It was deep into the night.
The lights in the Hokage Building went out one after another. Only the top-floor office remained lit. At the other end of the village, a solitary lamp also burned in the study of Namikaze Minato's residence.
The tea had long since gone cold.
Mitokado Homura held the teacup, but he did not lift it. He simply let the chill from its cold surface seep into his fingertips.
Utatane Koharu sat across from him, her hands folded over her knees. Her posture was impeccable, but her tightly pressed lips betrayed the unrest in her heart.
"Minato, you must refuse."
In the end, Mitokado Homura was the first to speak. His voice was dry, like rock worn smooth by wind and sand.
Namikaze Minato did not answer at once. He stood before the window, gazing at Konoha glowing with lights in the distance. Under the night sky, the village looked peaceful and serene. Yet beneath that tranquility, a silent storm was brewing.
"This is a trap, a political trap designed specifically for you." Mitokado Homura's tone grew heavier. "What kind of place is the Land of Rain? It is the Akatsuki's lair! They say they want you to serve as a 'peace observer,' but in reality, they are treating you as a hostage!"
Utatane Koharu picked up where he left off, her voice several degrees sharper than his. "The moment you set foot in the Land of Rain, your life and death will no longer be in your own hands. You will become a bargaining chip for Baishi to manipulate us with. He can send more troops into the Land of Rain at any time under the pretext of 'protecting the observer's safety.' And after your 'accidental death,' he can launch a revenge war with perfect