Psychological Warfare in the Isolation Buffer Zone and the Medical Report That Rendered the Truth Meaningless

Windblown sand swept past the Soundproofing Barrier with a faint, mournful whine.

Baishi stood outside the Barrier, the Medical Rescue Team lined up at attention behind him. He did not look at Namikaze Minato inside. His gaze rested on the barren horizon, as though he were admiring a monotonous landscape painting.

Inside the Barrier, Minato cut an especially lonely figure.

He looked at Baishi, at the glaring Hokage Haori, at the massive team marching under the banner of "rescue." Rage and grief burned together in his chest.

"Baishi!"

Minato's voice was hoarse, but it cut through the wind, brimming with fury.

"So you finally decided to show yourself!"

He walked step by step to the transparent wall of the Barrier and pressed his gaunt palm against its cold surface.

"You planned all of this! You used the Exploration Team as bait and my name to inflame the conflict. You turned Konoha's hero into a stepping-stone for your power grab!"

"All of you behind him, you've been deceived!" Minato turned to the medical ninja in white uniforms, his voice rising sharply. "He's Konoha's greatest schemer! He's dragging the village into the abyss!"

His accusations echoed across the empty buffer zone.

Unease rippled through the medical ninja. Some of the younger ones even glanced instinctively at Baishi, confusion in their eyes.

Tsunade stood at the front of the team, arms crossed, her brow deeply furrowed.

Baishi acted as though he had heard nothing.

He merely turned his head slightly and spoke to an ANBU operative beside him.

"Turn on the amplification equipment. Give Comrade Minato a proper outlet for his emotions."

"Yes."

The ANBU operative immediately took out a Scroll and activated the Sound Conduction Jutsu.

In an instant, Minato's voice boomed across the entire area, amplified dozens of times. Every word