In the darkness, a faint rustling echoed alongside quiet muttering and occasional bursts of eerie giggles, sending shivers down the spine.
"Rinnegan, hehe."
"Impure...World Reincarnationi."
"Hanzō of the Salamander, Kandachi... heheHE."
"Madara Uchiha... hehe."
"Konoha."
...
The long night passed, and once again, dawn spilled across the land.
Early that morning, Reiji staggered out of the inn, holding his head like he was hungover, his face twisted in pain.
Behind him, Tsuchigami followed with unsteady steps, the dog mask on his face bobbing with each move.
His orders were simple: watch over Reiji, protect him, and stop him from doing anything stupid.
But as for last night... he wasn't even sure if he'd done any of that.
In short, he'd blacked out. He had no idea what happened, but every fiber of his being was screaming at him not to think about it! Absolutely not!
And being someone who was both easygoing and a little spineless, Reiji naturally decided he wasn't going to think about anything.
As he walked ahead, Reiji turned his head to look at Tsuchigami. "Hey, Dog—"
Before he could finish, Tsuchigami jumped back two steps, slapped his hands over his eyes, and yelped.
"You—you—you! Don't turn your head! Don't do that move! You're scaring the hell out of me!"
Reiji's face instantly darkened.
Seriously? You're scared of me just turning around? But damn, your falsetto's impressive!
After calming the guy down, Reiji brought him to a grimy little noodle shop.
"Ahem, boss, two bowls of tonkotsu ramen."
Shakily, Tsuchigami tugged at the boss's sleeve and added in a weak voice, "Boss, no meat for me. No fish, no pork, nothing."
"Got it."
The ramen came quickly.
"Let's eat!" Reiji cracked his chopsticks, scooped up a clump of noodles, and went to shove them into his mouth—
"Y-you—you! Shut your mouth!"
Reiji was speechless. Yes, fine! I let something out last night that shouldn't have come out. But do you have to be this terrified? You call yourself ANBU?
Under the mask, Tsuchigami rolled his eyes, let out a haughty snort, picked up his bowl, and shuffled over to the next table to quietly slurp his noodles.
Reiji stared blankly, then shrugged it off and dug into his ramen, his mind drifting back to yesterday.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had told him that Mizukuma was dead. The news had crushed him—it felt like losing a father.
Overwhelmed, he'd found an inn and got himself a room.
Tsuchigami had been crouched on the rafters the whole time.
Blinded by grief, Reiji didn't even notice he was being watched. He lay down on the bed—and let the monster out.
And Tsuchigami, having witnessed the whole thing, had apparently suffered some kind of psychological trauma from seeing Reiji's... let's say, "altered" behavior.
But calling it a monster wasn't quite right.
What Reiji had done was simple: he temporarily sealed away his morality, honor, responsibility—everything that tied him down emotionally.
What was left was a being of pure logic, completely unrestrained by ethics and utterly, terrifyingly insane. Using this persona, Reiji had come up with a plan—a damn good one—to bring Mizukuma back.
The catch? It spread mental contamination indiscriminately to everyone around.
Because really, when faced with something utterly incomprehensible, the human mind is fragile and helpless.
But humanity's strength lies in this: I might not understand it now, but once I do? Heh... sorry, but it's mine now.
Reiji could see it—Tsuchigami was right in the middle of this process. He was trying to adapt to him.
Put simply, the guy was evolving—mentally toughening up.
And the upside? Maybe being immune to Genjutsu?
After all, Genjutsu was made by people—by normal ninja with understandable logic.
If you could endure Reiji's madness, then Genjutsu was practically child's play.
Glancing at Tsuchigami, who was sneaking noodles under his mask, Reiji figured he ought to charge Hiruzen Sarutobi a training fee.
After breakfast, Reiji left the ramen shop full of energy and headed for the Hokage Building.
In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi, having just finished a lovingly prepared Biwako breakfast, was already deep into his paperwork.
But he didn't get far before Reiji arrived.
Looking at him—changed, yet somehow unchanged—Hiruzen couldn't help but be curious.
