Kaito Akaden (Kaito)

Kaito Akaden Chapter 132

Shikaku nodded. "Given that history, I think we can expect support from the Hyuga clan head," he said.

Tsunade gave a slight nod. "Then we have the Hyuga heir's support for the plan."

Shikaku glanced at Kaito, smirking slightly. "More accurately, he has their support," he corrected, gesturing toward Kaito.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow, eyeing Kaito with mild amusement. "Is that so?" she asked, a playful glint in her eyes.

Kaito rubbed the back of his neck, a bit flustered. "Hotaru and I have been friends for a long time," he said.

Tsunade smirked knowingly. "Friends, huh?" she teased before turning back to business. "What about the Aburame and Inuzuka clan?"

Kaito brightened. "Mom is close friends with their clan head" he explained. "I'm sure she cloud help us get a meeting with her"

"that would leave only the Aburame clan "Shikaku nodded. " Once we have the support of the major clans, the smaller, allied clans should follow."

…

Kaito appeared in the living room using the Hiraishin, with Tsunade and Shizune holding onto his shoulders. His clone followed closely behind, carrying Shisui.

"Welcome back!" Kushina greeted them warmly. "You're just in time for lunch."

Tsunade stepped forward and embraced Kushina. "I'm sorry I left so abruptly the last time we met," she said softly.

Kushina returned the hug with a smile. "It's okay. I'm just glad you're alright, Tsunade-nee. It was a lot to take in."

Kaito's clone spoke up. "I'll take Shisui to one of the guest rooms."

Turning to look at Shisui, concern filled Kushina's eyes. "Oh my, what happened to Shisui-kun? Is he alright?"

She remembered meeting Shisui many times when he trained with Kaito and his team back when they were still genin.

Tsunade nodded reassuringly. "He needs to rest, but he'll be fine."

Shizune offered her assistance. "I'll help you with him." The clone nodded appreciatively. "Thank you. I'll also show you where you and Lady Tsunade will be staying." Together, they left the living room.

The real Kaito followed his mother and Tsunade into the kitchen.

"So, where are the other two brats?" Tsunade asked with a playful grin.

"They're at the academy," Kushina replied. "The new school term just started."

Tsunade hummed thoughtfully. "Ah, I was hoping to see them again," she said with a smile.

Kushina chuckled. "You'll get to meet them soon, you know."

Tsunade settled into a chair, engaging in light conversation with Kushina as she finished cooking. Kaito joined his mother, helping with the preparations. As the mother-son duo worked side by side.

As they continued cooking, Tsunade engaged them in light conversation. "It's been ages since I've had a proper home-cooked meal," she admitted, leaning back in her chair.

"Well, you're in for a treat," Kushina said cheerfully. "Kai-kun has become quite the chef."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Oh? I didn't know the brat could cook."

He laughed modestly. "I'm not that good. Mom's the real cook here. I just help out, ya know"

"Don't let him fool you," Kushina teased. "He's been my little helper since he could walk."

Tsunade smiled warmly. "It's nice to see you both like this. It feels... peaceful."

Kushina glanced over at her old friend. "It's good to have you here with us. Makes the house feel even more lively."

Shizune returned to the kitchen after helping settle Shisui into one of the guest rooms. She took a seat beside Tsunade, letting out a small sigh of relief.

Just then, a knock echoed from the front door.

"I'll get it," Kaito offered, pushing his chair back. He had already sensed who it was. Walking to the door, he opened it to reveal Hotaru standing there with a bright smile.

"Hey there, Hotaru-chan!" he greeted her warmly, waving. "Come in! We're just about to have lunch."

Hotaru beamed back at him. "Thanks, Kai-kun! I hope I'm not intruding."

He shook his head, dismissing her concern with a wave of his hand. "Not at all. Mom loves having you over, ya know."

As they walked back to the kitchen, Hotaru followed closely behind Kaito. Upon entering, she saw Tsunade, Shizune, and Kushina gathered around the table.

"Good to see you, Lady Kushina," Hotaru said with a warm smile, moving forward to give her a hug.

Kushina returned the embrace enthusiastically. "Hotaru-chan! So glad you could join us for lunch."

"Thank you for having me," Hotaru replied, her cheeks flushing slightly. She then turned to Tsunade and gave a respectful bow. "Good to see you again, Godaime-sama. And you too, Shizune-san."

Tsunade waved her hand dismissively. "I'm not the Godaime yet. Just call me Tsunade."

Shizune smiled kindly. "It's good to see you again, Hotaru-chan."

They all took their seats around the table as Kushina began bringing over dishes of steaming food. The aroma filled the room.

As they started serving themselves, Tsunade looked over at Hotaru. "So, what brings you here today?"

Hotaru's eyes widened slightly. "Oh, right! I almost forgot." She turned to Kaito. "I came to inform you that my father has agreed to meet with you. I've scheduled the meeting for tomorrow, if that's okay with you, Tsunade-sama."

