On October 18, Asuma Sarutobi was born at Konoha Hospital.
Earlier that same year, in June, the wife of Shinku Yuhi—the chief instructor responsible for the genin and chūnin classes—had also given birth to a girl at Konoha Hospital.
Her name was Kurenai Yuhi.
The births of Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi marked the beginning of a new era for Konoha.
An era Kizaru was far more familiar with.
"How pitiful…" Kizaru looked at the newborn baby who had just been carried out of the delivery room and sighed with genuine regret. "This little guy actually looks like Sarutobi-sensei."
"Ahem!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi coughed sharply and shot his disciple a glare.
"Shut up," Tsunade said from beside Kizaru, sounding as if she were scolding a child.
Hearing that, Hiruzen's expression softened at once.
As expected, among his disciples, only Tsunade knew how to care for her teacher.
Then Tsunade looked at the baby again and added, "Newborns are usually ugly anyway. Most of them look like old men."
"Cough, cough, cough!"
Hiruzen coughed even harder this time, making his dissatisfaction extremely clear.
"Old man, if you're sick, then move away," Tsunade snapped, glaring at him. "What if you infect the baby?"
Hiruzen slowly lifted his gaze toward the ceiling and sighed.
"Stop crowding around the child. Let the nurse take him away first."
"Old man, did you decide on a name yet?"
Tsunade and Kizaru stepped aside at almost the same time, finally letting the nurse—who had been blocked in place with the baby—leave.
"Asuma," Hiruzen said with a smile. "Asuma Sarutobi."
His eyes followed the nurse for a moment before he continued, "If that child can grow up with even half of Kizaru's talent, I'll already be satisfied."
Half?
That was asking far too much of Asuma.
After Kizaru forced back two major ninja villages in the Land of Wind, his reputation throughout the ninja world had reached a completely new height.
At the same time, the progress of his fusion bar had reached 91%.
His Devil Fruit ability had also been developed to the point of awakening.
After awakening the ability of the Pika Pika no Mi, Kizaru could no longer simply transform into light, absorb light, and release light. He could now interfere with and control the light in the surrounding environment itself.
With this further improvement, Kizaru had naturally begun developing new ultimate techniques.
By combining his awakened light ability with genjutsu, barrier ninjutsu, and fūinjutsu, Kizaru planned to create an S-rank genjutsu capable of forming an enormous illusion space.
According to Kizaru's own estimation, if this genjutsu was completed, it might even have the potential to trap an entire country within an illusion.
At the same time, he was also attempting to fuse light particles with the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, creating a massive energy sphere that possessed both extreme heat and the cutting power of Wind Release.
Once these two techniques were perfected, Kizaru's firepower, bombardment ability, and wide-area suppression would stand at the very top of the entire ninja world.
And that was not all.
Considering that Rinnegan Madara and Six Paths-level monsters might appear in the future, Kizaru was also imagining a new form never before seen in the ninja world.
He would store a tremendous amount of natural energy inside his body, use that natural energy as the power source, push his Devil Fruit ability to its absolute limit, and enlarge his body for a short period of time.
In that state, his attack power would increase by dozens of times.
This strongest form was still only a concept in Kizaru's mind for now, but it was being designed specifically to deal with the possible emergence of Rinnegan Madara wielding the Complete Body—Susanoo…
As well as a certain widowed young woman.
Following the anime setting, of course.
To be honest, if that strongest form could truly be completed, Kizaru was actually quite interested in fighting them head-on.
Of course, if they never appeared at all, that would be even better.
"That's a pretty heavy burden for a baby, Sarutobi-sensei," Kizaru said without the slightest hesitation.
Hiruzen's smile stiffened.
This brat…
He had only praised him a little, and this was how he repaid him?
Had he not treated this disciple well enough over the years?
"I also think it's too much pressure to put on a child the moment he's born," Tsunade said casually.
Hiruzen suddenly felt tired.
Looking at the two disciples standing so naturally beside each other, he said meaningfully, "Perhaps in a few years, I'll be able to see your child too."
Tsunade's face reddened slightly.
"Old man! Don't say weird things!"
"Ohhh…" Kizaru scratched the back of his head, wearing an expression that looked almost embarrassed. "I'll do my best, Sarutobi-sensei."
"Shut up."
Tsunade raised her hand and pinched Kizaru's waist, her smile carrying a very clear threat.
With Tsunade's personality, she would not usually become shy over something like this.
The real reason was simple.
The age gap between them was a little too large.
Kizaru was not even twelve years old yet.
Because of that gap, Tsunade felt embarrassed.
Kizaru, on the other hand, seemed oddly entertained.
Sometimes, even Kizaru wondered…
Would it have been even more interesting if he had accepted Tsunade as his disciple first?
"You…"
Tsunade narrowed her eyes when she noticed the smile on Kizaru's face becoming more and more suspicious.
