At the mention of the masked man, a trace of complicated meaning crossed Namikaze Kirito's face.
He didn't know whether he should reveal the masked man's true identity to his father.
When the Nine-Tails incident happened, he had been only three years old. There was a reason he hadn't warned his parents about the masked man during those three years.
First, no one would have believed him. Who would trust the words of a child barely old enough to speak?
Second… he was afraid.
Namikaze Kirito feared that if he spoke about the future he knew, his identity as a reincarnator would be exposed.
The family he had finally gained might disappear like a fragile dream.
It was because of that moment of hesitation that the events of that night unfolded.
Of course, even without his interference, the original course of history would likely have continued. But being forced to watch it while knowing what would happen was a cruel kind of choice—one that felt like no choice at all.
It was the same feeling he had when dealing with Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō.
When he struck at the two of them, his extraordinary perception caught a faint disturbance.
Even his Observation Haki failed to grasp it.
Someone was watching him.
The realization sent a chill down his spine.
With his current strength, even if he couldn't match someone at the level of the Sage of Six Paths, he should still be able to sense anyone observing him. For a presence to escape his perception entirely meant only one thing—
That observer stood beyond anything he currently understood.
Fortunately, the unsettling sensation faded soon after.
That experience was one of the reasons Namikaze Kirito was determined to unify the shinobi world as quickly as possible. He feared that some unseen force would attempt to restore the original timeline—a world in which he did not exist.
A world where the Fourth Hokage and Kushina Uzumaki died.
Those were outcomes he would never allow.
As battles continued and his abilities evolved, the Blackbeard template within him was gradually unlocking. When it was fully awakened, he believed he might finally uncover the truth behind his Reincarnation.
"Father… please forgive me for not being able to explain everything right now. When the time is right, I promise I'll tell you."
A faint apology colored his voice.
Namikaze Minato rose from his seat and stepped in front of his son, a gentle smile on his face. He placed a warm hand on Kirito's head.
His son was growing up. He had his own burdens and decisions to make. As a father, Minato had no intention of forcing answers out of him.
"Kirito," Minato said softly, "you don't have to tell me everything. Just remember—you're not alone. No matter what happens, your mother and I will always be by your side. We'll support you, no matter what."
Warmth spread through Kirito's chest.
His reserved nature kept him from saying anything eloquent, so he simply nodded firmly.
Knock. Knock.
The quiet moment between father and son was interrupted by a knock at the door.
At Minato's signal, a chūnin entered the office.
"Hokage-sama. Kirito-sama."
"What is it, Hattori?" Minato asked.
"Hokage-sama… Sarutobi Asuma has defected."
The chūnin—Hattori—spoke with visible unease.
The news surprised Minato, though he quickly regained his composure and nodded in acknowledgment.
Kirito, however, was not particularly shocked. After the Third Hokage's scandals had come to light, the Sarutobi clan had become the target of heavy resentment within Konoha. No matter how Minato tried to mediate the situation, some fractures could not be repaired.
After exchanging a few more words, Namikaze Kirito took his leave.
Minato still had mountains of work to finish, and lingering any longer would only earn Kirito a lecture from Kushina when he returned home.
After spending a few quiet days in the village and saying his farewells to Tsunade and the others, Kirito departed for Amegakure.
--
The Hidden Rain Village was nothing like he remembered.
In recent days, the entire village had been placed on high alert.
The streets were empty. Only the steady rhythm of falling rain echoed through the steel structures.
High above the village, figures cloaked in black robes patterned with red clouds stood in silence.
The members of the Akatsuki.
At this point in time, Uchiha Itachi had not yet joined their ranks, and Orochimaru had already left the organization.
The assembled members were Hidan, Kakuzu, Konan, Zetsu, Kisame Hoshigaki, Sasori of the Red Sand, Deidara, the masked man, and Jūzō Biwa.
Along with Pain, the leader, they stood united.
After Konan returned with her report, the Deva Path of Pain had recalled every member operating outside the village.
It wasn't fear that motivated him. Rather, it was caution. Namikaze Kirito's record spoke for itself, and according to Konan's intelligence, he possessed an unsettling familiarity with the organization.
To avoid unnecessary risks, Pain chose to gather everyone and confront Kirito together.
"I've been waiting three days," Hidan complained impatiently. "If this keeps up, how am I supposed to spread Lord Jashin's will?"
"My bounty targets won't wait forever," Kakuzu added coldly. "Kirito's head is valuable, but I don't have time to waste."
"Hahaha! Whoever he is, I'll show him true explosive art!" Deidara laughed.
"Explosions aren't art," Sasori retorted. "Puppets are eternal."
"I want to see his strength for myself," Kisame said, baring his shark-like grin.
The Akatsuki members were running out of patience. Few in the shinobi world could make them wait like this.
They had been standing by for three full days.
"Pain… should we keep waiting?" Konan asked quietly as she stepped beside the Deva Path. She could sense morale beginning to waver.
"There's no need to worry," Pain replied calmly. "The Rain Tiger at Will Technique has detected him. Namikaze Kirito has entered Amegakure."
He made no effort to lower his voice.
The moment his words reached the others, a bloodthirsty gleam lit their eyes. Their patience had long since worn thin. Now that their target had arrived, anticipation crackled in the air.
"Everyone," Pain declared, spreading his arms, "Kirito's arrival confirms our resolve. Though the organization is not yet complete, it is time to move forward. We will begin the Eye of the Moon Plan and make the shinobi world understand true pain."
As he spoke, the masked man silently withdrew into the shadows.
A moment later, a familiar figure approached him.
It was Sarutobi Asuma.
After defecting from Konoha, he had been located by Obito and brought here for his own purposes.
"How is your ninjutsu preparation?"
In public, Obito allowed White Zetsu to speak on his behalf, maintaining the masked man's eccentric persona. But in private, his voice returned to its natural low, somber tone.
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