Tsunade nodded approvingly. "That's excellent news. The sooner we can convince the big clans, the better. I assume you'll be attending the meeting with your father?"

Hotaru nodded thoughtfully, stirring her tea as she spoke. "I haven't told Father the specifics of the meeting yet. All he knows is that you and I have something important to discuss with him in private." She glanced at Tsunade. "But how are we going to include you, Lady Tsunade, without raising suspicions?"

Kaito leaned back in his chair, considering the options. "Well, I could use the Hiraishin to teleport Hiashi-sama here," he suggested. "Or we could bring Lady Tsunade and sensei directly into the meeting."

As Kushina placed a steaming bowl of miso soup on the table, she chimed in, "Speaking of meetings, when will you be seeing the Uchiha clan?"

"Tonight," Kaito replied, reaching for a piece of freshly sliced sashimi. "We'll be meeting with Fugaku-sama and Itachi."

Kushina sighed softly, a hint of concern in her eyes. "I hope everything goes well," she said, offering him a reassuring smile.

"Me too," Kaito admitted.

Just then, a high-pitched, girlish shout echoed from somewhere inside the house, causing everyone to jump slightly.

"What was that?" Tsunade asked, her eyes narrowing as she instinctively prepared for trouble.

Kaito was already on his feet. "I'll check it out," he said quickly, moving towards the source of the noise. Did someone get into the house? he wondered, adrenaline beginning to surge.

He followed the sound to one of the guest rooms and pushed the door open. Anko was standing in front of a mirror. She was examining her neck intently, her oversized T-shirt slipping off one shoulder and revealing a hint of cleavage. She seemed completely absorbed, her fingers tracing the skin where the cursed seal used to be.

"Oh right," Kaito thought with a mental facepalm. "I forgot she was still here."

He stepped into the room cautiously. "Hey, Anko, are you okay? Why did you scream like that?"

Anko spun around, her eyes wide with a mix of shock and joy. The moment she saw him, a radiant smile spread across her face. Before he could react, she lunged at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and tackling him to the ground.

"Whoa!" Kaito exclaimed as he landed on his back, Anko hugging him tightly. She was laughing and crying at the same time.

"Thank you! Thank you so much!" she kept repeating, planting kisses all over his cheek.

"Hey, get off me!" he protested, his face turning crimson as he tried to push her away.

Tsunade appeared in the doorway, arms crossed and a smirk playing on her lips. "Well, well," she teased. "Looks like you are quite the ladies' man eh brat."

He finally managed to sit up, gently pushing Anko off him. "What was that for?" he asked, rubbing his cheek where her kisses had landed.

Kushina and Shizune arrived just then, concern etched on their faces. "Is everything alright?" Kushina asked.

Anko wiped her eyes, her smile never fading. "The seal... it's gone," she said breathlessly. "I'm free!"

Kaito blinked in surprise. "Huh? Of course, the seal is gone. Didn't I tell you I could remove it?"

Kaito stood up, dusting himself off. As he did, he felt a sudden chill. Turning slowly, he saw Hotaru standing a few feet away, her Byakugan activated. She was staring at Anko intently before her gaze shifted to him.

"Uh, Hotaru?" he began nervously. "Why do you have your Byakugan active?"

She raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. "Just... observing," she replied cryptically.

A bead of sweat trickled down Kaito's temple. "Observing what, exactly?"

She held his gaze for a moment longer before her face morphed into a creepy smile. "Making sure everything is as it should be."

He gulped and nodded quickly. "Right. Of course."

Hotaru stepped closer and patted him lightly on the head. "Good, you understand," she said, with the same smile.

Shizune giggled behind her hand. "You two are adorable."

Tsunade chuckled as well. "Seems like Kaito has his hands full."

Meanwhile, Kushina was gently helping Anko calm down. "Are you okay?" she asked softly, concern evident in her eyes.

Anko nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm just so happy," she said, a tear rolling down her cheek. "The seal is no longer on me. I feel... free."

Kushina smiled warmly. "That's wonderful news. Come on, let's get you something to eat. You've been in a coma for the last few days—you must be starving."

Anko wiped her eyes, a sheepish grin forming as her stomach grumbled loudly. "I guess I could eat."

Just then, Tsunade, who had been listening nearby, approached them with a curious expression. "Wait a minute," she said. "What seal? And why were you in a coma?"

Anko turned and was startled to see Tsunade standing there. "Lady Tsunade?" she exclaimed, eyes wide in surprise.

Kaito stepped forward to explain. "It's a cursed seal that Orochimaru placed on her," he said matter-of-factly.

Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "Orochimaru placed a cursed seal on you?" She knelt down beside Anko, her hand glowing with medical chakra as she performed a diagnostic with the Mystic Palm Jutsu. "Hold still for a moment."

