"Director! We did it! Amegakure really approved us!!"
Among the three who had just taken off their raincoats, Yahiko excitedly pulled a document from his backpack—the official merchant certification issued by the Rain Village.
From this moment on, Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato were legally recognized merchants, free to enter and exit the major nations.
"Yahiko, you're still too excited," Konan said as she removed her raincoat and placed her bag on the floor.
"We're carrying the fate of a nation now. You need to stay calm—very calm."
"I don't know," Nagato muttered.
"When we passed the ninja tool shop earlier, you looked like you were about to buy the entire store."
"That's not true!" Konan blushed, then turned toward Kaito, who was calmly guiding Honglian through a medical problem.
"Director, didn't you hear us? We succeeded!"
Kaito paused, looked up at the three of them, and clapped lightly.
"Congratulations."
Then he went right back to tutoring Honglian.
The three of them instantly deflated.
After finishing his explanation, Kaito finally spoke again.
"This was within expectations."
"From now on," he said calmly,
"you are merchants—not ninja."
"Protect your goods. Protect your people."
"And don't meddle in things you shouldn't. Understood?"
"Understood!"
Kaito nodded.
"Starting today, the three of you are external affiliates of White Cross."
"Eh? No code names?" Konan said disappointedly.
"At least give me something like 'Angel' or 'Nurse'."
"Your strength isn't enough."
"And besides—we'll be leaving soon."
"From here on, everything depends on you."
"Director…" Nagato hesitated, sounding much like he once did with Jiraiya.
"You're leaving already?"
Yahiko stayed silent for a moment. Then he took out a wooden plaque he had prepared earlier and hung it on the wall with his back to them.
"Perfect. Honglian is officially part of the Toad Squad too!"
"We'll definitely meet again."
"Once the trading company gains momentum, we'll begin forming our organization."
"When that time comes—"
"Director, don't forget to give us code names!"
"…Alright." Kaito nodded.
Over the past month, besides completing their study tour, he had put the three of them through another round of combat training, ensuring they could fight independently.
He had also given one drop of his blood to Konan, and two drops to Nagato.
Konan failed six times before succeeding on the seventh.
Nagato failed once, succeeded on the second attempt—
then failed again on the second drop before succeeding once more.
In exchange, Kaito obtained four drops of hybrid Uzumaki–Senju blood.
Overall, the trip had been worth it.
He gained a clearer understanding of the Senju clan, descendants of Asura, and the Uzumaki clan, whose chakra reserves were massive but whose elemental affinities were weak.
Wood Release, at its core, was the power of the Divine Tree.
The Senju, Uchiha, and Uzumaki clans together were like three forms of the same existence.
The Senju emphasized physical vitality and chakra control.
The Uchiha specialized in spiritual power and ocular techniques.
The Uzumaki possessed overwhelming chakra quantity, with innate strengths in sealing and sensing due to Adamantine Chains and Kagura sensing.
In short—
Huge chakra reserves, but chaotic elemental balance.
Yin–Yang chakra dominated their bodies, making sealing and sensing easier to master.
Which meant—
If the Uchiha awakened through ocular development,
and the Uzumaki through Yin–Yang mastery…
Then what about the Senju?
Wait.
The Second Hokage never used senjutsu.
So could it be—
Kaito's thoughts stopped.
What if combining a Senju body with senjutsu could produce Wood Release?
An experiment idea took shape instantly.
He briefly checked the timeline—Jūgo wasn't born yet.
Which meant…
Looks like I'll have to find a Senju myself.
Tsunade's hard to grab…
Ah.
There's my old teammate—Nawaki.
Decision made.
After making an excuse, Kaito temporarily left the small house, leaving Honglian behind and saying he'd return in a couple of days.
Yahiko reassured him that the trading company still needed planning and wouldn't move out yet.
Before leaving, Kaito gave them a suggestion.
"Mushrooms."
"…Mushrooms?"
"They're common in the Rain Country, but most aren't edible, right?"
"No," Kaito shook his head.
"Some fungi are delicious if cooked properly. Investigate first. When I'm back, I'll verify."
Without a ROOM space, someone had to test them manually anyway.
After a full day of travel, Kaito returned to Konoha.
Night had already fallen.
July nights—graduation season for many academy students.
Strangely, he felt nostalgic.
The days when he was weak enough to stay indoors.
Slipping past the village barrier, he entered Konoha's streets.
Street vendors called out loudly.
Kaito ignored them all and headed straight for the Senju clan compound.
Yes.
He fully intended to steal a child—from the Senju—inside Konoha.
After turning a corner, he stopped.
A white-haired man in wooden sandals leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
"Stop."
Kaito halted.
"Tell me," Jiraiya said coldly,
"what is your purpose in approaching Nagato?"
Kaito smiled faintly.
"Not worried about Yahiko or Konan?"
"You really are biased, Jiraiya."
"Answer me."
"I don't believe you're building some peace-loving organization out of kindness."
"You have an agenda."
Kaito turned slowly.
"In a world of survival," he said calmly,
"either the wolf dies—or the sheep does."
"I'm simply walking the path I should walk."
"Then why return to Konoha?" Jiraiya pressed.
Kaito replied casually:
"The First Hokage's legacy."
"…His legacy?" Jiraiya's eyes widened.
"You're after Tsunade?!"
"…."
Kaito stiffened.
You ignore Nagato but obsess over Tsunade?
"Close enough," he said and vanished.
Jiraiya smirked.
"Tsunade's drinking with the kids at the tavern."
"I'll go warn her."
Inside the Senju compound, Nawaki trained alone under the moonlight.
After finishing, he sat on the veranda, staring at the stars.
"Grandma's gift…" he muttered.
"When can I give it to Kaito?"
"You analyze Mito's sealing notes pretty well."
Nawaki froze.
A kunai flew—
Kaito tilted his head. It struck the wall beside him.
"Who are you?!" Nawaki demanded.
Kaito held up a scroll.
"I heard Uzumaki Mito passed away. Thought I'd see what was worth stealing."
"This scroll—I like it."
Then he looked at Nawaki.
"I need the First Hokage's power."
"So—will you help me?"
"…Wood Release?"
Nawaki shook his head.
"I won't fall for that."
"Cooperate in one experiment," Kaito said softly,
"and you'll use Wood Release."
"…Really?"
"Really."
"But I don't accept resistance."
"Summoning Jutsu!"
A massive green snake appeared.
And the fight began.
Minutes later—
Nawaki was restrained by Sealing Technique: Single-Thread Lamp Array.
"Don't worry," Kaito said lightly.
"It's just an experiment."
"I'll return you."
"As for how…"
"That depends on you."
Under the moonlight, ANBU soon confirmed—
Nawaki Senju: Missing.
Tsunade staggered.
Jiraiya stood frozen.
"This was inevitable," Nono Yakushi whispered.
Above them, the moon shone cold and bright.
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