"Kitada Aina. Eighteen years old.
Chūnin-level medical doctor at Konoha Hospital."
"Parents deceased.
One younger brother—Kitada Minato, also a chūnin."
"Correct?"
"…Yes."
A low, magnetic male voice filled the room with an eerie charm. Bright white fluorescent light illuminated the face of a man so handsome he hardly seemed real—handsome in a mature, dangerously captivating way.
In front of him sat a young woman, freshly awakened, still in bedclothes, not even time to touch her makeup. Her unfocused eyes told the whole story:
She had already fallen into his genjutsu.
Kaito flipped through a notebook full of detailed questions, pen tapping lightly as he filled in Aina's answers.
"Your personal hobbies?"
"Studying medicine… and improving treatment for my comrades."
"I see."
"How are your workplace relationships at the hospital?"
"Decent."
"On your way to work and inside the hospital, list the full names of the people you're closest to."
"Ootsuka Umeko… Asano Yo… Ookawa Yu…"
"And their roles?"
"Umeko is a nurse…
Yu is a general physician responsible for civilian patients…"
"Mm."
The man—long dark hair tied elegantly behind him, a carved rabbit-pattern mask resting atop his head—turned to the final question.
"One last thing."
"How do you address Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru in the hospital?"
"I call Tsunade 'Director.' Jiraiya and Orochimaru… I call them senpai."
Snap.
He closed the notebook.
Database complete.
"Thank you, Miss Aina."
"When I snap my fingers, you will fall into a twelve-hour deep sleep.
You will believe you already finished your shift, returned home, and went to bed."
"You will forget everything from tonight."
"Sweet dreams."
Snap!
If she had been awake, Kitada Aina would surely have fallen head-over-heels for those flawless hands—as well as that face, that build—perfect enough to melt all resistance.
Kaito lifted her gently in his arms and carried her into the master bedroom of the two-person apartment—around a hundred square meters.
An expensive mortgage home shared by the Kitada siblings.
Kitada Minato, coincidentally, was one of the proctors for the recent chūnin exams.
He had been on a mission for half a month, giving Kaito the perfect opportunity.
"Good night, Miss Aina."
Kaito laid her in bed, then walked to the large full-body mirror typical of a young woman's room. He focused, forming a single seal with one hand.
"Transformation Technique."
Poof!
White smoke cleared—
A mirror-perfect copy of Kitada Aina stood where Kaito had been moments earlier.
Aina, despite her weak combat ability (barely above average genin at best), was still a certified medical-nin. She knew numerous medical techniques—but her chakra reserves and battle talent were limited.
Quite ordinary.
Because her time was devoured by medical research—diagnosis, chakra micro-control, herbal study, surgical principles…
Far more demanding than a normal shinobi's schedule. And she also had to work full-time.
Kaito sighed softly.
"Rough life. And here I am covering your shift—without pay."
"I'm so pitiful."
He glanced at his own reflection—now the flawless copy of a pure, innocent nurse—and muttered:
"Let's just hope White Fang doesn't catch me tonight."
His mind drifted back to two months ago, when Hatake Sakumo almost caught him treating wounded shinobi in secret.
Kaito had escaped only by relying on his self-created technique:
Life Return: Morph Technique.
Alteration of bones, height, hair, muscle tone…
A transformation no ordinary genjutsu user could detect.
He had to be careful, though.
If he grew stronger too fast, Orochimaru—or the village—would start asking questions.
Still…
Half a year ago, even without using the Op-Op Fruit, he judged himself just shy of special jōnin level.
But after receiving the Saiyan Physique, those six months had propelled him to elite jōnin—possibly even Kage-level—without the fruit.
His sense of security had skyrocketed.
Yet it wasn't enough.
He needed materials—injured bodies, rare internal structures—to further unlock the Op-Op Fruit's secrets.
And the place with the most medical "materials"?
Konoha Hospital.
At night.
Hospital — Night Shift Begins
"Good evening, Doctor Kitada. Thank you for taking the night shift."
"No problem at all, Mei-mei nurse~"
"Woof!"
At the Medical Division's reception desk, Inuzuka Umeko recorded Aina's attendance and handed her a pass card.
"And remember: behave, or I'll throw you out."
Kaito—disguised as Aina—accepted the pass with a flawless innocent smile, watching Umeko bonk the head of a fluffy white dog with streaks of green.
"Don't bully animals, Nurse Mei-mei~ or poor Aomé will cry~~"
Perfect voice mimicry.
Perfect mannerisms.
Even Aomé, the Inuzuka hound, sniffed multiple times and sensed no problem.
"…You're such a pain. Just get to the ward already—Director Tsunade is exhausted today and needs coverage."
"Yes ma'am~"
Kaito headed to the third floor to retrieve the white lab coat from "his" office.
Meanwhile, Umeko yawned at her desk. Aomé barked suddenly.
"What? I forgot something?"
"Woof! (Your pen!)"
"…Damn it, Aina!"
Kaito, in Aina's white coat, waved to familiar patients, then descended to the first-floor entrance.
There, he performed a deliberately sloppy Transformation Technique and disguised himself as a visitor walking out the main doors.
"Seriously, where is she—"
Umeko stood with arms crossed, scowling at the lobby.
"Woof woof woof!"
"What?! You saw her? Where—?!"
Just then—
"Doctor Kitada! Please don't play with Transformation Technique during wartime!"
Two chūnin guards at the hospital entrance shouted.
"Sorry, sorry~"
Kaito dispelled the technique with a playful grin—just as Umeko clenched her fists ready to throttle her.
"Aina" bolted instantly.
Surviving the Tightened Security
"Hospital defense during wartime is insane…"
Kaito muttered as he walked the corridors in full doctor disguise.
"Outer perimeter guarded by Uchiha patrols.
Internal gates manned by numbered chūnin.
And…"
He glanced quickly at the tall indoor tree in the rehabilitation area.
"…ANBU in the shadows."
Just perfect.
"Haah… I'm tired."
In the distant rafters, two ANBU whispered.
"Do not let your guard down. That intruder might return."
"If it's an enemy spy planting poison or explosives, we're done for."
"True. Captain isn't here tonight—Jiraiya-sama's covering the inpatient ward. Hopefully he catches the guy."
"He will. He's the Hokage's disciple!"
Kaito didn't hear the conversation, but he didn't need to.
The increased manpower spoke for itself.
Previously:
Simple identity checks at the door
Occasional Uchiha patrols
One guard per building
Now:
24/7 Uchiha patrol rotations
2–3 ANBU stationed per building
Daily-issued access passes
Enhanced security protocols
Kaito felt no frustration.
If anything—
It excited him.
A self-created super-A-rank infiltration challenge.
As long as he wasn't caught.
If the village discovered him…
Even if cleared of wrongdoing…
He'd be forced into jōnin rank at best—or forced to flee the village at worst.
His life would be over.
This was a trial.
A deadly, exhilarating trial.
And Kaito stepped deeper into the night-shrouded hospital, ready to face it.
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