The next day.
News of the Silver Flash's return spread throughout Konoha like wildfire.
The entire village was thrown into a frenzy, as if rocked by a magnitude ten earthquake. Civilians and shinobi alike were left in shock, and soon erupted in cheers of celebration.
The Silver Flash was Konoha's hero!
Even though Namikaze Minato had replaced Kaede as the village's new icon during the past two years of his absence, Kaede's past accomplishments had not been forgotten. They were etched into the annals of history.
As for Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo, and the others, when they received the news, they were visibly shaken. Deep down, they all understood one thing:
Trouble had arrived.
If Kaede had remained missing, the power structure in Konoha would have gradually stabilized. Under Hiruzen's guidance, the title of Fourth Hokage would have passed smoothly to Namikaze Minato.
But now, things are different.
Kaede might still be too young to immediately succeed as Hokage, but given a few more years, he would undoubtedly become a contender. And if Orochimaru gained his support, his position, once nearly lost, would quickly rebound.
Immediately,
Hiruzen convened a private emergency meeting. Only Danzo, Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, and a few other elders were present.
Meanwhile,
Kaede had arrived at one of Orochimaru's hideouts.
Orochimaru looked at him with a thin smile and said, "I knew you weren't the kind of person who'd just disappear from this world, Kaede."
"Just ran into a small accident," Kaede replied casually.
He then took out a small vial filled with blood and tossed it toward Orochimaru with a smile. "A little gift for you, sensei, blood from the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa."
"Magnet Release, a kekkei genkai, huh?"
Orochimaru's eyes lit up slightly as he caught the vial. "This must've been a hassle to obtain… Don't tell me you actually went to Sunagakure?"
"I did make a quick trip there," Kaede replied nonchalantly.
Although his tone seemed offhand, Orochimaru gleaned something very clear from it, Kaede now possessed strength that truly surpassed even the Great Shinobi Villages. He had reached a level reminiscent of Hashirama Senju, the God of Shinobi.
Sure, Orochimaru might have been able to pull off something similar with a meticulously planned infiltration. But Kaede's demeanor was far too relaxed,
As if it were a trivial matter.
That kind of attitude reflected overwhelming power. Or perhaps Kaede wasn't bothering to conceal it at all, his strength had long since exceeded the scale of any major village.
"On the way back, I ran into Lady Tsunade. She mentioned that you've lost interest in becoming Hokage?"
Orochimaru fell silent for a moment, then replied with a trace of sarcasm, "Too many people don't want to see me as Hokage. So yes, I've lost interest. Besides… shouldn't the true pursuit of a shinobi be eternal life, not political power?"
The air went quiet.
Kaede looked at him and said softly, "I'll respect your wishes. If you ever decide to pursue the title of Hokage again, I'll still support you."
With those words, Kaede turned and walked out of the base.
With the strength he now possessed, there was nothing in Konoha that could threaten him. Everything would depend on Orochimaru's decision, and whatever path he chose, Kaede would stand by him.
"Hokage, huh…"
Orochimaru watched Kaede's figure disappear into the distance, murmuring quietly to himself.
….
Kaede didn't linger long in the village.
He stayed only a day. After briefly greeting Hiruzen Sarutobi, he left again, this time heading east, toward one of Konoha's front-line outposts.
This camp served as a defensive position against Kirigakure, stationed near key strategic points and facilitating communications. Kakashi had been sent there a few days prior.
Half a day later,
Kaede arrived at the front-line encampment.
The shinobi stationed there hadn't yet received word from the village. When they saw him, they were stunned, but after he demonstrated a few unmistakable techniques, they quickly confirmed his identity. The camp's acting commander then briefed him on the latest developments.
"Two days ago, Kakashi's squad was ambushed by Mist nin. During the attack, Nohara Rin was captured. Kakashi is currently leading a pursuit team to rescue her…"
The report came from Aburame Torikage, the acting commander, his voice grim.
Kaede's eyes flickered slightly upon hearing this.
"Do you have the pursuit route and the enemy's projected movements?"
It looked like he still had time to intervene.
Aburame Torikage immediately provided him with the most up-to-date intelligence. Kaede didn't waste a second, he left the camp at once, following Kakashi's trail through the forest.
….
At the same time,
Somewhere along the border of the Land of Fire, within Kirigakure camp, a massive surge of chakra was coalescing, and then, suddenly, it vanished.
Numerous Mist ninja knelt in formation, their hands locked in sealing signs. At the center stood a young girl, surrounded by a giant sealing array that slowly began to shrink.
"Ah…"
The girl let out a small cry of pain.
The pain came not from her body, but from within, from the Tailed Beast sealed inside her. Isobu, the Three-Tails, roared furiously from the depths of her soul.
"Tailed Beast… the Three-Tails…"
Rin gritted her teeth as realization dawned, her mind racing.
The Mist had sealed the Three-Tails inside her. They had made her a Jinchūriki!
But why?
Was she meant to be nothing more than a container? That didn't make sense. They had Mist ninja who could serve that role. Choosing her, a Konoha ninja, as a host posed far greater risk. There had to be something more behind this.
Rin clenched her fists.
She had already known that once she was captured, the chances of survival were slim. But now, it was clear they planned to use her for something. She didn't yet know exactly what, but whatever it was, it couldn't be good.
Images of Kaede, Minato, Kakashi, and Obito flashed through her mind. Her tense expression softened, and her clenched jaw relaxed.
"Kakashi… I'll have to leave the rest to you…"
"Kaede…"
"I'll see you soon, won't I?"
She smiled faintly, then focused her will, trying to make her chakra erupt from her heart, to take her own life before the Mist could use her.
But the moment the chakra stirred,
It was stopped.
"Wha, ?!"
Rin's heart skipped a beat. She tried again, but the result was the same. Every time she attempted to end her life, something forcibly stopped her.
A seal to prevent suicide?!
She couldn't even end her life...
Rin bit down hard, a terrible realization dawning in her heart.
Kirigakure planned to send her back to Konoha as a ticking time bomb. Once there, the Three-Tails would go berserk, causing catastrophic destruction in the village!
"No… I can't stop it… I can't even die…"
"The seal, it must be on my heart…"
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