Following Ichikishimahime's guidance, Kazuyama arrived at the northern edge of Kirigakure.
The characters for "Ninja Academy" were painted bright red—harsh and glaring even in the thick night fog.
"Tsk tsk, only Kirigakure would use a color like that for a school sign."
"They really don't see kids as kids, huh? Just turning them all into assassins?"
Kazuyama shook his head. He had nothing but contempt for the Third Mizukage. The man deserved everything he got—being controlled by Madara Uchiha, and eventually getting killed by him.
A place that should've been nurturing talent had been twisted beyond recognition.
Blood Mist Village? Hmph, trash-tier.
He was about to turn away from this suffocating place when he caught a faint sound of sobbing.
He followed the sound and found a small boy curled up in the corner, quietly crying.
The kid had several injuries—looked like they came from training.
Kazuyama's brow creased. He wasn't heartless, and this child reminded him a lot of his younger brother.
And here he was, scarred up in this godforsaken village.
Those wounds... damn.
Kazuyama let out a heavy sigh.
"Kazuyama, why are you sighing? Isn't this just normal?"
"The weak are prey to the strong. If you ask me, Kirigakure's approach is pretty in line with Ryūchi Cave."
"Kazuyama, even if you didn't grow up , I think you should hold on to that coldness in your heart. That's the real path to power."
Snakes are cold-blooded creatures. The three Snake Princesses were a bit concerned about Kazuyama's reaction.
As a proper serpent warrior, softening up wasn't just unnecessary—it was dangerous.
While they were still thinking about how to talk some sense into him, Kazuyama suddenly spoke, his voice full of exasperation.
"Hey, hey, hey, what are you even saying?"
"Compassion? Come on, don't insult me. You think I'd go soft?"
"I'm just saying—look at that kid. He's about the same age as my little brother, Hayate Gekkō."
"Look how tough the training is here—one misstep and you're done. That kind of pressure, seriously..."
Then his tone shifted, turning deadly serious. Newest update provıded by 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝘯𝘦𝘵
"So I've decided—when we get back, I'm upping his training. I'll make sure he gets addicted to kenjutsu."
"Hmph. I'll give the Lightning Blades—Kiba—to Kakashi and Obito, and have them spar with him daily."
"I refuse to believe the kid can stay hooked on swordplay even after being hit with everything Raiden-style kenjutsu has to offer."
Tagorihime shook her head and sighed. "I was overthinking it. I should've known this brat would never go soft…"
Ichikishimahime: "Who's this Raiden guy? Never heard of him."
Tagitsuhime: "Hmph, knew he was up to no good."
This little detour didn't shake Kazuyama one bit.
Please. Was he really the kind of guy to feel sorry for every kid he saw?
If someone wasn't useful to him, he didn't waste time on them. People died in droves during the Third Shinobi World War—if he got sentimental over that, he'd be dead already.
Not to mention how many people he'd killed himself.
This was the ninja world, not China. Killing and dying were just part of the job. Mourning? He didn't have time for that.
Apparently, Kirigakure's Ninja Academy even had dorms—located on the right side of the school.
That surprised Kazuyama for a second, but considering the war and how the blood mist had turned the village into a death trap, it made sense.
Just as he was about to turn and leave, he suddenly paused.
Then he looked back at the kid who was still quietly crying in the corner...
"Tagitsuhime, make him stop crying. A boy crying like that—it's pathetic."
"Hit him with some genjutsu, leave a lasting impression."
With those words, Kazuyama resumed walking toward the dorms.
Tagitsuhime chuckled, transformed into her human form, and extended her right hand. A beam of red light shot straight at the boy.
The moment it flashed, the crying stopped.
The boy's tear-reddened eyes suddenly glowed with a chilling red light.
"Kill... kill them all..."
Of course, Kazuyama knew nothing of this. He was already at the dormitory entrance.
The building carried a faint scent of blood. He stepped inside and, guided by the Snake Princesses, began searching for Terumi.
They found her at last—alone in a top-floor dorm room.
"Kazuyama, not many people on this floor. All about the same age, with similar chakra. Probably a group set to graduate."
Kazuyama said nothing. He knew how brutal graduation was under the Blood Mist policy—it required killing your classmates.
This whole floor was likely made up of candidates facing that test, so the low headcount wasn't surprising.
Though now he did wonder if that kid outside was part of this batch too.
Eh, whatever. Not his concern. He had more important things to do.
He raised his hand and spread Senjutsu chakra through the room. Terumi, already sound asleep from exhaustion, immediately dropped into a deep, near-unwakeable state. Even if Kirigakure exploded, she probably wouldn't stir.
"Tsk tsk tsk, Kazuyama, you're getting more and more twisted."
"Breaking into a girl's room in the middle of the night? Seriously?"
Kazuyama was used to Tagitsuhime's venomous tongue, so he didn't even respond.
With a flick of his hand, several snakes materialized and wrapped Terumi up.
Then, with the Flying Thunder God Technique, he vanished.
He reappeared on the coastline of the Land of Water—back on the same ship they'd arrived on.
He laid Terumi gently on the deck and began to think. How was he going to convince her to willingly come with him?
Yugito's case still haunted him—getting her on board had nearly worn him out.
"Kazuyama, what are you hesitating for? Let me cast a genjutsu and plant a subconscious directive."
"Just make her recognize you as her master."
"And hey, gotta give you credit—your taste's not bad. This girl's chakra is full and potent. And unless my senses are off, she's got Kekkei Genkai too."
Tagitsuhime flicked her tongue out and gave Terumi a long lick, then turned back to Kazuyama with surprise in her eyes.
That reaction caught both Tagorihime and Ichikishimahime off guard too.
Kazuyama then witnessed something downright bizarre.
All three Snake Princesses extended their long tongues and started licking Terumi all over. Tsk tsk, the scene was almost too much to bear.
Thank goodness they were female. If they'd been men... damn, that would've been nightmare fuel.
"Hey! That's enough already."
"Help me figure out how to win this kid over."
"And yeah—she definitely has Kekkei Genkai."