"Minato, what are you doing?"
Hashirama stared at Minato's reaction in disbelief.
He had considered that Minato might blame him, or ask him to make amends by helping rescue Rin.
What he had never expected was for Minato to look relieved.
What was that supposed to mean?
No matter how he looked at it, Minato seemed to have no intention of rescuing her.
"Sir, this was Rin's own choice, her own resolve. Saving the people of this world and resisting the Imperial Court isn't a responsibility that falls on you or me alone. It belongs to everyone in the world, to each and every one of us."
Minato offered his explanation.
"...So you're not going to rescue her?"
Hashirama still wanted to hear Minato say it himself.
"Rescue her? She isn't really being held against her will. She went willingly. If I brought her back, I wouldn't be rescuing her. I'd be preventing her from fulfilling her ambitions."
Minato shook his head.
"Now I don't have to agonize over it anymore. I just need to find Tsunade and have her treat Kakashi... Hm?"
As Minato spoke, he suddenly saw Hashirama hand him a note.
After handing it over, Hashirama jumped out the window and left.
The note told him to test Obito one last time before leaving, then make his own judgment.
This was Hashirama Senju's final warning.
If Minato still failed to see the truth, he would have no more chances.
Before leaving, Hashirama had already discovered Obito eavesdropping outside.
Indeed, after returning from Madara's place, Obito had happened to overhear Minato's last few remarks.
Among them was Minato's decision not to "rescue" Rin, complete with a lofty-sounding excuse.
Hatred spread through Obito's heart.
The next day, Minato found Obito and began testing him as Hashirama Senju had instructed.