"Are you thinking about something indecent?"
"No," Kizaru replied with a completely serious face. "I was just thinking about what we should eat for lunch."
"Tch."
Tsunade did not expose his lie. She only withdrew her fist and folded her arms in front of her chest.
Standing in front of them and watching their exchange, Hiruzen could not help but reveal a warm, strangely satisfied smile.
How wonderful.
Everyone was living a happy life.
Except Jiraiya.
"Hachoo!"
On the outskirts of a hot spring street in the Land of Hot Water, Jiraiya suddenly sneezed.
"Jiraiya-sensei, it's time for us to go."
Standing beside him, Minato Namikaze advised him helplessly, "Kizaru-san asked us to handle something. We still haven't finished it."
Without saying a word, Jiraiya put away the telescope in his hand while continuing to write and sketch in his notebook.
"I already left my contact information at the bounty exchange," Jiraiya said. "That bounty ninja named Kakuzu will come to us himself."
"Jiraiya-sensei, you still haven't guided my training today," Minato said, sounding troubled.
"Hahaha!"
Jiraiya laughed loudly, put away his notebook, and deliberately straightened his expression.
"Minato, gathering material is also a form of training."
Minato showed the warmest smile imaginable.
"When we return, I'll tell Kizaru-san and Tsunade-san."
The words he spoke were anything but warm.
Jiraiya's face changed immediately.
"Hey, hey, hey! There's no need to tell outsiders about matters between master and disciple." Jiraiya quickly waved his hand. "Come on. Your teacher will treat you to a big meal. After we eat and rest, we'll go train properly."
"Thank you, Jiraiya-sensei."
Minato smiled brightly.
This kid is becoming more and more like Kizaru.
Jiraiya complained silently in his heart, then took Minato and left the observation point.
That night, dark clouds covered the bright moon.
In the forest outside Konoha, Kizaru and Kakuzu stood facing each other.
"You came."
"I came."
"In the end, you still came."
"What else was I supposed to do?" Kakuzu said coldly. "Enough nonsense. Get to the point."
Kizaru smiled lazily.
"There's a job. Interested?"
"How much?"
"Five million ryō."
Kakuzu turned around and left.
"Once," Kizaru added slowly. "Once every month."
Kakuzu stopped.
Then he turned back and looked at Kizaru again.
"What kind of job?"
"Checking accounts."
Kizaru smiled at him.
Kakuzu stared at him.
"You came to me to check accounts? Is Konoha short on people?"
"Because I trust you."
Kakuzu's expression did not change.
"I'll give you one piece of advice. Don't trust anything in this world except money."
"Exactly." Kizaru nodded. "Because you trust money, I can trust you."
Kakuzu was silent for a moment.
Then he nodded, accepting that logic.
"When does it start? How many accounts? Is there a deadline?"
"If nothing unexpected happens, it starts next year. We'll check everything at the end of each month. As for the amount…"
Kizaru tilted his head slightly.
"I'm not too sure. Around one billion ryō every month, maybe. Not much."
Not much?
Kakuzu suddenly had the urge to step on that smiling face.
Was this man showing off on purpose?
"I understand," Kakuzu said coldly. "When it starts, have someone leave a message for me at the bounty exchange."
"If you discover any problems in the accounts, and someone is embezzling funds…" Kizaru continued slowly, "you'll receive five percent of every recovered amount."
Kakuzu's eyes seemed to flash green.
His motivation rose instantly.
"Good."
"By the way," Kakuzu said, remembering something, "your bounty has reappeared at the bounty exchange. It's currently one billion ryō."
Considering that Kizaru had now become one of his sources of wealth, Kakuzu decided to share this recent piece of information.
"Ohhh…" Kizaru laughed in his usual drawn-out tone. "That's quite tempting, isn't it, Kakuzu-san?"
"I can't earn that money," Kakuzu said truthfully.
He had personally watched Kizaru fight from close range before. He understood very clearly how wide the gap in their combat strength was.
"Kakuzu-san, do you want to join Konoha?" Kizaru asked, even though he knew there was little hope. "I can make the decision and give you the highest-paying missions."
"I prefer working alone."
Kakuzu refused without hesitation.
After saying that, he turned around and prepared to leave.
"What a shame," Kizaru said with a sigh as he watched his back.
Kakuzu had only taken a few steps before he seemed to remember something else. He stopped again and turned back.
"Recently, a mysterious organization has appeared in the ninja world. They're recruiting missing-nin and bounty ninjas."
"Oh?"
"The one responsible for recruiting people is a strange black-and-white creature. Extremely good at concealing his presence. He can move through the ground and trees."
Hearing Kakuzu's description, Kizaru immediately pictured a certain devoted son in his mind.
So even Black Zetsu had been "created" ahead of schedule?
It seemed someone was getting anxious.
