Seiran tallied his gains from the mission with quiet satisfaction. Three hundred ryo from Rasa. Four hundred million ryo from Kakuzu's bounty. Miscellaneous supplies and equipment. He smiled to himself.
We're rich.
For a long time now, money wouldn't be an issue. The thought brought genuine relief—no more scrounging, no more desperate jobs. He'd played his cards perfectly, capitalized on poor intelligence, and walked away clean. Kakuzu had been easy once you understood his character and the Bounty Club's structure. But that well wouldn't run dry twice. The same trick twice, and everyone got suspicious.
Now, with real capital, he could finally build his own laboratory. No more relying on Orochimaru's abandoned facilities. No more constraints. His own space meant he could pursue what really mattered: the Rinnegan project and the Caged Bird Curse Mark transformation experiment.
His gaze turned cold.
The Caged Bird would be modified—keep the Byakugan protection, strip away the control mechanism. But not yet. Timing was everything. After the war ended, he'd move. Launch the change now, during wartime, and Hiruzen and Danzo would view him as a destabilizing factor. A knife without a sheath. They'd never accept it. But after the Third Shinobi World War, with Konoha in ruins and weakened to its bones? The village couldn't afford infighting. Hiruzen might actually choose tolerance.
That's what I want. Change, not defection.
The Land of Rain was finished. The next decade would be recovery. Konoha's real enemies were Iwa and Kumo. Kumogakure was too distant, separated by countries—no immediate threat. But Iwagakure in the Land of Grass? That was the aggressive force. He'd already eliminated their advance party there before the war began.
The dispatch order came that afternoon. Support for the Iwa battlefield with the main force.
Before departure, he stopped at Ichiraku.
He ate slowly, savoring the ramen in the quiet restaurant. It was peaceful here—another world entirely. Teuchi moved behind the counter with practiced grace, his daughter nearby. Seiran briefly entertained the thought of studying them both. The rumors about Teuchi's cooking were... interesting.
A familiar voice broke his concentration.
"Yeah! Didn't expect to see you here!"
Might Guy dropped onto the stool beside him, drenched in sweat and breathing hard. His training clothes clung to his muscular frame.
"Guy? I thought you were on the battlefield."
"Came back yesterday." Guy ordered immediately, speaking between breaths. "Didn't want to waste time, so I've been training. You don't mind, right?"
Seiran shrugged. "Not at all."
Guy gulped his ramen down in huge bites, gesturing at his soaked clothes. "The casualties have been rough over there. But you—there are rumors you defeated Rasa. The Fourth Kazekage. Is that true?"
"Sort of. His abilities just didn't counter mine."
Guy went very still. Then: "Freak!"
He stared at Seiran with genuine bewilderment. "We graduated at the same time. Why are you so unscientific? Even Rasa..."
"I clearly haven't trained hard enough!" Guy suddenly shouted, shoving noodles into his mouth with renewed energy. "After this bowl, I'm doing fifty handstand runs around the playground!"
The enthusiasm was infectious. Seiran had been about to mention that eating before exercise was bad for digestion, but kept quiet. Guy's fire was burning bright.
Then Guy leaned close, his expression turning serious. "Seiran. Is there really such a thing as a male Magnet Release?"
Seiran met his eyes directly. "Yes. What I awakened is a public Magnet Release."
"Shhh!" Guy sucked in a sharp breath, visibly impressed. "I knew your Magnet Release wasn't simple!"
He returned to eating, satisfied.
Seiran's mind drifted. His Magnet Release display during the war had been terrifying—far beyond conventional limits. He'd heard the rumors spreading through the village, ninjas arguing about what it actually was. Maybe he should make an official statement. The Fist of the Magnetic Storm, perhaps. Or something equally decisive. The name needed to carry weight.
"You heading to the Iwa battlefield?" Guy asked between mouthfuls.
"Yeah."
"Kakashi's there too." Guy's expression darkened. "He's changed a lot. I almost didn't recognize him."
Guy explained how Kakashi had become distant after their public match—more isolated than before. Guy had tried to reach out several times, but Kakashi ignored him. Rumors had spread too, vicious ones about Kakashi begging for mercy. It wasn't true, but the damage was done.
Seiran's interest sharpened. Kakashi had changed? After that public defeat? He hadn't heard specifics. His own presence had apparently triggered something unexpected in the man.
Interesting.
And Obito would be there too. That future manipulator, that ghost in the machine. The Iwa battlefield suddenly seemed far more complex than a simple military operation.
Seiran finished his ramen and stood, ready for war.
---
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