Kaji was in the Hokage's office with his father when, after a long time, a Konoha-nin wanted for desertion during the war was finally located.
His name was Huigi Senju, an Elite Jōnin captured by Kumo. According to the report, he was a master of water-style techniques and was said to possess immense chakra. To top it off, he had been spotted in a coastal town in the Land of Earth.
Kaji furrowed his brow.
"Alright, Dad. If this ends in mass destruction, don't blame me."
Hiruzen waved his hand dismissively. "Destroy whatever you need to. It'll be good for that old dwarf Ōnoki to realize even his own country isn't safe anymore."
"I'll leave in a few minutes. I need to say goodbye to Himari first."
After gearing up and sharing a long, sweet kiss, Kaji took off at speeds unimaginable to the average shinobi—crossing the border in just 15 minutes.
The day had barely begun. As he observed the shifting terrain, he realized he was already in the Land of Rain. Though the downpour tried to soak his clothes, a dark aura surrounding him kept the rain at bay.
Not far away, hidden within a tree, a shadowy creature observed the fluctuations caused by Kaji's blinding speed.
Black Zetsu was a master of espionage—so skilled that he could have breakfast right beside someone without being noticed.
But today, fate had other plans. Zetsu was here for reasons only he understood, and for some reason, the figure below suddenly stopped moving.
Curious, Zetsu focused his gaze from the treetop to the cliff below—only to find Kaji staring straight at him.
"!!!!!"
"How can a shinobi possibly—?"
Before he could utter another word, his own shadow betrayed him.
Kaji appeared beside him, watching as the plant-like creature was imprisoned within a dark dimension.
"So, you're the one who's always lurking around battlefields."
Zetsu had countless questions, but the Monarch of Shadows guided dark threads into his ears, nose, and mouth—infiltrating his brain.
Kaji was always cautious, but with this peculiar creature, he felt the need to dig deeper. He was well aware of the various lifeforms in this world.
After the infamous Dark Soul Search, Kaji frowned at what he discovered.
"Kaguya Ōtsutsuki," Kaji muttered aloud, glancing at the moon still hanging in the sky.
Black Zetsu had tears in his eyes like a frightened child.
"Now that you know the truth… what will you do, Monarch of Shadows?"
Kaji smirked. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing."
"What do you mean, nothing?! My plan is to plunge the world into an Infinite Tsukuyomi and—"
"Not long ago, Konoha stopped using chakra. We now wield a fourth-dimensional energy called Magic," Kaji interrupted. "Though it's irrelevant for you to know this, the moment you execute your plan, Konoha will become the new ruler of the world."
Zetsu, with his millennia of knowledge, processed this revelation. "So… it's real? Back then, Hagoromo was too lazy to pursue it, so research was abandoned."
"Exactly," Kaji said. "And those Ōtsutsuki—your so-called 'mother's' companions—aren't actually dead, according to the intel I pulled from you."
Zetsu's jaw dropped. "But the explosion back then was massive! How—?"
"I acknowledge the theory behind Indra and Asura's endless reincarnations," Kaji continued. "But have you ever wondered—if the Sage of Six Paths isn't actually dead, how is it that they keep reincarnating?"
Zetsu's darkened face twisted in thought.
"It's simple," Kaji said. "As long as he's alive in some form, controlling the Pure Land and monitoring extraterrestrial threats, no plan of yours will succeed. And those two Ōtsutsuki seniors of your 'mother'? They haven't acted yet because they know he's watching."
Kaji released his restraints. "So, Black Zetsu, you've been a pawn for millennia—manipulating humanity to suppress powerful shinobi, ensuring no one reaches the Sage's level."
Zetsu froze. It was too much to process, yet it all made sense. He wasn't a master strategist—just a disposable piece on the board.
Desperate, Zetsu asked, "And you, Monarch of Shadows? How does it feel to be controlled?"
Kaji grinned. "Like I said, I don't use chakra. Every chakra-wielding being is an eternal slave to the Sage. But Konoha will soon transcend and reach the same heights as the Ōtsutsuki."
Zetsu stared at the cliff below, sighing in defeat.
"Tell me," Kaji asked. "If your mother is freed, will she still be trapped in the past, or does she understand the current situation?"
"I've kept her updated," Zetsu murmured. "She's well-informed."
"How much longer can you exist before your purpose becomes meaningless?" Kaji pressed.
Zetsu shrugged, gazing at the sky. "Honestly… I don't know."
"Then let's make a deal," Kaji said. "You pass this memory crystal to your mother. Explain the Sage's survival. If she accepts, she'll absorb it and be freed—but under my dominion. She'll lose chakra and wield magic instead."
"After that, I need you to stir the pot. Lure those two Ōtsutsuki into provoking the Sage. Once that happens… maybe you'll get a chance to be reborn as something new."
With that, Kaji vanished—off to complete his mission.
"Hmm, people here still have time for festivals, it seems," Kaji mused as he glanced around. Dragons danced in the streets, their serpentine forms weaving through the glow of countless lanterns.
Laughter filled the air, mingling with the scent of sizzling street food. Some revelers drank, others haggled with merchants—life pulsed through the city like a living thing.
And to think an S-rank missing-nin would hide here for so long.
With a thought, thousands of shadowy kittens split from Kaji's form, scattering into the alleys.
"Damn cat, get out of here!"
Shouts like these erupted now and then as the feline spies prowled.
On a bustling street, a man lounged on a balcony, watching the parade below. Children giggled as they petted one of the shadow-cats, but his gaze lingered on the procession—unseeing, lost in memory.
Eternal Night Genjutsu.
In his mind, he still smiled at the festivities, reminiscing.
In reality, he was frozen—unable to twitch even an eyebrow.
Kaji had expected chaos, a battle. Yet here was the rogue ninja, guard lowered after years of playing civilian.
Reluctant to linger (Himari's warmth called to him), Kaji signaled his spies. Like phantoms, the kittens melted into alleyways—gone as if never there.
The wind howled, sharp with winter's bite. But for the Monarch of Shadows, the journey home would be first-class.