The tent was very quiet.
There was no sound of the wind, no chirping of insects, and even one's own heartbeat could not be heard clearly. An invisible barrier completely isolated this place from the outside world, turning it into an airtight, isolated island.
Namikaze Minato sat cross-legged on a simple folding mattress.
He felt neither anxiety nor anger.
When he decided to defy that order, he had already prepared himself to bear all the consequences. Suspension, investigation, impeachment... He had thought through all of these cold procedures.
Yet he did not regret it.
In his view, using the lives of comrades to trade for so-called political righteousness was the most thorough betrayal of the Will of Fire. He saved them, and that in itself was the greatest correctness.
He simply could not understand how Baishi had become like this.
That young man who had once discussed the true meaning of the Will of Fire with him in the archives of the ANBU Former Site had now turned so cold, viewing the lives of comrades as calculable bargaining chips.
Hum.
A slight vibration came from the air.
A cluster of water vapor condensed out of thin air in the open space in front of Minato, rapidly expanding into a clear water mirror.
Reflected in the mirror was the scene inside the Hokage's Office.
Fifth Hokage Baishi was sitting in that chair symbolizing Konoha's highest authority, with the huge character for "fire" behind him. He did not look at Minato, only lowering his head to review a document, as if this cross-dimensional communication were merely a trivial matter of business dealt with in the gaps of handling official duties.
Minato silently looked at him.
After a long time, Baishi finally put down the pen in his hand, raised his head, and