Uhe guidance of Shikaku, with the Police Force as escorts, the diplomatic team from Kiri made its grarao Konoha's main district, heading towards the Hokage Tower.

  Along the way, Konoha vilgers looked on with curiosity at these fn ninjas high-colred sweaters, their faces full of fasation.

  Small clusters of people gathered at shop entrances and street ers, some pointing discretely at the visitors.

  "Those are Kiri ninja? They look so... normal," a vilger whispered to his panion.

  "Shhh. I heard they drink blood for breakfast," another responded.

  Civilians and their ridiculous rumors. Though I suppose Kiri's reputation isirely undeserved, Masashi thought as he maintained his position in the escort formation.

  "Positions steady," Shikaku murmured to the Police Force. "Keep the formation tight but not threatening."

  As the first vilge in the ninja world, Konoha had hosted fn delegations a fair number of times, with a few visits each year. However, sis founding, a delegation from Kiri was a rare sight.

  Though Kiri had previously signed a peace agreement with Konoha, the talks took p the former battlefield with the leaders, so the Kiri ninjas didn't actually enter Konoha.

  Konoha, for its part, was also wary of allowing them into the vilge casually. After all, what if they attempted a suicide terror attack?

  The Kiri ninjas had a history of such as. Sihe days of the Seizukage, they had demonstrated to the entire ninja world what it meant to not py by the rules.

  The Seizukage had oraveled across several tries to take down the Sed Tsuchikage with him, perfectly exemplifying what could only be described as a hardcore warmonger.

  Uhe Third Mizukage, Kiri transformed into the industry's benchmark for terror tactics, creating tless infamous is.

  Any ninja aspiring to be a terrorist would study Kiri's special warfare teiques as foundational training—they were practically the pioneers of the craft.

  Now, with Kiri ninjas known for their arrogand bloodlust appearing in Konoha, it naturally sparked intense curiosity among the vilgers.

  But the vilgers were disappointed, even the Konoha ninjas who had fought against Kiri in the past were perplexed.

  Because these Kiri ninjas were shogly well-behaved.

  Arrogant and wild? Looking at Fuguki's cheerful attitude, you'd have to be quite twisted to call him that.

  Bloodthirsty? People got fiercer when their spouse discovered a stash of hidden mo home.

  Not a sirace of the Bloody Mist attitude.

  Instead, they resembled noble ministers from the daimyō's pace, refined and courteous. Faced with the vilgers' frankly impolite stares, they simply returned polite smiles.

  This year's 'Exempry Ninja Vilge in Civil duct' award might as well go to them if they tinue like this.

  Shikaku felt his guess might be the truth: he had been Masashi who seemed to have somehow subdued the Kiri ninjas into their current behavior.

  Apparently, the Uchiha 's flicts with the Kiri ninjas were not as simple as the believed.

  At least, they didn't involve only Shisui.

  Enduring Konoha's excessive attention, the rge procession finally arrived at the Hokage Tower. The ANBU's presence was immediately noticeable, their masked figures positiorategically around the perimeter.

  Seeing the t building, Kiri's delegation members all breathed a sigh of relief. Their chakra trol had been impeccable throughout the journey, but the strain was showing in subtle ways that only the most observant could detect.

  Walking alongside the White Ghost was exhausting—they were almost depressed by the end of the journey.

  The bloodline users among them had it the hardest. They had been suppressing their chakra like crazy, fearing that any fluctuation might result in their precious bloodline being a White Ghost collectible.

  They were eager to meet the current Hokage, knowihat retioween the Uchiha and the Hokage's fa were strained.

  The White Ghost would have to leave the meeting soon.

  Onside the Hokage Tower, the first floor had already been secured by the ANBU, with a pathway cleared to the staircase for the group to pass through.

  "Thanks for your work; we'll take over from here," an ANBU member said to the head of the Police Force.

  "As protocol demands," the Police Force leader responded.

  The Uchiha ninja nodded, signaling his smen to stand down. The Police Forinjas dropped their guard a in small groups.

  Masashi was about to leave as well, which visibly relieved the Kiri ninjas—they would have high-fived in celebration if it were appropriate.

  Finally, they could breathe.

  "Please wait," Shikaku suddenly said.

  Everyone in the ANBU and Police Force looked at him.

  "Masashi-kun, please represent the Uchiha d attend the meeting," Shikaku's words shocked everyone.

  The Uchiha ninjas were stunned because, ever siobirama's time, the Uchiha had never been part of any official diplomatic meeting in the Hokage's building.

