Kaito Akaden Chapter 152

Kaito Akaden Chapter 152

Hotaru's brow furrowed, her voice low. "Peace through force? That's… terrible. And they're strong enough to actually pull it off?"

Kakashi nodded slowly. "If Pain can keep people like Orochimaru and Sasori in line, he must be unbelievably powerful. And if the masked man is involved too…" He sighed, rubbing his chin in thought.

After a moment, he glanced at Kaito. "I take it you've already informed Lady Tsunade about all this?"

Kaito nodded. "Yeah, she needed to know. Plus, with the pardon and Mukai's son's condition, it was important. She's already treating his kid personally."

Kakashi let out another sigh. "Well, no point in worrying about something we can't control right now. We should focus on the mission." He glanced at the clock on the wall. "I should get going—my ship leaves at 2. The two of you should head out a few minutes after me. Blend in by walking around and acting like tourists before boarding your ship. And try to enjoy yourselves while you're in the Land of Water," he added with a small smirk.

Kakashi stood up, adjusting his scarf. "We'll stay in touch through the ear clips. Be careful out there." With that, he body-flickered away, leaving Kaito and Hotaru alone in the room.

Kaito turned to Hotaru, stretching his arms lazily. "We should grab something to eat before we head out, you know?"

….

Snow gently drifted down from the sky as the sun shone brightly over the small town. The streets were blanketed in snow, and the roofs of the buildings wore thick, white layers. It was November, and winter had fully settled in.

The townsfolk were going about their day, the streets bustling with activity and the shops open for business. Kaito and Hotaru stepped out of the inn where they were staying, both dressed in their disguises.

Kaito had wrapped a scarf around his neck to ward off the cold, his hands buried in his pockets. Beside him, Hotaru—disguised as Hikari—wore a warm coat and a scarf that complemented her attire.

Hotaru exhaled softly, rubbing her hands together for warmth. "I could really go for a warm cup of tea," she said.

Kaito pointed down the street, his breath forming a small white cloud in the chilly air. "I saw a tea shop up ahead when we came in yesterday."

With a pleased smile, Hotaru nodded. "Hmm, sounds good," she replied, her voice warm as they began walking down the snowy street toward the tea shop.

It had been three days since they arrived in the Land of Water, and this was the second town they had visited. Kaito and Hotaru had been wandering through the towns, enjoying their time as tourists while Kaito's shadow clones gathered the information they had come for. They had been traveling as a couple, sightseeing and blending in perfectly with the locals.

When they reached the small tea shop, Kaito pushed the door open, and a gentle bell chimed above them.

"Welcome!" an older woman greeted from behind a small counter. Her kind face, weathered by years of greeting customers through all seasons, lit up with a smile. "Please, take a seat."

The two were led to a simple table near a window. As they sat down, the old woman handed them a menu, though Kaito already knew what he wanted.

After a quick glance at the menu, Kaito said, "Could I have some green tea, please? And we'd like to order breakfast as well."

Hotaru smiled at the woman and added, "I'd like some sencha tea, please."

"Of course," the old woman replied with a nod. She pulled out a small notepad and pen. "What would you like to eat?"

"I'll have a bowl of zenzai," Hotaru said with a nod, then added, "I'll also get some tsukemono and natto with rice, please."

"And I'll also have some tamagoyaki with rice," Kaito said.

The old woman wrote down their order and smiled warmly. "Coming right up. Please make yourselves comfortable."

As the woman headed to the kitchen, Hotaru leaned closer to Kaito. "So, Kai-kun," she said, "what do you want to do after breakfast?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing," Kaito replied with a grin. "We've got some free time before moving on. Any ideas?"

Hotaru tipped her head back, thinking. "There's that famous shrine on the edge of town. I've heard it's beautiful in the snow. And… this town is known for its sushi, right? Maybe we can find a good place for lunch."

Kaito nodded. "Yeah, sure. Sounds like a good plan."

The server returned with their tea, placing the cups gently on the table. "Enjoy," she said politely before stepping away.

A short while later, their food arrived. They both clasped their hands together and said, "Itadakimasu," before starting their meal.

Hotaru picked up a spoon, blowing gently on a scoop of zenzai before tasting it. "Mmm," she sighed softly. "This is really good. Want some, Kai-kun?"

Kaito smiled and nodded. "Yeah, sure." Hotaru scooped up a spoonful and fed it to him. He tasted it and grinned. "Hmm, it's good. Especially in this weather, ya know?"

Hotaru nodded enthusiastically, her cheeks pink as she blushed.

As Kaito took a bite of his tamagoyaki, he said, "We should get some souvenirs before we leave. The last town didn't have anything good."

