"I understand the Hokage's intentions. With the decisive battle approaching, you should head back first."
Koharu Utatane nodded.
However, Minato Namikaze didn't rush to leave. Instead, he pulled out a small bamboo tube from his chest.
"This is a secret message from the Hokage specifically for you."
"Good."
Koharu Utatane took the message tube, examined the sealed wax, but didn't hurry to open it. She said slowly:
"Your teacher and Fugaku Uchiha will go to battle alongside Hidden Mist. Ao Peng and I will stay behind to assist with logistics. This leaves me short-handed. I think your student Kakashi is quite good—steady and resolute, very much like his father. How about lending him to me?"
Minato Namikaze smiled:
"Kakashi is indeed excellent. Though young, he has a resilient character. However, since his father's death, he's carried anger in his heart. I'm afraid..."
"No matter."
Koharu Utatane waved her hand with a gentle smile.
"This is a perfect opportunity to train him and temper his character."
Minato Namikaze thought for a moment:
"Very well, I'll entrust him to Elder Koharu."
Koharu Utatane had a decent reputation in Konoha—unlike Danzo Shimura with his belly full of schemes, or Homura Mitokado with his worldly smoothness. She always maintained the demeanor of a humble elder. Kakashi would be safe in her hands.
With that, he disappeared in a Body Flicker.
Watching Minato Namikaze depart, Koharu Utatane's smile slowly faded.
She slowly pulled out the message tube, twisted it open, and poured its contents into her palm.
A small slip of paper and a red pill appeared in her hand.
Koharu Utatane picked up the paper. It contained only one sentence:
Prepare to activate Plan Three.
"Mm, it's about time."
Koharu Utatane extended her hand, instantly creating a small fireball that quickly burned the paper to ash.
"Hiruzen's three students—not one of them is worry-free. Tsunade married into Sand Village, Jiraiya is a wanderer, and the only somewhat normal one, Orochimaru, spends all day scheming who knows what. To think he could create such harmful things. The village will need to guard against him in the future."
Koharu Utatane held the red pill between two fingers, examining it in the sunlight while muttering to herself.
"Fifteen thousand chakra enhancement drugs, not one missing. Please verify."
Koharu Utatane opened two large leather cases filled with pills sealed in plastic bags.
"Good! Good! Good!"
Goji Yagura laughed happily.
"Konoha's strength is truly formidable! With this batch of medicine, our Typhoon Operation can proceed smoothly!"
Typhoon Operation was the codename for this surprise attack on the Yuexi Peninsula. (The author isn't great at naming things—please bear with it.)
He looked toward Ao Peng:
"Distribute the medicine overnight—two pills per person. Get it done tonight. Tomorrow we set sail!"
Ao Peng nodded and bowed:
"I'll handle it immediately."
He took the medicine cases and withdrew.
Goji Yagura turned to Ao:
"Ao, for this expedition to the Yuexi Peninsula, I'll personally lead the campaign. You stay in the village to assist Master Yuan and Master Ao Peng."
He glanced meaningfully in Koharu Utatane's direction.
This small gesture didn't escape Koharu Utatane's notice, but she showed no reaction, as if she hadn't heard.
"Mizukage-sama, rest assured. All ANBU members will spare no effort to ensure the village's safety."
Ao bowed in response.
...
In a dense forest of Hidden Mist Village:
"Kakashi, the village has an important mission for you."
Koharu Utatane said gravely.
"Please give your orders, Elder Koharu."
Kakashi lowered his head.
"Find an opportunity to make Rin take this pill."
Koharu Utatane produced a small glass vial containing a red pill.
"This is..."
Kakashi's form trembled slightly.
"What you shouldn't know, you needn't know."
Koharu Utatane frowned.
But Kakashi didn't respond.
Seeing this, Koharu Utatane pondered for a moment, then spoke gently:
"Don't worry, Kakashi. This pill won't take Rin's life."
Hearing this, Kakashi's body relaxed slightly.
Koharu Utatane continued:
"I know Rin isn't just your classmate from ninja school, but a comrade you've fought alongside day and night. Such bonds are hard to sever. Konoha is a village that treasures bonds."
Koharu Utatane's tone became even gentler:
"But the Three-Tails jinchūriki is an important village resource. Konoha won't abandon it."
This was quite believable. Kakashi thought to himself:
"Then... our deal with Hidden Mist..."
"Hehe, do you think Hidden Mist is really attacking the Yuexi Peninsula for the tailed beast? Let me tell you—even without this deal, Hidden Mist would deploy troops sooner or later."
"Then why..."
"Because Konoha's people can't afford any more losses."
Koharu Utatane's expression grew serious.
"Kakashi, do you know how many air raids the Wind-Cloud Alliance has conducted on Konoha since you left the village? 273 times. Each one claims lives, each one destroys countless homes. We can't wait any longer."
"Elder Koharu, I understand."
Kakashi's gaze became more resolute.
Seeing Kakashi like this, Koharu Utatane felt relieved.
"I'll be honest with you—this isn't poison, but a genjutsu pill that can control tailed beasts. After taking it, the jinchūriki will undergo tailed beast transformation. This will throw Hidden Mist Village into brief chaos, and we'll seize the opportunity to reclaim the jinchūriki."
"Will it affect Rin's body?"
"She might be weak for a few months, but rest will cure it."
"Really?"
"Of course. This medicine uses Orochimaru's research—the technology is completely mature and absolutely foolproof."
...
Unbeknownst to them, several hundred meters away on a large tree, a pair of blood-red eyes was watching their every move.
"Kakashi, that fool! How can he believe such lies! No, I can't let Rin be harmed..."
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