"Reiji-kun, have you settled down?"
He had good reason to ask. Only a night had passed since yesterday. It was hard to believe.
Still, he didn't doubt Reiji's grief had been real.
He was old enough to know the difference.
But this Reiji... this kid was just too mature. Rarely seen kind of mature.
Hiruzen sighed inwardly, reminded himself of the responsibilities of being Hokage, and spoke slowly.
"Reiji-kun, can you tell me what you're thinking?"
Reiji's lips curled into a faint smile, and he nodded gently.
"It's simple. I'll get stronger, then kill Hanzō of the Salamander and Kandachi."
He wasn't lying—he had no reason to.
He'd just left out... a tiny bit of detail.
Konoha was a crucial part of his revenge, and Hiruzen Sarutobi—being the longest-serving Hokage—was not someone you could fool lightly. Deceiving him would be downright stupid.
Hearing this, Hiruzen nodded slowly.
A completely reasonable choice. Given what he knew of Reiji, it made perfect sense that this petty guy would want revenge.
"Is there anything you need hel—" Hiruzen started to speak, but Reiji cut him off with a smile.
"Old man Hiruzen, there's no need. This is a personal grudge. If you get involved, it changes everything."
With that, Reiji casually pulled up a chair and sat down.
Compared to the pressure he felt when facing Tobirama Senju, sitting across from Hiruzen felt like nothing. It wasn't that Reiji underestimated Hiruzen's intelligence—just that this old fox hadn't fully grown into a true one yet.
"Old man, I've accepted the mission from Kumogakure. Let me know the specifics and any intel.
As payment for the mission—can you get me Mizukuma's body?"
At those words, Hiruzen's heart tensed. He suddenly recalled an evil ninjutsu recorded in the Scroll of Seals.
"I can... but what exactly are you planning to do, Reiji?"
Catching the brief frown that flashed across Hiruzen's face, Reiji sighed inwardly. The plans his darker self came up with were always solid—it's just that carrying them out always required a web of lies.
He let out a breath, his eyes softening with nostalgia and sincerity.
"I want to bury him near Konoha. That way, I can still visit him from time to time."
Hiruzen didn't feel entirely at ease, but most of the weight on his heart lifted.
"Alright. And your trip to Kumogakure?"
"No problem. You just cover the travel expenses, old man. I'll take care of the rest.
Oh—and make sure we don't lose contact with Amegakure. Use them while we can."
Reiji spoke in a calm, flat tone.
If it had been anyone else, Hiruzen would've scoffed. But coming from Reiji, that calmness somehow made everything feel dependable.
After all, the man in front of him was a miracle-worker.
Even after being exposed as a spy from Amegakure, he still roamed freely in Konoha, lived comfortably, and even saved up a good amount of money!
What sounded utterly impossible had been pulled off flawlessly by this guy.
Seeing Reiji take on the mission, Hiruzen let out a long sigh of relief. In his mind, he could already picture Kumogakure full of Konoha's eyes and ears. He couldn't help but smile.
Hmph! Salamander Hanzō must've been blind. Letting a top-tier infiltration expert like that slip through his fingers—what a waste!
Well, he's mine now. Hiruzen Sarutobi's!
How satisfying!
After ironing out some details and agreeing to depart in three days, Reiji politely said his goodbyes and turned to leave the Hokage's office.
"Wait, Reiji!"
Hiruzen suddenly remembered something, quickly moved to his desk, pulled out a scroll, and walked over to hand it to Reiji.
Reiji looked at him with a faint smirk.
"Old man, didn't I already tell you? My grudge with Hanzō of the Salamander is personal. If you step in, it changes everything."
For a moment, Hiruzen dropped his Hokage facade and became just a regular middle-aged man.
Scratching his head with a sheepish grin, he pushed the scroll into Reiji's hands.
"This is just a little something from me. A bit of my research on chakra nature transformation. Hehe, think of it as my personal support!"
Seeing Hiruzen's bright, carefree smile, Reiji paused slightly. A gentle warmth welled up inside him. He smiled back and mimicked Hiruzen, scratching his head.
"Thanks."