  The Kiri ninjas were equally shocked—they thought Shikaku was way too ing.

  They had actually thought he was a good guy. Konoha really didn't have any good people!

  Even the ANBU were shocked.

  As one of the Third Hokage's most trusted injas, why would Shikaku say such a thing?

  "I'll report this directly to the higher-ups," Shikaku said to the ANBU leader. "Please execute this for now, and notify the Hokage in advance as well."

  "Uood, Shikaku-sama." The ANBU leader reized that hesitation wasn't an option here, so he acted quickly. "Masashi-san, please attend as well."

  "Oh? Sure." Masashi had no idea what was going on, but he didn't mind. This could be iing.

  Wait—why did the Kiri ninjas look like they'd seen a ghost?

  He cast a fused g them, who all wore expressions of dismay, and followed the ANBU team upstairs.

  With Shikaku and the ANBU leading the way, the delegation was escorted to the third-floor reception hall.

  The hall acious, designed for diplomatic discussions. There was even a dining room in the adjat room.

  Aodations for the delegation had been arra the fi hotel in the northern district, with the Police Fuarding the perimeter while the Kiri ninjas managed internal security.

  Otherwise, it would seem more like imprisohan hospitality.

  As they ehe hall, sitting in the mai was the Fourth Hokage. Seated to his left and right were four senior advisors, while around a dozen others stood. The seating arra itself was a silent dispy of power and hierarchy.

  As always, there were no Uchiha representatives present.

  This was the political structure crafted by the Third Hokage: within the Police Force, the Uchiha had authority, but outside, they had none.

  Currently, Hiruzen, now in his fifties, was in his twilight years as a shinobi, though not yet elderly.

  As Masashi's gaze fell on him, Hiruzen looked back. Still sharp as ever, old man.

  Behind him stood three individuals whose iic attire and demeanor marked them unmistakably as the famous Legendary Sannin of Konoha

  They were also the main pilrs of the Third Hokage's fa.

  The Senju princess who had onpined he was cheating at cards had grown into a stunniy since he'd st seehough now she looked unwell, her former liveliness gone.

  The man with long hair and pale skin must be Orochimaru, with an aura that was undeniably eerie.

  And the broad-shouldered, square-faced man was likely Jiraiya; he was the only one who seemed genuinely approachable.

  "Masashi-kun, follow me," Shikaku said, leading him to anroup.

  Masashi looked over and saw the eight major s of Konoha, with seven heads present, including Shikaku who stood beside him.

  Oh, and two young men around Shisui's age.

  The silver-haired one was Kakashi, still wearing his ANBU uniform. The other, green, was undoubtedly Guy.

  Just as Masashi was about to walk over, he heard a long, sharp intake of breath behind him. The sound was loud, and everyouro look.

  It was Fuguki, his expression as if he'd seen a ghost.

  "Green…" he muttered through gritted teeth.

  Everyone uzzled. Green what?

  "Gree…"

  "???"

  Why did it sound like he was insulting someone?

  Of all the things to fear in this room, Masashi thought with amusement, he's focused on Guy's fashion choices.

  Fuguki's loss of posure didn't st long; after a brief pse, his sharp eyes flickered with reition as they fixed on Guy's green attire.

  He quickly regained his calm, though his knuckles had whitened slightly where they pressed against his leg.

  "Apologies, I lost my posure," he admitted openly, which, in turn, earned some goodwill from Konoha's side.

  "There's no need, Fuguki-san," Minato replied in a geohe wars of the past were tragedies for both sides. As someone who personally took part, it's only natural to feel flicted and upset about it."

  "Thank you, Hokage-sama, for your uanding."

  Fuguki wasn't truly bothered by the war; it was the sight of that familiar attire that had stirred up dark memories.

  But since Konoha had given him a way to save face, he wasn't going to reject it.

  After taking a long look at the young boy in greeried to pose himself.

  "Hokage-sama, I'm ready to begin."

  "Good, please go ahead, Fuguki-san."

  After a brief exge of formalities, everyoook their seats.

  As per protocol, the Hokage took the mai for Konoha's side. Key figures from various departments and leaders without official positions followed.

  Guy was still very young and a in at this time, appearing here as the son of a hero.

  In Konoha, being the child of a hero restigious title that represented high honor and signifit political value. However, earning this title wasn't easy.

  While the Hokage's office promoted the idea that everyone was a hero, only particurly distinguished heroes afforded such status to their children in practice.

  Duy was one such hero. And what a costly honor it proved to be.

