The sky was stark and cloudless, with the occasional bird or beast passing by, becoming part of the scenery along the way.
Compared to the rocky terrain of the Land of Earth, the Land of Lightning featured more canyons and rugged ridges.
Kumogakure itself was built into the mountains, surrounded by layered peaks and steep paths.
After two long days of travel, Motoi finally brought Uchiha Kaien safely to Kumogakure, without incident.
At this point, Motoi's mind had already become Kaien's plaything. The memories in his head were fake—implanted by Kaien himself.
Motoi still believed he had heroically completed a secret mission, returning to the village with a valuable Uchiha child in tow.
But when the time came, Motoi would offer no resistance. He would be Kaien's most loyal servant.
Such was the terrifying effect of [Alluring Gaze].
Even a brief glance could ensnare the mind. And Kaien had specifically targeted Motoi, taming him with precision.
Because this was a covert mission, there were no cheers or fanfare when Motoi returned to the village—at least not until he stepped into the Raikage's office.
The moment the Third Raikage saw the quiet, obedient Kaien standing behind Motoi, his eyes lit up, and he let out a booming laugh.
"Ha ha ha! Motoi!"
"You've outdone yourself again. Is this child really of Uchiha blood?"
"Yes, Lord Raikage. This is the final result of our mission. But... in order to ensure his capture, my comrades... they were all caught by Konoha's pursuit squads..."
Motoi didn't finish the sentence, but everyone in the room knew—those comrades were not coming back.
"They were true heroes of Kumogakure. I'll personally carve their names onto the Hero Memorial Stone."
The charisma of the Third Raikage was undeniable.
Even a mere chunin from the village was considered a comrade worth cherishing.
The entire room was moved.
Motoi trembled, his broad shoulders shaking.
"It's my fault... I couldn't protect the others..."
A few tears slid down the face of the otherwise-tough man.
Then, a towering figure stepped forward, casting a shadow over him.
The Third Raikage—larger than even Motoi—placed a hand on his shoulder and pulled him into a firm embrace, brushing the dust from his clothes with surprising gentleness.
"You did well, Motoi."
"You're also a hero of Kumogakure. Carry their will, and live bravely."
"Yes, Lord Raikage!"
Motoi broke down completely, crying like a child.
But Uchiha Kaien? He picked the worst possible moment to speak.
"So... you dragged me all the way here just to watch a soap opera?"
The warm, solemn atmosphere in the Raikage's office froze instantly. The emotion in the room dissipated in an awkward silence.
Even in front of someone as fearsome as the Third Raikage, Kaien showed no sign of backing down.
"Well now... Aren't you a bold one," the Raikage said, eyes narrowing. "You're not afraid of me?"
Killing intent surged from him like a tidal wave, pouring toward Kaien without restraint.
As one of the Five Kage, the Third Raikage stood at the very peak of the shinobi world. Even though his bloodlust wasn't aimed at anyone else, everyone nearby still felt it—breathing became difficult, and the air itself seemed heavier.
Kaien raised his arm to guard himself, his Sharingan activating instinctively.
A single tomoe swirled in his eye.
This was the result of Kaien's use of [Weakness Camouflage]—a deliberately suppressed form of his Sharingan.
"Well, well," the Raikage said, a flicker of interest in his gaze. "You're young, but you've already awakened your Sharingan."
"But I'm the Raikage!"
His aura intensified.
Kaien didn't flinch. "And you, old man, shouldn't underestimate an Uchiha."
With that, he gave Kumogakure a taste of the Uchiha spirit.
Before everyone's eyes, his one-tomoe Sharingan spun—transforming into a two-tomoe Sharingan right on the spot.
Still, Kaien soon pretended to be overwhelmed.
Most of his chakra was sealed at the moment. Just activating the Sharingan was already pushing his limit.
Though the Raikage's killing intent was powerful, Kaien had experienced far worse.
He had endured the presence of Uchiha Madara himself. While not immune to all killing intent, Kaien had developed a resistance that made most of it feel trivial.
"Go ahead. Unseal me if you dare."
"Lord Raikage," Motoi interjected quickly. "This Uchiha boy is under a sealing jutsu I placed myself. Without it, capturing him would've been nearly impossible."
He paused, recalling the details.
"And... he has no remaining family. He barely resisted on the way here."
Motoi carefully recounted the process of bringing Kaien back, step by step.
"I see..." the Raikage muttered, eyes softening. "So that's how it is."
"It must've been hard... losing your family at such a young age."
"Hmph. That kind of thing stopped mattering to me a long time ago."
The Third Raikage noted both Kaien's response and his expression.
There was a chance this child could become one of Kumogakure's own.
If they could make him feel at home here, make him believe in the village... he just might be willing to stay.
The Third Raikage believed in the strength of Kumogakure's ideals. He believed they could win Kaien over.
Besides, this little Uchiha had something about him—a sharpness, a boldness—that the Raikage found strangely likable.
After a moment of consideration, he finally said, "Kid, why don't you stay in Kumogakure for a while? You might grow to like it here."
"I suppose I could give it a try. Not like I have anywhere else to go."
Kaien's answer was vague, noncommittal.
"In that case, forget your old name," the Raikage said with a warm, persuasive smile. "Start a new life here."
If he were an ordinary ten-year-old, he might have been swayed by the man's gentle tone and burly frame.
But Kaien?
He played along like a pro.
[Vivid Performance] allowed him to match any scene flawlessly, without slipping up.
He didn't come to Kumogakure empty-handed. He planned to take a few souvenirs home.
The Lightning Release Chakra Mode. Tailed Beast chakra. Maybe even the Sage of Six Paths' fabled relics—who knew what he might find?
"I refuse."
"A name is the mark of my existence in this world. I won't give it up."
[Affection from the Third Raikage +2]
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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