The C‑rank mission—which quickly escalated into an A‑rank mission to Naruto and Sakura's surprise—put Team 7 in the face of real danger. Rogue ninjas like Zabuza Momochi and Haku posed serious threats. Though Kaien was not officially a team member, he watched every battle, every strategy, and every emotion. His now fully mature intelligence analyzed their opponents' techniques, weaknesses, and motivations with stunning precision. He continued to say exactly what he thought, offering such insightful commentary that Kakashi was often left speechless and Sasuke sometimes confused. But his personality remained pure: always joyful, carefree, friendly, and deeply kind-hearted. Under the Land of Waves sun, his flaming red hair, streaked with silver, gleamed with quiet understanding.
During these battles, Kaien had to remain discreet. He helped Naruto and Sasuke by pointing out vulnerabilities and anticipating moves, but he never used his powers openly. Instead, he let Fae and Ryuu "sense" danger and alert them as if the animals were warning them.
After the grueling fight on the Great Naruto Bridge (soon to bear his name) and the defeat of Zabuza and Haku, Team 7 was exhausted. Tazuna, in deep gratitude, warmly thanked them.
As they rested before returning to Konoha, Kaien, having observed their long journeys and fatigue, voiced an idea. He realized that traveling by foot was slow and risky, especially on long missions. He understood the physical limits of the shinobi world.
> "It's so long to walk all the time," Kaien said, calm and composed despite the magnitude of his idea.
"And it's dangerous. We could be attacked."
Akari and Tsunade exchanged intrigued glances.
> "What do you have in mind, Kaien?" Tsunade asked.
Kaien looked at them with his Eyes of Infinity glowing softly.
> "I can create something big to carry us. Something fast and safe. Like an animal, but much larger."
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura all turned to him, curiosity shining in their eyes.
Kaien closed his eyes. The primordial energy from his dimension began swirling visibly around him—not chakra, but the raw source of existence. The ground beneath them trembled. Birds fled the nearby trees. A blinding, multicolored, ethereal light burst forth, as if a fragment of his dimension were spilling into their reality.
The light condensed into a colossal figure. Before them stood a being whose glistening scales shimmered with all the colors of the rainbow. Majestic wings, a long elegant neck, and a noble head with eyes reflecting the vastness of the cosmos. This was no ordinary dragon—it was a Primordial Dragon, a manifestation of Kaien's will, a creature made of pure cosmic energy. Its eyes held entire galaxies. The air vibrated with a silent roar that reached directly into their souls.
The dragon bowed before Kaien, recognizing its creator.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura stood transfixed, jaws dropped. Even Kakashi, arriving at that moment, was stunned; his Sharingan eye wide in shock.
> "That's amazing, dattebayo!" Naruto exclaimed, recovering his voice first.
"A dragon! That is so cool!"
Sasuke, though deeply shaken, couldn't hide his fascination. Pure power incarnate.
> "It's for us to travel fast and safely," Kaien explained, stroking the dragon's muzzle.
"His name is Cosmos."
Tsunade, signaling composure amid her shock, recognized that Cosmos must remain an absolute secret.
> "Kaien, Cosmos is magnificent. But he must stay hidden. This is our greatest secret."
> "Okay, Tsunade‑chan," Kaien replied quietly.
"He'll only appear when we need him—and always away from prying eyes. He understands."
From that moment on, Cosmos became their preferred mode of transport. At Kaien's will, the dragon could materialize, carry them through the skies in a single breath, and vanish again—avoiding patrols and dangerous terrain. Journeys between villages became swift and secure.
Buoyed by Cosmos's success, and after witnessing the needs of his Genin friends, Kaien conceived another plan. He had learned about ninja summoning scrolls by observing Kakashi's techniques.
> "Naruto‑kun, Sasuke‑kun, Sakura‑san," Kaien said one evening as they camped.
"You want to become stronger, right? I can help you get companions for your fights."
The three young ninjas turned toward him, hope lighting their eyes.
> "I can create beings just for you. Beings bound to you by an invocation pact. They will aid you and teach you things."
Tsunade, understanding the implications, allowed Kaien to proceed. This was a unique opportunity: the forbidding ninjas-in-training could gain allies of extraordinary power—creations of Kaien, intrinsically tied to his primordial force.
Kaien asked each what they wanted.
Naruto, without hesitation, shouted: "A super strong dragon that's loud and can fly everywhere, dattebayo!"
Kaien smiled. A spark of light condensed into form. A blue-scaled dragon, slightly smaller than Cosmos but still formidable, appeared—bursting with energy. He created "Ryūjin" for Naruto, the Sea God dragon, whose vibrant, spirited personality matched Naruto's boundless energy.
Sasuke, thoughtful and stoic, requested: "A dragon fast, silent, lethal. One that can fly in shadows and strike unseen."
A darker spark materialized. A sleek black dragon with obsidian-like scales and crimson eyes emerged—coiled for speed. Kaien created "Kuroi Ryū" for Sasuke, the Black Dragon: cunning, swift, perfectly matched to Sasuke's style.
Sakura, gentle and caring, wanted something healing and graceful: "A... a phoenix. One that can heal and fly fast. And beautiful."
Kaien perceived her kindness. A golden-scarlet spark formed into a majestic flame bird with radiant feathers and eyes of ancient wisdom. He created "Hōō", the Phoenix. A creature of renewal and hope, perfectly aligned with Sakura's future as a medical ninja.
Each creature—Ryūjin, Kuroi Ryū, and Hōō—formed a unique invocation pact with its human partner, sealed by Kaien's primordial energy. These weren't ordinary summoning contracts—they were soul bonds, extensions of Kaien's own will, granting unwavering loyalty and immense power.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were awestruck and grateful. They had just received legendary allies—companions that would forever change how they fought and lived as ninjas. These invocations, born from the Infinite, were more than companions—they were living proof of Kaien's power and his gift to the world.
Kakashi, witnessing the scene, was now absolutely certain that Kaien was far more than a "traumatized child." This was a force of nature: someone who defied known shinobi limits. He vowed to reinforce protection and safeguard Kaien's secret, acutely aware that such power in the wrong hands could destroy nations. Though he trusted Hiruzen, he knew Danzo's ambition was very real.
Their return to Konoha was filled with renewed energy. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, each with their legendary companion, felt stronger and more certain than ever. And Kaien—with his infinite heart and pure mind—continued his journey, quietly shaping the shinobi world. The world was on the verge of change—not from war, but from the gentle influence of a child whose mind reached infinity and whose heart remained untainted.