Thinking this, Namikaze Kirito stood up.
Regret and reluctance flickered briefly across his eyes as he looked at his parents.
"Kirito," Minato said gently, already understanding, "I know. Go do what you need to do. Be careful."
"Yes," Kushina added with a smile. "Your father and I will be waiting for you to come back."
They had just reunited. There were countless things they still wanted to say.
But both Minato and Kushina knew—this was not the time.
One wrong step in Kirito's plan could change everything.
If they held him back now, they might become the very weakness that endangered him.
So they smiled… and watched their son leave.
Soon after, Orochimaru entered the room.
After all, the three of them were old acquaintances, and someone needed to guide Minato and Kushina through the changes the shinobi world had undergone.
That was also Kirito's arrangement.
After leaving the base, Kirito headed straight for the large ship bound for Kirigakure.
The vessel had been built by Gensokyo itself.
Kimimaro stood silently behind him, acting as his guard for this trip.
Several years ago, the Village Hidden in the Mist had implemented the Blood Mist policy. Since then, diplomacy had all but ceased—even merchants found it difficult to enter.
If one wanted to reach Kirigakure, the simplest solution was to build one's own means of transport.
The Land of Heaven was rich in agriculture and seafood and bordered the sea.
Shipbuilding was hardly a challenge.
Under the Blood Mist policy, Kirigakure's population had plummeted.
Countless kekkei genkai clans and hidden technique families had been purged, plunging the village into fear.
Though these policies were enforced by the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, there were still shinobi who sought reform.
Through Orochimaru's research and Yakushi Kabuto's expertise, infiltrating personnel without detection was trivial.
Kabuto had been a spy long before.
Thus, Gensokyo made contact with Kirigakure's reformists and reached a consensus.
Information sharing.
Assistance in resolving Yagura's situation.
In return, Kirigakure would unconditionally cooperate with Gensokyo's future major operations.
As for what those "major operations" entailed—nothing had been specified.
The ship soon approached the waters near Kirigakure.
Kirito and Kimimaro leapt off directly, suppressing their chakra, and entered a forest on the outskirts of the village.
Kimimaro tapped a massive tree with practiced precision.
A concealed passage opened silently.
The tunnel was damp, narrow, and sealed—perfect for covert movement.
They didn't travel far before arriving at a spacious underground hall.
People were already waiting.
At the center stood a woman.
She wore a blue, form-fitting dress that accentuated her flawless figure. Long brown hair cascaded down to her straight, slender thighs.
A veil of mist obscured most of her face, leaving only her eyes visible—bright, sharp, and captivating.
With the figure of a devil and the face of an angel—
Terumi Mei.
The future Fifth Mizukage.
A kunoichi who bore two kekkei genkai.
She smiled as the two entered.
"Oh? Two handsome men~"
Her voice was soft and alluring, but no one here was foolish enough to relax.
Those crimson lips could unleash Lava Release at any moment—enough to melt flesh and bone alike.
That she had gathered this many followers under the Blood Mist regime spoke volumes of her capability.
"Greetings," Kirito said calmly. "I'm the leader of Gensokyo. This should be our first official meeting."
Ignoring the surrounding vigilance entirely, he walked over and sat down first.
Kimimaro stood behind him, arms relaxed at his sides—ready to activate Dead Bone Pulse at any instant.
Facing his composure, Mei showed no discomfort.
She sat beside Kirito, resting her chin on one hand as she studied him openly.
"I've heard of you for a long time," she said lightly. "If I'm not mistaken… you're Namikaze Kirito, correct?"
The hall erupted instantly.
"Namikaze Kirito?! That Enma?!"
"The son of the Yellow Flash?!"
"He captured the Fourth Kazekage together with Orochimaru and Uchiha Itachi!"
"So he's the leader of Gensokyo?!"
Though Kirigakure was closed, it was never blind.
Especially not Mei's faction, which was already preparing a coup.
Kirito didn't care that his identity was exposed.
He had never intended to hide it.
He looked at Mei with a faint, thoughtful smile.
"Terumi Mei… you are an interesting woman indeed."
"Tell me about your plan."
Seeing his calm confidence, Mei's own assurance deepened.
With someone like this involved, success felt far more attainable.
"We can control the village's upper leadership and the majority of the shinobi," she said. "We only need your help to deal with Yagura."
That answer was expected.
Mei's group wanted reform—not destruction.
Handing Kirigakure's shinobi over to another force would only lead to massive casualties.
That wasn't acceptable.
"And our agreement?" Kirito asked.
Mei's gaze sharpened slightly.
"There's something I want to ask first."
"The true objective of Gensokyo."
She wasn't foolish—far from it.
From the moment Gensokyo approached them, she knew their goal wasn't simple.
Now that the leader himself stood before her, she wouldn't let the chance pass.
"You really want to know?"
Mei didn't answer immediately.
Her eyes searched Kirito's face, trying to read what lay beneath his calm exterior.
Finally, he spoke.
"When the war begins—Kirigakure remains neutral."
The word war sent a ripple through the hall.
"…Is that all?"
Mei frowned slightly.
She had known there would be a price.
But this…
What kind of war required the neutrality of an entire hidden village?
Kirigakure had avoided diplomacy for years.
If neutrality was demanded now, then—
This conflict would inevitably engulf the entire shinobi world.
If she agreed, would the Mist become the target of global hostility?
Surrounded by the sea, Kirigakure was easy to defend but even the strongest fortress could fall under sustained pressure.
No one knew what kind of war Gensokyo intended to ignite.
And that uncertainty…
Was the most dangerous thing of all.
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