Before Departure

"Shingen, don't rush. I'm just starting to learn the tea ceremony. You need to be patient."

"Wait... why do you have goji berries here?"

"Oh, I heard this is good for your health and eyesight, it's really good, Shingen, I'll put some extra for you later."

Even if I get beaten to death or jump off a building, I will never use goji berries to make tea!

I will definitely protect this stubbornness that I've maintained for three playthroughs!

"No need, Lord Hokage, I prefer to drink it plain."

"Huh? Shingen doesn't like it that much?" Namikaze Minato's hands didn't stop, he looked at Uchiha Shingen with a slightly regretful but smug look, "This was specially prepared for me by Kushina, she was worried that I was too tired from working overtime."

As he spoke, a happy expression appeared on his face.

Uchiha Shingen felt that this was not what Kushina Uzumaki meant.

"Shingen," Uchiha Fugaku suddenly said, "A little drink is good, you often stay up late too."

"Really, no need, clan leader... Holy crap!"

Uchiha Shingen watched in shock as Uchiha Fugaku grabbed a handful of goji berries and put them into his cup.

"You're already Jonin, don't swear so easily," Uchiha Fugaku criticized, then shook the jar. "You're young now, but you'll understand how good it is in the future. This is a special supply from the Daimyo's Court; ordinary people can't buy it."

"Oh? It was a gift from the Great Name?"

This daimyo has quite a wide range of concern, even caring about the quality of the Hokage's homework at night.

"How could that be? This is goods that your Mikoto got through special channels. We'll split it 50/50 between our two families."

"I see, as expected of Mikoto..."

Forget it, I'm not going to argue with these two henpecked husbands.

"Lord Hokage, Clan Head, weren't we supposed to have a meeting?"

"What's the rush? You're a prominent figure in Leaf Village now, you need to calm down."

Old Fu, he's gotten too cocky!

Did you think he wouldn't be able to find the words if you just hid them in a different place?

"Hmm, Shingen, there's no rush. It's already happened... Oh, all done!" Namikaze Minato happily picked up the kettle and poured water.

Amidst the gurgling sound of water being poured, a layer of goji berries floated to the surface of Namikaze Minato's and Uchiha Fugaku's teacups.

It was terrifyingly bright red.

In Uchiha Shingen's eyes, it seemed as if he saw a piece of land that had turned black from being soaked in blood. Not only the land, but even the grass had turned black!

Then another proverb came to mind.

When war comes, goji berries are the first to sacrifice themselves.

Namikaze Minato and Uchiha Fugaku wore expressions of satisfaction that made Uchiha Shingen unable to look them in the eye.

Turning his gaze away, adhering to the principle of "out of sight, out of mind," he silently picked up his cup, blew on it, and enjoyed his pure tea.

A series of slurping sounds rang out in perfect unison in the office.

The three cups were placed back on the coffee table.

"Let's discuss this matter concerning Kirigakure," Namikaze Minato spoke first.

"Well, let me tell you. It all happened very suddenly." Uchiha Fugaku took out a stack of documents. "Last time, after Shingen returned, following the instructions of the Third and the advisors and elders, the village sent envoys to renew the treaty with Hidden Mist Village on the grounds that Suikazan Fuguki was dead, and secretly contacted the Hidden Mist Village ninja clans, but it didn't work."

"I understand that too." Namikaze Minato nodded. "The work of the envoys sent to Hidden Mist Village has not gone smoothly. The Mizukage Building was very willing to renew the contract, but there has been no progress in contacting the ninja clans."

"The Hidden Mist Village ninja clans only recognize the strong; the envoy's personal strength determines the outcome of the conversation," Uchiha Fugaku said calmly. "But our previous envoys didn't have enough strength."

"The one sent by the village is also a Jonin," Namikaze Minato sighed. "Our understanding of Hidden Mist Village is still too shallow."

"That's right, to put it more bluntly." Uchiha Fugaku held up two fingers. "There are only two people in Leaf Village who have the strength and ability to leave the village to do this: Shingen or Shisui. The problem now is that the contract renewals for this year haven't been completed yet, but the Mizukage Hidden Mist Village. Although Obito's identity hasn't been exposed yet, the conflict between the Mizukage Building and the ninja clans has begun to become public. Simply renewing the contract with the Mizukage Building probably won't guarantee peace on the border."

