"Fourth Hokage, does what he says represent Konoha's stance?"
Taking a deep breath, Mabui fixed her gaze on Minato Namikaze, as if trying to pressure him through sheer will alone.
This trip to Konoha had already been full of surprises, but now that surprise had turned into unease.
It felt like...
Konoha had changed.
And drastically.
In her memory, Konoha had never been this unyielding.
Ignoring the Kumogakure delegation, even taking the initiative to face the Hokage himself—yet maintaining such a hard, uncompromising attitude.
She had never seen this before.
Not once.
Where was the Konoha that used to shrink back, the one that always seemed so weak at the negotiation table?
She didn't know.
Right now, Mabui only wanted to confirm one thing.
Did the words that boy just spoke truly represent Konoha's official position?
If not, all would still be well—they could continue the talks, regain the upper hand, and perhaps reclaim the Two-Tails Jinchūriki along with some well-earned concessions.
Konoha had always been the one to offer generous terms for peace, and those terms were crucial for Kumogakure's recovery.
But if that was Konoha's stance...
Then things were about to get messy.
She hadn't prepared for a negotiation like this at all.
But she was destined for disappointment—the Yellow Flash wasn't the type to back down under someone's glare.
Especially not after Hakken had already set the tone.
"If that was meant as a threat," Minato said firmly, "then Konoha has no reason to welcome you."
"I've already made myself clear—just a few days ago, we were still crossing blades on the battlefield. You say you've come here bearing Kumogakure's sincerity, yet I see none of it."
"If this is the attitude you bring to end the war, then I'm afraid Konoha will never agree!"
Oh? Getting tough now.
That's more like a Hokage.
Minato-sensei, this side of you… it's something worth looking forward to.
After all, when did the so-called First Shinobi Village ever have to bow its head?
When did its Hokage have to sit at a negotiation table and offer up a tailed beast like a bargaining chip?
That—wasn't a Hokage.
In the original timeline, things had been different.
After the Third Shinobi World War ended, small-scale conflicts between the Land of Lightning and the Land of Fire still continued.
Konoha's constant concessions eventually led to disaster—after Minato's death in the Nine-Tails' attack, Kumogakure even dared to kidnap the Hyūga clan's princess, then shamelessly turned around to accuse Konoha, forcing Hizashi Hyūga to his death.
They'd been shown too much leniency.
And that kind of weakness could never be allowed to take root now.
If they were going to be firm, they had to be completely firm.
Because this time, Konoha had the strength to back it up.
The Eight-Tails Jinchūriki was severely injured, the Two-Tails Jinchūriki captured—Kumogakure's upper-tier fighting force had been cut down to one man: the Fourth Raikage.
Even if A and B had fought together, they couldn't have taken down Minato—let alone with only the Raikage left standing.
"Understood," Mabui said coldly. "It seems Konoha's sincerity ends here."
"I'll report everything that happened today directly to the Raikage. I can't predict his decision, but I do hope you won't regret this, Hokage."
With a sharp exhale, she turned to leave.
But Hakken, standing in the doorway, didn't move an inch.
"Trash. I'm right here. Want to avenge your sensei?"
He hoisted his Zanpakutō onto his shoulder, his gaze locking onto Karui.
To be honest, Hakken had no fondness for this girl at all.
Not just because she was from Kumogakure—but because in the original story, she and her teammates Omoi and Samui had come to Konoha to deliver intel to Danzō. When they ran into Naruto, they didn't hesitate to start a fight.
All because Sasuke had captured the Eight-Tails.
Even though it had only been an octopus tentacle, they didn't know that.
Avenge your master? Fine.
But maybe check whether you've got the right person first.
'Trash. I'm right here. Want to avenge your sensei?'
Words like that cut deep.
All three of Killer Bee's disciples bristled, their hands flying to their weapons—ready to strike at any moment.
"Stop."
But at that crucial moment, Mabui's voice cut through the tension, reaching everyone's ears.
As the Raikage's secretary, she was far calmer than the younger, hot-headed members of her team.
Why had the boy provoked them?
And so brazenly, at that.
It only took a moment's thought to see what he was aiming for.
He wanted to eliminate the entire Kumogakure negotiation team—right here, inside Konoha.
If they made a single move, the outcome was obvious. Death.
The youth before them was the same madman who had nearly decapitated Kumogakure's chain of command. He had been in the Land of Lightning for only a few days, yet the images of the ninja he slaughtered remained burned into everyone's memory.
He wasn't just brutal—he was terrifyingly strong.
He had fought two Jinchūriki alone, even capturing one alive. If Killer Bee hadn't fled fast enough, he might have met the same fate.
And now this madman wanted to strike down the negotiation team itself!
Mad.
Completely and utterly mad.
But a calculated kind of madness.
If Samui and the others struck first, his counterattack would give Konoha clean justification. They wouldn't be branded as murderers of emissaries—merely as defenders retaliating in self-defense.
Killing—openly, with reason on their side.
Did Konoha really want to start a war with Kumogakure?
Had everyone in Konoha gone insane?
Even the Hokage seemed to have lost his mind!
Mabui shot Hakken Yoru a long, steady look before stepping around him and pulling open the office door.
They couldn't stay here any longer.
Remaining would only invite further humiliation.
...
"You really were about to kill them, huh."
Once the Kumogakure delegation had left, Minato gave a weary sigh and tugged Hakken over to the nearby sofa.
That killing intent of his was far too heavy.
Yes, they had to show Konoha's resolve this time, but actually killing the envoys would have made things spiral out of control. The war they were trying to end would reignite instantly.
"They'll be enemies sooner or later," Hakken said coolly. "Killing them now would only save Konoha from greater losses later."
It was spoken without hesitation—just cold logic.
Besides, if he had acted, it would've been a calculated strike. Killing Kumogakure's envoys wouldn't have brought satisfaction, only disgust.
They couldn't even control their own people, letting them provoke Konoha inside its own walls.
If not for the fact that refraining from violence helped Minato maintain dignity—and that someone needed to return to Kumo and report Konoha's stance—Hakken truly would have drawn his blade.
Of course, he knew full well Karui and her teammates wouldn't dare attack him.
Mabui, though—she was different. A woman of composure and intelligence.
Her calm in that moment had earned his respect.
"But, Minato-sensei," Hakken said with a grin, clapping him on the shoulder, "when you spoke just now, you really sounded like a Hokage."
Was that something a student should be saying to his teacher?
Minato could only sigh inwardly. Why did it feel more and more like he was the one being taught how to act like a Hokage by his own disciple?
That wouldn't do. He hadn't even started teaching Hakken how to grow as a shinobi yet.
But that thought only lasted a few seconds before curiosity got the better of him.
"Hakken," Minato asked, "how do you plan to handle the ANBU?"
The truth had a way of catching up to everyone—no one escaped it.
"To build Konoha's true elite special forces," Hakken said, his tone turning serious, "only missions beyond the ability of ordinary shinobi should be handled by the ANBU."
"Don't treat ANBU operatives as disposable tools. Treat them as…"
"Konoha's heroes."
...
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