"Furthermore, there is something I need you to do," Takuno said after a moment of thought.
"What is it, Lord? Please tell us!" Immediately, Haku's eyes widened, showing great interest—or rather, he was very interested in being able to help Takuno.
Jugo, beside him, had the same reaction, though he didn't speak.
"Past experiences and some of her movements indicate that she might perform some actions that go against my wishes." He didn't specify what those "other things" were, but this vague threat was enough for the listeners to understand the gravity of the situation.
Takuno's gaze locked onto the two of them. "Someone must be there, up close, to continuously monitor her every move. Any anomaly must not be overlooked."
"Yes! Lord!" Haku's voice was firm, and the initial excitement on his face was replaced by a nearly sacred sense of mission.
"Please rest assured! Jugo and I will remain vigilant at all times and will never give her any opportunity!"
"Mm." Jugo also nodded vigorously.
After soothing the two children, Takuno's gaze returned to the vast, distant snow and wind, and his thoughts drifted along with it.
He still had far too many objectives to handle.
In terms of scientific research, although the "Chimera Technique" was not urgent for the time being, it could not be easily stopped;
Research into Natural Energy was an even more pressing matter, how could he create an effective Sealing Jutsu to control it?
And how to modify the "Cursed Seal" so that it could automatically absorb and convert this violent power?
Furthermore, the exploration of the nature of Kekkei Genkai would take time, the difficult training to master "Sage Mode" was urgent, and even the "Lightning Release Chakra Mode" that the Fourth Raikage took pride in required energy to decipher and refine.
There was one more thing that could not be forgotten: the Medical Scrolls that Tsunade had solemnly left behind could not be shelved and ignored.
This legendary "Sannin" might test him on a whim at any time, and the consequences of looking down on these classics would likely be very serious.
Finally, there was a part of that massive plan: the collection of Tailed Beast Chakra.
Once these tangled and complex affairs were mostly sorted out, this arduous task could be put on the agenda.
He took a deep breath of the cold air, but his thoughts were exceptionally clear.
Fortunately, based on his understanding of the "future," the Shinobi World would usher in a rare period of recovery.
This relatively peaceful time was exactly what he needed; it was the golden period for him to bury himself in research, accumulate strength, and move toward a higher realm step by step to become strong enough!
Kazahana Dotō braced himself and approached Zabuza; the dark and damp surroundings seemed to be steaming with the killing intent emanating from the "Demon."
He swallowed and tried to make his voice sound as steady as possible: "Mr. Zabuza, the Lord's arrangements have come down."
Zabuza withdrew his gaze from the distance, and those eyes, cold as ice, fell silently on Kazahana Dotō's face with a habitual scrutiny, waiting for what came next.
"The Lord has appointed you as the vice director of the newly established orphanage." Kazahana Dotō spoke quickly, almost in one breath, and then carefully observed the other's expression.
The air suddenly froze.
Zabuza, the rogue Shinobi who had harvested countless lives with the Executioners Blade, was stunned for the first time in a rare instance.
His half-closed eyes suddenly snapped wide open to their limit, his pupils shrinking violently as he stared fixedly at Kazahana Dotō, as if trying to see through his skin to determine the truth of this absurd news.
That gaze was no longer cold but mixed with extreme shock and disbelief; even his signature cruel lines, which seemed carved into his face, twitched slightly.
"What?"
The low voice sounded as if it were squeezed out of a sandpaper throat, carrying cold questioning and surging anger.
"Cough, it was personally arranged by the Lord; you are to serve as the vice director of the orphanage."
Kazahana Dotō was so startled by his terrifying reaction that he took half a step back, a smile that looked worse than crying forced onto his face, and cold sweat instantly soaked his temples.
"Buzz!"
Without warning, a piercing sound of breaking air tore through the silence!
The massive blade of the Executioners Blade, carrying suffocating killing intent and a pale cold light, swept out with lightning speed!
The wind from the blade was sharp, making Kazahana Dotō's cheeks sting; he could even clearly see the dark red blood rust on the blade that had not yet been wiped clean.
The great sword stopped with terrifying precision at the side of his neck artery, the icy blade pressed tightly against his skin. A bone-chilling cold instantly surged through his entire body, and he could almost feel the cold breath of the Shinigami.
