Minato Namikaze was stunned by Kazuyama Gekkō's attitude. A tailed beast had been captured—again. By this count, the enemy already had the Three-Tails and the Six-Tails. There were only nine in total. If they got another, what then?
"That may be true, but their goal is the Tailed Beasts."
"You know each Tailed Beast is a war machine. We can handle attacks from non-human creatures, but if they unleash a Tailed Beast…"
"…even if we stop it, the losses will be enormous."
Kazuyama ignored him completely. He was waiting—waiting for them to go after the Eight-Tails. Once that happened, that reckless brute definitely wouldn't sit still. Everything would fall into place after that.
"Hey, Kazuyama! You bastard, answer me!"
With Kazuyama staying silent, Minato felt his whole mood collapse. He'd called him here to discuss strategy—not to wander around.
"Alright, Minato. Don't overthink."
"They just finished an operation. They'll need time to rest. Calm down."
"By the way, who are you sending to Kumo and Iwa?"
Kazuyama only knew Kakashi and the others had gone to Kirigakure. He genuinely had no idea whom Minato planned to send to Iwa or Kumo. Minato shot him a glare.
"I haven't sent anyone yet."
"The village is still undergoing major repairs. We don't have the manpower."
"Why don't you recommend a couple?"
Kazuyama immediately laughed, gave Minato a knowing look, and pointed at himself.
"I'll go to Iwa."
"I'm confident I can talk that old bastard Ōnoki around."
"As for Kumo, I have a good candidate—it's just a matter of whether you'll use him."
He really did have someone in mind. Since he was going to deal with an old man, it made perfect sense to send their own village's old man as well. Logical.
Seeing Kazuyama's strange smile, Minato was certain he was up to no good. The moment he spoke, Minato's suspicion was confirmed.
"Send our advisor Sarutobi to Kumo."
"With his seniority, he can definitely convince that stubborn barbarian!"
See? Of course. He knew this bastard wasn't thinking anything decent. But after a second thought… he wasn't wrong. The most senior, most experienced person in all of Konoha was the former Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"True. But who are you taking to Iwa?"
"And who should accompany Advisor Sarutobi?"
Reasonable. They couldn't send Hiruzen alone—he was an old man; that would be inappropriate. Kazuyama thought for a moment and quickly settled on his choices.
"I'll bring Hayate and Yūgao Uzuki."
"As for the old geezer Sarutobi, I recommend Asuma's team."
"We're in a truce. All nations have signed peace treaties. Officially, they won't break them, so safety isn't an issue."
Minato frowned, thinking over the suggestion of sending Asuma's squad. He couldn't understand why Kazuyama would pick them.
Kazuyama smirked again.
"You know the saying: brothers fight together, fathers and sons fight on the same battlefield."
"Since we're sending old man Sarutobi, naturally his son should go with him."
"It'll help strengthen their bond. Though Asuma's back in the village, his heart's still a bit wild. A trip like this might settle him."
Hearing that, Minato accepted the plan. He immediately had the ANBU notify Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The moment the old man learned he was being sent out on official duty at his age, he exploded. He stormed into the office and started yelling at Kazuyama and Minato.
"You two bastards!"
"I'm nearly seventy! And you're sending me on a mission? To Kumo?!"
"Unbelievable!"
Who could blame him? He was almost seventy. He'd thought that after passing the Hokage position to Minato, he could finally enjoy his later years. And he had—for a while. Spending time with his wife and grandson. Nice and peaceful. He'd only been tired during the unrest a few years ago, but he'd endured that too.
And now? Barely a few days of peace, and they wanted him working again??? These bastards—did they feel no guilt? No, wait. Kazuyama never had a conscience to begin with. Look at him grinning! Bastard!
"Hey, hey, hey, old geezer Sarutobi, don't look at me like that."
"Sending you to Kumo was Minato's decision. Not mine. And I'm going out too."
"Just not to Kumo—to Iwa."
With Kazuyama shifting the blame, Minato immediately received a deadly glare from his predecessor. And he couldn't defend himself. He was the Hokage—the order had come from him. Damn it. He knew nothing good ever happened when Kazuyama was involved.
"Hmph! Don't you laugh! Even if the order came from Minato, the only one who'd think of sending an old man like me out is you!"
"All I did was work you a little harder back then, and you hold a grudge!"
"You've held it all these years! Hmph!"
Of course Hiruzen understood what Kazuyama was thinking. No one else would drag a retired elder back into the ninja world.
"Old man, don't talk like that."
"Look at Ōnoki—he's older than you."
"He's still the Tsuchikage! You're not even seventy yet. You're still in your prime. Stop dragging it out."
"You know the village's situation—everything needs rebuilding."
"And you know who the enemy is—they're not easy to deal with."
Hiruzen snorted but didn't argue. He knew exactly how severe the village's recent situation had been. The enemy's identity and power were enough to make even a former Hokage shudder.
"Fine. I'll go."
"But what about my team? You're not sending me alone, are you?"
Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, sitting off to the side. He had already accepted his fate—what else could he do? Pathetic, really. Yet when he thought about it, getting out for a bit wasn't so bad after all.