Hotaru nodded in agreement. "Yeah, this place seems to have more options."

While they ate and chatted, two Kiri shinobi entered the tea shop, their uniforms marking them as belonging to the Mist Village. They sat at a table behind Kaito and Hotaru, their voices low but audible enough for the two to overhear.

"…Did you hear the news, Kotachi?" one of the shinobi muttered, his tone laced with irritation. "The Mizukage forced that clan to hand over all their hidden jutsu. I even heard there are talks of kicking them out of Kirigakure."

Kotachi let out a low snort. "Serves them right. Some of those people get so full of themselves. Just because they're born with special powers, they think they can lord it over the rest of us."

Kaito knew about the Kiri civil war that began after Obito started controlling the Mizukage, but he wasn't sure exactly when it would happen. If he remembered correctly, the manga didn't really delve deeply into the timeline of those events.

What Kaito did know was that people with kekkei genkai were viewed with suspicion in Kiri and throughout the Land of Water because of their devastating efficiency during times of war. This mistrust led to widespread persecution and even the murder of those with kekkei genkai. This deep-seated hatred was what ultimately ignited the civil war.

Since arriving in the Land of Water, Kaito had learned that there wasn't an active civil war at the moment. However, tensions were high. The clans were hated and scapegoated for past conflicts, and the resentment was palpable.

Kaito vaguely remembered that the civil war in Kiri wasn't completely isolated from the outside world, but as the village grew more silent and isolated, he knew it was only a matter of time before things spiraled into chaos.

After finishing their breakfast, Kaito and Hotaru paid for their meal. The old woman at the counter thanked them warmly for their patronage.

Stepping out of the tea house, they walked southward down the snowy street, making their way to the shrine located at the edge of town.

The shrine was massive and reminded Kaito of the Uchiha clan's Naka Shrine back in Konoha. They spent some time exploring the area, both taking a moment to pay their respects. Together, they prayed quietly and took a few photos to commemorate their visit.

As they were about to leave, Hotaru's eyes lit up when she noticed a small stall near the shrine. The sweet aroma wafting from it immediately caught her attention.

"Kai-kun, look! They're selling dango," she said excitedly, pausing mid-step. "Let's buy some! They look so good!"

Kaito smiled at her enthusiasm. "Sure," he said. They approached the stall, where an elderly woman wrapped in a thick shawl greeted them warmly.

"Good morning! Care for some dango?" the vendor asked, her voice cheerful despite the chilly weather.

"Yes, please," Kaito replied. "We'd like a dozen."

The vendor smiled warmly as she prepared their order. While she worked, her eyes flicked between Kaito and Hotaru, noting how close they stood. "Are you two a couple?" she asked curiously. "I don't think I've seen you here before. Where are you from?"

Hotaru felt her cheeks warm. "Yes, we're together," she added with a shy smile, glancing at Kaito. "We're from the Land of Tea. Just traveling around."

Kaito nodded in agreement. "We heard the Land of Water is really nice this time of year, and we wanted to see the snow before it gets too deep."

The vendor's face brightened. "That's wonderful! The snow can be a hassle, but it's beautiful, isn't it?" She handed them the skewers of dango, the round dumplings coated in a sweet, glossy sauce. "Enjoy, and keep warm."

They thanked her, paid for the food, and walked off, nibbling on the sticky dango. Kaito glanced at Hotaru, who was clearly enjoying the treat, her face lighting up with every bite.

As they strolled down the snowy street, nibbling on their dango, Kaito suddenly felt a faint chakra presence coming from an alleyway they were passing. He stopped mid-step, his eyes narrowing as he glanced down the shadowy path.

Noticing his abrupt pause, Hotaru turned to him with a puzzled expression. "Kai-kun, what is it?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.

Kaito didn't reply immediately, his gaze fixed on the dim alley. At first, all he could see were the backs of old buildings and a few crates stacked haphazardly. Then, in the shadows near a dumpster, he spotted a small figure huddled on the ground.

It was a boy, no older than eight or nine. His thin frame was curled tightly, arms wrapped around his knees. He wore ragged, threadbare clothes that were completely inadequate for the freezing weather, and his unkempt black hair hung in uneven clumps around his face. Snowflakes clung to his hair and shoulders, and his bare feet rested on the icy, snow-covered ground.

A frown crossed Kaito's face as he wondered why anyone would leave a kid alone in the freezing cold. If he's an orphan, shouldn't the villagers or someone have helped him? What caught Kaito's attention even more was the faint but noticeable amount of chakra emanating from the boy—unusually strong for someone so young. It suggested that the kid might belong to a clan or had received some form of training.

