There exists a certain type of ninja, a special presence in any vilge. No matter if they are strong or weak, such ninjas are always a focal point for cultivation, destined for high office or immense wealth. Yamanaka Inoichi was one such figure. Along with the Yamanaka cn, his presence in the vilge was extraordinary.

  Although the cn held no top official positions, for the Hokage, the Yamanaka were indispensable. So indispensable, in fact, that if the Uchiha cn—Konoha’s premier fighting force—were to be repced by the Yamanaka under Danzo’s guidance, even Danzo himself would set aside all schemes and handle the matter with utmost caution. Of course, the Yamanaka would never provoke a coup against the vilge.

  Calling them “uncrowned kings” would be an exaggeration, but the Yamanaka cn undeniably held pivotal influence. Why? At the root, they were unparalleled in intelligence gathering. Alive or dead, with a single brain in hand, they could read a person’s entire life with precision.

  An enemy develops an offensive strategy, and the Yamanaka develop countermeasures. No one wants to be the one read; everyone wants to read. During the Warring States period, when the Yamanaka were at the peak of their power, effective counters were swiftly developed. If one could lock a brain even until death, the Yamanaka could do nothing. But the cost of locking a brain was enormous—one misstep, and death followed. Even the most advanced ninja research indicated survival rates were just one in ten, and within that, some survived as fools. This secret art was given a romantic name: Mind Lock.

  "My deepest apologies, Hokage-sama. She used Mind Lock. I cannot read her intel."

  A handsome young man with a ponytail reported reluctantly in the Hokage’s office. In peacetime, few faced Mind Lock, and even during war, ordinary soldiers would rarely face it—only the right-hand men of major figures would. Its activation was excruciating.

  The Third Hokage drew on his pipe, exhaling a cloud of smoke as a heavy sigh followed.

  "I see. You’ve done well."

  Lowering his hat, the Third’s expression remained grave. Inoichi bowed slightly and withdrew, leaving the Hokage alone.

  Once the pipe was emptied, the Third retrieved two items from a drawer: a scratched Amegakure forehead protector and a Mizukage Token—items he grudgingly recognized.

  Ah… Kakashi really did bring back a remarkable one… a non-human…

  Pain had not been felt for so long, and Kita did not miss it. As her consciousness drifted back, she realized her luck was extraordinary—she had survived. Yet, almost immediately, despair returned. Her fortune had also run out; she had been recovered by Konoha.

  The Leaf forehead protector stood out on her guard’s head.

  Her wounds were bandaged, including the shoulder pierced by Wood Release. Her scarf was gone, clothes changed, the protector absent, and personal items vanished. Chakra was sealed, but worse were the chains binding her limbs and the colr around her neck.

  Since she was six, she had not worn this. Now… she was in the Land of Water.

  The iron door opened slightly, revealing steady, measured footsteps. KitTobigned unconsciousness, listening as a familiar, aging voice called from the doorway.

  "It’s been a long time, Miss Yanu."

  He still remembers me… worthy of the Hokage, even amidst endless affairs…

  Kita sighed, opening her eyes and rising slowly. Chains clinked with every movement. Despite the pain, she maintained poise, steel-willed. Even with her shoulder wound splitting her bandages, she managed a calm, serene smile, like the white-cd figure of old.

  It’s been a long time, Third Hokage.

  "No need for disguises, Amegakure rogue Yanu."

  “Rogue” was perhaps inaccurate. Amegakure forehead protector was distinct; the Third’s eyes held little disdain. He gestured to her throat, then waved his hand, causing the chains to jingle again.

  "Kakashi."

  A white-haired man wearing a dog mask silently appeared behind the Hokage.

  "Seven days ago, in the Land of Water, you fell off a cliff after a battle. My subordinates rescued you. I may ask a few questions to repay that debt—surely you agree?"

  Ha… hard to argue with that.

  Kita nodded slightly.

  "Who did you fight, and why are your fatal injuries caused by Wood Release?"

  The first question was impossible to answer. Only four people knew Uchiha Madara was alive: Nagato, Konan, Uchiha Itachi, and herself. Revealing this would endanger the Akatsuki and future jinchūriki operations.

