Reborn in the Mist

Minato felt troubled, extremely so. He hadn't felt this conflicted since he had to think of what to do with Kakashi and in the end assigned him to guard Kushina and be reminded of life's renewal. He couldn't say how effective his method was but, at least he's less prickly now.

But this was an entirely different kind of troubled, one that would dictate the future of not just Konoha but Kiri as well. He'd never thought that they'd come out of their isolationist ways in his time, much less that he'd have to deal with it.

But it's happened, like a fluke or whim of fate. Minato had vision of a connected world, where shinobi of all nations put aside their differences and worked together but he was no naïve child.

He was the Fourth Hokage and so he always shook out for a chance at peaceful coexistence all while preparing for war. Jiraiya and even the Third had counselled as such, there will always be those seeking to destroy.

Still, when he offered Kiri's representatives a chance to forge stronger bonds he couldn't say he was fully genuine. They were the village responsible for the loss of Rin, what they did to her was…what they forced his students to go through…,Minato held some hate and couldn't deny he felt relief and justified hearing that their Sandaime had passed.

He wondered if his successor was personally responsible but according to what the ANBU monitoring the Kiri representatives report, it doesn't seem like he was.

Yagura Karatachi was a fellow youthful Kage, Yondaime of his time as well and strangely, he was acceptant of Minato's empty offer at burying the hatchet and communicating better. This was what troubled Minato. He couldn't believe it truly, someone had finally accepted his hand and it was a young man leading one of the most mystifying hidden villages.

Whether to be excited or anxious, Minato wasn't sure how to feel much less what to do. He could only lean on the word of his wise predecessor.

Hiruzen sat nearby his desk and Minato waited patiently for his response. He took a drag from his pipe and blew with satisfaction, his eyes fluttered open in satisfaction and he hummed.

He adjusted his idle cloak, no longer Hokage he wore a simple red and white robes that dignified his retired position. Minato waited patiently as he took another long drag and puffed out a cloud of tobacco, he has frankly never been a fan of the stuff and he personally didn't want his office stinking of it when Kushina inevitably dropped by, but for a sliver of wisdom, he'd bear with it.

Finally, the Sandaime bothered a glance at him and smiled that knowing smile of his, "Minato-kun, tell me, what about this disturbs you the most? Is it your personal conflicts with the Mist? The shock at your offer being accepted so easily? Or is it that you don't understand the young Mizukage and fear him to be as ill willing as his predecessor? If it is none of this, tell me what it is."

At this Minato sat back, a slight frown marring his features as he pondered. He'd asked himself this as well and frankly it was a hotpot of everything the Third had just said.

A part of him felt ill dealing with the Mist after what they'd done to Kakashi and Rin. It was a new man wearing the mantle, a young one at that so there's hope that he genuinely wants to improve relations as Minato does. But the Mist is mysterious and the news he's heard about them has never been so good as it is now, it might be too good to be true, even if a new Kage led them.

At the end Minato felt himself coming back to the established feelings and thoughts about them he's had for years, an opinion that's only worsened as time passed. But this was the opportunity of a lifetime, the chance to amend this warring world by even a fraction.

Minato could see it, with their peace treaties with Suna and this coming from Kiri, together the three hidden villages could accomplish a lasting peace, one that his child would be born into.

Minato shakes his head and leaned forward, "It's the chance that this might be real opportunity and somehow, something from somewhere will make it fail to be reality. Even if that something is myself…Team Seven aren't the only ones Kirigakure has hurt. Kushina…the Uzumaki didn't deserve what happened."

At the mention of the Uzumaki the Third's smile drops a fraction. The Second Shinobi war was an arduous one with many brutalities he regretted, the Uzumaki among them.

He dragged his pipe and blew, "So, you wish this to be true then but you fear failure, you fear a trap." Minato nodded. "You also fear your own prejudices but on that I can tell you firmly, as Hokage your interests are for the village alone, your personal biases must not cloud the Will of Fire and the pursuit of the Konoha Lord First intended."

Minato inhaled deeply, "I should do it then? I should accept this…beginning of an alliance?"

The Third chuckled, "Do not be so hasty, an alliance may not come of this at all, the Mist is a very private and solitary village. They do not like to rely on others. However, if this Fourth Mizukage is honest then it would be wise to pursue, even if it only leads to smoother communications, it is a step forward, more than any Hokage since the Shodaime-sama has taken with respect to them."

Minato smiled, appreciative of the Third's high praise, "Thank you for your counsel, Sandaime-sama, if you'd like I'll keep you updated on this."

The Third nodded graciously, "Of course, but keep it minimal, I'm trying to make the best of my retirement. Bwhahaha!"

They shared a more words in lighter subjects, Minato asked after Biwako and Asuma and the Third shared his plight as a father returning to a home that's long since learned how to function without his direct input. He blessed Minato with some parenting advise but quickly noted his drifting mind and made himself scarce, wishing him goodluck with all endeavours.

Despite the conversation, Minato felt himself grow anxious still. He knew what he was going to do but felt at the very least he ought to talk to Kushina first before giving Kiri's representatives any orders or even thinking of a group to send to the Mist as liaisons for what will be the start of a tense relationship.

He had the urge to speak to Kakashi as well but felt it pointless to drag up awful memories when he was intentionally trying to distract the boy from it and allow him to begin healing.

Paranoia and anxiety made him consider sending out ANBU ahead to infiltrate and report on who Yagura Karatachi was as a Kage. As a shinobi he already has a number of credits and battlefield legends to his name, but as a person, as a leader…everything was vague.

Minato stared at the heap of work in front of him and could only see it double as soon as these processes went into play. He sighed and picked up his pen to work.