The sudden appearance of character fragments left Kaguya Kaito both surprised and delighted.
Having lived in this world for over a decade, he had only ever received fragments from Mei Terumi.
Shortly after obtaining her fragments, he became her closest friend.
Gaining Zabuza Momochi's fragments could mean he might soon command Zabuza and add him to his future Mizukage team.
However—
Now was not the time to dwell on these thoughts.
Suppressing his excitement, Kaito pushed these thoughts aside.
He put the scroll away just as Mei Terumi stood before him, her eyes glancing briefly at the scroll in his hand before cautiously asking:
"Kaito, are you leaving again?"
Kaito pushed the scroll further into his cloak.
"Yes, I have another mission. It hasn't been long since my last one, but the Third Mizukage seems to think of me as a workhorse."
Mei Terumi nodded in agreement, seemingly also dissatisfied with the Third Mizukage. Soon, her tone softened, losing its previous irritation.
"Kaito, is this mission difficult? When will you be back? I have something to tell you."
Difficult?
Kaito chuckled inwardly.
Defeating the newly darkened Obito Uchiha would be easy if it followed the plan.
But to make the days ahead smoother, the difficulty of this mission had soared to unimaginable levels.
"Not difficult, but it might take a bit more time."
Naturally, Kaito wouldn't tell Mei Terumi the truth.
His principle was not to let the one person who truly cared for him worry.
Seeing Kaito's calm demeanor, Mei Terumi immediately frowned, her voice tinged with anger.
"Kaito, tell me the truth. Is there going to be a war? Are you on the front lines?"
"Don't think about lying to me. There have been significantly fewer missions lately. The village is gathering forces."
"And you, every time you say it's not difficult, it always turns out to be a life-or-death situation!"
Kaito laughed wryly and then slowly nodded.
Almost as soon as he lifted his chin, he saw Mei Terumi's face visibly darken.
Their eyes met, and her gaze was filled with worry.
"Is it Konoha?"
Mei Terumi asked nervously.
Kaito stood silently.
His lack of an answer was an answer in itself.
Mei Terumi lowered her head, clenching the soil in her hands.
A command from the Mizukage was something Kaito needed help to avoid.
But the opponent was Konoha, a colossal power.
Mei Terumi couldn't help but worry, her voice dropping.
"Kaito, you are a genius ninja. You must come back alive."
Kaito forced a smile.
"I am a strong shinobi. I will come back alive."
"Goodbye." Mei Terumi quickly left, noticing some emotions she shouldn't have.
After a few steps, she turned back and pulled a ninja tool pouch from her cloak, handing it to Kaguya Kaito.
"These ninja tools aren't free. You better pay me back when you return."
Kaito smiled as he took it, about to say something more, but Mei Terumi's fiery red hair had already disappeared around the corner.
Seeing her unusual actions, Kaito knew her well and couldn't miss the emotions in her heart.
But as a ninja who licked the blood off a blade, he didn't need empty reassurances.
Surviving and returning was what mattered most.
He greeted his clan members, who admired him as he went home, lying down only as twilight fell.
The world became utterly quiet, and Kaito couldn't help but think about his long-prepared plan.
Step one: Defeat Kakashi Hatake, capture Rin Nohara, and control her and the Three-Tails!
Step two: Avoid the eyes of White Zetsu and Madara Uchiha, and at the right moment, swap Rin Nohara with a fake.
Step three: Following the script, kill the fake Rin Nohara before Obito Uchiha!
Step four: Endure Obito Uchiha's wrath while altering the fate of this Kirigakure squad, making his name known in the village.
If he failed and were detected by Madara Uchiha, he would have to face the shinobi demon himself.
Although Madara was old and frail, he could still drag Kaguya Kaito to hell.
But if he succeeded, the benefits would be immense.
Kaito and his village would not have to face Obito Uchiha, the strongest being on the planet for some time, or Nagato of the Akatsuki, avoiding death or control.
They could even become allies, aiding his plans.
Suppressing his excitement, he closed his eyes, resting his body and mind.
Tomorrow, the events would begin.
Morning in the Land of Fire.
The next day dawned, the morning light breaking over the border of the Land of Fire.
Several shadows darted through the forest like a breeze.
Crunch.
The shadows stopped abruptly, and dozens of figures appeared in the seemingly empty forest.
Upon closer inspection, all these figures were respectfully waiting for the command of the person at the forefront.
That person was Kaito.
"Wait a bit longer."
He lowered his voice, speaking to the silent Anbu ninja before him.
As his words fell, the Anbu ninjas focused their gazes on Kaito, though he didn't notice a pair of probing eyes among them.
The owner of those eyes was none other than Zabuza Momochi!
Kaito Kaguya .
Zabuza muttered his name, his eyes never leaving Kaguya Kaito while recalling the event that shook Kirigakure a few years ago.
Kaguya Kaito killed all the examiners during his graduation exam, allowing students to graduate smoothly that year.
Twenty-odd Chunin and one Jonin died that day.
Kirigakure had to change the entire exam system because of him.
Kaito killed the new examiners whenever they tried to hold a new exam.
Watching his figure, Zabuza fell into deep thought.
Is this guy killing those examiners out of hatred?
Or does he want to change the village as well?
Probably the former.
Zabuza thought silently, veins bulging on his forehead.
A Kaguya clan member, a noble scion, a loyal dog of the Third Mizukage, couldn't possibly want change.
It has to be me to save this village!
Only I can save this village!
With this thought, his resolve strengthened.
Just as he regained focus, Kaguya Kaito's voice broke the silence.
"Everyone's here."
"I heard there's someone named Zabuza Momochi here."
"You, come out and help me check for any Konoha spies."
That bastard!
Zabuza clenched a leaf, crushing it, but had no choice but to step forward and stand beside him.
That bastard!
One day, I will kill you!
[Zabuza Momochi's Fate Shifted, Detected as Kirigakure Ninja, Obtained Exchange Fragment 1]
Hearing the mechanical voice, Kaguya Kaito smiled slightly, turning to the still-silent Kirigakure squad.
A lone leaf drifted to the ground between them, crushed under Zabuza's boot.
"Everyone, let's begin."