"Hmm, Fugaku, what do you think we should do?"

"Let's move both sides together. Send Shingen and Shisui together. Shisui will be the chief envoy, making contact with the Mizukage Building to try and meet the Mizukage himself, while Shingen will be the deputy envoy, making contact with the ninja clans."

At this point, Uchiha Fugaku looked at Uchiha Shingen, "Shingen, only you can take on this mission. Shisui's genjutsu and your Flying Thunder God Genjutsu are the keys to the mission's success."

Uchiha Shingen nodded, but he had something to add.

"This time, let's just go with Shisui. Don't send anyone else."

"Are you going with Shisui alone?" Namikaze Minato picked up his teacup and took a sip. "Wouldn't that make a lot of things inconvenient?"

"In Kirigakure, fewer people are more convenient. Too many people make it easier to cause trouble. Hmm... The civilian ninjas in Hidden Mist Village have rather radical ideas. If the delegation is too large, it will be seen as a demonstration and they will be antagonized. The Mizukage Building can't really control these people."

"No wonder!" Namikaze Minato exclaimed in realization.

When the Leaf Village delegation first went to Hidden Mist Village to renew the treaty, they clashed with some Mist Ninja at the hotel where they were staying.

At first, I thought it was the Mizukage Building or some ninja clan's arrangement, but later I found out that it was not like that at all.

"Shingen, if I may ask, what if it was just the two of you, yet you still clashed with the ninjas from Kirigakure?"

"Kill them. It sounds ridiculous, but in reality, killing is the only way to solve this," Uchiha Shingen said. "People who would do this are a minority among civilian ninjas, and they also tend to exclude civilian ninjas outside their circle. As long as you are tougher than them, they will back down."

"Shingen, I understand what you mean." Namikaze Minato refilled his cup with water. "But what if they come intentionally and deliberately cause a scene?"

"That requires your permission." Uchiha Shingen looked at Namikaze Minato with some anticipation. "Allow us to decide for ourselves whether we can directly demand an explanation from the Mizukage Building. Once the fact that the Mizukage is being controlled is made public, the Hidden Mist Village ninja clans will have no choice but to take action. No matter what happens in the end, Kirigakure will definitely be on good terms with Hidden Leaf Village."

"Okay, I agree. We'll do it your way!" Namikaze Minato slapped his thigh.

Compared to the proposals put forward by the two advisors and elders, Uchiha Shingen's approach suited his taste better.

"Lord Hokage, isn't there something you forgot to mention?" Uchiha Shingen reminded him.

"Huh? What's wrong?" Namikaze Minato was a little nervous. "Have I become this careless? Tell me quickly."

"Zabuza Momochi, the one Hidden Mist Village wants to capture."

"Oh, it's Zabuza Momochi." Namikaze Minato suddenly realized, then asked in confusion, "What does Hidden Mist Village have to do with Leaf Village if they want to arrest someone? Why don't they go and arrest them themselves?"

"So we're really going to let Hidden Mist Village through?"

"That won't do." Namikaze Minato vigorously. "How can Mist Ninja just enter the Land of Fire like that? If they want to capture him, they can just wait until Zabuza leaves the Land of Fire."

"I understand, I'm all set." Uchiha Shingen nodded, mentally giving Namikaze Minato a thumbs up.

Although I like soaking goji berries, Namikaze Minato really nailed the Hokage of Hokage.

Chapter Forty-Seven Before Departure

On the morning of the second day after returning to the village, Uchiha Shingen had just stepped out of his house when he saw Anbu Ninja squatting at the door.

"Shingen." Anbu Ninja handed over a sealed, waterproof document bag. "The village has officially submitted a letter of request to Kirigakure. This is a handwritten letter from the Hokage to the Mizukage. Please keep it safe."

"Alright." Uchiha Shingen took it and asked, "Is there anything else you need, Fourth Hokage?"

"The Lord Hokage said that you and Shisui can decide your own departure time; the visit letter only says this month."

"Okay, I understand." Uchiha Shingen waved his hand, deciding to go find Shisui immediately.

Suddenly, he remembered something.

"Kakashi, wait a minute."

Hatake Kakashi was about to use the Body Flicker Technique, almost tripped and fell. He turned around, and although his expression was not visible on his dog-head mask, it seemed as if resentment was rising within him.

