It was almost dusk when Kaito walked out of the Senju Clan compound, his expression calm and content. He made his way to the bathhouse, eager to wash away the stubborn scent that clung to his skin.
By the time he returned home, night had fully settled over the village.
"Ah, the day's already over. That was quick," Kaito murmured. Despite his words, there was no trace of regret in his voice.
After dinner, he spent some quiet time talking with Hinata about small, everyday matters. The two eventually drifted off to sleep together in peace.
Time flowed like a gentle stream. In the blink of an eye, an entire week had passed — and it was, without question, the most relaxed week Kaito had enjoyed in years.
Whether it was being intimate with Hinata and the others, or simply wandering through the village markets with them, every day had been full of lighthearted moments.
The sun shone brightly the next morning, spilling golden light across the rooftops. After exchanging a few words with Hinata, Kaito headed toward the Hokage's office.
As always, Tsunade was at her desk. Without ceremony, Kaito stepped inside.
"I'm going to Mist Village," he said plainly.
Tsunade arched an eyebrow, her lips curling in mild suspicion. "Oh? Where to? Don't tell me you're missing your babysitter?"
Kaito shook his head. "I heard the Three-Tails, Isobu, has appeared near Kirigakure. I plan to subdue it as a Summoning Beast."
"You already have Katsuyu," Tsunade replied.
"Katsuyu's defensive ability is great, but her attack power isn't suited for direct combat. Besides… Akatsuki. You know what they're after."
Her expression turned serious. "The tailed beasts."
"Exactly. If they're going to collect them, it's better to keep the Three-Tails in safe hands. Mine."
"I've heard enough about Akatsuki to know they're dangerous," Tsunade said. "Jiraiya's investigations have revealed they're full of S-class missing-nin. But with your strength, do you really have much to fear?"
"I'm not afraid," Kaito admitted, "but I know just how deep that organization's roots go. Very deep." He thought briefly of the ancient manipulator pulling strings from the shadows, Uchiha Madara's proxy, Obito, and the Rinnegan wielder, Nagato. The Akatsuki's threat was far from simple.
Tsunade sighed. She knew well that in terms of raw power, Kaito was unmatched in the shinobi world. The fact that even he spoke cautiously of Akatsuki only confirmed her own unease.
"Fine, go. But don't spend all your time with your little babysitter and forget your mission. While you're at it, check on Ino and her team. They've been gone a while, and I haven't heard a single report. I've got a bad feeling about it."
She retrieved a scroll and handed it to him. "Here's their mission order. Make sure they're safe before heading to Mist."
Kaito unrolled it, his eyebrows lifting slightly. "A supply run? Delivering food to the Daimyo of the Land of Earth? The Land of Earth needs our food?"
Tsunade smirked. "You know Konoha's the largest economy among the Five Great Nations. Our fields are fertile, our harvests plentiful. Even though the Land of Earth grows its own crops, ours taste better. Every year their daimyo buys from us in bulk."
"They should be at the Daimyo's residence by now," she added. "Go see what's going on."
"Got it," Kaito said. In the next instant, his form blurred and vanished.
After a brief stop to bid farewell to Kushina and Hinata, Kaito became a streak of black lightning across the sky.
The Daimyo's estate in the Land of Earth was not far from Iwagakure — close enough for the Tsuchikage to visit with ease, and for the village to protect him. Though not as vast as a major city, the estate town bustled with activity, its economy thriving under the daimyo's influence. Samurai, mercenaries, soldiers, and shinobi were a common sight in its streets.
Unlike some other leaders, the Daimyo of the Land of Earth held little affection for shinobi, seeing them as loyal only to their villages. Still, for security's sake, he employed them when necessary.
Kaito appeared in a quiet corner of the bustling town, eyes sweeping over the lively streets.
"This place is almost as busy as Konoha," he murmured.
Casting idle thoughts aside, he extended his electromagnetic senses over the entire estate, quickly pinpointing Ino's location… along with another, more familiar presence.
"Onoki," he muttered. "What's that old man doing here? …Forget it. Not my problem."
In an instant, he was gone.
Inside a modest but well-guarded palace chamber, Ino, Shikamaru, Choji, and Asuma sat with grim expressions.
"Shikamaru, any ideas? Are we really going to let Ino be forced into marrying the Daimyo's son?" Asuma's voice was tight with anger, cigarette smoke curling around his head.
Their mission had been simple — deliver food to the Land of Earth's Daimyo. The delivery had gone smoothly, the goods received without trouble. Asuma, seeing the team's spirits high, had given them a day off to explore the market.
Ino had wanted to buy local specialties for Hinata, Sakura, and the others back home. But during their shopping trip, they stumbled upon a scene straight out of a nightmare — a nobleman harassing a young woman in the open street.
As the proud daughter of the Yamanaka clan and someone with a strong sense of justice, Ino hadn't hesitated. She struck the man without mercy. Shikamaru hadn't even had time to stop her.
The consequences were swift and severe. The man she had beaten was the Daimyo's only son. Rather than risk political fallout between nations, the guards had arrested the Konoha shinobi, locking each in separate cells.
But the real horror came moments later. The Daimyo's son had entered Ino's cell, his expression twisted. In front of her, he assaulted and killed the girl he had been harassing earlier — then turned his fevered gaze on Ino.
"You'll be just like her," he whispered darkly. "But you won't die. I'll make sure you suffer first."