"Kamizuki Ken, right?"
"Your current state is not suitable for this meeting. Go and get some rest."
Uzumaki's words were beyond everyone's expectations. Even Kakashi, standing behind him, looked at Uzumaki in surprise.
Kamizuki was middle-aged and served as the captain of the reconnaissance unit in Konoha's front-line forces. His desperate plea during such an important meeting showed just how deeply his brother's death had affected him.
He was so overwhelmed with emotion that he could barely contain himself.
Yet, despite facing such a sincere and grief-stricken man, Uzumaki Raiden responded with such indifferent words. It was unexpected to everyone present.
"Lord Hokage?!"
Kamizuki looked at Uzumaki with tears in his eyes, his face filled with shock and disbelief.
"Kakashi, take him out."
Uzumaki Raiden gestured with his hand behind him as he spoke. Kakashi hesitated for a moment before slowly stepping forward and placing a hand on Kamizuki's arm.
Kakashi could clearly feel the man trembling slightly, struggling to contain his emotions. But despite trying to help him up, Kamizuki remained kneeling.
"Lord Hokage!"
Kamizuki bowed again. Just when everyone thought he would continue pleading, he quickly wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and said:
"Lord Hokage, I was wrong! Please allow me to continue participating in the meeting."
"Please!"
With that, Kamizuki lowered himself even further. Seeing his extreme posture, everyone turned their eyes to Uzumaki Raiden.
"Kakashi, didn't you hear my order?"
The response they expected did not come. Instead, Raiden tapped the table lightly and gave Kakashi a sharp glance.
"Understood!" Kakashi replied, then softly apologized in Kamizuki's ear before leading him out of the conference room. As Kamizuki walked out, it was as if all the strength had left his body. The world around him felt dark and empty.
He had abandoned everything, sacrificed his dignity, and yet, he received no affirmation, not even a perfunctory response or words of comfort.
Kakashi glanced at the dazed Kamizuki, parted his lips slightly as if to speak, but in the end, he turned back toward the meeting room.
After this episode, a strange atmosphere settled over the room. Although the meeting continued smoothly, the air was heavy with tension.
Once the meeting concluded, the participants left one by one, while Uzumaki Raiden and Nara Shikadai remained behind, seemingly to discuss something in private.
Kakashi and Itachi were ushered out.
"Itachi, are you hungry? Let's go grab something to eat."
The meeting had lasted from morning until noon, and Kakashi was already feeling the hunger. Now that Raiden had dismissed him, he immediately turned to Itachi.
"Yeah, I'm a little hungry too. Let's go."
Uchiha Itachi rubbed his stomach, took one last glance at the meeting room, then smiled at Kakashi.
The two of them left and headed toward the camp's mess hall. Unlike field missions, where ninja relied on ration pills, the Konoha forces stationed here had a dedicated canteen for meals.
The mess hall was located deeper within the camp, requiring them to pass through rows of ninja tents.
As they passed a gray tent, they heard faint sobbing coming from inside. They instinctively stopped.
"Kakashi." Itachi turned toward him, but Kakashi quickly made a "shh" gesture, then leaned closer to the tent to listen.
"Brother, I will definitely avenge you. Even if Lord Hokage refuses to help me, I will do it myself!"
"Damn it... Damn it..."
Hearing the soft murmurs from inside the tent, Itachi and Kakashi exchanged glances. Itachi furrowed his brow, wanting to go in and console the person inside.
From the words alone, he knew it was Kamizuki—the very man Raiden had just expelled from the meeting.
"Kakashi?" Itachi made a move to enter, but Kakashi grabbed his arm, shook his head slightly, and pulled him away toward the mess hall.
Itachi remained silent, his mood heavy. Just as they neared the mess hall's entrance, he suddenly shook off Kakashi's hand.
"Sorry, Kakashi-senpai, I've lost my appetite. I'm heading back."
His head hung low, and without waiting for Kakashi's response, he turned and walked toward his quarters.
"Itachi?" Kakashi murmured, watching him go. Losing his appetite as well, he abandoned the idea of eating and left the mess hall.
By the time Uzumaki Raiden and Nara Shikadai finished their discussion and returned to the dormitory, they found Itachi and Kakashi sitting at the door, staring at the sky with their chins in their hands.
"You two, what's wrong?"
Raiden found the sight odd and asked in confusion.
"Lord Hokage, why did you reject him?"
"You mean the one you removed from the meeting?"
Itachi's voice was low, but when he saw Raiden return, his previously gloomy expression brightened slightly.
"..."
"Does this trouble you, Itachi?"
Raiden stroked his chin, then crouched in front of Itachi.
"I just don't understand. I don't understand why."
"Master, why does the Hidden Cloud want to invade Konoha?"
"If war breaks out, Cloud will suffer huge losses as well."
"I've never lost a family member, but I know the pain of losing a friend. It hurts so much."
Itachi's face, still youthful, carried an expression devoid of the liveliness and joy a child his age should have.
"I see. You're already thinking about such things."
"I'm not happy that you have these doubts, Itachi. If anything, I feel sorry for you."
Raiden placed a hand on Itachi's shoulder and gave it a light pat. Then he stood up and walked into the dormitory. Seeing that Itachi and Kakashi hadn't moved, he called out:
"Come inside, Itachi."
"Since you have these doubts, I will give you an answer."
"But understand—this is my answer, based on my experience and perspective. Let it serve as a reference for you."
As Itachi and Kakashi entered, Raiden glanced around at the room Nara Shikadai had arranged for him. The battlefield quarters were simple—two beds and a small desk. There weren't even stools to sit on.
Even so, such accommodations were considered luxurious on the front lines.
Raiden casually gestured toward the floor.
He then sat cross-legged behind the desk.
"Itachi, I asked Kamizuki to leave because his brother's death had clouded his judgment. Anger and hatred can impair a leader's decision-making."
"As the head of Konoha's reconnaissance unit, his judgment affects the lives of hundreds."
"Having lost his brother, he is no longer fit to lead in this war."
"The reason I refused his request was because I don't want to be swayed by emotion. More importantly, I refuse to lie to him."
"Yes, Raikage Ai and his brother, Killer Bee, have killed many from Konoha."
"But those two cannot die. And I will not kill them."
(End of this chapter)