Yuanlong was utterly perplexed. Could such a foolish decision truly come from the wise Lord Mizukage?
It didn't seem right!
Could someone like this still hold the village's respect and loyalty?
His heart swirled with confusion, but he didn't dare challenge Yagura. He could only withdraw.
What he didn't know was, after he left—
The masked man appeared behind Yagura, his voice icy: "With me here, Kirigakure will never birth a single genius!"
"This is your village's punishment. Kirigakure is fated to rot, never to prosper!"
Yoru Ryo had no idea his standout performance had earned him a deadly mission set.
Right now, he was hastily dressing, rushing out the door.
Terumi Mei looked confused. What's gotten him so worked up?
Yoru Ryo hurried through Kirigakure, his face full of regret.
He cursed himself—how could he forget something so critical?
"Kimimaro, oh Kimimaro, you better not have gone with Orochimaru!"
"Losing a talent like you from Kirigakure would be a damn shame!"
After a bath at home, it hit him—Kaguya Kimimaro was still locked up, branded as a monster.
He hadn't joined this war.
Letting such a genius go to waste? That'd be a massive loss.
To revive Kirigakure, talent was essential!
Kimimaro was one of them!
…
At the Kaguya Clan's grounds!
Following memories from the original story, Yoru Ryo reached the Kaguya territory and breathed a sigh of relief.
Kimimaro was still there, caged, gently caring for a flower!
"Who are you?! Get out—now!!!"
"Or I might lose it and kill you!"
Though young, Kimimaro had pale skin and a…
Ahem, pale, striking look, practically a born charmer.
Even as he snarled and growled at Yoru Ryo, Yoru Ryo couldn't see him as a monster.
Why? Because beauty is justice!
"I'm Yoru Ryo! Kimimaro, wanna be friends?" Yoru Ryo broke the cage, setting him free.
"Friends? Really? You're not scared I'll go wild and kill you?"
At Yoru Ryo's words, Kaguya Kimimaro's eyes sparkled, filled with deep hope.
His clansmen had always treated him like a freak, keeping their distance.
Now, someone wanted to be his friend. His heart stirred.
"Not worried at all!"
"I believe I can stop you if necessary. And more importantly… I trust you wouldn't hurt a friend!"
Ye Liangnai grinned, flashing a "Might Guy-style" smile.
"Simply being alive has no meaning on its own."
"But if you keep living… maybe you'll meet interesting people and witness interesting things."
"Like how you found that flower… and how I found you!"
"Kimimaro, let's go! A whole new world is waiting for you!"
Hearing those words, Kimimaro's eyes became firm.
"Yes! You're right! I'll live—because I have a friend to live for!"
Yoru Ryo's heart leapt with joy.
Kaguya Kimimaro, recruited!
As for Kimimaro's terminal illness… it wasn't completely incurable.
Yoru Ryo had read records about a certain herb—Twin-Stem Fruit—found in a small country.
It was said to have remarkable healing properties, particularly for ailments like Kimimaro's illness.
If he could get his hands on it, Kimimaro's lifespan could be extended!
But dragging Kimimaro back to Kirigakure now? That'd be suicide!
He told Kimimaro to wait, maybe three years, and he'd bring him back to the village.
For now, he'd have to roam the Land of Water's outskirts.
Kimimaro didn't object.
Sometimes, though, fate hands out bonuses.
While Yoru Ryo moved carefully to avoid Orochimaru, he ran into another Kirigakure orphan from a wiped-out clan.
The cross-dressing prodigy, Mizunotsume Haku!
Yoru Ryo couldn't figure out why Haku, whose surname was never clear in the original story, was now a Mizunotsume.
But that's how it was, so he went with it.
Haku, another soul unsure why he lived, even questioning if his existence was a mistake.
For a lost kid like this, the eager Yoru Ryo stepped up—laying out reason, tugging at emotions.
And so, Mizunotsume Haku, recruited!
Yoru Ryo, the sly recruiter, earned his name!
For Kimimaro and Haku, gaining a companion so fast was a happy surprise.
Especially as two fellow outcasts!
"Phew, done. Hope that Uchiha Obito guy didn't notice, or I'm done for!"
After sending Kimimaro and Haku off, Yoru Ryo wiped the cold sweat from his brow, aware of the close call.
Sneaking two people out was no easy feat.
Luckily, his Anbu status gave him access to another gate.
And with the Kaguya Clan's fresh extermination, the chaos kept eyes off a nobody like him.
What Yoru Ryo didn't know was that his little stunt had an eighty percent chance of getting caught.
Kirigakure was under the masked man, Uchiha Obito's, grip.
But today, Orochimaru, who'd snuck into Kirigakure to grab resources in the chaos—and had his targets stolen by Yoru Ryo—kept the masked man busy.
That's how Yoru Ryo got away with it.
A small fry like him was nothing next to Orochimaru's threat.
Right now, near another Kirigakure gate, Fourth Mizukage Yagura Karatachi and a squad of Mist ninjas faced off against Orochimaru, one of the three Sannin.
"Orochimaru, you've got some nerve sneaking into Kirigakure."
"Since you're here, you're not leaving! Everyone, with me—take Orochimaru down!"
Though under Uchiha Obito's genjutsu, Yagura, a perfect Jinchuriki, was undeniably powerful.
Alone, he could match Orochimaru.
With a team of Kirigakure elites?
Even Orochimaru could only scramble to escape.
One ninja against a whole village? No chance.
"Order all entrances locked down tight. This can't happen again!"
"As one of the five great ninja villages, Kirigakure can't be invaded so easily!" Yagura's voice was ice-cold.
"Yes!" the Mist ninjas replied in unison.
But Yagura had a reason for this order.
Because—