After saying goodbye again, Reiji left the Hokage's office.
Back at his desk, Hiruzen still had a lingering smile on his face. He recalled what Reiji had said the day before: "From now on, I'm not her brother," and then thought of that cheerful smile just now.
Suddenly, it clicked.
Reiji didn't distrust the higher-ups.
He didn't even distrust Hiruzen himself.
He just didn't trust politics.
...
Three days later, Reiji, carrying a backpack and holding little Rie's hand, made his way to the Senju clan mansion.
The old-fashioned estate had its grand doors wide open. A girl with golden hair tied in a high ponytail stood at the entrance.
Beside her stood a dignified and graceful middle-aged woman.
It was Tsunade and Mito Uzumaki.
As soon as Tsunade saw Reiji arrive, her once gloomy face lit up with a radiant smile. She waved at him joyfully.
"Reiji, over here!"
Watching Tsunade frolic from a short distance away, Reiji turned his face to the side, looking slightly exasperated. He leaned toward Rie and muttered under his breath.
"Rie, that's your target this time. And be careful—this kind of madness is contagious."
At his words, Rie puffed up her round cheeks and nodded seriously.
"Don't worry, Brother! I'll do great and infiltrate the Senju clan in no time. I'll become Rie Senju!"
Reiji's expression darkened on the spot.
You little brat. I told you to get close to the Senju so you'd have some protection, not so you could change your surname! Disgracing your ancestors like that!
Cursing her inwardly, Reiji instinctively gave the girl a flick on the forehead.
"Behave! Who told you to change your last name?"
The little girl covered her head with both chubby hands, full of indignation.
"I didn't change it! My name is Rie Sakuhō Senju!"
Reiji was speechless.
This kid's a lost cause!
What's next? Are you going to call yourself Rie Sakuhō Senju Uchiha Yamanaka Akimichi Nara Aburame Inuzuka Hyūga?
You little devil—your mom would strangle you from the afterlife!
In that moment, Reiji was consumed with self-doubt.
Could it be… this was the true King of Traitors? Immortalizing your exploits by cramming them into your name for generations to come?
The thought made Reiji shudder. He quickly shook his head, trying to purge the idea from his mind.
Stop thinking, Reiji Sakuhō! That little butterball's gotten into your head!
Taking a deep breath, Reiji composed himself and stepped forward.
"Hello, Lady Mito. Hello, Princess Tsunade."
"Hello, Reiji-kun." Mito Uzumaki smiled and gave him a small nod.
At that, Tsunade shot Reiji a disgruntled look before quickly smoothing her expression and nodding back slightly.
"Hello, Reiji."
After a few words of greeting, Reiji began to explain the purpose of his visit—to entrust Rie to Tsunade.
However, before he could speak, Mito Uzumaki brought it up herself.
"Reiji-kun, are you hoping for your sister to stay with us for a while?"
Reiji blinked in surprise, then gave a gentle smile and nodded.
Technically, as the one making the request, it should have been Reiji who brought it up first. The fact that Mito did so instead showed she was extending a bit of goodwill.
Maybe it was because he saved Tsunade, or maybe she knew something else. Either way, goodwill was always better than hostility—especially for Rie.
With that thought, Reiji reached out and patted Rie's head.
"Yes, this is my little sister, Rie Sakuhō."
Mito Uzumaki stepped forward, crouching down to meet Rie at eye level. She looked at Rie's chubby cheeks and smiled gently.
"I've heard from Kyōko that Rie-chan is a very well-behaved girl~" she said, softly patting Rie on the head.
Rie didn't flinch, simply stared up with her wide, round eyes, looking innocently at the mature woman who seemed about the same age as Aunt Kyōko.
Maybe it was Mito Uzumaki's ability to sense malice that made her so good at expressing warmth, but she radiated a graceful, comforting presence. Even Rie, who was normally painfully shy around strangers, didn't show the slightest hint of fear.
Mito Uzumaki gently patted Rie's head, then slowly stood up and said with a teasing smile,
"A few days ago when Kyōko came back, she told me about Rie. Said she just couldn't bear to part with such a sweet girl—cried her eyes out, and she's a grown woman too."
