Naruto: We Agreed on a Simulation, But They Actually Came to Life?

Kitahara Kaede left the intelligence liaison office holding two newly arrived letters.

One was from Pakura. The other was from Terumi Mei.

Since Konoha had formed alliances with Amegakure and Kirigakure in succession, their letters could finally be delivered directly through official channels, sparing him from having to travel outside the village to receive them.

Kaede opened Pakura’s letter as he walked.

The handwriting was neat and elegant. Most of the contents concerned small pieces of her daily life in Amegakure.

Yahiko had proposed another unrealistic plan during a meeting. Konan had developed a new Paper Style technique.

At the end, Pakura asked in an extremely restrained manner whether he had become so busy that he was neglecting his meals again, then reminded him to eat on time.

After reading, a faint smile rose unconsciously at the corners of Kaede’s mouth.

He folded the paper and carefully stored it inside his clothes before taking out Mei’s letter.

The instant he tore open one corner of the envelope, he could already guess what it contained.

The beginning would certainly be filled with long, direct declarations about how much she missed him. The middle would contain suggestive lines bold enough to make even his scalp tingle. The ending would present a long list of reasons hinting that he should visit Kirigakure soon.

Kaede sighed and prepared to unfold the paper.

Whoosh!

A dark figure landed before him without warning.

An ANBU operative.

"Jonin Kitahara, Hokage-sama has summoned you urgently. Please report to his office immediately."

The relaxed ease on Kaede’s face vanished at once.

He shoved the unread letter back inside his clothes and answered solemnly.

"Understood."

Before the word had fully faded, his figure disappeared.

***

At the Hokage Building, Kaede pushed open the office door and immediately noticed that Minato wasn’t seated behind his desk. He stood alone by the window.

At the sound, Minato turned around.

His usually gentle, smiling face carried a rare gravity.

"Kaede, look at this first."

Minato handed him a top-secret scroll with a red cover.

Kaede accepted it and swiftly unrolled it.

The intelligence consisted of only a few lines.

Three weeks earlier, Takigakure’s Jinchuriki had been secretly captured during a mission outside the village and had remained missing ever since.

Kaede’s head snapped up.

"Minato-sama, this happened three weeks ago?"

Minato sighed and returned to the desk.

"Takigakure suppressed the news completely to preserve its reputation."

"If we hadn’t strengthened our collection of intelligence concerning every village’s Jinchuriki, we might have learned about it even later."

Three weeks...

Black Zetsu had finally begun moving!

Kaede looked at Minato, his tone incomparably serious.

"Minato-sama, immediately raise Kushina-nee’s protection to the highest level. Someone must remain beside her twenty-four hours a day!"

Minato’s expression sharpened as well.

Kaede continued, "If the person attacking Jinchuriki is the same one we previously suspected, then Kushina-nee, as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, will also be a target!"

"Don’t worry." Minato nodded solemnly. "I secretly increased the ANBU around her some time ago."

After understanding the situation, Kaede took his leave and strode out of the building.

Several steps later, he stopped abruptly.

Something had happened in Takigakure... then what about Kirigakure?

Mei was responsible for monitoring the Three-Tails and Six-Tails.

Kaede immediately pulled her letter from inside his clothes.

He unfolded the page.

This time, none of her usual sweet words appeared.

Mei had written:

Recently, suspicious traces have been discovered around Kirigakure’s outer perimeter. Someone appears to be secretly investigating the locations of the Three-Tails and Six-Tails. I have begun deploying forces throughout the area.

Kaede raised an eyebrow.

Reconnaissance?

The enemy’s next target was very likely one of Kirigakure’s Jinchuriki.

He couldn’t be completely certain, but it was better to believe the threat existed than dismiss it.

If he missed this opportunity, he might lose an important opening.

Kaede rapidly formulated a plan.

Would Obito make the attempt himself?

Rather than guess, he could bring Rin.

With that thought, Kaede turned and raced at full speed toward Konoha Hospital.

The nurses in the corridor felt only a gust of wind. Before they could identify who had passed, the figure was already standing before Tsunade’s office.

Bang!

The door flew open.

Tsunade had been sitting behind her desk, staring blankly out the window. The noise made her flinch and immediately snap back to reality.

When she recognized the anxious Kaede standing in the doorway, she froze.

He had never lost his composure like this before.

Tsunade spoke immediately.

"Something happened?"

Kaede strode inside and nodded.

"I need to take Rin for that matter. We have to leave now!"

Tsunade didn’t ask a single question. Her hands rose and rapidly formed seals.

"Reverse Summoning Technique!"

Bang!

A dense cloud of white smoke exploded in the center of the office.

When it cleared, Rin stood there with confusion written across her face.

"Kitahara-senpai? Tsunade-sama? What is..."

Kaede had already removed a mask and black cloak he had purchased on the way from his ninja tool pouch and shoved them into her arms.

"I’ll explain the plan on the road." His tone allowed no argument. "Change into these immediately. We’re beginning the operation now."

Rin didn’t understand what had happened, but after seeing his grave expression, she nodded firmly and clutched the items.

Kaede turned to Tsunade.

"Change here. Tsunade-sama and I will wait outside."

Without further explanation, he reached out, grabbed Tsunade by the wrist, and pulled her from the office.

The corridor became strangely quiet.

Tsunade’s gaze settled on the wrist he held tightly.

Since she had already made her decision...

"You..."

She paused, seeming to find the opening too abrupt, and changed her wording.

"Be careful during the operation."

Kaede turned toward her.

She... was worried about him?

How long had it been since the cold war began since she last spoke to him in that tone?

Kaede struggled to suppress his emotions.

"Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing."

He smiled and continued.

"Wait for me to come back."

Tsunade grew uncomfortable beneath his gaze and turned her head aside.

"Who’s waiting for you?"

She restored her stubborn expression.

"I’m only afraid you’ll die outside, and I’ll lose the person who organizes my files for free."

Kaede merely smiled without exposing her.

At that moment, the office door opened.

Rin had put on the black cloak and mask, leaving only her clear brown eyes visible.

"Kitahara-senpai, where are we going?"

Kaede looked away from Tsunade. The smile vanished from his face, replaced by calm seriousness.

"First, we’ll report to Hokage-sama. Then... we leave."

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