Shhh—shhh—shhh—
Hours later, in the forest where Kaito had been surrounded by Seiu's squad, a heavy Konoha strike force arrived—Tsunade, Orochimaru, and a Hyūga jōnin leading six chūnin, two of them medical-nin.
One of them was Inuzuka Umeko.
"Kaito-taichō!!"
Umeko shouted into the rain-soaked forest.
No answer.
Though the rain had washed away most traces of the battle, Orochimaru noticed a faint smear of dried red on a green leaf embedded in the mud.
"So he really died…" Orochimaru murmured bitterly.
The sudden forced march had left Tsunade breathing heavily.
She turned toward the Hyūga jōnin.
"The body. Did you find it?"
The Hyūga shook his head.
"Forgive me, Lady Tsunade. No remains. There are only two possibilities:
captured alive… or the corpse was taken."
Because realistically—there was no way a genin survived a direct fight against the elite jōnin Suzuka had described.
"There's another possibility," Orochimaru said quietly.
"That he escaped with injuries. But… unlikely."
He closed his eyes. A solitary tear slipped out—one he had originally meant to shed for Nawaki.
No matter what else Kaito lacked, he had never disappointed Orochimaru.
Not once.
If only I had given him the Ryūchi Cave contract… even reverse summoning to a harmless snake burrow might've let him escape.
Kaito knew the Summoning Technique—but had no suitable creature to contract.
The squad searched for ten more minutes. Aside from faint traces of Ame-nin movement, nothing remained.
(The truth: Kaito's shadow clone had wanted to fight a little longer before intentionally getting "killed," but Seiu went straight for a lethal strike. The clone barely scratched Seiu's arm before being erased.)
Kaito was now officially listed as Missing in Action.
If, by the end of the war, no trace appeared, he would be declared Killed in Action.
In that case:
3.5 million ryō salary payout
3 million ryō death compensation
All bank assets & real estate transferred to his designated heir
Kaito had written Yakushi Nonō as his successor.
At the time, the gentle girl had been delighted, thinking her "cheap master" was finally showing some generosity.
But now—
Nonō sobbed uncontrollably, gripping Tsunade's armor.
"Sensei, you're lying… right? Kaito-sensei isn't dead. He can't be—!!"
Rain dripped from Tsunade's armor as she silently embraced the girl's shaking shoulders.
Outside the camp, Orochimaru gazed at the bleak sky.
"The weak die… then what is the meaning of life…?"
Meanwhile… Kaito Enjoys His Rain-Country Vacation
In a quiet street of a town called Curtain Town, under a small overhang, Kaito happily munched on a freshly bought steamed bun.
He was disguised—long black wig, simple lamb-pattern mask, summer robe, short sword.
This was Sector 7.
"Nagato, Konan! Run!!"
"You little thieves!! Got you this time!"
The fishmonger and fruit seller had finally caught the three children.
Kaito sighed, stepped out, opened an umbrella, and walked over.
"Wait."
He glanced at the anxious shopkeepers.
"I'll pay for what they took."
The bald fish seller blinked—then noticed the young man's appearance and the blade at his waist.
"…Three thousand ryō. They've stolen from us several times already. This isn't even expensive."
"I see."
Kaito pulled out a neat stack of Rain-country currency.
He had converted 100,000 Fire-country ryō before deployment, planning to take a vacation. With the wartime exchange rate now 1 : 5, he was practically rich here.
He still had about 200,000 rain-ryō left.
"Count it."
The sellers accepted the money, surprised but relieved.
"You sure? These kids aren't related to you. They're just… unwanted orphans."
"It's fine. Call it charity."
Kaito then asked casually, "Is it safe to leave town now? I heard Konoha forces pushed inward two days ago."
The shopkeeper grimaced.
"Stay inside. Outside is dangerous. You step past the safe zone, you could be killed for food."
"Noted," Kaito replied.
Then he looked down at the three kids still sticking to his legs.
"…Why are you still following me?"
Yahiko laughed awkwardly while hugging a watermelon.
"Uh… wanna come to our house as a guest?"
Kaito shrugged.
"Sure. I also need to check if the roads are still open."
"I plan to head to the Land of Iron."
"You should hire shinobi to escort you," the shopkeeper warned.
"No need. Shinobi aren't necessarily stronger than a swordsman like me," Kaito replied, deliberately letting the edge of his blade peek out—perfect young-samurai arrogance.
Leaving Town
With his lamb mask on, Kaito walked calmly through the gate.
Guards recognized this "masked swordsman" and the familiar orphans and ignored them.
They walked a long way up a mountain path.
Nagato held the small yellow dog close.
"Big brother Samurai… what's your name?"
Kaito answered smoothly:
"Jiraiya."
Using the same name as the real Konoha jōnin—making it impossible for Ame-nin to suspect him.
"What kind of work do you do, Jiraiya-nii?" Yahiko asked.
Kaito sighed inwardly, then answered in perfect samurai character:
"I take temporary guard jobs."
He explained the difference between ninja escort fees and samurai work.
The kids sparkled with awe at the idea of earning 20,000 ryō for one mission.
Kaito continued:
"But being a ninja isn't easy. You need chakra talent, training resources, and once you join a village—you lose your freedom."
"I'd rather be a swordsman."
Konan deflated.
"Samurai don't earn much then…"
"Not stable. Some months I earn tens of thousands… some months a few hundred."
"But—
I am free."
The kids nodded, even though the math sounded depressing.
