Chapter 267: Eye Contact
Konoha’s streets were crowded with people.
Kitahara Kaede walked ahead, while Rin followed two steps behind him like a small tail.
She hadn’t seen the outside world in several months.
A new dumpling shop had opened beside the road. Groups of Ninja Academy students chased one another through the street, while several children surrounded an old man selling balloons.
Rin’s gaze lingered on those ordinary sights, and her pace unconsciously slowed.
Kaede noticed the footsteps behind him growing distant. He slowed as well until they walked side by side.
"I’m sorry you had to remain in Shikkotsu Forest for the past few months."
His voice was low enough that only Rin could hear.
Rin immediately withdrew her gaze and shook her head.
"It’s all right. As long as I can help."
She paused. A trace of anticipation she couldn’t conceal entered her voice as she asked carefully, "Kitahara-senpai, is Minato-sensei... the Hokage now?"
Kaede gave a quiet hum of confirmation.
Rin’s eyes brightened behind her mask.
After hesitating for two seconds, she couldn’t resist asking, "Then when you report the mission, could I..."
"No."
Kaede interrupted her directly. His voice was calm but left no room for debate.
"If Minato sees you in this disguise, explaining the situation will become extremely troublesome."
Rin’s shoulders drooped almost imperceptibly before she nodded obediently.
"I understand."
Kaede turned his head and glanced at her.
The mask concealed her expression, but her lowered lashes still betrayed her disappointment.
He looked forward again and softened his voice.
"If this mission goes well, you won’t merely be able to meet Minato and Kakashi openly. There will also be an unexpected surprise you could never imagine."
Rin suddenly raised her head.
"An unexpected surprise?"
Kaede said nothing more and continued walking.
Rin opened her mouth, then forcibly swallowed the next question.
She understood his way of doing things. If he didn’t want to speak, no amount of asking would change his mind.
She quickened her pace to catch up, her disappointment already replaced by intense curiosity.
They soon reached the entrance of the Hokage Building.
After briefly speaking with the guards, Kaede turned to Rin.
"Wait here."
Rin nodded and obediently moved into a nearby shadow.
Kaede confirmed her position before entering the building.
He knocked on the office door.
When Minato saw him enter, surprise flashed across his face.
"Kaede? Why are you back already? Is there something else?"
Kaede approached the desk and handed him Terumi Mei’s letter.
"I previously asked Mei to watch for anyone targeting Jinchuriki. Kirigakure has now discovered signs of someone secretly scouting its outer perimeter."
Minato unfolded the letter and quickly read it, his brow immediately furrowing.
"The enemy may have already spread a net across the Shinobi World to capture Jinchuriki."
He set down the letter and looked at Kaede.
"Are you planning to go to Kirigakure?"
"Yes."
Kaede nodded.
"This is an opportunity to observe the enemy from close range. We can’t let it pass."
Minato considered the situation for several seconds.
"Are you going alone?"
"I’ve brought one assistant. Mei will also receive us once we reach Kirigakure."
Minato remained silent for a moment.
He stood, walked to the window, then turned back.
"Take an elite ANBU operative with you as well. Additional combat power will make the mission safer."
Kaede had intended to refuse, but an idea suddenly flashed through his mind.
Bring Kakashi.
If they truly encountered Obito in Kirigakure, Kakashi might prove useful in an unexpected way.
Kaede followed the suggestion.
"Where is Kakashi now? I need him to accompany me."
At the name, Minato visibly froze and hesitation appeared on his face.
"Kaede, ever since that incident... Kakashi has completely changed."
Unconcealed worry entered Minato’s voice.
"He carries out missions without the slightest regard for his own life now. He’s like a machine without emotions. And this mission is in Kirigakure. That place, for him..."
"It’ll be fine."
Kaede interrupted, his expression calm.
"I can handle him. Besides, in his current state, he’s actually better suited to an extremely dangerous mission."
Minato looked at him, wanting to speak but stopping himself.
In the end, he sighed and signaled toward the darkness.
"Summon Kakashi."
Not long afterward, another person silently appeared in the center of the office.
Kakashi knelt on one knee, his forehead protector slanting over his left eye.
He kept his head lowered, his voice utterly emotionless.
"Hokage-sama."
Minato looked at the student he had once been most proud of, an indescribable ache rising in his heart.
He quickly suppressed it.
"Kakashi, there’s an urgent mission requiring you to assist Kitahara Kaede. The objective is in Kirigakure. He’ll explain the details on the road."
Kakashi stood and slowly turned toward Kaede.
The moment he met Kaede’s calm eyes, Kakashi’s gaze turned cold.
Kitahara Kaede.
To stop Kirigakure’s conspiracy, he had pierced Rin’s chest with Lightning Style.
Rationally, Kakashi knew it had been the only choice at the time. It had been necessary to protect the village.
Emotionally, he would never accept it.
Kaede was like a mirror reflecting the person Kakashi least wanted to become—the kind he despised most.
A perfect "ninja tool" capable of sacrificing a comrade without hesitation for the sake of a mission.
Just like... the people whose condemnation had driven his father to death.
The most ridiculous part was that Kakashi himself had once been that kind of person, constantly speaking of rules and valuing missions above his comrades.
Obito had taught him with his life. Rin’s kindness had made him understand...
Kakashi withdrew his gaze, his voice even stiffer than before.
"Understood."
Kaede paid no attention to his cold attitude and looked at Minato.
"I’ll explain the mission to him on the road."
He nodded toward Minato.
"Then I’ll leave first."
Minato studied him deeply.
"Be careful."
"Understood."
Kaede reached the door and glanced sideways at Kakashi.
"Kakashi, let’s go."
Kakashi followed without a word, deliberately maintaining a distance of three steps.
His entire body radiated a warning not to approach.
They walked through the corridor one after another, neither speaking.
Kaede suddenly broke the silence.
"Someone else is waiting downstairs."
Kakashi gave no response. His eyelid didn’t even move.
The two left the Hokage Building.
From the corner of his exposed dead-fish eye, Kakashi casually noticed someone standing beside the entrance.
A black cloak. A mask. A small, quiet figure.
He was about to look away when the cloaked person turned toward them at the same moment.
Through the mask, their gazes met.