Kai's Dream

Kai stirred restlessly in his sleep, his mind slipping into a familiar nightmare—one that haunted him often, especially when he allowed himself a moment of rest.

In his dream, he was not the powerful Demon King or the wielder of the Seven Deadly Sins. He was just a man, living in a world governed by cruel men who bent the rules to their will. He saw her again—his wife. He loved her more than anything. They had built a small but happy life together, along with their young daughter. But that life had been shattered in an instant when a man of power—a senator—had set his eyes on Kai's wife.

The senator had used the justice system as his personal tool, spinning a web of lies to trap Kai. On false charges, he was thrown into prison, his hands bound by the weight of an unjust system. He remembered the desperation, the countless nights in that dark cell, wondering what would happen to his family.

Then the nightmare always brought him to that moment—the moment of her choice. The senator, a man drunk on his power and arrogance, had given her an impossible ultimatum: to become his plaything, or watch their child die. His wife, torn and terrified, had chosen to save their daughter. She had given up her dignity, her spirit, to keep their child alive.

But the cruelty didn't end there. When Kai was finally released after years of unjust imprisonment, he had gathered undeniable proof of the senator's crimes—the threats, the abuse, the violation of his wife. He thought, for a brief moment, that justice would be served. He went to the courts with hope, presenting his evidence, expecting retribution for the evil that had destroyed his life.

But the world wasn't fair. The senator was untouchable, shielded by his wealth and influence. Despite the clear proof of his heinous acts, he was let off with nothing more than a "strict warning," a meaningless slap on the wrist. It had all been a farce.

Kai could still hear the mocking words of the judge in his dream, the way they had dismissed the case. They had looked at him—broken, furious—and had told him there was nothing more to be done. The system was built to protect those with power, not those who had suffered under it.

It was that day that Kai had lost the last piece of his humanity. The rage, the betrayal, the sheer injustice had driven him into the depths of hatred. He no longer cared for the world's rules or its hollow sense of justice. Everything had to be destroyed—rebuilt from ashes.

Kai woke up abruptly, his breath heavy. The cave around him was dark and silent, but the rage inside him was burning once more.

"This world will burn," he muttered to himself, the remnants of the dream still fresh in his mind. "Just like my old one."

As the new day dawned, the faint light filtered through the mouth of the cave where Kai sat, deep in thought. 

"Damn," Kai muttered under his breath. If he had known this sooner, he wouldn't have killed Frankenstein. His most loyal commander, despite his twisted nature, had a sharp mind for gathering intelligence and unraveling mysteries. Now, without him, Kai was left to figure this strange new world out on his own.

As Kai sat there, staring out at the vast mountain range, he clenched his fists. Information was crucial. He needed to understand the rules of this world—the powers, the people, and its weaknesses. Without that knowledge, he was nothing but a wandering stranger, vulnerable to the dangers around him.

He thought back to the battle. Hidan's twisted ritual, Kakuzu's strange body, and even the shinobi—none of them resembled the ordinary humans of his world. Their strength, their techniques—it all pointed to a completely different reality. But what kind of world was this?

"The most important thing now is to find information," Kai thought, standing up and stretching his still-recovering body. His Gluttony had given him a power boost, but he was still far from his peak. He couldn't rely on brute force alone just yet.

If he was to survive and thrive in this world, he needed to learn its structure. Where did these powerful people come from? What laws governed this world? What organizations held the power here, and more importantly, where were its weak points?

Kai considered his options. Wandering aimlessly wasn't an option. He needed a place—somewhere with information. A village, a city, or some form of civilization where he could observe the people, learn their ways, and figure out how to blend in while he gathered intelligence. His powers of Lust and Sloth would be essential in this, allowing him to remain hidden while he quietly siphoned information.

"I'll have to find a village," he murmured to himself. "Somewhere I can gather what I need without drawing too much attention."

As Kai roamed through the dense forest, his patience began to wear thin. He had been using his Sloth ability to scan for traces of human life, but each use drained his mana, and the results had been frustratingly sparse. He sighed heavily, feeling the weight of his weakened state.

"Huff, this is taking too much mana… and I'm going at this blindly," he muttered, frustrated by the effort it took to sustain his observation ability. Yet, despite the odds, as he activated Sloth once more, a faint trace of a footprint appeared in his mind. His eyes lit up.

Footsteps.

Immediately, Kai's senses sharpened, and he followed the trail. Moving swiftly through the underbrush, the trees began to thin, and soon he found himself approaching the edge of the forest. As he stepped out from the treeline, his eyes widened at the sight before him.

A bridge stood tall and imposing in the distance, a marvel of human craftsmanship. Stretching across a vast expanse of water, the bridge connected the mainland to a small island shrouded in mist. Its wide stone path was lined with sturdy wooden railings, weathered from years of exposure to the elements. The sheer size of the structure was astounding—it seemed to go on endlessly, disappearing into the fog at the far end.

At the entrance to the bridge, a large wooden sign bore the name "Great Naruto Bridge," with symbols and carvings that seemed to honor the bridge's significance. 

But more than the bridge itself, what intrigued Kai was the foot traffic it seemed to attract. Small groups of people, travelers, and merchants moved across it, heading toward the island or back to the mainland. This was the lead he had been searching for.

"Finally," Kai murmured to himself, a hint of a smile creeping across his face. The bridge meant people. And people meant information.

Without wasting any more time, he moved toward the bridge, keeping his presence hidden as he prepared to infiltrate the lives of those who walked it. This was his chance to begin understanding the world he had been thrown into. 

As Kai crossed the Great Naruto Bridge, he carefully observed the people around him, using his ability to gauge their power levels. Most of the passersby were ordinary civilians, their levels ranging from 1 to 5. None of them were a threat to him in his current state, but none held much value for leveling up either. Still, he walked with a purpose, blending in as he moved closer to his destination.

The village that lay at the end of the bridge was bustling with life, far more prosperous than Kai had expected. The streets were lined with shops and market stalls, selling goods ranging from fresh fish to fine textiles. The scent of freshly baked bread mingled with the salty sea air, while the hum of daily activity filled the streets.

Homes were made with well-built structures, with sturdy wooden frames and tiled roofs. Children ran through the streets, laughing and playing, while merchants called out to passersby, offering their wares. The village's economy was clearly flourishing.

In the heart of the village, a large, well-maintained building stood prominently—likely a town hall or a gathering place for the community. The people here seemed content, 

Kai moved silently through the village, absorbing every detail, every piece of information that could be useful to him. There were only few signs of hidden shinobis were around this village, and mostly only simple folk trying to live their lives.