"He's back… I didn't expect Fushō no Yume to work like this too."
The moment Uchiha Ran sensed that Fushō no Yume could once again interfere with Minato Namikaze's perception, he knew Minato had already returned.
Sure enough, a golden flash appeared beside the campfire.
Minato reappeared calmly and set Pakura down on the ground—she still looked no different from a corpse.
"So gentle as always, Minato-senpai," Ran said lightly. "Even to enemy shinobi from another village. If Kushina-senpai found out, she'd probably get angry."
"Haha… Ran-kun, you're joking again," Minato replied, shaking his head with a smile.
He knew Ran meant no harm, and honestly, Minato didn't dislike the teasing.
At the very least, it proved Ran was a normal Uchiha.
As that thought surfaced, Minato suddenly paused.
Come to think of it… every Uchiha he had personally interacted with seemed normal.
Uchiha Ran.
Uchiha Ruka.
Uchiha Fugaku.
Uchiha Mikoto.
Wait…
Minato's thoughts tangled for a moment.
If so many Uchiha were just ordinary people—reasonable, warm, and capable—then why was the clan's reputation in the village so terrible?
The Uchiha he knew didn't seem to have any serious issues at all.
Seeing Minato suddenly space out, Ran spoke up.
"Minato-senpai, is your mission finished? What's the situation on Sunagakure's side?"
Minato snapped back to attention. Since none of it was classified, he straightforwardly explained Hiruzen Sarutobi's conditions.
Then—after a moment's thought—he casually added that he had personally adjusted the ransom.
"The Third Hokage proposed five S-rank mission payments. I increased it to twenty."
Ran blinked once.
Then smiled.
This guy really would make a better Hokage than the Third, Ran thought.
As for why he himself didn't want to be Hokage?
Simple.
Too much paperwork.
Too many meetings.
Way too exhausting.
Compared to that, being the head of Root sounded far more comfortable.
As for the former Root leader, Danzo…
Well, Ran felt Danzo already had a fitting ending waiting for him.
"Looks like we'll need to stay here a few more days," Minato continued.
"Once we receive payment for twenty S-rank missions, half goes to the village. The remaining half gets split between us."
"Really?" Ran said. "That's great."
Thus, the three remained at the border, spending their time in the quiet forest.
Ran sat by the fire, listening to leaves rustle softly as the wind passed through the trees.
Cicadas chirped in layered rhythms, weaving together into a natural symphony.
Above them, stars dotted the sky like scattered pearls on black velvet.
The Milky Way stretched across the heavens, a luminous band connecting distant constellations.
"Minato-senpai," Ran suddenly asked while gazing upward,
"what do you think the world is really like? Do you think there might be humans completely different from us?"
No response came.
Only the cicadas answered.
"…Ah. He fell asleep already."
Ran chuckled softly, staring at the fire as his own face flickered in its glow.
Time continued to flow.
Ran and Minato waited at the border, everything proceeding calmly and methodically—
—
Meanwhile, inside Sunagakure, a tense meeting was underway.
After heated debate, the final decision was made—sealed by Chiyo's decisive strike of the table.
First:
Within the village, it would be announced that the Third Kazekage was gravely ill and unable to govern.
Rasa would temporarily assume the role of Fourth Kazekage, fully executing all existing village policies.
Second:
Pakura's failure and capture during her mission would be publicly acknowledged.
The acting Fourth Kazekage would personally oversee the hostage exchange and assure the villagers that Elite Jōnin Pakura would return safely.
Third:
They would partially accept the proposal conveyed by Minato.
Sunagakure agreed to pay 15 S-rank mission rewards in exchange for Pakura,
and an additional 5 S-rank rewards in exchange for Konoha's assistance in searching for the Third Kazekage within Fire Country territory.
In return, Konoha guaranteed that news of the Third Kazekage's disappearance would not spread.
Once the plan was finalized, Sunagakure acted swiftly.
That very day, the announcements were made.
The news that the Third Kazekage was gravely ill shocked the villagers—but Rasa was strong, familiar, and widely respected.
With a Fourth Kazekage stepping in, daily life continued smoothly.
The village didn't fall into chaos.
And when people heard that Rasa would personally lead the effort to rescue Pakura, admiration surged.
A huge win.
Konoha won—gaining money and goodwill.
Rasa won—securing the position of Fourth Kazekage and the elders' support.
The Elder Council won—stability and a cooperative leader.
Only two people lost in this farce.
The Third Kazekage lost.
Once everything stabilized, whether he was alive or dead had become… irrelevant.
Pakura lost.
Once a prime candidate for Kazekage—
a flawless image, beloved by villagers, strength nearing Kage-level—
She was now nothing more than a hostage awaiting rescue by the Fourth Kazekage.
"I don't believe it! I don't believe it!"
A young girl cried out from the crowd, voice trembling.
"Teacher Pakura couldn't have been captured! Lord Fourth Kazekage—please take me with you to save my master!"
"Pakura's student… your name is Maki, correct?"
Surrounded by guards, Rasa spoke gently.
"Don't worry. The village and I will never abandon Jōnin Pakura. You're still young—stay in the village and wait. I will bring your teacher back safely."
"F-Fourth… Lord…"
Maki tried to speak again, but her voice was swallowed by cheers.
"Long live the Fourth Kazekage!"
"Rescue Jōnin Pakura!"
"Those who offend Sunagakure shall be punished no matter the distance!"
"The Fourth Kazekage is amazing!"
Amid the roaring crowd, Rasa finally made his way out of the village.
He was extremely satisfied with the outcome.
What should have been a disastrous crisis—the disappearance of a Kazekage—
had, through careful maneuvering, turned into a situation where everyone benefited.
Everyone… except for some money.
And Pakura's reputation.
A small price to pay, Rasa thought, for such a perfect result.
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