While the group exchanged pleasantries, Kaito re-examined the memories in his mind.
Finally, Kaito discovered that the only anomaly in this world was that Uchiha Yo had become the daughter of Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Mikoto.
Space-time had corrected itself, or perhaps distorted some memories.
Uchiha Yo, who was originally just an ordinary clan member, had her childhood experiences replaced with a corresponding development.
She was no longer an orphan; she was an Uchiha with happy childhood memories.
Seeing the mother and daughter standing together, creating a harmonious picture, Kaito felt... this didn't seem too bad.
"Mother and daughter..."
Kaito looked meaningfully at the two women of different ages and charms.
His unopened right eye seemed to surge with a trace of heat at this moment.
Like an electrical appliance powered on for the first time, or like a meteor suddenly flashing across the long night.
A certain change was also quietly happening in Kaito's mind...
"Mother, Kaito awakened his eyes." Uchiha Yo shifted the topic and gaze to Kaito.
"Is that so?"
Uchiha Mikoto was somewhat surprised. Upon learning of the instructor's sacrifice, she felt it was only natural.
Though the price was indeed too heavy.
"It's just... I don't know why, but Kaito only awakened his left eye." Uchiha Yo raised her doubt.
...
Half an hour later.
Kaito was a guest at Uchiha Mikoto's house.
Drinking the tea brewed by Uchiha Mikoto herself, Kaito gazed outside the house.
Through the corridor, he could see a courtyard full of Japanese style and color. As the home of the Uchiha clan leader, it did not have a sense of luxury.
The travel-worn head of the family returned quickly.
A square face, unsmiling, with a solemn expression—this was the image of Uchiha Fugaku.
Amidst his busy schedule, he was summoned to the Hokage Building first to understand the specific situation from the Third Hokage, then discuss the future team arrangements for the three Genin, and finally chose to return home.
"Father." Uchiha Yo greeted Uchiha Fugaku.
The latter nodded slightly: "Kaito, Yo, I've heard the details."
Uchiha Fugaku took off his shoes and stepped onto the wooden corridor.
Behind him, he brought two kunoichi.
—Neither were Uchiha.
With just a casual glance, Kaito grasped their identities and inferred the situation.
One wore round-framed glasses, had a compassionate face, and long blond hair. Yet she possessed a surprisingly voluptuous figure that didn't match her saintly face! She was a member of the Medical Corps, a Special Jonin of Konoha, a spy for Root, known as the "Wandering Shrine Maiden," Yakushi Nono.
The other one possessed dangerous golden vertical pupils, pale skin, and an enchantingly bewitching demeanor. Needless to say, it was definitely Orochimaru in disguise, wearing someone else's face using the Vanishing Facial Copy Technique.
Their appearance signaled the higher-ups' unease and vigilance.
The Uchiha clan had long been under special scrutiny. Hearing about a single-eye awakening, advisors Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, along with the Darkness of Shinobi Shimura Danzo, certainly couldn't sit still.
Because to them, any Uchiha was a dangerous element. Since there had never been a single-eye awakener, they naturally needed to investigate first.
Kaito wanted to emphasize... this wasn't specifically targeting him; being monitored was daily life for Uchiha ninja under the Will of Fire.
"This is Miss Yakushi Nono. She is a Special Jonin of the Medical Corps and possesses incredible medical experience and skills..."
Uchiha Fugaku introduced.
At this point in time, Yakushi Nono hadn't resigned and run away yet.
But it would be soon, Kaito thought.
Yakushi Nono would probably pack up and flee this year, then open an orphanage on the border of the Land of Fire, triggering a series of subsequent events...
"This is Miss 'Oto', also from the Medical Corps, possessing incredible biological research technology."
Hearing this, Kaito almost laughed out loud. Biological research technology... researching humans, right?
In Konoha, human experimentation was taboo.
After the failure of the Wood Release reconstruction project, the Third Hokage ordered everything to be sealed.
But where there is light, there is darkness.
Shimura Danzo, Orochimaru, and others were still silently researching these things in secret. To obtain the necessary resources, Orochimaru chose to cooperate with Shimura Danzo. And because he was too arrogant, thinking he could become the future Fourth Hokage, in order not to affect his reputation, Orochimaru disguised his identity and often walked in Konoha with another face.