Of course, Kizaru would not say who.
"Did they approach you?" Kizaru asked.
"I refused."
"Kakuzu-san, let me give you a suggestion." Kizaru raised one finger with a smile. "If you ever meet an old man who wants to dance with you, run away as fast as you can."
Kakuzu's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You know the person behind that organization?"
"A little."
Kizaru raised his right hand and made a small gesture with his fingers.
"That guy's name is Uchiha Madara. Yes, the Uchiha Madara you're thinking of."
Kakuzu's gaze changed.
"He didn't die. He stole the power of the First Hokage and survived until now. He knows many secrets, and he plans to bring peace to the entire world in his own way."
This was called knowing a little?
Kakuzu truly did not want to comment on Kizaru's strange way of speaking.
"You've seen Uchiha Madara?"
"He wanted to dance with me," Kizaru said lazily. "Then I beat him up."
How abnormal was this man?
Even Uchiha Madara was no match for him?
Kakuzu had lived through the era when Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara competed against each other. Because of that, he understood better than most how terrifying those two names truly were.
And once again, he felt the depth of Kizaru's strength.
"I understand. I'll be careful."
"Be careful of his genjutsu," Kizaru reminded him kindly. "Don't look into his eyes."
"Thank you."
Kakuzu remembered that warning.
This favor, he would repay in the future.
After thanking him, Kakuzu turned around and stepped forward again.
"Wait."
Kizaru suddenly called out to him.
"Is there anything else?" Kakuzu stopped and asked.
"Can you tell me where you keep your money?" Kizaru asked sincerely. "If you get killed one day, all that money will go to waste."
"Hmph."
Kakuzu snorted coldly and vanished with the Body Flicker Technique.
"Is he angry?" Kizaru complained with a smile. "I meant well."
After that, Kizaru also left the forest.
Just as Kizaru had said, Uchiha Madara was indeed anxious.
Especially after Kizaru took the One-Tail from Sunagakure.
Madara had personally experienced Kizaru's strength and potential. In the future, that young man would definitely become a shinobi on the level of Senju Hashirama.
Perhaps even stronger.
Against such a powerful Kizaru, Madara could not think of anyone capable of opposing him, except himself in his prime.
With Kizaru guarding Konoha, stealing the three tailed beasts from the village would be extremely difficult.
Even Madara himself did not have confidence in doing it now.
What made the situation even worse was that the host of his Rinnegan was also in Konoha, under Kizaru's protection.
Every time Madara thought about it, regret rose in his chest.
Back then, he had been too confident.
He had looked down on the shinobi of this era and simply watched as Kizaru and Konoha took Nagato away from the Land of Rain.
If he had known that the ninja world's evaluation of Kizaru was not exaggeration, but fact, he would never have allowed Nagato to be taken to Konoha.
And now?
His Rinnegan was in Konoha.
Three of the nine tailed beasts needed for his future plan were also in Konoha.
This situation left Uchiha Madara in an extremely awkward position.
In order to ensure the success of his future plan, and to leave enough capital for the successor who had not yet appeared to fight against Kizaru and Konoha, Madara could only drag his aging body forward and begin making certain arrangements ahead of time.
Madara's preparations had two directions.
First, he secretly infiltrated the relatively isolated Land of Water, placed the Third Mizukage under genjutsu, and prepared to control Kirigakure from the shadows.
Second, he used a portion of his own consciousness and Yin–Yang Release to create Black Zetsu ahead of schedule, then sent him to recruit missing-nin and bounty ninjas across the continent in his place, forming a mercenary organization.
According to Madara's plan, once he selected a successor—and a useful tool—he would hand the transformed Kirigakure over to that person as a base.
At the same time, the mercenary organization he had created would become a weapon in that successor's hands.
Madara did not have especially high requirements for his successor.
As long as that person could collect the six tailed beasts aside from the One-Tail, Two-Tails, and Nine-Tails, then with Black Zetsu's help, they could either lure Nagato into darkness or directly take back the Rinnegan.
That task was not difficult.
At least, it should not have been.
With Kirigakure as a base, the mercenary organization as a weapon, and Madara's own careful guidance, his future successor should be able to complete the mission according to plan.
Even while thinking this, Madara still felt somewhat uneasy.
Should he find another way to weaken Konoha's strength, making things easier for his future heir?
Madara fell into deep thought once more.
Perhaps he could use the Uchiha clan to stir something within Konoha.
When Madara left the village, he had already seen the distrust that Konoha's shinobi clans held toward both him and the Uchiha.
Unfortunately, those fools in the clan had been greedy for the village's safety and glory. They had betrayed him and chosen to stay in Konoha.
After so many years, time had proven that his judgment had been correct.
The Uchiha had always been suppressed and monitored by the village.
They had been kept away from the true center of power.
And from beginning to end, they had never truly been trusted.
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