…
"That's basically all I need you to do. Especially keep an eye on whether anyone in the Kirigakure shows signs of being under genjutsu. If anything happens, contact me immediately."
After hearing Mitsuki's request, Mei was a little surprised."That's it?"
"What else did you expect?" Mitsuki countered. "Oh right—your Fourth Mizukage is that baby-faced kid, Yagura, right?"
"Yes, Lord Yagura. What are you trying to do? Just like the Hokage, the Fourth cares deeply about peace."
Mei suddenly grew nervous. She still remembered how the guy in front of her had crossed blades with Yagura for quite some time back before he became Mizukage.
Mitsuki gave a helpless smile.
"I like peace too, you know? Anyway, just a warning: if you notice your Mizukage suddenly acting out of character, becoming violent or unreasonable, he's probably been put under genjutsu."
In his original world, the one who controlled the Fourth Mizukage was Obito, but Madara reviving the same plan wouldn't be hard at all — after all, Obito's entire skillset back then came straight from Madara. Controlling a major village brings huge benefits.
"Even the Mizukage could fall under control…? Understood. I'll keep an eye out."
Since this was someone even Mitsuki took seriously, Mei didn't bother clinging to useless pride. Acknowledging her village's weaknesses was also a kind of growth.
"Well then, here's to good cooperation." Mitsuki extended his left hand. "I'll send you back to the inn."
Mei's eyes shifted as something came to mind. "How am I supposed to contact you?"
The space-time jutsu from before was only good for one-way contact. She had no way to instantly send intel to him.
"Oh—right. I almost forgot."
Mitsuki rubbed his forehead awkwardly, stood up, and walked over to a bookshelf. He grabbed a scroll and handed it to her.
"This scroll has a sensory formula I wrote myself. If you discover anything, just scratch out the pattern here, and I'll receive the signal. Then I'll teleport to your location using Flying Thunder God."
It was a prototype he and Minato had been researching: by disrupting a pre-placed formula, they could create an alarm or distress signal. The basic concept already worked; next they wanted to shrink it and simplify the activation method.
Mei accepted the scroll, surprised.
"You're not afraid I'll set up a trap in Kiri, send a fake signal, and drag you into an ambush?"
Mitsuki gave her a full-on are you stupid? stare. How had he not noticed before that she could be unintentionally funny?
"It's just intel transmission. The one I send over is only a shadow clone."
"Ah—right…" ರ_ರ
Realizing she'd just embarrassed herself, Mei's cheeks flushed bright red. She extended her hand and grabbed his.
"I get it. Just send me back already…"
Mitsuki shrugged and controlled the chakra flow in his body. Flying Thunder God activated instantly!
…
The next day, the second round of peace talks between Konoha and Kiri officially resumed.
Mitsuki again appeared as the guest representative, there to "lighten the mood".
This time, with a certain "mysterious Konoha man" no longer causing trouble, the negotiations went smoothly. The Kiri delegation agreed to all of the monetary reparations for the Land of Water without complaint — though when it came to the mission commission percentage, they put on an impressive performance of misery and managed to shave off another 3%.
Konoha didn't care much about the money anyway. And considering the Kiri emissaries had all been beaten half to death by Danzo and then pretended it never happened to avoid exposing Konoha's internal mess… Shikaku let the small discount slide.
After another peaceful day passed, once Kisame confirmed the intel with the Fourth Mizukage Yagura via summoning, he brought the official documents to the Third Hokage.
And just like that, the peace talks concluded perfectly.
In the early summer of Konoha Year 46, the Kiri officially withdrew from the Third Great Ninja War. Aside from necessary garrisons, most Uchiha and Hyuga clan members stationed at the eastern coastline battlefield could finally go home and rest.
Truly worth celebrating.
…
Inside the Senju compound—
With Kiri delegates gone, Mitsuki wasn't in a hurry to leave for the Hot Springs Country front. Hurrying wouldn't change anything anyway — since the Hokage himself wasn't worried.
Lying on what had basically become his "respawn point" Mitsuki rested on the rocking chair with a thick book covering his face. The title read:
"Absolute Components of the Soul and Taboo Methods of Chakra Conversion"
"I don't get it. I seriously don't get any of this!"
Mitsuki had to admit he really might not have talent for soul-related studies.
Shukaku, curled up sleeping on his stomach, didn't react at all. It had grown used to this. Give it a little time — Mitsuki would inevitably get stubborn and dive right back into soul theory.
Knock knock knock—
A clear knocking sound echoed.
Mitsuki lazily sat up, set the book aside, and opened the door.
"Lord Mitsuki, the Hokage requests your presence."
"Got it."
Once he replied, the ANBU instantly disappeared with Body Flicker.
Mitsuki teleported near the Hokage Building. Given the timing, Hiruzen was surely calling him about the frontlines. Leaving a ninja of Mitsuki's caliber idle in the village really was wasteful.
He pushed open the office door.
Hiruzen sat behind his desk as usual, surrounded by scrolls and paperwork. Konoha might be called a "village," but its territory was second only to the Land of Fire's capital — meaning every Hokage dealt with a mountain of work. Well… except for the future Fourth Hokage, Minato — unsurprising for the fastest man alive.
"Being Hokage really looks exhausting," Mitsuki said casually.
Hiruzen smiled warmly.
"Why? Mitsuki… would you like to become the Fifth Hokage someday?"
Tsukizuki waved both hands frantically.
"No, no, no—please don't. You know me, Lord Hokage. I hate work."
"Hahaha!"
Hiruzen let out a hearty laugh. He knew — Mitsuki didn't want the job now.But in the future? If Konoha truly needed him, Hiruzen had no doubt Mitsuki would step forward.
That was the confidence granted by the Will of Fire!