Under the Raikage's iron order, no matter how unwilling the Cloud shinobi were, they could only obey.
Very soon, Namikaze Minato—wearing heavy shackles—was shoved in roughly.
That sunny, confident air he always carried was gone. He looked battered and worn, injuries covering his body. It wasn't hard to guess how "pleasant" the past two days had been for him.
Still—so long as he was alive, that alone was the best possible outcome.
Minato's gaze met his.
Uchiha Sogetsu gave him a slight nod—a simple greeting.
"…I'm sorry. I really didn't expect things to turn out like this."
Minato's face was full of guilt. His head hung low, the old vigor nowhere to be seen—as if even his blond hair had dulled.
"In the end it became this mess, and you still had to come save me… I'm really sorry."
The Raikage leaned forward, elbow on knee, chin in hand, eyes moving back and forth between them.
Just those two short exchanges were enough for him to extract useful information.
"Excuse me," the Raikage said in a low, hoarse voice, cutting them off cleanly. He lowered his hand and sat upright, spine straight like a blade about to leave its sheath. His presence pressed down like a mountain as his gaze locked onto Sogetsu.
"The one you wanted—I brought him. Now it's your turn."
Minato let out a bitter smile, glancing at the Cloud elites surrounding them… and the Third Raikage himself. His heart sank.
"Honestly—how are you planning to get out of here?"
He looked at Sogetsu and said quietly,
"Don't count on me. They sealed my chakra pathways. I can't use Flying Thunder God to blink you out of here."
"Relax. I wasn't planning to rely on you."
Sogetsu braced one hand on the chair and stood slowly. He looked at the Raikage.
"Once he leaves Kumogakure, our deal is complete. Agreed?"
"Agreed."
The Raikage paused, then narrowed his eyes, danger leaking out.
"But you—do not follow. You stay here."
Even now, he still couldn't see what this young man was truly plotting—or what method he intended to use to escape right under the Raikage's nose.
But if he didn't let Sogetsu leave this room…
The Raikage was absolutely confident he could keep him.
"Of course. That was one of our conditions."
Sogetsu spread his hands, accepting easily, then looked at Minato.
"You heard him. You'll be walking out on your own. Once you're out, send me a signal."
"Wait—then what about you?" Minato frowned deeply, worry flashing in his eyes. "What are you going to do?"
"I have my own way. Don't concern yourself."
Sogetsu gave him a reassuring look and stepped forward, raising a hand as if to pat Minato's shoulder.
But in the next instant—
The Third Raikage appeared like a flash and seized Sogetsu's wrist.
Killing intent boiled in his cold eyes.
"Kid. Trying to play tricks in front of me? You're ten years too early."
"Oh?"
Sogetsu's wrist was locked in an iron grip—yet he didn't panic in the slightest. Instead, he laughed as if amused.
"Are you really that tense? Don't worry. I'm not planning anything. It's just a farewell."
The Raikage's smile turned meaningful—dangerously so.
"The prerequisite for Flying Thunder God is leaving a space-time formula on the target's body."
"I won't take that risk."
"I won't allow you any chance to touch Namikaze Minato."
Minato's expression stiffened, as if his thoughts had been pierced clean through.
Because that was exactly what he'd intended.
The moment Sogetsu touched him, Minato planned to mark him—then, after escaping Kumogakure, use Flying Thunder God to retrieve Sogetsu.
But—
The Third Raikage, who looked so rough and blunt at first glance, was frighteningly meticulous.
He saw through it instantly.
"Since you saw it… then there's nothing I can do."
Sogetsu shrugged, looking helpless, and returned to his seat.
"Minato. Looks like you'll have to go first."
"No."
Minato shook his head hard.
"I can't leave you here."
"If saving me means trading your life, I won't accept it. Never."
"Stop wasting time, Minato."
Sogetsu shook his head, then looked him straight in the eyes.
"Kushina came to save you."
"She's in Kumogakure right now."
"You understand what that means, don't you?"
Minato's eyes went wide. His face nearly cracked under the shock.
"What…? Kushina—she's here?! How could she be here?!"
"Let her explain the details to you."
Sogetsu couldn't be bothered, so he kept only the key points.
"Your task is simple: take Kushina and get far away from Kumogakure. Escort her back safely."
"As for the rest…"
"That isn't something you need to consider."
Minato knew the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki's importance better than anyone.
And because he knew it—
He fell into an even deeper dilemma.
"But… what about you?"
With Minato's intelligence, once he heard the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki was inside Kumogakure, he could more or less reconstruct the entire plan.
Sogetsu had used Kushina and himself—
One as bait. One as a bomb.
Turning all of Kumogakure into leverage—forcing the Raikage to release Minato.
But the moment Minato and Kushina left…
That fragile balance of threat would shatter instantly.
Then Sogetsu would be left alone, facing the Third Raikage… and the entire Hidden Cloud.
"That doesn't matter, Minato."
Sogetsu looked at him with almost tender intensity, a hint of resolve in his voice.
"When you're playing chess…"
"The moment the king falls, it's over."
Minato froze. His eyes began to redden.
"And I…"
Sogetsu continued, his words slipping in like slow poison, silently eating away at Minato's heart—
"I'm nothing but a piece meant to be sacrificed."
"Protecting the king—that's what I should do."
"I want you to live."
"And I want you to fulfill your wish."
"Only then… maybe the village, and our clan, can finally see real hope."
Minato understood the meaning beneath those words. Something soft and fragile inside him trembled.
So this was what Sogetsu truly longed for—
Reconciliation between Konoha and the Uchiha.
And he was willing to pay for it with his life.
"Go, Minato."
Sogetsu urged again, eyes gentle.
"Don't forget your mission."
"Protect the village… and protect Kushina."
"I… I understand!"
Minato clenched his teeth so hard his jaw shook, bloodshot threads spreading through his eyes.
"I won't forget."
"I swear… I won't forget!"
He turned and walked toward the exit.
Cloud shinobi moved as if to block him—
But one look from the Raikage stopped them cold.
"I'll have A and B follow him."
The Raikage spoke flatly.
"If I find you didn't honor our agreement…"
"I'll kill him."
"That's fine. That's your freedom."
Sogetsu sat in the Raikage's chair again, one hand propping his cheek, smiling faintly.
"Since we still have a little time… Lord Raikage, I want to ask you a question."
"…Fine. Ask."
The Raikage sat firmly, expression blank.
"Consider it a reward—for having the guts to face me."
Then, suddenly—
Sogetsu lifted a hand and removed his mask.
A young face appeared—handsome, vibrant, proud in a way that bordered on arrogance. He pushed up the glasses on his nose bridge.
His blood-red eyes reflected the Raikage's towering figure as a smile curved his lips.
"Lord Raikage…"
"Have you… ever been defeated?"
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