  The in of the Eight Gates was a mystery, but it was known that before the Third Shinobi World War, this teique was obscure within Konoha.

  It wasn't until Duy made a signifit impact that the Konoha high and realized its terrifying potential.

  Normally, this would have led to a se where high officials beat their chests, menting the loss of a great talent. But Guy's existence forced a different oute.

  Following in his father's footsteps, Guy also mastered this teique. So the narrative shifted to two geions of Hokage extending their arms in a loving embrace for the hero's orphan.

  Masashi sat at the far end, with Kakashi between him and Guy. Judging by the seating arra, Guy's significe to Konoha's upper echelon was clear. They were already pnning his future role in the vilge.

  Guy didn't yet possess his future grandeur, seemingly unaware of the meaning of his seat, sitting there in a daze while casting a plex gaze at Fuguki.

  He khe man before him ractically his father's killer.

  Kakashi's expression was unreadable, as usual, with only one eye visible, but his body nguage spoke of careful alertness.

  In short, everyone was serious.

  Fuguki took out a scroll, pced it oable, aly slid it towards the space between Minato and Hiruzen.

  The position was chosen with care, a detail that didn't escape anyone's notice.

  Minato took out a scroll of his own and slid it towards Fuguki, while pig up the one from Kiri's side.

  "I'm unfamiliar with the daimyō of the Land of Water's handwriting. Could you verify it, Sandaime-sama?"

  "You're the Hokage; su important dot should be checked by you personally. I shouldn't overstep," Hiruzen replied with a smile. "Of course, I will help verify the handwriting if you want."

  "It just shows how immature I am, having to trouble you for such a small matter," Minato sighed, before unrolling the scroll and spreading it out between him and Hiruzen.

  The two exami carefully.

  Across the table, Fuguki also unrolled the sinato had given him and scruti, his expression giving nothing away.

  This was a high-level meeting, with discussions c not only Konoha and Kiri's is but also state matters between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water.

  It was no wohat the Hokage's office had not disclosed the meeting's details to the Uchiha .

  Except for Kakashi and Guy, the others on Konoha's side seemed fully briefed oters at hand.

  Why is there no tea or any snacks? Masashi observed the room.

  After a while, both parties had pleted their examination of the credentials, the atmosphere shifting subtly as they prepared to address their findings.

  "Fuguki-san, what do you think of the daimyō's authorization?" Minato inquired.

  "I've reviewed it; there's no issue. How do you find our daimyō's authorization, Hokage-sama?"

  "The w is fihough it cks the daimyō's personal signature," Minato remarked. "For a long time, all daimyō of the other nations, including the Land of Wih, and Lightning, have sighe authorizations themselves."

  "Our s differ from other nations. We use personal seals, which hold the same authority as signatures," Fuguki expined apologetically. "I hope you uand."

  "I'll let it go this time. However, if your try truly intends to build good retions with others, wouldn't it make seo follow on practices?"

  "Our daimyō has never personally signed dots, but I'll be sure to mention it to the Mizukage when I return. I'll ask him to ence the daimyō to ge his approach."

  "That would be ideal," Minato nodded.

  Hiruzen suddenly spoke up. "Sihe Land of Fire and the Land of Water have no prior alliance, should we each retain a copy of this authorization for our records?"

  "Agreed," Fuguki nodded, uanding the underlying message about trust and verification.

  Minato hahe authorization to Hiruzen and tinued, "We're discussing national matters here, Fuguki-san, and with your wisdom, we hope this meeting will be both sides."

  "Of course," Fuguki said with enthusiasm. "Among all nations, the Land of Water and the Land of Fire are closest. Today's disputes are temporary, and in the long run, mutual support is the best strategy."

  "If we remain enemies, it will harm both our tries. We're both located in the south of the ti and should focus on the big picture, f sting peace. That way, we won't fall prey to the northern tries."

  His words drew gnces from all those present.

  What a bold move, Masashi thought, pying the regional card while Kumo's alliance is still fresh.

  "Fuguki-san," Minato couldn't help but remark, his tone carrying a subtle warning, "The Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning, Konoha and Kumo, also share friendly retions."

  "That's exactly what I mean," Fuguki said with approval, smoothly turning the point to his advantage. "If Konoha and Kumo get along, what's there to worry about with us from Kiri?"

  An elder with a cross-shaped scar on his frowned beside him, clearly disapproving of this dire.

  "The friendship between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water will not sider the stance of a third nation."

  Theuro Minato and said, "Hokage-sama, let's tih the main agenda."

  The room's atmosphere shifted once again, ready to delve into the real matters at hand.