Kazahana Dotō's legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed to the ground. His heart was practically jumping out of his chest, and he could only use all his strength to barely support his body, his face as pale as paper.
Zabuza's low, raspy voice, like the deepest icicle of winter, exploded against Kazahana Dotō's eardrums: "Was it you who said something to him?"
Every word seemed to carry the scent of blood, filled with a ferocity suppressed to the extreme.
He couldn't understand it! A murderer like him, who viewed human life as grass and whose name could stop a child's crying at night, was actually going to be thrown into a place filled with fragile, noisy brats? This was simply the greatest desecration and insult to his title as the "Demon of the Mist"!
"No—No! Absolutely not!" Kazahana Dotō was scared out of his wits, his voice shaking uncontrollably, and bean-sized beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.
"I was also shocked when I heard this news! I immediately, immediately asked the Lord for the reason, but, but the Lord, he didn't explain anything—"
Zabuza's narrowed eyes locked onto Kazahana Dotō's every subtle expression, every muscle twitch, and every flicker of his gaze.
Time flowed slowly in the suffocating silence, with only Kazahana Dotō's heavy, fearful breathing and the presence of the icy blade at his neck being exceptionally clear.
After a moment, the killing intent in the depths of Zabuza's eyes finally faded very slowly by a fraction.
This fellow in front of him, scared out of his mind, indeed did not seem to be lying.
A heavy doubt, like a thick block of iron, weighed on Zabuza's heart.
He slowly withdrew the Executioners Blade, the massive blade making a dull sound as it returned to its sheath.
The Lord, that unfathomable existence, what on earth was he thinking?
Images of his own blood-stained hands and the countless figures he had slain flashed through his mind, contrasted against the scene of caring for a group of ignorant children who needed protection. This absurd combination gave him an unprecedented headache.
A cold killer's blood instinctively rejected words like "gentleness" and "care," as if they were a mockery of his very nature.
However—
A nearly inaudible sigh, mixed with a sense of helplessness and deep exhaustion, escaped from Zabuza's throat.
It was the Lord's will.
Question it? Resist? The fear brought by that unforgettable "lesson" from the past instantly shattered all the waves surging in his heart.
That pain, which penetrated to the bone and dominated the soul, was something he never wanted to experience a second time in his life.
Forget it.
Finally, Zabuza lowered his eyelids, pressing down the countless questions and resistance churning in his heart along with the Executioners Blade that symbolized slaughter.
With a numb sense that was almost like resignation, he bitterly accepted the reality.
At least managing an orphanage shouldn't be more difficult than licking blood off a blade's edge, right?
When she brought Jugo and Haku into that orphanage, Yakushi Nono's entire body tensed the moment she saw Takuno.
Those eyes, usually gentle and quiet, were now filled with an indescribable fear, as if she had seen some terrifying nightmare descend.
"Take good care of them," Takuno's voice was calm and steady. His gaze merely brushed over Yakushi Nono, yet it made her feel as if she had fallen into an ice cellar. "This is likely your only mission."
"—Yes, yes! Master, I, I will take good care of them." Yakushi Nono's voice carried an imperceptible tremor as she accepted the task almost instinctively.
She forced herself to lower her head, the clouds of doubt in her heart so thick they wouldn't dissipate, yet she absolutely did not dare to ask.
The other party had gone to great lengths, even using unscrupulous means, to take her, the former "the Wandering Miko," away from Konoha. Could his ultimate goal really be just to confine her in this simple orphanage to be an obscure director?
This change came too abruptly, like a suffocating fog of war, leaving her completely unable to find her bearings.
However, the bloody lessons of the past had made her clearly realize that whether she understood Takuno's orders or not was never important; absolute obedience was the only path.
So she suppressed her heart full of confusion and made a solemn promise.
The gates of the orphanage did not stay quiet for long. Just as Takuno had said, this world never lacked orphans, and young, apprehensive faces were brought in one after another.
Not to mention that the embers of war had not yet fully dissipated; even in so-called peaceful times, the poverty, backwardness, and cruelty of this Shinobi World ensured that orphans were an inevitable existence.
