"Understood."
Minato nodded. For now, their connection with the Daimyō's court absolutely could not be brought into the open.
If Hiruzen and the elders grew suspicious too early, everything would become complicated.
Hidden in the shadows, however—
It might become their sharpest blade.
Still, something felt off.
The information Jin had shared was important—but they had established secure communication channels. Jin wouldn't personally travel just to deliver this.
Minato looked at him directly.
"Jin… that's not the only reason you came out, is it?"
Jin smiled faintly.
"Nothing gets past you."
"You're right. My main destination is the Land of Rain."
"I'm only passing through the Land of Hot Water."
Wartime security inside the Land of Fire was suffocating. Patrols everywhere. Suspicion in every shadow.
To avoid detection, Jin had entered through the coastal waters near the Land of Waves, then moved across smaller nations along the border—Threading through the Land of Rice Fields, the Land of Iron, the Land of Waterfalls, the Land of Grass—before heading toward Amegakure.
It sounded circuitous.
In reality, it was a careful arc around the Land of Fire's perimeter.
Whoever had originally drawn the borders of the Land of Fire had clearly anticipated war. No major power directly bordered it. Instead, smaller buffer nations surrounded it like a shield.
An enemy had to break through those smaller states first—buying the Land of Fire time to respond.
The battlefield would remain beyond its own soil.
It was a cold, pragmatic strategy.
The suffering of small nations?
That was the price of being weak.
Minato frowned slightly.
"Why the Land of Rain?"
Jin's gaze sharpened.
"It concerns you."
Minato blinked.
"Me?"
"Your teacher," Jin reminded him calmly. "Jiraiya once took in three students in the Land of Rain."
Minato froze.
"…Yahiko. Nagato. Konan."
He had never met them personally—but Jiraiya spoke of them often.
Especially recently. Jiraiya had even begun writing his first novel, inspired by Nagato.
Jin nodded.
"Yes. Them."
Only after receiving intelligence had Jin recalled this critical turning point.
Danzō Shimura had secretly traveled to the Land of Rain during the war.
His goal?
To prolong the conflict between Konoha and Iwagakure.
He collaborated with Hanzo of the Salamander, manipulating the battlefield from the shadows.
And in doing so—
He targeted the very group Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan had formed:
Akatsuki.
An organization advocating peace without extreme violence.
Their growing influence interfered with Danzō's designs.
So he orchestrated a trap with Hanzo.
And that trap would become the beginning of Nagato's descent into darkness.
Minato's brow furrowed.
"What happened to them? Why would Danzō target them?"
Jin asked in return,
"You've heard of the Akatsuki rising in the Land of Rain recently, haven't you?"
Minato nodded.
"They're said to be a neutral organization advocating peace without force."
"They're admirable."
"They are Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan's creation," Jin said quietly.
Minato's eyes widened—then softened with pride.
"Jiraiya-sensei's students… I'm not surprised."
But then realization struck.
He stood abruptly.
"Wait—Danzō is going after them?"
Minato knew Danzō's reputation.
Cold, decisive—if you were being charitable.
Ruthless, manipulative, inhuman—if you weren't.
If Danzō had set his sights on Jiraiya's students—
Minato couldn't remain seated.
They were his junior disciples in name, even if they had never met.
And from what he had heard, they were earnest idealists.
"Calm down," Jin said, raising a hand.
"Danzō's target isn't them directly."
"They're just… in his way."
Minato stared.
"Explain."
Jin spoke evenly.
"Konoha and Iwagakure are only skirmishing at the borders now. Anyone with eyes can see the war is ending."
"Hiruzen intends to concede certain benefits to expedite a ceasefire."
Minato's expression darkened.
"And Danzō opposes that."
"Correct."
"Danzō refuses to accept a treaty that resembles surrender when Konoha holds the advantage."
"He voiced his objections."
"But Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane sided with the Third."
"His opposition was overruled."
Danzō, however—
Was not the type to yield because of debate.
"My intelligence suggests," Jin continued, "that Danzō intends to reignite large-scale conflict in the Land of Rain."
"He plans to provoke Konoha, Iwagakure, and Amegakure into escalation."
"If the war resumes, Hiruzen's peace proposal collapses."
"He would be forced to take a hardline stance."
"And Akatsuki—"
"Are actively tending to the wounded. Advocating ceasefires. Interfering with battlefield chaos."
"In Danzō's eyes, they are obstacles."
Minato clenched his fists.
"And he'll eliminate them."
"Yes."
Jin's voice remained steady.
"Because that's who he is."
Privately, Jin actually understood Danzō's frustration.
Konoha had already conceded far too much in its ceasefire with Sunagakure.
Now, Iwagakure would receive similar treatment.
After watching those precedents, Kumogakure and Kirigakure would likely refuse to make meaningful concessions.
Hiruzen's pursuit of peace—
Would once again cost Konoha's shinobi.
The fallen might not even receive proper compensation.
Konoha would win the war—
Yet lose the spoils.
It was humiliating.
Strategically weak.
And in Jin's view—
Unacceptable.
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