"I'm back. I never expected Floating Life, Dreamlike Illusion could be used like this."
The moment Uchiha Ran sensed that he could once again use Floating Life, Dreamlike Illusion to interfere with Namikaze Minato's perception, he knew—Minato had already returned.
Sure enough, in the next instant, Minato appeared by the campfire, smoothly lowering Yakura—who looked no different from a corpse—onto the ground.
"Wow, Minato-senpai is really kind," Ran said with a faint smile, slipping effortlessly into his teasing tone. "Even toward ninja from other villages. If Kushina-senpai found out, she'd probably get mad."
"Haha… Ran-kun, you're joking again," Minato replied, laughing.
Knowing Ran meant no harm, Minato was actually rather pleased by the teasing. At the very least, it proved Ran was a normal Uchiha.
And suddenly, a thought struck him.
Come to think of it… weren't most of the Uchiha he'd met perfectly normal people?
Uchiha Ran.Uchiha Ruka.Uchiha Fugaku.Uchiha Mikoto.
Wait—hold on.
Minato felt his thoughts growing tangled.If the Uchiha clan really had so many people no different from ordinary villagers… then why? Why was the clan's reputation in the village so terrible?
The Uchiha he'd personally interacted with had all been decent, upright people. None of them seemed problematic at all.
Seeing Minato suddenly lost in thought, Ran spoke up, breaking the silence.
"Minato-senpai, is your mission finished? What's the situation on the Sand Village's side?"
Minato snapped back to reality. He didn't consider the matter classified, so he explained the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's proposed terms in detail. As he spoke, he couldn't help feeling that the conditions Hiruzen offered were too generous—so generous, in fact, that Minato had taken it upon himself to modify Yakura's ransom into twenty S-rank missions.
From this alone, Ran felt even more convinced.
Minato-senpai would make a better Hokage than Hiruzen.
As for why he himself didn't want to become Hokage?
Come on—being Hokage wasn't fun at all. Endless paperwork, constant meetings… it was nowhere near as comfortable as being the head of Root.
As for the former Root leader, Shimura Danzo?
Naturally, he'd get the ending he deserved.
"I'll need to trouble you to stay here with me for a few more days, Ran-kun," Minato continued. "Once the mission is complete, the ransom from those twenty S-rank missions will be distributed according to Konoha's rules. Half goes to the village, and the rest we split among ourselves."
"Really? That's great news," Ran replied casually.
And so, the three of them remained in the silent forest, enveloped by a tranquil, peaceful atmosphere.
Ran sat quietly, feeling the leaves sway gently overhead. The soft wind brushed past the treetops, producing a faint rustling sound. Cicadas chirped in waves, rising and falling, weaving together into a natural symphony.
Above them, pinpricks of starlight shimmered across the night sky, like countless pearls scattered over black velvet.
The Milky Way stretched across the heavens like a mysterious ribbon of light, connecting distant stars that glimmered faintly in the vast darkness.
"Minato-senpai," Ran asked suddenly, eyes fixed on the sky, "what do you think the world is really like? Do you think there might be humans out there… different from us?"
No one answered.
Only the chorus of cicadas filled the night.
I see… Minato-senpai really trusts me, Ran thought, sitting by the campfire. He actually fell asleep just like that.
The firelight flickered, casting Ran's face in and out of shadow.
Time continued to flow.
Ran and Minato waited at the border, day after day, carrying out their duties methodically.
—
Meanwhile, inside the Kazekage's office of the Sand Village, a tense meeting was underway.
After heated discussions and fierce arguments, the elders finally reached a consensus—sealed by Chiyo's decisive word.
First, the village would announce internally that the Third Kazekage was physically exhausted and unable to govern. Rasa would temporarily assume the position of Fourth Kazekage, fully executing all village plans on behalf of the critically ill Third.
Second, they would publicly declare that Yakura had failed a mission and been captured. The temporary Fourth Kazekage would personally oversee the prisoner exchange, assuring civilians and lower-ranked ninja alike that Yakura, an elite jōnin, would definitely return to the Sand Village.
Finally, they partially accepted the proposal conveyed by Namikaze Minato on behalf of the Third Hokage.
The Sand Village agreed to exchange Yakura for fifteen S-rank missions, and to provide five additional S-rank missions in exchange for Konoha's cooperation—allowing Sand ninja to search for the missing Third Kazekage along the Fire Country border and other regions under Konoha's supervision.
At the same time, Konoha guaranteed that news of the Third Kazekage's disappearance would not be leaked.
Once the plan was finalized, the Sand Village demonstrated decisive efficiency. That very day, the announcement was made to the public.
News of the Third Kazekage's grave condition shocked the villagers. Fortunately, the temporary Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, was widely known for his competence.
With the Third gone and the Fourth stepping in, daily life continued smoothly. The village's operations remained stable, with little disruption. When the public learned that Yakura had been captured—and that the Fourth Kazekage himself would lead her rescue—many couldn't help but marvel at Rasa's strength and resolve.
Victory.
A complete, overwhelming victory.
Konoha won—gaining both wealth and the Sand Village's goodwill.
Rasa won—securing the position of Fourth Kazekage and the elders' support. Once the report was submitted to the Wind Daimyō, his appointment would become official.
The elders won—by obtaining a Kazekage they could cooperate with and preserving the village's stability.
In this farce, only two people lost.
The Third Kazekage lost. Once everything settled down, his whereabouts—or even his life or death—had become an almost insignificant detail to the Sand Village.
And Yakura lost.
Once a prime candidate for the Fourth Kazekage, Yakura had possessed several advantages: a flawless image as a female ninja, the love of the villagers, and strength approaching Kage-level.
Now?
She was 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, her voice trembling with tears. "Teacher Yakura couldn't possibly be captured! Fourth Kazekage-sama—can you take me with you to save my master?"
"Yakura's student… your name is Maki, right?"
Surrounded by his personal guards, the Fourth Kazekage Rasa spoke calmly.
"Rest assured. Neither the village nor I will ever abandon Jōnin Yakura. You're still young—wait peacefully in the village. I promise I will bring your teacher back safely."
"Fo–Fourth… Kazekage-sama…"
Maki seemed to want to say more, but her words were swallowed by the surging crowd and thunderous cheers.
"Long live the Fourth Kazekage!""Rescue Jōnin Yakura—long live the Fourth Kazekage!""Those who offend the Sand Village shall be hunted down no matter how far!""Fourth Kazekage-sama—so handsome!"
Amid the deafening cheers and packed crowd, Rasa struggled his way out of the village.
As for the outcome of his actions?
He was exceptionally satisfied.
What had begun as a disastrous situation—the disappearance of the Third Kazekage—had, through his maneuvering, turned into a win-win scenario for all sides.
The cost?
A bit of money… and Yakura's reputation.
Nothing more.