As Tsunade assessed Anko's condition, Kaito continued, "Anko was Orochimaru's student. When he defected from the village, he experimented on her with his cursed seal."

Tsunade listened intently, her face serious. After a moment, she nodded. "She's alright. There's no trace of foreign chakra in her body," she confirmed, offering Anko a reassuring smile.

Anko let out a deep sigh of relief. "Thank you," she whispered.

Kaito added thoughtfully, "The seal had a piece of Orochimaru's soul embedded in it. He was probably trying to find a way to become immortal." He rubbed his chin, almost speaking to himself. "It's a good thing he doesn't know about the Byakugō no In."

Tsunade looked up sharply. "Why do you say that?" she asked, her tone edged with curiosity.

He met her gaze. "It's just a theory, but I think both his cursed seal and the Byakugō no In are related—or at least derived from the same foundational seal," Kaito explained. "Or perhaps they're stripped-down versions of another, more complex seal."

Kaito had been mulling over a theory for a while now, one that connected the Byakugō no In and Orochimaru's cursed seal. Kaito suspected that if the Byakugō no In and the cursed seal were combined, they could potentially recreate something akin to the Karma seal.

he shared his theory with Tsunade. "If Orochimaru had found a way to combine the principles of his cursed seal with the Byakugō no In, he could have created a seal that allowed him to fully imprint his consciousness onto another person and take over their body entirely."

Tsunade looked at him skeptically. "And how do you know all this?"

Kaito shrugged. "I don't know for sure—it's just a theory."

Kushina, chimed in with a cheerful tone. "Alright, that's enough intense talk for now! Let's go eat before lunch gets cold." She helped Anko to her feet.

Anko accepted Kushina's help, flashing her a grateful smile. "Thanks, Kushina-san."

…

Fugaku stood silently in a secluded forest clearing with his eldest son, Itachi. The moon casts a dim light through the trees, giving the forest an ethereal glow. Shadows stretched across the frost-covered ground, adding a cold stillness to the quiet night.

They were somewhere deep in the woods surrounding the Hidden Leaf, far from prying eyes. Fugaku leaned against a thick tree, arms folded, his gaze fixed on Itachi, who stood by his side, alert and scanning the area, waiting for whoever they had come to meet.

With a sigh, Fugaku closed his eyes, letting out a slow breath. His thoughts drifted back to the events that had unfolded just two days prior, the very reason they now found themselves standing in the heart of the forest.

…

Fugaku sat quietly in his study, eyes closed and arms crossed as he reflected on the recent clan meeting. Mikoto sat beside him, pouring him a cup of sake, her presence calm and reassuring. A single candle flickered, casting a soft, wavering light around the room.

Itachi and Shisui hadn't attended the meeting tonight, and Fugaku couldn't shake his curiosity and concern over their absence.

He sighed, picking up the cup and taking a slow sip. "Itachi and Shisui weren't at the meeting tonight. I wonder what kept them."

Mikoto glanced toward the door, her face shadowed with worry. "I'm starting to worry about him." she murmured. "Itachi's been so distant lately,"

Just then, a soft knock interrupted their thoughts. "Father, Mother," Itachi's voice sounded from the other side of the door. "May I come in?"

Fugaku nodded, motioning for him to enter. "Come in, Itachi. I'd like to know why you missed tonight's meeting."

The door slid open, and Itachi stepped in, closing it behind him. He moved forward, kneeling respectfully before his parents. "I apologize for my absence," he said, his tone somber.

Fugaku studied his son intently. "Did you have other obligations?"

Itachi met his father's gaze directly, his expression resolute. "Yes, but there's something I need to discuss with you Father. It's…. it's about the coup."

A silence filled the room. Fugaku's gaze softened slightly. "You have doubts about our plans?"

Itachi nodded slowly, choosing his words carefully. "I do, Father. I've thought about it long and hard. A coup could lead to needless bloodshed. It would weaken the village, and in the end, it might even make us vulnerable to outside threats."

Fugaku leaned back, crossing his arms once more. "We have been marginalized for too long, Itachi. The clan deserves respect, autonomy."

"the clan is growing restless," he muttered, Fugaku's voice carrying the weight of their years of grievances. "The pressure to act is mounting every day."

Itachi listened, nodding earnestly. "I understand our clan's grievances, Father," he replied, his voice steady. "But there must be another way to achieve our goals without resorting to violence. I don't want to see our clan or the village torn apart."

His gaze softened as he looked between his parents. "Please, Father, I believe there may be a peaceful solution."

Mikoto reached out, placing a gentle hand on Fugaku's arm, her voice soft. "Perhaps we should hear him out."

Fugaku sighed, glancing at his wife before looking back at Itachi. His expression softened, though skepticism still lingered. "You believe you have an alternative solution?"

Itachi met his father's gaze intently, as he nodded.

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