Soon, several rooms that were not particularly spacious were filled with the small sounds of children. Although still faint, it brought a touch of human warmth.
Initially, looking at these children brought by the Shinobi, an uncontrollable bone-chilling coldness swept through Yakushi Nono's heart.
With Takuno's terrifying methods, could he have created these orphans in some appalling way? This thought made her shudder.
But soon, through her meticulous observations characteristic of an undercover agent and some discreet questioning, the facts shattered her conjecture.
Most of these children were in rags and covered in scars, their eyes retaining the numbness and terror of having been whipped by a cruel world.
They were indeed orphans who had long been wandering the streets, ignored by everyone.
If not for the Hidden Snow Village taking them in, many of their thin bodies would have been destined to find no chance of survival in this harsh winter, silently freezing to death in some unknown corner.
Upon learning this, the lake of Yakushi Nono's heart fell into an unprecedented state of confusion.
Could it be, she had been wrong about him all along? Did this "Collector," who acted coldly and even cruelly, actually have such a glimmer of light hidden deep in his heart?
Thinking of this, she felt a strong sense of wavering.
When her gaze fell upon the "vice director" of the orphanage, Zabuza, this thought became even stronger.
This demon of the Hidden Mist had killed countless lives, his fierce reputation in the Shinobi World like a blood-stained banner.
Yakushi Nono had recognized his oppressive figure and the signature silhouette of the Executioners Blade almost immediately.
She was deeply worried. How could such an evil spirit, whose hands were soaked in blood, be content with the heavy responsibility of nurturing young lives?
But Yakushi Nono could not decide anything. Takuno's decisions were not to be questioned. She could only bury this worry deep in her heart and observe silently; if the other party dared to lay a hand on the children, she would definitely stop him.
But to her surprise, Zabuza's performance was vastly different from her stereotype.
His ferocious face and terrifying aura did indeed scare away some of the children who approached at first.
Only that child named Haku not only did not retreat but instead took the initiative to approach time and again, fearlessly nearing the "evil spirit" in others' eyes.
Later on, Yakushi Nono would often see that surprising, even somewhat amusing scene: the "demon" who once made enemies tremble on the battlefield would actually stand stiffly in place, surrounded by a group of chirping, bold children.
What leaked from his always-tightened brow was not killing intent but a nearly clumsy helplessness and awkward stiffness.
Yakushi Nono shook her head gently, shaking off her cluttered thoughts.
The afterglow of the setting sun passed through the window lattice, gently spilling over the children playing indoors.
Their innocent and heartfelt smiles, like the warmest sunshine, penetrated the thick guard at the bottom of her heart.
Her heart perhaps knew Takuno's plan, but even if she knew, could she abandon these children before her? Could she refuse to be with them, refuse their heartfelt smiles?
Yakushi Nono knew she couldn't refuse, so even if this was an Open Scheme, she could only jump into it without regret.
After all, no matter what, these children are innocent!
Zabuza naturally disliked trouble, so even after becoming the vice director, he didn't want to work at all. Any child who tried to get close to him would be stared away by his eyes.
Then, he encountered Haku. He naturally threatened Haku as well, but unfortunately, it had no effect at all.
The first time Haku saw him, he understood: the person before him was just like he was before meeting the Lord, a walking corpse with nothing left but emptiness.
And precisely because he felt the same, he wanted to help the other party out of such a state.
Those children were, of course, led by Haku and Jugo to surround Zabuza every day. Haku watched all this happen; he could feel that although the other party still looked impatient every time, a warmth was slowly appearing in his eyes.
As long as this continued, the other party would definitely be able to break free from that state.
Thinking this, Haku also revealed a smile.
Then, he and Jugo looked over at Yakushi Nono, who was gently taking care of everyone; she was also the person the Lord had told them to watch.
In these past few days, they both felt that she was definitely a gentle person who treated them with sincerity.
Would such a person really betray the Lord?
Haku and Jugo glanced at each other and both made a decision: the Lord's matters still came first, but they would do their best to dissuade Yakushi Nono from any possible betrayal.
They didn't want to see the two sides meeting in battle.
And so, the Hidden Snow Village's orphanage was established in full swing.