had even attempted to seal the Three-Tails into Nohara Rin to launch an attack on Konoha.
Why would they suddenly send a secret urgent letter now? Furthermore, they had bypassed all standard diplomatic channels to deliver it directly to the Hokage’s desk.
Minato took the letter and waved the ANBU away. Once the door closed, he opened the parchment.
The content was blunt. Kirigakure was facing "special problems" internally and hoped to form an alliance with Konoha. However, they required Konoha to dispatch core combat personnel to help resolve the situation.
Minato’s gaze lingered on the word "alliance," weighing the pros and cons. If he could bring Kirigakure into Konoha’s sphere of allies, Konoha would hold two of the five great nations’ seats. This would be a massive strategic advantage.
However, Minato didn’t let excitement cloud his judgment; he continued reading. The final line of the letter caused his expression to darken instantly.
The envoy sent by Konoha must be, and can only be, Kitahara Kaede.
Minato placed the letter on the desk, sensing that the whole affair was strange. Kitahara Kaede had previously wiped out a large portion of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen’s main force on the battlefield. The captured ninja tools were still sealed in Konoha’s armory.
For Kirigakure to specifically name him for negotiations? No matter how you looked at it, this seemed like a trap—and a clumsy one at that, as if they hadn’t even bothered to hide it.
Yet, the weight of the word "alliance" was simply too great.
Minato thought for a while, then picked up his pen to write a reply. But the tip of the pen hovered over the paper, unable to descend. He couldn’t make a final decision on this alone; he had to ask Kaede. The youth always had his own unique insights.
"Fox, come here!" Minato called out.
An ANBU stepped inside.
"Hokage-sama."
"Go and bring Kitahara Kaede to me."
***
At the training grounds, the appearance of the ANBU interrupted Kitahara Kaede’s movements.
"Kitahara-jonin, the Hokage requests your presence."
Kaede felt a flicker of confusion. The arms plan and the alliance with the Hidden Rain Village were both proceeding according to schedule. Everything that needed to be reported had already been reported. For Minato to summon him so suddenly meant something had likely changed.
Kaede pushed open the door to the Hokage’s office.
"Hokage-sama."
He stood still, his tone respectful. Minato smiled warmly and gestured for him to sit.
"Didn’t I tell you that you don’t have to call me that in private?"
Kaede shook his head. "Proper rules shouldn’t change. Putting that aside, why the urgency? Did something happen?"
Minato’s smile faded as he picked up the letter and handed it over. "Take a look at this."
Kaede took the letter and scanned the page quickly. When he reached the end, he froze.
*Must be, and can only be, Kitahara Kaede.*
With the advantage of his foreknowledge, Kaede instantly deduced the nature of Kirigakure’s so-called "special problems." The timeline aligned perfectly.
After Nohara Rin’s "death," Obito would have undoubtedly used genjutsu to control the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura. The era of the Bloody Mist was unfolding. The "special problems" were a puppet Mizukage and an impending internal collapse.
But when he saw the phrase "specifically naming Kitahara Kaede," his heart skipped a beat.
Kaede ruled out the possibility that the Kirigakure high command wanted revenge. Then, he realized the key.
Terumi Mei.
Tsunade had her memories, and Pakura had hers. Terumi Mei must also have her memories!
This letter wasn’t an official diplomatic gesture at all. It was almost certainly Terumi Mei using this situation to lure him to Kirigakure!
Kaede felt a headache coming on. His cold war with Tsunade had lasted a month, and he hadn’t even found a chance to explain himself. Now Terumi Mei was playing this card.
He was caught in a dilemma. If he went to Kirigakure, would he just leave Tsunade hanging? But if he didn’t go, Terumi Mei would be fighting a lonely battle in the midst of the Bloody Mist.
However, extreme rationality quickly overrode emotion. This was a golden opportunity. He could resolve his relationship with her privately under the guise of an ally. If he missed this chance, they might only meet again as enemies on a battlefield.
Kaede spoke. "I’ll go."
Minato’s expression shifted, and he stood up abruptly. "What? You don’t suspect they’re trying to set a trap to kill you? You killed their Seven Ninja Swordsmen!"
Kaede placed the letter back on the desk. "There are no eternal enemies in the shinobi world, only eternal interests."
Minato blinked, stunned.
"Kirigakure is currently in a state of total isolation," Kaede continued his analysis. "If they weren’t facing a genuine crisis of survival, they would never send a secret letter to Konoha. They wouldn’t risk provoking another war just to kill one man."
Hearing this, Minato fell into deep thought. It was true. For Kirigakure to break its isolation and proactively seek help, the internal issues had to be severe. But that didn’t mean the trip was without danger.
"Maybe you should—" Minato started to advise.
"No need," Kaede interrupted. "An alliance with Kirigakure is better for the village."
Minato looked into Kaede’s eyes. From Mount Kikyo to Kannabi Bridge and then to the Hidden Rain, this youth had sacrificed a great deal for Konoha. Now, for the village’s strategic interests, he was willing to venture deep into Kirigakure alone.
A wave of emotion surged in Minato’s heart.
"Very well." Minato nodded and stood up. "Get ready. I’ll send the reply to Kirigakure immediately."
Kaede bowed and turned to leave the office. The moment the door closed, he let out a wry laugh.
This trip to Kirigakure was not going to be an easy one.