Despite all that chat with Zetsu, the plant creature, Kaji didn't expect to reap any benefits from it so soon. And if he had been worried about the Sage of the Six Paths, he would have changed his carefree attitude long ago.
On the way, Kaji pondered many things—one of them particularly interesting was the defection of elite Jonin from their villages. First, a Kage leader would have to pay enough to sustain the ninja's life and their surroundings. Second, most villages would scheme to ensure such a ninja had no emotional ties—whether romantic or psychological—to the village's ideals.
Third, even if the first two were strong enough, in others' minds, loyalty could change in an instant. The village had to ensure that such a ninja would keep fighting even in desperate situations.
Kaji sighed, thinking about the points the Senju had raised. Though this was an extreme case, many shinobi let go of their grudges for the sake of the collective good.
But a ninja of this level was a dangerous existence—to everyone in the world.
A carefree life?
Don't kid yourself. The information exchanged for his defection cost countless lives.
In the end, was it really right for an individual to think that after serving the village and receiving all promised payments, they could, for some psychological reason, rebel, betray, and sell information—leading to thousands of deaths in the process?
Though wars between villages were violent and brutal, outright wartime defection wasn't all that common. Still, as long as one had sufficient motive, there would always be two or three others.
A Senju master, with the strength of an elite Jonin and high-level water-release techniques taught by Konoha's water-ninjutsu clan—techniques that, according to general law, all belonged to the greater ideal that was Konoha.
Kaji thought of his own Nara clan. Most of their techniques were in Konoha's possession. The so-called "family" secret techniques were no exception. The real question was: who could actually perform them?
It wasn't like just anyone could find ninjas with high Yin release.
Just as it was pointless to think a Nara could master the Uchiha clan's Phoenix Sage Fire Technique.
Pfft. Kaji doubted a Nara could even produce a single flame from their mouth. So he looked at the captured Senju master with pity.
Due to matters of life that didn't concern him, everything had led to this—and in the end, it was the man's own fault for letting himself be captured.
One of the reasons for this mission was Konoha taking back what was theirs—and delivering a proper response to the man's betrayal of his former clan.
Kaji thought of his older sister, Tsunade. Though he wasn't particularly close to her, their bond extended to him teaching and looking after Nawaki.
Nawaki was a good kid. He smiled to himself.
Tsunade had already been away from Konoha for a year, ever since Hiruzen decided he didn't know how to handle her in the village. After all, she was a relentless spender.
Their father, the Hokage, had always paid off Tsunade's debts—though he never let her know they were settled, hoping the gambling dens she frequented would eventually ban her.
But she always found another one lurking around.
So Kaji couldn't bring himself to pity his older sister, even if she had to pay off her debts by serving as a battlefield commander.
After all, the wars weren't over. No village had submitted a peace treaty yet—aside from Kumo's marriage alliance.
And to be honest, it wouldn't happen as soon as people hoped.
Konoha might be at peace, but the world wasn't.
Cold wars. Shadow wars waged by ANBU.
These things just weren't spoken aloud.
The shinobi world truly had some breathtaking sights—unique landscapes and mountains you'd only find in something like Minecraft.
Kaji thought that someday, he'd set aside time to travel with Himari and take in these spectacular views.
What struck him as odd, however, was the uneven technological development between ordinary villages. Some settlements had advanced agricultural technology, while others barely had anything developed at all.
He passed villages with simple wooden carts, and then others with borderline cyberpunk creations—machines powered by chakra.
It was curious how there was no unified direction. Travel east, and you'd find hydraulic-driven wagons. Go west, and you'd see animals—even bears—used for transportation.
Though chakra beasts could be dangerous, it was well-known that many of them possessed high levels of intelligence.
It wouldn't be normal to see a bear speaking human language, but you wouldn't be too surprised either.
After all, the ninja arts could break barriers that science couldn't explain.
Speaking of science, he hadn't contributed much to the Nara or Sarutobi knowledge banks. Thinking about it now, it was something he'd look into over the coming months—if only to ease his conscience a little.
Kaji arrived at the village gates, clad in the standard Jonin attire, though the golden shoulder plates marked his status as an elite.
A bearded guard with tinted blue glasses nodded at him the moment he approached.
Guard: "Back already, Kaji? Mission went smoothly, I take it?"
Kaji: "As smooth as it gets. Though I could do without the paperwork waiting for me."
The guard chuckled, waving him through.
There was something oddly familiar about the man's appearance—something tugging at the back of Kaji's mind—but he couldn't quite place it. He exhaled, letting it go for now.
After the standard checkpoint procedures—registration, chakra signature verification—he made his way straight to the Interrogation Division to hand over the rogue ninja. The ANBU operatives there were efficient, their expressions unreadable behind their masks.
ANBU Officer: "Another defector? Konoha's generosity only stretches so far."
Kaji: "This one had a change of heart… probally still watching is past over a street yet."
A dry chuckle echoed in the dimly lit room before he was dismissed.
His next stop was the Hokage Tower. The moment he stepped into the office, his father—the Fourth Hokage—looked up from a stack of scrolls.
Hokage: "You're earlier than expected."
Kaji: "No point dragging my feet. The border skirmishes are escalating, though. Iwa's scouts are getting bolder."
The Hokage's expression darkened as he poured them both tea. They spoke at length—strategies, supply lines, the shifting allegiances of minor clans.
By the time Kaji reached home, the sun had dipped below the rooftops. The silence in the house was palpable—Himari wasn't back yet. At this hour, she'd still be drilling the latest generation of Hyūga prodigies on the Gentle Fist's intricacies.
A hot shower washed away the grime of travel. He ate mechanically, the fatigue of days on the road settling into his bones.
His bed had never felt more inviting.