After A personally escorted him through a thorough inspection, Tamura Hao noticed that A seemed hesitant to speak.
Smiling, Tamura Hao said:
"Brother A, we're senior and junior disciples now. If you have something to say, just say it."
A glanced around. Only after confirming there was no one nearby did he lower his voice.
"When is your next big release coming out?"
Tamura Hao froze for a split second.
So that was it.
A was one of his most loyal readers. He'd bought every single work and had been eagerly awaiting the next one.
Although this junior disciple was already frighteningly productive—one book per month, each around a hundred thousand words—it was still never enough.
A had finished the last volume on the very day it was released.
He'd been starving ever since.
"The manuscript's already been submitted," Tamura Hao replied helplessly.
"It should be in printing right now. You'll be able to buy it on the first of next month."
"Junior brother, your output is insane!"
A gave him a thumbs-up, his anticipation instantly renewed.
Just one more week.
"Do you need to change residences?" A asked next.
During the inspection, he'd learned where Tamura Hao lived—in a civilian district. The area was chaotic and not particularly safe.
"No need," Tamura Hao shook his head slightly.
"Lord Dodai seems to have plans. It's better for me to stay there."
He roughly understood Dodai's intentions.
In short: let him act as a half-double agent, using him to quietly trap Danzo Shimura and Konohagakure.
He didn't resist the idea.
Only by displaying enough value could he obtain greater returns.
"Fair enough," A nodded.
"I'll arrange for an elder from my clan to live nearby and keep an eye on you."
"If there's danger, use explosive tags immediately."
"Make some arrangements inside your home. Once there's movement, that elder will rush over at once."
A handed him a thick stack of high-grade explosive tags—freshly fetched, totaling a full hundred.
"Thank you, Senior Brother!"
Tamura Hao accepted them with genuine gratitude. This was exactly what he needed right now—for protection and secrecy.
"Work hard," A said, patting his shoulder.
"Whatever Konoha can offer you—we can give you more."
He genuinely didn't want this junior brother to make the wrong choice in the future.
As for the spy identity?
That wasn't a big deal.
As long as Tamura Hao truly integrated into Kumogakure and proved his worth, the village could accommodate him.
After all, Kumogakure was notoriously hungry for talent.
Over the years, they had repeatedly conducted operations to seize skilled individuals and secret techniques. Those who truly joined the village were treated generously.
If they could accept outsiders like that—
Then accepting this junior brother was nothing.
"I won't disappoint you or Sensei," Tamura Hao said solemnly, nodding.
And he meant it.
He had no desire to return to Konoha—let alone work under Danzo again.
There was no future there.
Advancement was difficult. Survival was uncertain.
Just look at how many people died in Konoha in the original story. How many clans were wiped out. Even the two founding clans were nearly destroyed.
The darkness and bloodshed hidden beneath that village were unimaginable.
Later on, it was flattened multiple times.
Truly a place of simple folk and endless disasters.
Konoha was strong, rich in talent and heritage—but those strengths were also its weaknesses.
Internal conflicts piled upon conflicts. One wrong step and you'd be finished.
Among the Five Great Ninja Villages, Kumogakure had the best reputation overall.
Fewest missing-nin. Strong cohesion—especially under the rule of the Third Raikage.
Kirigakure?
Ever since the Third Mizukage, it had turned into the Bloody Mist—killing its own people with enthusiasm.
Sunagakure?
Endless sand, scarce resources, and puppet techniques he had no interest in.
Hand-building a "Gundam"?
Sorry—no talent for that.
Iwagakure was highly exclusionary and riddled with its own problems.
Unless he could somehow become the disciple of the Third Tsuchikage—which was laughably unlikely—there was no future there either.
That old fox would interrogate him with genjutsu first.
By comparison, Kumogakure was clearly the best choice.
Especially because the Third Raikage was, in many ways, easy to deal with—decisive, straightforward, and firm once he made up his mind.
That was why Tamura Hao had dared to reveal his spy identity.
After chatting with A for a while longer, Tamura Hao left the Raikage Tower and returned to his apartment.
The moment he entered, he began setting up defenses—explosive tags and thin wires arranged throughout the room.
Walls. Ceiling. Floor.
Nothing was left uncovered.
He had no intention of being silently assassinated in his sleep.
"The first hurdle is over."
Letting out a long breath, Tamura Hao stripped and took a shower.
He'd looked calm on the surface, but inside he'd been panicking badly.
His undershirt had been completely soaked through with sweat.
This had been a gamble.
Lose—and he'd be dead without question.
Even with good odds, the pressure was far beyond what ordinary people could imagine.
Fortunately, he'd succeeded.
This was only the first hurdle—but it was the most critical one.
As long as he remained loyal to Kumogakure, upheld the Will of Lightning, abandoned the Will of Fire instilled by Danzo, and continued to prove his worth—
He would be safe.
"How are you doing now…?"
He reached into the bottom of his bedside drawer and took out a photograph.
A blonde-haired girl stared back at him.
His gaze grew complicated.
His mission to infiltrate Kumogakure—and escape Danzo—had relied heavily on schemes involving this girl.
Five years had passed.
He wondered how she was doing now.
Given her talent, she was probably doing quite well under Danzo's command.
After a moment of drifting thoughts, Tamura Hao tucked the photo back into the drawer.
He kept it mainly as misdirection.
To make Danzo believe that his emotional bonds still existed—so the old bastard wouldn't immediately send someone to silence him.
At the same time, it left him room for future maneuvers.
Danzo had plenty of good things in his hands.
"What was that feeling earlier…?"
Tamura Hao frowned, recalling the strange sensation he'd felt when entering the Raikage's office.
Something had seemed to enter his body—more precisely, his mind.
At the time, he'd assumed it was some kind of genjutsu-based inspection.
After all, that was the Raikage's office.
But later, after indirectly asking A, he confirmed it wasn't.
And during the weapons demonstration in the training room, that same strange sensation had occurred again.
Even after returning home—
It had happened once more.
In the shower.
What was it?
After thinking for a while with no answer, Tamura Hao closed his eyes and began refining chakra—while focusing his awareness on his head.
Refining chakra stimulated both spiritual energy and physical vitality.
If there really was something abnormal in his mind, he should be able to sense it.
And sure enough—
The moment he began refining chakra, something triggered.
The chakra in his head surged violently toward the depths of his brain—
As if being devoured by some unseen existence.
Then the chakra from the rest of his body reacted, rushing uncontrollably toward his head as well.
At the same time—
His consciousness was dragged into a pitch-black, empty void.