  I don’t know… probably the First Hokage.

  Kakashi transted truthfully. A long silence followed. The Third drew his pipe, lighting it, inhaling deeply, then asked softly,

  "Why do you possess the ‘Mizukage Token’?"

  She had helped the Fourth Mizukage escape Madara’s control and dealt with the threat of Hozuki Mangetsu. The token was a reward. Yet she could not reveal it.

  Perhaps he trusts me.

  She skirted the question, a subtle avoidance. Silence lingered until the Third finished his pipe.

  "What is your retion to Akatsuki?"

  Who knows…

  The Third, pipe set aside, hands behind his back, regarded her.

  "Akatsuki is composed of rogue ninjas. You are a rogue of Amegakure. Konoha and Amegakure are allies. I have no right to punish you, but returning you is necessary. I merely ask these minor questions. Don’t you think you should consider them?"

  I don’t know, so why lie? Do you think I compromise principles just to survive, Hokage?

  Kakashi’s gaze flicked to her neck, then transted accurately.

  The Third chuckled, impressed.

  "You speak well." He asked further, "Are you even human?"

  Kita could not respond—her body frozen, unable to nod or shake.

  "I’ll give you time. Until you heal."

  He stepped back slowly. Kita adjusted her long hair and y on the hard bed, thinking: Quickly hand me over to Hanzo. Only then can I truly go home. The Wood Release and Izanagi must be reported to Nagato and Konan first.

  Kita disappearing from the vilge without a word was not unusual. Konan expected it; Kita often deyed reporting until intelligence gathering was complete. During her one-month absence, no one raised suspicion—until Team Aoyu returned from a mission with something.

  A broken sword hilt.

  Ordinary in appearance, yet unmistakably Kita’s. The hilt wrapping was silk, a signature of Kyubei. The remaining tang bore his mark.

  Nagato contacted Kita immediately, but no chakra response. Without chakra, the Shadow Clone Technique could not function. Two possibilities remained: sealed chakra or death.

  First, he suspected Madara, but no—Kita and Madara were evenly matched; both surviving a direct csh was pusible. No one stronger could have guaranteed her death.

  Second, was it a seal? By whom? Or self-imposed? There was no precedent.

  "I checked the mountains. Evidence of battle remains, but too much time has passed. Determining the opponent is impossible." Kakuzu reported to Pain.

  "Could it have been the Four Brothers?"

  "No. Their fighting style differs. Local vilgers reported strange phenomena over a month ago, but traces were deliberately destroyed. No blood."

  The sword hilt in Pain’s hand bypassed Konan.

  "She’s now single-sword style. The hilt is temporarily hers," Kakuzu expined. "I’ll search elsewhere for clues. Report anything, alive or dead."

  Pain nodded.

  Meanwhile, Madara also searched for Kita. He had deduced her fall was premeditated—she pnned her escape while exhausting him. Yet no trace surfaced.

  Even a day after, Pain had no information. Weeks passed; her movements vanished like mud in water. Using the hilt to track via Akatsuki also yielded nothing.

  Madara considered whether Zetsu had intervened, but evidence suggested otherwise. Who knew where Kita had gone? If she had died, matters would be simple. If captured and Akatsuki’s location revealed, even Madara would be implicated.

  "Any news?"

  A month and a half had passed. Her injuries healed, the Izanagi eye repced—but Kita’s whereabouts remained unknown.

  "None. Even with her injuries, she couldn’t have gone far," Bck Zetsu said hoarsely.

  "No blood traces at all?"

  "None. The scent ended at the river. She’s probably dead."

  "Even if dead, there’d be a body. Don’t presume until confirmed," Bck Zetsu cautioned.

  "Maybe eaten by beasts. There are bears in the mountains."

  "Still, there’d be traces of blood," Bck Zetsu replied impatiently. Madara frowned beneath his mask.

  "Enough. Continue searching."

  "How? We’ve searched all of the Land of Water," White Zetsu compined.

  "Then expand the range. Alive or dead, I want results!"

  Damn it… where the hell did she go?!

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