Three days later.
The Hokage officially notified Kaito that Squad Eleven was disbanded.
Uchiha Mikoto would be returning to the Uchiha clan to join Konoha's Police Force.
When it came to Yakushi Nonō's placement, Hiruzen was just about to assign her to another combat unit—
When Kaito suddenly spoke up.
"Hokage-sama."
"May I ask you for a favor?"
"Oh? This is the first time you've ever asked me for anything."
Hiruzen paused, visibly surprised.
"As long as it doesn't violate shinobi regulations, I'll consider it."
"I want Nonō to enter Konoha Hospital—to become a medical-nin."
"Her chakra control is exceptional… better than Mikoto's, even."
Hiruzen's eyebrows rose.
Becoming a medical-nin was a long, grueling road. Just reaching competency required years of training. Nonō's reports indicated she had real talent in combat-type ninjutsu as well.
"Please, Hokage-sama," Kaito said, bowing deeply.
"Being a combat ninja isn't her dream. She wants to heal people… not fight."
Hiruzen felt a pang of helplessness.
The front lines desperately needed manpower. His initial intention was to assign Nonō to a strong jōnin-led squad and send her toward the borders.
But the earnest look on Kaito's face…
For a moment, he saw shadows of the past—
Of Kaito and Jōnin Yasaki.
Hiruzen sighed and took a drag of his rarely-touched pipe, releasing a thin white cloud.
"…I'll grant your request."
"Not only that—I'll assign her a suitable teacher."
"But I have a condition."
"You name it!" Kaito straightened, startled that his plea actually worked. "As long as it's something within my ability, I'll do it!"
"But…"
Kaito scratched his cheek uneasily.
"If it's about promoting me to chūnin, then I must decline."
Hiruzen's mouth twitched.
Everyone else dreamed of becoming chūnin and earning respect—and a much better salary. He had personally tried to persuade Kaito multiple times. Every time, the boy refused.
This brat was unbelievable.
"No. I'm assigning you… a genin squad."
Kaito's expression immediately shifted.
Was the old man trying to trick him onto the battlefield?!
Seeing his grim look, Hiruzen quickly clarified:
"Relax."
"You're joining the squad **only so I can assign you a teacher—a ninjutsu specialist—to address your talent issues."
"As for missions…"
"Just keep doing D-rank missions as usual. And teach your juniors a bit of experience while you're at it."
"…Understood."
So this was the Hokage's way of forcing a ninjutsu instructor onto him.
Kaito could only pray the teacher wouldn't be some monstrously powerful elite.
If someone discovered he had all five chakra affinities, staying a genin would become impossible.
Good thing he'd already prepared explanations for that.
After all, he was an orphan, not a local clan child—hiding too much risked suspicion.
—
The chūnin exams had ended swiftly. July's wind blew across the forest behind Konoha.
There, among dense trees, countless gravestones lay hidden.
At the front stood a large memorial stone carved from blue rock—the Hero Memorial Monument.
"Yasaki-sensei…
Zhe Tai…
Aoko…"
"I'm sorry. I brought bad news again."
"I failed the chūnin exams this year too."
Kaito held a bouquet of lilies tightly as he looked at the carved names of his former comrades—his half-year squadmates from Team Six: a civilian genin and a Hyūga branch family genin.
"Back then… maybe I was wrong."
"As a genin… maybe I should have followed Jōnin Yasaki's orders. Maybe then… our team wouldn't have fallen apart."
Back then, even with the Op-Op Fruit, using its power cost stamina—and exposing its existence would have risked being taken by Root.
So he hid it.
And the moment he believed he had genuine chūnin-level strength—two years ago—
The Second Great Ninja War had already begun.
He didn't want to die.
He didn't want to gamble.
So during one C-rank mission, he openly disobeyed Yasaki's orders, believing those orders would lead them straight into destruction.
Their team fractured completely.
Yasaki-sensei had taught him all three of his D-rank jutsu…
But Kaito chose survival over unity.
He left.
He became a lone shinobi.
The next year, after learning to complete D-rank missions alone, he heard the news:
During a mission, Yasaki misjudged the situation—
Both remaining genin were killed in an ambush.
Team Six was erased.
The broken Yasaki-sensei finally understood Kaito's warning.
When Kaito saw him again, it was inside a humble tavern.
Kaito had wanted to encourage him…
But Yasaki believed he should atone—by charging into the front lines.
He didn't have the miraculous luck of eternal-genin Maruboshi Kosuke.
He died shortly after.
Kaito had been devastated.
So he stopped forming deep bonds.
Losing teammates hurt too much.
He didn't want to watch more names appear on stone.
And he couldn't advise others to remain genin like him—people would think he was a spy, trying to sabotage them.
Look at wandering rogue-ninja out there—living miserable lives.
Better to let people advance normally.
—
Time passed.
The Hokage informed Kaito that his new squad announcement would wait until the assigned jōnin became available. Supposedly, the Hokage had a "surprise" for him.
As for Nonō—
"Congratulations, Nonō."
"And thank you… for treating Duy."
"Lady Tsunade."
In the office of the hospital director, a blonde woman in a white coat leaned back against her chair, brown eyes sizing up Kaito.
"I remember you… Kaito, right?"
"Yes, Lady Tsunade."
Kaito hadn't expected Nonō to be lucky enough to become Tsunade's student.
"So," she asked casually,
"You got a girlfriend yet?"
Kaito: "…"
Beside him, Nonō stiffened.
"T-Tsunade-sensei," she hurried to explain,
"Sensei Kaito said he doesn't plan to date until he becomes chūnin."
A giant question mark appeared on Tsunade's face.
"Didn't you pass the chūnin exams before?"
"Sorry… no," Kaito said, scratching his head.
"I see. Then your psychological trauma must be pretty severe~"
Kaito froze.
Wait.
Was the Hokage planning to assign her to be his teacher?!
"Um… Lady Tsunade, don't tell me you're—"
"No, no!" Tsunade waved both hands. "I only know a little about your situation. But psychological issues? That's something only you can work through."
"…I see."
Kaito let out a long breath of relief.
Tsunade laughed at him.
She stood and walked over, placing a hand on his head. They were similar in height—but she was four years older. Her palm ruffled through his hair, and he didn't dare resist; he valued his skull too much to risk a Monster Strength punch.
"What's wrong? Having me as your teacher makes you uncomfortable?"
"No, no!" Kaito waved frantically.
"I just think that training under someone as beautiful as Lady Tsunade might make it hard to concentrate…"
"Well well~ smooth talker, aren't you?"
Tsunade pinched his cheek.
"Don't worry. The teacher Hokage-sama chose for you is excellent."
"You won't be disappointed."
"Yes, ma'am."
—
The moment he stepped out of the office, Kaito's expression returned to its usual coldness.
Flattering Tsunade? Not a chance.
It was simply basic survival etiquette.
A named, influential figure remembering your face increased your odds of living longer.
Besides—Nonō would be working under Tsunade. Better to leave a good impression than risk… complications.
After gifting Tsunade a real fruit basket (not metaphorical), Kaito returned to check on Duy.
"Dear, have an apple. You've worked so hard~"
"It's not hard at all! This is the power of youth!"
Standing outside the doorway, Kaito wanted to complain about being force-fed dog food—but he still opened the door.
He glanced at the poor lonely genin in the other bed and deadpanned:
"Could you two stop showing off your love?"
"Otherwise I'm not visiting next time."
"Look at that poor kid over there."
The young Hirata genin immediately made a dramatic "I'm suffering" face, making the Duy couple and Kaito burst into laughter.
But in a world already swallowed by war…
Moments like these were rare.
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