The sun came up like always, painting the sky with light.
The morning air, crisp and cool, soon filled with the sounds of people going about their day.
Everyone seemed busy with their own lives, and today looked just like yesterday.
But underneath the surface, big changes were happening among Konoha's leaders, changes that the regular ninja wouldn't see coming.
Early that morning, Namikaze Minato heard footsteps outside his cell.
He looked up, squinting towards the light.
Last night was the worst night of his life.
He could never have imagined ending up locked away in Konoha's prison.
It was hard for him to believe it was real.
To make things worse, Jiraiya-sensei had come to see him again, trying to help him feel better.
This made Namikaze Minato decide to stop what he was doing.
He knew he had made mistakes.
He needed to fix them before it was too late.
Maybe the best thing to do was tell everyone about the Second Hokage and save himself.
But, if the Second Hokage makes the first move, then what?
Soon, Namikaze Minato could see who was coming to visit.
It was Kushina.
She had some Anbu ninja with her.
"Kushina..."
Namikaze Minato quickly stood up and went to the bars.
He looked at Kushina through them.
Her face was pale, and her eyes were red from crying.
He could smell the faint scent of shower gel, like she had just taken a bath.
It was clear she was very worried about him.
"I'm sorry..."
Namikaze Minato couldn't help but apologize for making her worry.
But then, he noticed something different about her.
Something about her presence had changed.
Before he could figure it out, the Anbu opened the cell door.
"Namikaze Minato, you are free to go..."
The Anbu said he was being released without any charges.
They had found out that he wasn't the one who did it; it was someone else.
That someone was, of course, the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama.
"Sarutobi Ryo-sama has already talked about the details with the Fourth Hokage and the other leaders..."
As the Anbu repeated their instructions, Namikaze Minato felt confused.
He didn't expect to be released so quickly.
And cleared of all charges.
Everything happened so fast that it felt unreal.
It wasn't until he was walking side-by-side with Kushina that he realized something wasn't right.
"Kushina..."
The woman next to him was wiping her eyes.
At first, Namikaze Minato thought she was crying because she was worried about him.
But when he looked closer, he saw something else.
She looked tired, sad, and even a little scared.
Right now, she seemed like a wounded animal.
When Namikaze Minato reached out to touch her, she flinched.
She trembled and pulled away.
Her hands were clenched tight and shaking, and it made him feel even more uneasy.
"I'm sorry... Minato... I... I'm just so happy you're being released..."
Kushina kept her head down, sobbing.
She wiped away her tears so he couldn't see her face.
Namikaze Minato's expression turned serious, and his eyes narrowed.
His unease made him start to imagine things.
He couldn't help but think about one possibility...
Could it be that Kushina went to see Sarutobi Ryo?
That was the only thing he could think of.
She must have gone to beg for him, and then... she must have been humiliated.
He didn't know the full extent of what she had done... the great price she had paid.
Secrets always come out in the end, and one day he would know the truth.
But right now, he couldn't see the whole picture.
Soon, they walked out of the prison.
Namikaze Minato looked lost in the bright sunlight.
Kushina still kept her head down.
They were standing together, but it felt like they were growing farther apart...
As they left, someone walked past them.
She was frail-looking with white eyes, and she made a strong impression.
Namikaze Minato recognized her.
It was Hyuga Hiashi's wife, Hyuga Hazuki.
Now that she was free to visit anyone she wanted, she hurried to the prison to see her fiance... or, more accurately, her former fiance.
But Namikaze Minato and Kushina were too caught up in their own thoughts to notice her.
So, they all went their separate ways...
----
Konoha Suburbs.
A small bridge over a stream...
Uzumaki Mito stood at the door, looking into the distance, thinking deeply.
Then, she saw Kushina and Namikaze Minato coming from far away.
"!"
Uzumaki Mito's eyes widened, thinking she was seeing things.
But when she looked again, she knew it was true... Namikaze Minato had been released.
But...
How was that possible?
With the crimes he was accused of, he shouldn't have been let off so easily.
Could it be that Sarutobi Ryo had already figured out what Tobirama was planning?
As Uzumaki Mito was thinking, they arrived in front of her.
"Lord Mito..."
Namikaze Minato looked complicated, feeling guilty and ashamed.
He didn't expect things to turn out this way.
He knew something was wrong, and he just wanted to stop now and live a good life with Kushina.
Because Naruto was due to be born in less than two weeks.
To make sure Naruto had a good start, he decided to leave those bad things behind.
That was all he could think about right now.
The Hokage position... could wait.
Uzumaki Mito also saw the change in Kushina.
A hint of darkness was starting to grow in her heart.
Remembering that Kushina hadn't come back all night, Uzumaki Mito's eyes grew wide.
"Last night..."
As Uzumaki Mito started to speak, Namikaze Minato jumped in.
But after talking for a while, Uzumaki Mito's suspicions were confirmed.
Kushina hadn't gone to the prison to visit Namikaze Minato last night, but instead... had gone somewhere else.
This made Uzumaki Mito suspicious.
After telling Namikaze Minato to rest, she decided to ask Kushina about where she had gone last night.
And... why Namikaze Minato was released.
Or rather... what Kushina had done.
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[T/N:
Latest Chapter translated on Patreon - Chapter 306 (Vol 2 Ch 248) (+79 Chapters Ahead!)
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]