"If you're going to leave, then just go," Mei Terumi said, her voice trembling slightly beneath a forced smile. "Just... make sure you come back."
"I don't know when that will be," Kaito replied quietly, a sigh escaping his lips.
"What do you mean?" Mei's expression shifted. "You… you're really leaving me?" Her voice cracked as her face turned pale, tears welling up in her eyes.
Kaito stepped forward, gently wiping away the tears from her cheeks. "I'm heading somewhere very far," he said softly. "It'll take at least ten years before I can come back…"
He left the rest unsaid.
"Can't you take me with you?" Mei pleaded, her voice breaking as she looked up at him.
Kaito slowly shook his head. He was returning to his original timeline. Bringing her with him would risk breaking the natural order of the world.
"If—"
"I'll wait for you," Mei interrupted before he could finish. "No matter how long it takes, I'll be waiting."
"You…"
Kaito was left speechless. He had hoped Mei would move on, maybe even meet someone else. But her words crushed that possibility.
A pang of guilt rose in his chest—he suddenly felt like one of those heartless men in the tragic novels he used to mock.
"You really don't have to—"
"There is no 'if,'" she interrupted again. "Do you think that in this world, I'll fall for someone else just because you're gone? Or do you think there's someone out there better than you?"
Without waiting for an answer, she threw herself into his arms.
"When are you leaving?" she asked, gazing up at him with eyes full of reluctant hope.
"Three days from now," Kaito said stiffly.
"Three days… that's enough," Mei whispered with a faint smile.
—
Those three days passed quickly.
During that time, Kaito traveled with Mei through the towns near the Land of Whirlpools. Every stop left behind shared memories—smiles, stories, and moments etched into both of their hearts.
On the morning of his departure, Kaito sat quietly, eating the meal Mei had lovingly prepared. Neither of them spoke—the weight of parting had robbed them of words.
After the meal, Kaito reached into his cloak and pulled out a sealed scroll. He held it out to her.
"This contains the complete training method for the Yin Seal," he explained. "It'll help you retain your youth. Forever, if you keep practicing."
Mei's eyes sparkled, and for a brief moment, the sadness faded.
No woman was immune to the temptation of beauty—especially when the wait ahead stretched over a decade. Her words might have been full of devotion, but she still wanted to look beautiful when he returned.
"If this really works… then age won't be a problem," she whispered to herself.
"Alright," Kaito said, holding her close. "I'll take you back to the Hidden Mist Village. I should inform Yagura as well."
"Mm." Mei smiled softly.
The next moment, Kaito vanished in a blur of light, carrying Mei with him.
—
At the gate of the Mist Village, Kaito appeared, holding Mei in his arms.
"Terumi Mei-sama! Welcome back to the village!" The two gate guards were stunned, but quickly recovered and saluted respectfully.
"Is Yagura-sama still inside?" Mei asked, remaining comfortably in Kaito's embrace, completely unbothered by what others might think.
"Yes, Mei-sama. He's in the usual place," one of the guards replied quickly.
She nodded, then pointed toward the village. "Let's go."
Kaito sighed inwardly, but said nothing. He understood. They were about to be apart for a long time. Every second counted.
As they walked away, one of the guards glanced at his companion with wide eyes.
"Hey… was that the guy everyone's been talking about?"
"Who?" the other looked confused.
"Are you serious?" the first one hissed. "That's the guy who overwhelmed Konoha with Lightning Release! The one they say forced the Hokage to take down half of the Senju Clan with him!"
"Wait, that's him?" the second guard whispered, eyes wide.
"I actually stood that close to him… I can't believe it."
"What do you think Lady Mei is doing bringing someone like him here?"
"Shh! Quiet down," the other said quickly. "That's not for us to question. We're just gatekeepers. Let's keep our heads down."
"…Still, the Mizukage-sama might not take this well."
—
The streets of the Hidden Mist were quiet. Less lively than Konoha, but still filled with vendors calling out to customers and townsfolk going about their day.
As Kaito walked with Mei through the village, many turned to look. Some whispered. Others stared openly. But no one dared interfere. Mei's status in the village remained strong.
Under her lead, Kaito turned corners, passing between old alleys and stone paths, until they reached a large, traditional mansion that clearly stood out among the neighboring buildings.
Just as they were about to step forward, a voice filled with disdain echoed from nearby.
"I was wondering who had the nerve to make such a flashy entrance. Turns out it's just Mei Terumi—the one who went missing for half a year."
Kaito turned with Mei to see a young man leaning against a wall, resting a massive beheading sword on his shoulder. His eyes burned with pride and challenge.
Six others stood behind him, each carrying a strange, oversized weapon—tall, short, slender, bulky. It was unmistakable.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
Mei's pupils narrowed instantly. "It's them…"
"The Seven Swordsmen, huh?" Kaito muttered, expression hardening.
His voice turned cold. "Are you looking to die?"
The moment he spoke, an overwhelming pressure burst from his body, crashing toward the group like a tidal wave.
The seven shinobi staggered, unable to withstand the crushing force. Their faces flushed red as they gritted their teeth under the immense pressure, bodies trembling as though burdened by a mountain.
Mixed into the air was a scent of blood so heavy, it choked the senses. Even hardened killers like them felt bile rise in their throats. In that moment, it was as if they stood on a battlefield soaked in carnage… and Kaito was the demon that ruled it.
Their eyes reflected fear—a deep, primal fear. They were among the most elite in the Mist, second only to the Mizukage. They'd never felt anything like this, not even from Yagura.
This was something else entirely.
Suddenly, the leader, Biwa Juzo, gasped as realization dawned.
"You… you're Kaito!" he stammered. "The man who defeated Sarutobi Hiruzen for annihilating the Senju Clan?!"
As his words fell, the expressions of the six behind him twisted in shock.
Now it made sense. The terrifying pressure. The sheer presence.
This wasn't just any shinobi.
This was the man some compared to the First Hokage himself—Hashirama Senju.
---