Minato nodded.
Kai's arrangements made sense—probably the best solution for now.
"Alright, I understand," Minato said. "Taking some time off might actually be good. I haven't had time with Kushina in so long."
Obito seemed like he wanted to argue further, but when he saw Minato had already agreed, he swallowed his words.
As for Kakashi and Rin, they certainly wouldn't object.
After all—
Even though Konoha rarely spoke of Uchiha Madara, they knew well enough what kind of terrifying existence he was.
Against that level of enemy, even the Hokage might not have a solution.
As for small fry like them?
The best way to help was not to cause trouble.
Soon after, Minato used Flying Thunder God to return the group straight to the main camp.
Minato's team went back to their tent to rest. After the ordeal of the past few days, they needed time to recover.
Kai, meanwhile, headed for Shisui's squad's camp.
And Minato went to find Nara Shikaku to hand over the mission report.
Of course—
before his students left, Minato warned them sternly:
Whether it was Obito awakening the Mangekyo, or Madara's involvement, they were forbidden from telling anyone. Not even the Hokage.
Yes—this was too serious.
Even Minato no longer trusted Hiruzen Sarutobi completely.
Kakashi, Rin, and Obito all nodded.
No objections.
Clearly, Kai's words from days ago had left them unsettled.
And since their trusted teacher Minato had spoken, they naturally wouldn't breathe a word.
At Shisui's camp.
When Kai walked in, things were exactly as he had expected—everyone safe and sound.
Unless Madara himself targeted them, their current strength was enough to ensure survival on this battlefield.
The top elites of each village had to deal with people like Minato.
Against ordinary strong enemies, Shisui was more than enough.
"Kai-kun?!"
"We were just about to go rescue you—how did you make it back already?"
"Was the mission completed?"
"Did anything happen?"
…
Shisui and the others bombarded him with questions.
Clearly, as his true companions, they had been worried. Now, seeing him return safe, they were overjoyed, crowding around him.
Kai smiled faintly.
Only with these comrades could he truly lower his guard.
Yes—
Even with Minato, his cooperation was still largely a matter of convenience.
"Don't worry, everyone.
The mission is complete. Minato-senpai has already filed the report.
The trap the village set for me—I've broken it.
If nothing else goes wrong, the Hidden Stone front should be ending soon.
We should be heading back before long."
He spoke with a smile.
And with his own people, he did not hide things.
He recounted, in detail, the events of the past few days.
Nara Kazama, the brains of the team, peppered him with question after question, trying to grasp every detail so he could better plan ahead.
Half an hour later—
After digesting everything, Kazama finally couldn't hold back.
"Kai-kun… seriously?
You even managed to sway Minato-senpai? He's the Hokage's protégé!
And Obito awakened Mangekyo?
And Madara was pulling the strings behind it all?
That guy's still alive?!"
He was completely stunned.
So much had happened in just a few days that it felt like the entire world had turned upside down.
Minato being "won over"? Impossible!
Obito awakening a Mangekyo? That dropout? Unbelievable!
But then again… he was an Uchiha.
Still, Madara being alive—that was hardest to accept. That name was synonymous with terror.
"Minato-senpai's just an idealist," Kai said calmly. "He's like Jiraiya—at most, he'd walk away from the village.
He and Hiruzen aren't the same kind of people. With or without me, he'd never truly side with the elders.
As for Madara—don't bother worrying. He's almost dead.
Even if he shows himself, I'll handle it."
On that point, Kai was certain.
Sasuke's birth was near—meaning the current Indra reincarnation would soon return to the Pure Land.
Kazama nodded. If Kai was so sure, there was no point dwelling.
"Right… and your mission?" Kazama asked with a crooked smile. "How ruthless was the village's setup?"
Kai's smile turned sharp.
"Third Tsuchikage Onoki, plus the Four-Tails and Five-Tails jinchuriki.
From Hidden Cloud Village—the Raikage's son A, and the Eight-Tails' jinchuriki Killer B.
And three thousand Hidden Stone elites."
"Surprised? Didn't expect that, huh?"
Hiss!
Everyone gasped.
What kind of insane lineup was that?!
Shisui couldn't help blurting out:
"The village went too far! That's not testing you—that's trying to bury you alive!"
"That's to be expected," Kazama shook his head. "They're enemies, after all. But what's shocking is how good the village's spies are—coordinating Hidden Stone and even getting Hidden Cloud Village involved?
Kai-kun… how did you get out of that?"
Yes—this was the burning question.
Facing such a deathtrap, with Onoki able to fly…
How on earth did Kai escape?
As for fighting head-on?
They didn't even consider that possible.
Even with Mangekyo, there was no way to stand against so many powerful foes.
Kai chuckled.
"Your vision is too small.
Raikage's son A was gravely injured—Killer B dragged him away.
I annihilated all three thousand Hidden Stone elites.
As for the jinchuriki—before my Mangekyo, they couldn't exert much strength.
Once the AB combo retreated, Onoki chose to halt the war himself.
In fact… he and I even cooperated a little."
"…Huh?"
Everyone froze.
Even Shisui looked baffled, as though Kai were speaking another language.
He himself had awakened Mangekyo—he knew its terrifying power.
But to this extent? It sounded impossible.
And yet… none of them doubted Kai's words.
So all they could do was sigh in awe—Kai had already reached such heights?
Only Kazama, after his initial shock, latched onto one detail.
"Kai-kun… did you just say—cooperation?"
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