Hearing that kind of request, Shimizu's first instinct was that it had to be a trap—but just as quickly, he dismissed the thought.
Konoha wasn't foolish enough to grant every demand someone made.
Besides, Kumogakure had come asking for help. There was no way they would dare to make outrageous demands.
Still… for something to trouble Minato enough that he came seeking his help, it likely wasn't simple at all.
"Konoha agreed?" Shimizu asked.
"…Yeah." Minato nodded, a trace of helplessness in his expression.
Shimizu couldn't help but wonder just what kind of price Kumogakure had offered to make Konoha accept such a risky decision.
"Did they say why they specifically named Kushina?"
"What I was told," Minato explained, "is that Kumo has set up a large-scale sealing array behind the battlefield. The key to activating it requires someone with an enormous amount of chakra—a jinchūriki."
"And right now, the only one in Konoha who meets that requirement… is Kushina."
Shimizu frowned slightly. "Doesn't Kumogakure have two jinchūriki of their own?"
He still remembered that encounter in Takigakure—the brash boy and the young girl, hosts of the Eight-Tails and Two-Tails respectively.
"The Eight-Tails' host is severely injured, and the Two-Tails' chakra isn't enough to activate the array…"
So that was the situation.
Originally, Kumogakure had planned to use the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki to trigger the sealing array and wipe out Iwagakure in one decisive strike.
But plans rarely survived reality.
Killer B, the Eight-Tails' host, had been gravely wounded in battle and remained unconscious. They had tried using the Two-Tails' jinchūriki as a substitute, but it proved futile.
Meanwhile, the Third Raikage had led a force to act as bait, gradually luring the enemy into the trap.
If the sealing array wasn't activated in time, not only would all of Kumogakure's efforts be wasted, but even the Third Raikage himself would be in mortal danger.
On the surface, the explanation sounded reasonable.
Of course, this was all Kumogakure's version of events, and Konoha had no time to verify its truth.
And yet… they still chose to trust them. To help.
It seemed that the relationship between Konoha and Kumogakure ran deeper than Shimizu had assumed.
As for whether there were other interests and agreements behind the scenes, that remained unknown—those matters were classified, after all. The number of people privy to the negotiations between Konoha's leadership and Kumo's envoys likely didn't even reach double digits.
"Still," Shimizu murmured, "I'm curious how Konoha found the courage to lend out the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki. That's not something you can easily explain to the village."
Minato continued, "Kumo will leave their Two-Tails' jinchūriki in Konoha as a hostage… and they'll also compensate us with a large sum of money."
The Two-Tails, money, a measure of trust, and perhaps other political benefits—taken together, it was indeed enough to tip the scales.
After all, if everything went smoothly, the Nine-Tails would return to Konoha, the Two-Tails would eventually be sent back, and everything else would remain as profit.
"When do we leave?" Shimizu asked.
"Seven in the morning."
"…It's already past one a.m."
Minato scratched his head awkwardly. "I was only just informed myself. I came to find you as quickly as I could."
The envoys had arrived at noon, and it was only now, deep into the night, that a final decision had been reached. Clearly, the negotiations hadn't gone smoothly—perhaps disputes over competing interests had proven difficult to resolve, or certain factions had strongly opposed the agreement.
Regardless, Kushina's participation in the mission was now set in stone.
"Shimizu… Kushina's safety is extremely important to the village," Minato said quietly, his voice softening. "And to me… she's the most important person there is. So…"
"You don't need to say it," Shimizu interrupted calmly. "I'll keep an eye on her."
"Thank you. Truly."
"By the way," Shimizu added, "you mentioned earlier that you're deciding the team lineup?"
"For the most part. The higher-ups decided to dispatch a full battalion. I'm responsible for selecting the members of seven of the squads."
"Perfect. I have a few candidates I'd like to recommend."
—
Early the next morning, Shimizu stood at the gates of Konoha with his squad assembled: Shisui, Hyūga Satomi, and Inoichi Amani—the four of them forming Squad Seven.
Amani showed up with dark circles under his eyes, looking like he'd barely slept.
"Didn't rest well?" Shimizu asked, noticing his drowsy, unfocused gaze. It looked like he'd been pulled out of a nightmare.
"I'd only just fallen asleep when the ANBU dragged me out for this mission…" Amani muttered, his eyelids drooping as he grumbled. "Is it really that urgent? There wasn't even the slightest hint beforehand…"
"It seems to be a major S-rank mission. I only just received the notice myself," Shimizu replied calmly.
"Huh?! Even you didn't know, senpai?" Amani blinked in surprise. "I thought you were the one who pulled me into this mission…"
By now, more and more ninja were arriving at Konoha's main gate in small groups. It was clear that most of them, like Amani, had only just been informed and summoned in haste. Among them were quite a few seasoned veterans—elite shinobi known for their strength and experience.
The air buzzed with speculation. Why had they been chosen? And for such a sudden, high-risk operation at that?
"From what I've heard," Shimizu said slowly, "this team was handpicked by the higher-ups—an elite force."
That explanation quickly spread through the crowd and was readily accepted.
"I see… so I count as an elite in their eyes now," Amani muttered to himself, sounding oddly pleased. After a brief pause, he added under his breath, "Does that mean I can ask for a raise…?"
No, Shimizu thought dryly. It's just that I didn't have anyone more suitable to pick.
His attention shifted as he spotted another group nearby—Minato, Kakashi, Rin, and Uzumaki Kushina, all gathered as Squad One.
Further out, at the perimeter, stood two ANBU squads, their presence subtle yet unmistakable.
Watching Kushina?
Shimizu's gaze flickered thoughtfully. Were they assigned by the Third Hokage… or Root?
He noticed that Minato's eyes drifted toward the ANBU more than once, a faint crease forming between his brows. Clearly, even he hadn't been informed.
…Then it was probably Root.
"Good morning, senpai!" Kakashi and Rin greeted him together.
"Morning. You both look well," Shimizu replied, observing that the two seemed to be getting along just fine, with no visible lingering effects from their previous mission.
"Yo, Shimizu!" Kushina greeted him with her usual energy—her hand already swinging toward him in a friendly but forceful slap.
Fortunately, Shimizu had anticipated it. With a quick sidestep, he narrowly avoided the incoming strike.
That was close.
"Morning, Kushina."
Her palm cutting through empty air, Kushina suddenly tilted her head, a strange look crossing her face as she peered past him. "Huh? Why is Megumi joining this mission?"
Megumi? She's part of this mission?!
Did Minato hit his head or something? Letting a newly promoted chunin girl join a mission this dangerous?
That had to be stopped.
Shimizu spun around immediately, about to speak—when a dull smack echoed out.
Pain exploded across his back.
He sucked in a sharp breath as the full force of Kushina's palm struck him squarely, the impact solid and merciless.
And when he looked forward—
There was no sign of any "Megumi" at all.
…He'd been played.
"Come on, Shimizu, let me introduce you—this is Megumi, the eldest daughter of the Kanda family. She's a special jonin!" Kushina chirped brightly, already greeting the girl as if nothing had happened.
"She's single too~"
Shimizu, however, was in no state to respond.
That hit… that absolutely had Tsunade's influence written all over it.
"What's wrong with you, Shimizu?" Kushina asked, looking genuinely puzzled as she noticed he seemed to have shrunk down slightly.
Because it hurts.
It really, really hurts.
No matter how prepared he thought he was, Kushina had still managed to outplay him in the end.