Down the Mountain… Chaos Erupts
Far ahead, on the true battlefield, fifty Konoha assassins had fallen—
only the legendary trio remained: Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru.
Hanzo of the Salamander stood atop his giant summon.
A kunai with an attached explosive tag flew toward the children—
Its trajectory was… unfortunately perfect.
Straight toward Kaito.
Kaito internally: Why me?! Hit the dog or something—no, wait, not the dog—still! Anyone but me!
"Samurai Style: Flying Swallow Flash!"
CLANG—BOOM!!
Kaito's blade knocked the kunai away and it exploded harmlessly in the air.
The shockwave drew all combatants' attention.
Hanzo narrowed his eyes.
"…A shinobi from Konoha?"
He scanned Kaito's disguised figure—no recognition.
Then saw the three children.
His frown deepened.
Orochimaru immediately shouted:
"Hanzo! You're already surrounded by our reinforcements!"
"Don't talk nonsense, Orochimaru!" Jiraiya barked. "Those are civilians! That man isn't one of us!"
Hanzo analyzed quickly.
Three children. A wandering swordsman. Orochimaru is trying to use them to bluff me.
He judged correctly.
Then, after a long pause—
"Enough."
"This war… ends here."
"The final victory will belong to Konoha."
"I will let you three go."
"You have survived my blade.
From today forward—"
Hanzo raised his head proudly.
"—I shall call you the Three Ninja of Konoha."
Rain fell heavily.
Kaito simply stood there, mask dripping, quietly watching history unfold.
So… I accidentally witnessed the birth of the Sannin. Great.
What's next? Fight Hanzo? Fight the Sannin? Or—
Aftermath
"I don't need your pity! I can still fight!!"
Jiraiya screamed.
"Enough!" Tsunade snapped. "We'll die if we continue!"
Orochimaru remained silent, glancing again at the masked swordsman on the mountain path.
That gaze… why does it feel familiar?
Hanzo surveyed the area once more—especially the road leading to Sector 7.
A true spy would never walk openly on such a route. Must be civilians.
With that, both forces separated peacefully.
Much to Kaito's disappointment.
Seriously? Nobody's going to chase me?
Is my Saiyan bloodline messing with my brain? Why do I want a high-level fight right now?
Returning to the Kids' Home
"You were amazing, Jiraiya-nii! That sword strike was so cool!" Yahiko gushed.
"We would've died without you," Nagato added quietly.
The explosion earlier had nearly made him faint.
Konan comforted the trembling little yellow dog.
Back at their shabby hideout, footsteps approached.
Kaito turned sharply, hand on his sword.
"Who's there?"
"Wait! We're not enemies," Jiraiya said, raising his hands.
Tsunade stood beside him.
Orochimaru studied Kaito intensely.
"What is your name?" Orochimaru asked.
"…Jiraiya," Kaito replied shamelessly.
The real Jiraiya blinked in surprise.
"Eh? Same name as me? That's hilarious!"
Then he grew serious.
"I came to apologize. My teammates almost got you killed."
"Then can you teach us ninjutsu as compensation?" Yahiko asked instantly.
Konan and Nagato stared at him with hopeful eyes.
Orochimaru:
"…Should we kill them?"
Kaito:
Sensei… you really are ruthless.
The three children instantly turned pale.
Jiraiya snarled, "Orochimaru!!"
Orochimaru remained calm.
"I've seen many orphans. Their fates are always tragic.
Better a clean death than future suffering."
He spoke while observing Kaito's masked face.
Those eyes… familiar, yet different.
"Fine! Kill us then!! Just like Konoha killed our parents!!" Yahiko shouted.
Orochimaru lifted a kunai—
Jiraiya and Kaito stepped in front of the children at the same time.
Kaito blinked.
Why am I getting involved? Am I itching for a fight again?
Orochimaru withdrew reluctantly.
"I understand. But Jiraiya—you know what this means. Don't teach them ninjutsu."
Tsunade agreed silently.
This war was over, and they needed time to recover physically and emotionally.
"I know." Jiraiya exhaled.
"I'll stay here for a while."
He turned to Kaito.
"So—you're a registered samurai from the Land of Iron?"
Kaito shook his head.
"No qualifications."
Jiraiya's eyes sharpened.
"Strange… your sword technique was flawless. You deflected a kunai with an explosive tag without triggering it early…"
He stared harder.
"Are you… a wandering swordsman?"
"Mm."
Orochimaru stepped closer.
"Remove your mask."
Tsunade subconsciously held her breath.
Kaito removed it.
A slightly mature face—lean, faint stubble, a small scar under the left cheek.
Not the person they expected.
"…I thought you were someone I knew," Orochimaru murmured.
"Seems not."
He turned away wordlessly.
Tsunade looked disappointed and followed.
Later
"What?! You only met these kids today and you're already leaving tomorrow?!"
Jiraiya had assumed the swordsman was a family friend of the children.
But Kaito gave his prepared excuse:
"Sorry. I'm a wanderer. I need to make a living.
I helped because they reminded me of myself."
Jiraiya deflated completely.
Great. Now I can't relax after the war.
I guess I'm stuck taking care of these three orphans…
Before leaving, Tsunade had asked him what he would do once the war ended.
Jiraiya had confidently answered:
"I'm going to search for the Child of Prophecy."
Now?
He didn't even know where to begin finding either the prophesied child… or the terrifying "golden-haired one" from the Great Toad Sage's visions.
To read advanced Chapters, head over to p@treon:
patreon.com/nani_kaito