Rain Country was a land where it rained every single day.
The sky was always gloomy, making the passage of time hard to notice.
Only when darkness fully settled could one be sure night had arrived.
Inside the house.
Honglian sat with a basic medical textbook in her hands, reading carefully.
According to Kaito, learning what was written inside would make her stronger—and allow her to help her parents, herself, and even her teacher live a happy life.
Konan had been watching her for quite a while.
"Honglian," she finally asked, "do you understand what's written in that book?"
Honglian nodded… then shook her head.
"Some of it I understand. Some of it I don't."
Konan hesitated, then asked again,
"Do you like being a doctor?"
"It's okay," Honglian answered simply, then suddenly became animated.
"As long as learning this helps me achieve my dream and help Teacher, that's enough!"
"…A dream," Konan murmured.
For the first time, she felt a trace of approval toward the girl.
Though in her heart, she still believed medical ninja weren't that useful—after all, Nagato's father had been one.
"Done! The fish is grilled! Come eat, you stinky old man!"
Yahiko was already irritated.
This guy had casually declared them his subordinates, then immediately ordered him to get food like some lord.
Nagato, on the other hand, was quietly expectant—wondering what kind of knowledge or experience this new teacher would show them. Would it be like Jiraiya-sensei, teaching powerful techniques and teamwork?
Kaito rose from the creaky bed, lifted the musty blanket, the rabbit mask still stuck firmly to his face.
"Such a shabby place," he yawned.
"Honglian, you'll probably have trouble sleeping tonight."
"Eh? Then where am I sleeping?" Honglian asked, looking around.
Konan scratched her cheek and pointed toward a partitioned bed.
"You can sleep with me. Mine's pretty big."
Honglian looked over with slight hesitation—
Then Kaito leaned in, sniffed the bedding, and inspected it carefully.
Compared to the boys… girls really were cleaner.
Yahiko and Nagato froze in disbelief.
They'd lived together this long and never dared do that.
"Teacher, what are you doing?" Honglian asked innocently.
"Are you checking cleanliness for me?"
Konan stiffened.
Oh no.
I let a wolf into the house.
Kaito calmly straightened up, scanned the room with his chakra vision, and nodded.
"Much cleaner than Yahiko's bed. No lice. You can sleep peacefully."
"???"
"Wait—are you saying my bed has lice?!" Yahiko protested.
Nagato stiffened—his bed was right next to Yahiko's.
Kaito tilted his head.
"Do you think I'd sleep on a bed with lice?"
THUD.THUD.
Yahiko and Nagato felt mentally crushed.
"That's enough!" Yahiko finally snapped.
"You've been here for hours and done NOTHING!"
"I caught the fish. Nagato set up the grill. We cooked!"
"You should do something serious already!"
"If you want to kill us or punish us, just do it. We'll accept it."
They hadn't forgotten—Kaito had helped them during the theft incident long ago… and with the explosive tags.
"So you still remember," Kaito said calmly.
He sat cross-legged by the grill, picked up a skewer, then asked:
"By the way… where's the little one?"
The room fell silent.
"Dead," Nagato replied quietly.
"Some illness. Jiraiya-sensei took us to town, but the doctors couldn't treat it…"
"That's fine," Kaito said indifferently.
"It lived one or two more years as a stray. Not a bad life."
Nagato's eyes reddened.
Yahiko clenched his teeth.
Konan stared at Honglian with suspicion—was this girl kidnapped?
Before eating, Kaito suddenly put the skewer down.
"Sit here," he said, pointing.
"Yahiko, Nagato—there. Konan, Honglian—here."
ROOM flashed briefly.
In front of everyone, clean cushions appeared out of thin air.
"So this power can even make cushions?" Yahiko muttered, comparing them to their own worn mats.
"Thank you," Konan said coldly, sitting down.
Honglian thanked her teacher and sat beside him.
Next, Kaito produced three Luncheon Meat cans from Cloud Country and set them down.
"What's that? It smells like meat!" Yahiko swallowed.
Meat in Rain Country was expensive—most couldn't afford it.
"Five hundred ryo each. Three cans."
"My treat."
Konan frowned. "Five hundred ryo? That's impossible."
"Yeah! And such good packaging!" Yahiko added.
"Promotion maybe?" Nagato guessed.
"Impossible," Kaito cut in.
"Because that's Lightning Country currency."
Silence.
"This is a common Cloud product."
Yahiko leaned back, smiling.
"As expected of a great nation."
"Director, are you from Lightning Country?"
"No. I infiltrated Kumogakure once, watched a good show, and bought souvenirs."
The trio stared at him.
What kind of casual insanity is that?!
"Alright," Kaito said, "let's properly introduce ourselves."
"Hobbies. Interests. Dreams."
Honglian munched happily, eyes sparkling.
"Shouldn't you go first, you perverted peeping uncle?" Konan snapped.
"I already introduced myself," Kaito replied calmly.
"Now it's your turn."
They spoke—Yahiko first, then Nagato, then Konan.
When they finished, Kaito pinched the bridge of his nose.
"So… Yahiko likes fishing.
Nagato and Konan like eating Yahiko's grilled fish.
Your hobbies are training, and your dream is changing the country?"
"Yes!" x3
Kaito sighed.
"Uselessly idealistic rookie ninja."
CRACK. x3
"Eat first," he said. "Then I'll explain."
He ate an entire fish—bones and all.
"?!"
"That fish has bones!" Yahiko yelled.
Kaito removed his mask slightly—
a perfectly separated bundle of bones and head dropped into the trash.
"Just chakra control."
The trio sat in silence.
After the meal, Kaito spoke again.
"You can ask me questions."
Yahiko swallowed, then asked:
"Director… can joining you really bring peace to Rain Country?"
"How long would it take?"
Kaito looked at Honglian, then the rain outside.
"What do you think peace is?"
"No war," Yahiko answered.
Nagato and Konan nodded.
Kaito smiled—and placed the three empty cans in front of them.
"In this country, one can of meat could buy an orphan's life."
Silence.
"If you had my power—
how would you create peace?"
The answer did not come easily.
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