"Lord Shingen, I'm still working. You shouldn't call me by my name."

"You can't blame me, anyone could recognize you." Uchiha Shingen pointed at the other person's overly conspicuous white hair and said, "You even used hair gel? With that hair, do you think everyone is blind?"

"If I dye my hair, will you not recognize me?"

"You're making things difficult for me. You're the only one in the whole village wearing a dog-head mask, and can you even trade Chakra?"

Hatake Kakashi remained silent.

"Look, still angry. Don't worry, that's a good thing. Wait for me a moment." Uchiha Shingen ran home, grabbed the things he received after getting off work yesterday as quickly as possible, and ran back to the door.

Hatake Kakashi was still an obedient and good boy; he didn't leave.

"Here, I bought this for you." Uchiha Shingen handed the second installment of Icha Icha Paradise to Hatake Kakashi.

Even through the mask, Uchiha Shingen could see the shock in Hatake Kakashi's eyes.

"Lord Shingen..." Kakashi 'Hatake voice trembled slightly, and his hands shook a little, "Where did this come from?"

"Lord Jiraiya promised me he would send me a copy before it was published, and since you like it, I accepted it."

"Lord Shingen!"

"Um?"

"Be careful on your journey to Hidden Mist Village; things are very chaotic there right now."

"Okay, be careful on your own missions."

After a brief exchange, Kakashi Hatake left with Icha Icha Paradise Season 2 in his Hatake Kakashi.

Seeing how he held him like a precious treasure, Uchiha Shingen was deeply moved.

Jiraiya is truly a master of subtle manipulation; he won over Kakashi so quickly.

Namikaze Minato hasn't told Kakashi about Uchiha Obito yet, though he has already mentioned it to several people who know the truth.

I understand; this news is incredibly impactful for Hatake Kakashi right now.

Kakashi is still a young man who likes to overthink things and admire the Imperial Uncle. This tendency to overthink is evident in his less-than-stellar reputation in the ANBU.

His bad reputation stems mainly from his disregard for his companions.

Hatake Kakashi's period of isolation is not over yet.

Telling him about Obito at this time could potentially ruin him completely.

Uchiha Shingen's gaze returned to the file folder in his hand.

Namikaze Minato was a Hokage who worked at a fast pace, just like he did in battle.

It hadn't even been a day since he left his office, and the formalities were already completed, including the letter to Mizukage.

He conservatively suspected that the letter had been tampered with.

If all these things were done during the Third's era, in peacetime, it would have taken several days to complete.

However, the current motto of Leaf Village's administration is "Everyone, let's work overtime with the Hokage today and finish the rest of the work."

With Namikaze Minato being so effective, Uchiha Shingen wouldn't delay.

However, he still had two things to take care of before leaving.

He walked to the opposite door and knocked.

After a while, the door opened, and Pakura, dressed in casual clothes, stood in the doorway.

"Why are you up so late today?" Pakura looked at him suspiciously. "Going to drink tea again? What kind of tea can keep you guys drinking so late? You should take me to try it next time."

Shall I take you to cause trouble?

"Sigh, this is a man's business. Why bring a girl like you along?" Uchiha Shingen waved his hand. "Men are like that. After a battle, they always have so much to talk about. Tekka always throws up after a battle. You have no idea how terribly he vomits."

"Oh?" Pakura looked at Uchiha Shingen suspiciously, feeling that there was something hidden in his words.

Uchiha Shingen immediately judged that Pakura hadn't understood.

Very well, if you can't even understand this, then of course you won't know where he's drinking tea.

"That's weird..." Pakura muttered, stepping aside. "You've come at the right time, I'm cooking."

"What about the child?"

"In the living room, with the little guy from Rock Ninja."

Uchiha Shingen followed Pakura into the house and immediately saw three children in the living room.

Deidara was standing barefoot on a stool, wiping the table with a towel.

"I told him to stay put, but he insisted on working," Pakura said, then called to Deidara, "Just wipe it a couple of times, and call Kurotsuchi over for dinner."

"Oh." Deidara up, saw Uchiha Shingen, paused for a moment, then jumped off the stool, wiped it with a towel, and ran to the living room in a flash.

"He's quite mature for his age." Pakura looked at Uchiha Shingen. "No wonder he's the Tsuchikage's disciple. But is it really okay to leave him here?"