With Kumogakure's plan failing, it meant one thing—
Killer B had no choice but to inherit the Eight-Tails at this stage of his life, becoming the new Jinchūriki.
Meanwhile, Kaito used the health knowledge he had accumulated over time to guide Lady Ruixue, teaching her simple daily exercises and light fitness routines.
Not only did it help relieve the anxiety of childcare, but it also improved her overall physical condition.
After all, even someone like Karura, a young jōnin, still suffered complications during childbirth later on when she had her third child—Gaara.
Once a ninja stops training entirely and becomes a full-time homemaker, the body deteriorates far faster than expected.
"Big brother, how many countries have you been to?"
"Five."
"Wow! Five countries?! Which ones?"
"Fire Country, Lightning Country, Iron Country, Hot Water Country, and Udon Country."
"Huh?! That's amazing! I've never even heard of most of them!"
On the street, Kaito had temporarily taken on a babysitting job.
Since the employer was paying anyway, he figured he might as well earn the money.
Miliei's payment was generous—500,000 Lightning ryō for three months.
One month had already passed.
Holding little Samui's hand, Kaito silently admitted that babysitting wasn't exactly easy.
Kids had way too many questions.
"Big brother, did you see real ninja in the Fire Country?"
"Big brother, is the Udon Country all about udon noodles?!"
"Big brother, does the Hot Water Country only drink soup—"
"Big brother—"
Kaito: "..."
Five hundred thousand… was that too little?
If not for the 100,000 ryō advance, he might've seriously considered tossing this noisy brat into the river under a bridge.
Just as Kaito patiently answered one of Samui's endless questions and turned a corner, a Cloud ninja stepped forward.
"Sorry. Ninja Academy assessments are being held ahead. Please don't cross."
"Academy… assessment?"
Kaito looked up at the towering mountain and the spiral path carved into it, his mouth twitching.
"A race?"
The Cloud ninja hesitated, then nodded.
"…Something like that."
Curious, Kaito stopped and looked downhill.
The Cloud ninja didn't stop him—this wasn't some secret jutsu training after all.
Thud—thud—thud—
Heavy footsteps echoed.
In their view, a dark-skinned boy trudged uphill under the blazing sun, dragging a boulder taller than himself.
Behind him—more students.
"…What the hell?"
"Your training is insane," Kaito muttered.
The examiner puffed up proudly.
"These are Kumogakure's academy students."
"The future inheritors of the Will of Lightning."
Kaito: "???"
You guys train your kids like foreign laborers?! No wonder Cloud genin go straight to the battlefield.
"So cool! I wanna be a ninja like that one day!" Samui said excitedly.
Kaito lowered the UV umbrella and looked at her.
You'll get heatstroke and turn into a charcoal-colored kid first.
Soon, one child collapsed.
The boulder dragged him backward.
The examiner waited ten seconds, then stopped the stone.
"Alui. Eliminated."
"Please! Give me one more chance!" the boy begged.
"Failure is failure. Don't disgrace the village."
The examiner pressed the mountain wall—
A hidden passage opened, automatically retrieving the boulder.
Kaito blinked.
…Even recycling stones? You people are monsters.
That evening, Kaito asked Miliei about the assessment.
"Ohhh, that?" Miliei laughed drunkenly.
"Brings back memories! I won prize money almost every time!"
He went on endlessly.
Halfway up the mountain earned 50,000 Lightning ryō.
Reaching the summit earned 200,000.
Miliei himself only succeeded a month before graduation—and that already made him exceptional.
Kaito drank tea, munching peanuts, concluding one thing:
Kumogakure ninja are all freaks.
They trained by brutalizing the body, squeezing chakra dry to improve quality and control—
fast, ruthless, and effective.
Compared to Konoha's tree-climbing and water-walking?
This was efficiency through pain.
Three months passed quickly.
Kaito became an expert babysitter.
Which, frankly, was completely useless.
"You're really leaving, Bai?" Miliei asked reluctantly after settling the final payment.
"Yes," Kaito replied calmly.
"This partnership exhausted me."
And nobody even came to see me for treatment.
Why would they?
Compared to a nameless wandering doctor, the village hospital was far more trustworthy.
"It's probably because Samui's too clingy," Miliei sighed.
Kaito counted the money, smiled faintly.
"If fate allows, we'll meet again somewhere in the shinobi world."
They shook hands.
As Kaito left Kumogakure in the snow, Miliei stared after him, conflicted.
During a mission, he had seen classified intelligence—
Kaito(Kaito)
Age: 21
Codename: Black Phantom
Rank: Konoha Genin
Second Shinobi War — Rain Country Intelligence Specialist
Mission success rate: 100%
Entire intelligence squads had been wiped out there.
"…Let's hope we never meet on the battlefield," Miliei murmured.
Later — Lightning Shadow's Office
The Third Raikage frowned after hearing the report.
"You let an enemy ninja leave?"
Miliei clenched his teeth.
"One mistake," the Raikage said coldly.
"Next time, don't bring strangers into the village."
"But…"
"Guard Killer B. If his chakra leaks, report immediately."
"Yes!"
Elsewhere — After Leaving Kumogakure
Kaito continued traveling.
Next stop—
Land of Rice Fields.
A country once ruined by Orochimaru.
Still, better than the Rain Village.
In a nameless village, Kaito encountered a terrified farming family—
And a blue-haired little girl carrying flowers.
Her name was Guren.
After a misunderstanding, panic, tears, and chaos—
Kaito crouched in front of the crying girl.
"Kid," he said seriously,
"Your bones are extraordinary. You're a once-in-ten-thousand genius."
"Want to learn ninjutsu from me?"
"I DON'T WANNA—WAAAH!!"
The villagers: "..."
So he's recruiting disciples?! We thought he was a demon!
That night, Kaito left money and a letter behind.
He didn't steal a child.
He took in a disciple.
One Year Later
In a valley of the Land of Frost, Kaito finally began teaching Guren how to extract chakra.
For an entire year, he had focused on:
Knowledge
Morality
Travel and perspective
Basic physical conditioning
Now—
It was time.
And Kaito was looking forward to one thing most of all.
The awakening of Crystal Release.
To read advanced Chapters, head over to p@treon:
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