"Kaito, the higher-ups are concerned about your awakening, so they specially sent these two to help check you..."
Uchiha Fugaku spoke politely.
Not just because of social etiquette. Before the Nine-Tails Attack, the Uchiha clan still held onto illusions. Everyone stubbornly believed that the Uchiha had a chance to become Hokage. If not... then there must be something wrong with us, and we need to reflect. Only when everything was irreversible would the Uchiha re-examine the past and decide to launch a coup against the higher-ups.
"Hello to you both."
Kaito nodded slightly to them.
"Thank you to the higher-ups for their concern."
Really concerned?
Kaito wasn't worried about the upcoming check. After all, he was just an ordinary-looking Uchiha.
Looking at Kaito, who was prettier than a girl, Yakushi Nono couldn't help but feel a trace of fondness.
Some people like money, some like shiny things. Some... like children.
She lowered her voice and said gently, "Don't worry, the medical ninjutsu examination will be over quickly."
Kaito extended his hand according to Yakushi Nono's instructions. She held it, and a soft green light glowed.
The Mystical Palm Technique, at least A-rank difficulty.
Of course, Nono and Orochimaru had heard about Kaito.
Years ago, he graduated alongside Hatake Kakashi, then quickly faded into the crowd. Everyone thought he was a prodigy who lost his spark, unaware of the inside story.
After Yakushi Nono finished her examination, Orochimaru asked a few questions.
"Kaito-kun, after awakening your eyes, do you feel any strange changes in your body..."
Being stared at by those golden vertical pupils felt like being targeted by a snake.
"Yes."
Kaito nodded seriously, his clear black eyes meeting those vertical pupils.
"Only after awakening did I realize my shortcomings. Like a frog jumping out of a well, I understood for the first time how vast the outside world is."
These words made Orochimaru silent for a moment.
He asked again: "What do you think is the most important thing for a ninja?"
According to the information he had, Uchiha who experienced awakening, as recorded by Senju Tobirama, would become emotionally extreme, becoming a more evil Uchiha.
Speaking emotionally, acting "chunibyo," being hysterical, or incomprehensible.
Vessel, narrow-minded clan... and other inexplicable statements.
"To live."
Kaito answered the second question without a second of hesitation.
"Because if a person dies, there is nothing."
This round of answers silenced Orochimaru again.
He suddenly felt that the Uchiha didn't seem as evil as the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama had described.
You ask, I answer.
The silence between Orochimaru's questions grew longer and longer.
Finally, Uchiha Fugaku even thought, should I ask them to stay for lunch?
"Heh heh... Kaito-kun, truly a special Uchiha."
When the last question ended, Orochimaru stood up, feeling like he had met a like-minded "comrade" today.
After the plain interrogation ended, Orochimaru and Yakushi Nono left together.
Of course, the two didn't get anything useful, but Orochimaru remembered Kaito firmly in his heart.
Kaito's heartfelt answers were neither groundless nor on a whim; they had a purpose.
"Orochimaru has some interesting things, like the 'Power of the White Snake'. I must get it!"
Kaito stared at their backs, thinking to himself.
The Power of the White Snake could not only make Sasuke, who was nearly blown to death by Deidara, lively again in a moment, possessing powerful self-healing abilities and increasing Chakra limits among other magical characteristics, but it could even allow someone with only "Yin Release" to possess "Yang Release".
The nature of the White Snake Power could further assist in accelerating the awakening of the right eye. After all, the method to open the right eye was...!
So, conspiring with a snake became a necessary choice.
Planting some deep impressions in Orochimaru's heart today would create an opportunity to cooperate with him tomorrow.
Step by step, steady and sure.
"Kaito."
After Uchiha Fugaku saw the two off and returned, he gave specific instructions.
"Attend the 'Regular Meeting' tonight on time."
The secret gathering of the Uchiha clan; only ninja clansmen of the Uchiha were eligible to attend.
Tonight, Uchiha Fugaku planned to inform the three of their future arrangements, including the "Chunin Exams."