Hotaru stepped up beside Kaito, her expression mirroring his concern. Kaito couldn't just ignore the boy. He walked over slowly, careful not to startle him. The boy's eyes went wide as he noticed someone approaching, and he tried to scoot back, but there wasn't much space to go.

Kaito raised his hands in a peaceful gesture. "Hey there," he said softly, his tone warm and friendly. He held out one of the sticks of dango. "Here, you can have this if you're hungry."

The boy's eyes flicked between the dango and Kaito, suspicion etched into his face. He didn't seem to trust strangers, but hunger appeared to outweigh his fear. Hotaru stepped forward as well, her kind smile gentle and reassuring. "They're still warm," she said. "They're sweet and taste really good."

The boy hesitated, then slowly reached out and took the dango. He bowed his head slightly, mumbling a quiet "thank you" before taking a cautious bite. Kaito smiled and offered him the rest of the sticks. The boy looked surprised but eventually accepted them.

Watching this scene reminded Kaito of just how cruel and unforgiving this world could be. Once the boy began eating, Kaito removed the scarf from around his neck and gently wrapped it around the boy's shoulders. The boy's eyes widened again at the unexpected kindness. Kaito smiled softly.

"It's really cold out," Kaito said, adjusting the scarf so it fit snugly around the boy's neck. "You should keep yourself warm." Hidden inside the scarf was a warming seal Kaito had crafted, designed to provide a gentle, comforting heat to its wearer.

Hotaru knelt down beside him, speaking softly. "My name is Hikari, and this is Kaito. What's your name?"

The boy held the dango in one hand, pressing the warm scarf closer to his body. He looked between them before answering quietly, "My name is Haku."

Kaito's eyes widened at the name. 'Wait, what? This kid is Haku? 'he thought, his mind racing. 'This must be where Zabuza found him in the original timeline.'

Kaito swallowed his surprise and gently asked, "Do you know where your parents are, Haku?"

The boy lowered his gaze, his expression darkening. "They're gone," he said softly, his voice tinged with pain.

Hotaru's face fell, her eyes filled with sympathy. "I'm so sorry to hear that, Haku-kun," she said gently.

Kaito sighed, his gaze lingering on Haku's thin frame and bare feet. He couldn't leave him like this. The image of Haku's potential—the power he would grow into—flashed through Kaito's mind, but more importantly, he remembered the kind and selfless person Haku was deep inside. He couldn't just walk away.

Kaito sighed and asked, "Would you like to come with us, Haku?"

Kaito had always admired Haku's character from the original Naruto. Haku was a tragic figure, yet he embodied the ideals of the shinobi in a way few others did. He was the one who taught Naruto the true meaning of the Will of Fire: "When a person has something important they want to protect, that's when they can become truly strong." It wasn't the hollow teachings of Hiruzen; Haku's philosophy embodied the real spirit of the Will of Fire.

Kaito couldn't help but recall how unfairly Haku's life had ended in the original timeline. And now, standing face-to-face with a young Haku, Kaito saw an opportunity. I can change his fate, he thought, his resolve hardening.

The question made Haku's eyes widen with disbelief. He stared at Kaito as if he couldn't quite process what he had just heard.

Hotaru smiled softly, her heart warming at Kaito's question. She looked at Haku with kind eyes, silently encouraging him.

Haku's mouth opened slightly, and his eyes glistened with tears. "Why…?" he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. "Why are you being so kind to me? Everyone calls me a monster because of what I can do. People are scared of me."

Kaito knelt to Haku's level and gently placed a hand on his head. He spoke softly, but his tone was steady. "You remind me of my younger brother," Kaito admitted. "He's about your age and has a special ability, too. If my mom and I hadn't been there for him, he might have gone through something like this. I can't just leave you here, knowing what I know."

Haku sniffled, tears beginning to roll down his cheeks as he listened.

"And," Kaito continued with a small smile, "my mom always taught me to help people who need it—especially if you know you can. So, come with us, Haku. You deserve better than this."

Haku lowered his head, his shoulders trembling as he tried to hold back his emotions. Finally, the weight of Kaito's words broke through his walls, and tears spilled freely.

"Thank you," Haku said in a shaky voice, bowing his head as his soft sobs filled the alley.

Kaito smiled warmly, patting Haku's head gently. "You don't have to thank us. Now, let's get you cleaned up, yeah? Some new clothes, a warm bath… and maybe something other than dango to eat," he winked playfully.

Haku looked between them, still overwhelmed but feeling a glimmer of hope for the first time in a long while. He sniffled again and nodded, his grip tightening on the scarf Kaito had given him. For the first time, the bitter cold didn't feel so unbearable

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