Tap~
Tap~
Namikaze Minato, his blond hair bright, followed behind a Mist Village Anbu, making his way step by step toward the Mizukage's office.
His expression was somewhat solemn and tense, the sunny smile that usually graced his face entirely gone.
Because he understood just how important his mission today was.
It was not only about the more than one thousand Konoha ninja whose lives and deaths remained unknown, but also the pressure from every corner of the village weighing down on Jiraiya.
If they had fought to the bitter end and only a few hundred had managed to break out of the encirclement, then even if Jiraiya had been defeated, he would not have faced too much blame.
But as the commander, he had abandoned more than a thousand subordinates and fled on his own.
Among those left behind were ninja from many different clans. If negotiations with Kirigakure failed and they could not be brought back, then Jiraiya's political career in Konoha would probably end there.
Therefore, for the sake of those captured comrades and for his teacher, the pressure on Namikaze Minato's shoulders was immense.
Furthermore, over this period, Kirigakure had inflicted far too much damage upon Konoha. Even his girlfriend had been slashed.
It was only because he had been sent away and was not in the village at the time. Otherwise...
So, no matter what, he could not force a smile when facing Mist Village ninja.
"We're here."
The Mist ninja leading the way stopped and pointed at the door before them. "Go in. Lord Mizukage is waiting for you!"
"Phew..."
Namikaze Minato quietly took a deep breath, then grasped the office doorknob.
Twist, push...
Click!
Creak~
The door opened, and then...
Boom!
An overwhelming pressure came crashing toward him!
In Namikaze Minato's eyes, it