At that, Reiji lowered his head slightly.
"I was too stubborn."
Then he asked cautiously,
"Mito-sama, do you happen to know the surname Sakuhō?"
Mito's eyes brightened for a brief moment. She gave Reiji a subtle glance and nodded gracefully.
Seeing that, Reiji was quietly shocked. Looks like this woman knows no less than Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He even had a feeling—if she ever became Hokage, she might handle the job with more ease than Sarutobi ever could.
Impressive.
With a silent sigh, Reiji decided not to hold anything back.
"Since you already know, then I'll speak plainly.
Rie has nothing to do with my own past. She's just a poor child I happened to meet.
I made a promise to her mother—to raise her until she comes of age."
Beside him, Rie clutched his hand tightly and mumbled under her breath, head lowered.
"Not just until I'm grown up. You said for life."
Reiji gave a small cough and corrected himself.
"To take care of her for life.
But as you can imagine, I have obligations. Someone like me doesn't have the freedom to settle down. I can't drag her around, always on edge and running from danger. That's why... I'm asking you to look after her for a while. Three years—at most."
With that, Reiji opened the suitcase in his hand. Inside were neatly stacked bundles, totaling one million ryō.
"This is for her living expenses. Please accept it."
Then, wearing a solemn expression, Reiji bowed deeply.
Rie followed his lead and bowed politely too. Sometimes, the girl's maturity was so touching it hurt.
Seeing this, Tsunade, who had been silent the whole time, pursed her lips and looked at her grandmother with longing. In the end, it was her grandmother who made the decisions in this house.
Mito didn't keep them waiting. She gave a firm nod.
"You have my word. Leave Rie to me."
Reiji exhaled quietly, a hint of sorrow in his chest as he gently placed Rie's hand in Mito's.
"Thank you."
He bowed once more, stood up, set the suitcase down, and walked away without looking back.
...
Behind him, three women—each from a different generation—stood hand in hand, watching his retreating figure.
Rie couldn't hold back anymore. Tears welled up and streamed down her cheeks as she shouted toward his back.
"Brother! If you don't come back in three years, Rie will... will take Meiko and the others and come find you!"
Hearing that, Reiji's footsteps stumbled, and he tripped, falling awkwardly to the ground.
Rie burst into a giggle through her tears, watching her brother's clumsy fall. Her round cheeks were soaked with emotion as she whispered,
"Brother, come back soon..."
Tsunade watched the siblings, her heart a tangled mix of emotions. She hated to see Reiji go but also couldn't help feeling a deep envy for the blood bond between them.
"Grandma, I want a little brother or sister too," she said sweetly to Mito.
Rie hastily wiped her face and suddenly grinned like Reiji.
"Sis Tsunade, you should ask your parents. Grandma Mito can only give you uncles and aunts!"
At that, Tsunade's face turned dark.
Looking at this little girl, she could clearly see Reiji's shadow all over her.
No doubt about it—these two really were siblings.
But the thought of having a little sister like this made Tsunade's face cloud over even more.
Forget it. Just give me a little brother. A sister like that? Not for me!
Mito smiled kindly and took both Tsunade and Rie by the hand as they walked into the mansion.
...
Deep within her heart, a strange, massive Nine-Tailed Fox lay lazily in front of a giant iron gate. With a smug, amused chuckle, it said,
"Well now, Mito girl... looks like your granddaughter's got her eye on quite the character."
"Oh?" Mito looked at Kurama curiously, a spark of playfulness surfacing beneath her graceful composure.
"Kurama, what do you see in him?"
The Nine-Tails didn't answer right away. His half-open eyes narrowed to thin slits.
"It's been too long. I don't really remember anymore.
But if you get the chance, maybe try planting that guy in the ground. Who knows? Something interesting might grow."
With that, Kurama slowly closed his eyes, clearly done talking.
...
In the courtyard of the Senju estate, Mito Uzumaki gazed at the gentle stream not far away, murmuring softly to herself,
"Plant him in the ground, huh..."