“How did I do?” Kaida asked eagerly.

  “Much better than we expected; you were able to get 68 out of 100 marks,” Hiruzen said with a rger-than-usual smile, indig his happiness with the result.

  But Kaida, not uanding the significe, felt a little disheartened by the score. “Doesn’t that mean I’m not actually that talented in this field?” he asked.

  “What nonsense are you spouting, boy? Even Minato, whom you were praising so much, couldn’t achieve 100 out of 100. Though he scored higher than you, it was only 76 out of 100—and he was the best Space-Time Jutsu user I’ve seen in my life. Believe me, you’re the sed best,” Jiraiya said with a smile as well.

  “Really? Then that means I learn the Flying Raijin Jutsu, right?” Kaida asked.

  “Of course. Once you e back from Kumogakure, we discuss it more,” Hiruzen said. Though he didn’t give a definitive answer, Kaida felt his ces of learning the Jutsu were now sky high.

  “Enough of your dreaming, boy. Let’s go back; you still have an exam to train for,” Jiraiya said as he and Kaida headed back to Training Area 2 after thanking Hiruzen for his time.

  (Fshbads…)

  ...

  “I assume your choice of the Jutsu you want to learn is still the same?” Hiruzen asked.

  “Yes, Lord Third,” Kaida replied without a hint of hesitation.

  ‘Is there even a Jutsu more impressive than the Flying Raijin that I could ask for from Hiruzen? Maybe Edo Tensei could pete with it in usefulness, but only the version modified by Orochimaru, not the one Hiruzen has. So Flying Raijin is the best I could ask for and, holy, hope for as well. In this world, it doesn’t matter if you’re strong; the only thing that matters is who’s alive at the end—and Flying Raijin will help me with that,’ Kaida thought, but before his thoughts could wander further, Hiruzen turo Itachi and Kabuto.

  “Since you’ve traveled so far, I won’t keep you here without reason any longer. Both of you go bad take some mueeded rest. Decide what Jutsu you want to learn after careful sideration—there’s o hurry. I’ll also notify you when your promotion to jonin rank is scheduled.”

  “Thank you, Lord Third,” both of them said as they left the office, uanding that Hiruzen had sent them away for more thaated reasons. However, they uood why and had no problem with it.

  Now, only Hiruzen, Jiraiya, and Kaida remained in the office. Hiruzen turned back to Kaida.

  “Kaida, it’s not that I don’t trust you, but the Jutsu you want to learn is one of Konoha’s most important military resources. Onaster this Jutsu, you’ll bee an even bigger target for other vilges. Not only will your life be at risk, but so will this Jutsu; we ’t let any other vilge get their hands on it,” Hiruzen expined.

  Kaida went silent after hearing that.

  ‘Is he refusing my request? I uand his fear, but then why was Minato allowed to learsu, especially when the war was ongoing and other vilges had plenty of ces to capture him and acquire it? Well, not that they could even catch him,’ Kaida thought, sidering how he should act if refused. Should he accept it and try again ter?

  “So we’ll o pce a seal osu, which will make it impossible for others to learn it, even if they get their hands on your notes. As for your brain, I’ll give you a seal you learn and apply yourself. This will prevent anyone from reading your memories. If you’re killed, your brain will bee a puddle, making it impossible for ao retrieve information,” Hiruzen stated matter-of-factly.

  “Isn’t that the seal Root used to use?” Kaida asked, remembering the expnation he’d heard when the Uchiha were still dealing with Danzo.

  “Yes, and it has its bes. There were many reasons Root was so feared, and this was one of them. Even though I disagree with Danzo on many things, the effectiveness of this seal is undeniable,” Hiruzen said.

  Kaida stayed silent, knowing that besides proteg the user's brain, the seal had a darker purpose: trolling people and even killing them from a distance if necessary. Though Kaida tried to hide his disfort, Hiruzen, with decades of experience dealing with crafty ninja, both allies and enemies, could read the subtle shifts in Kaida’s facial muscles and small ges in posture. It made him chuckle.

  “Don’t worry, young man; I’ve modified the seal. It now has only one fun: to defend the brain, nothing else. As I said, I’ll give you the seal, and you learn it, uand it, and then apply it yourself,” Hiruzen assured.

  “I wasn’t…”

  “If you weren’t worried about that, you should be. Trust is important, but it could cost you your life. Now that you’re a symbol of Konoha’s power, you ’t afford to be careless,” Hiruzen said with a sudden shift to a more serious demeanor.

  “I uand, Lord Third,” Kaida said.

  “Good. Now, you’ll have to wait for both the things I mentioned. Due to our bold moves, all the other vilges will bee active, and we don’t have enough time to hahem all. So, your training will o wait until things settle down—maybe for three or four months. Use that time to solidate what you’ve learned and master your existing Jutsu further,” Hiruzen advised.

  “As you wish, Lord Third,” Kaida replied.

  ‘What’s three or four months? Naruto is still only five years old, which means I still have more than enough time to build my strength before the main storyline begins,’ Kaida thought, holy pleased.

  “Good. As I said, you also go bad get some rest. I’ll notify you wheime for your jonin promotion is set,” Hiruzen said.

  “Thank you, Lord Third,” Kaida replied, leaving the Hokage’s offid rushing to the gate where the bear was waiting with Shisui.

  ...

  “Brother, you’re still here?” Kaida asked upon reag the gate after following the path they’d taken to ehe vilge.

  “I’m ning him with me—Mother would disown me. Now that you’re back, he’s your mess to handle,” Shisui said before suddenly disappearing.

  “Coward,” Kaida muttered.

  “GuaH,” the bear tilted its head. To the bear, Kaida was much strohan him, and Kaida’s brother was even stroill. Both of them being afraid of someone made the bear wonder just how strong that person must be.

  Kaida gave Izumo and Kotetsu a casual nod before bringing the bear with him into the vilge. Unlike in the Fire Capital, there was no issue here, as rge dogs were on in Konoha thanks to the Inuzuka , and other ninja also had summoned beasts. Seeing a bear ihe vilge was unusual but not uable—especially since Kaida had already gotten permission. t it inside, way before they reached Konoha