Chapter 46

'As if the Yamanaka will be able to find anything.' Kazuo thought, his expression had quickly turned calm, only a light charismatic smile resting on his face.

Kazuo headed to the remains of what was once his tent, looking around he found nothing of use.

The explosion had evaporated anything he had.

'Thankfully I keep everything of use in my wrist guards otherwise I would have incurred quite a loss to my already meager supplies.' Kazuo thought his gaze wandering toward Shikaru.

'And with how things are going, I'm rather sure that refunding me with what I had wouldn't have happened.'

Turning around once more, Kazuo headed toward Shikaru this time.

"It's good that they showed themselves, wouldn't want the village to be infiltrated," Kazuo said as he looked at the man, his eyes showing a sharp glean, the atmosphere around the two quickly deteriorating as tension took hold.

Shikaru however wasn't flustered in the least as he nodded with a grateful smile toward Kazuo.

"That's right, I'll make sure to tell the hokage about your accomplishments," Shikaru said his voice light as he spoke to Kazuo.

'If I didn't know who they really were then I might have actually believed you. You Nara's really are more frightening than almost any clan out there.' Kazuo thought as he nodded his head.

"Im grateful commander, though my time under you is getting cut rather short because of that damned Raikage, ill forever remember you as my first real master," Kazuo said as he looked deeply into the Nara's eyes.

His voice and expression showed gratitude however his eyes told a completley different story.

'Do you think im afraid of you? No, Shikaru Nara, I am not afraid. I've already died more times than I can count, you and Danzo have chosen to be my enemies, well then, let's see who the last one standing will be.' Kazuo thought before giving Shikaru another nod and turning around, heading toward the supply team tent.

He didn't have more than three minutes to get some supplies from them before they completely packed up and got ready for the road.

Using the body flicker jutsu, Kazuo quickly arrived and asked a man for some simple supplies.

Thankfully the man knew who Kazuo was and gave him the supplies easily.

'It would be an anomaly if people didn't know about me by now.' Kazuo thought to himself as he mingled with the shinobi as they got ready to start their march once more.

They only had around thirteen hours of traveling left before they would arrive at the hidden leaf.

'This is as good of a time as any.' Kazuo thought as he talked with the shinobi who clearly had raised Kazuo up in their minds and hearts.

By going around the camp and asking everyone how they were and building at least a shallow relationship with them, Kazuo strived to give another prefix to himself.

Humble.

'Orochimaru failed in the end because he was unapproachable, people couldn't bear to ask someone like him to help them. His standing was as high as a mountain but he was just that, a lone mountain.' Kazuo thought as he saw the last of the shinobi get ready.

Finally, less than five minutes after Shikaru had given the order, the entire ninja camp was back on the road once more.

Or rather the trees as they hopped from one branch to the other.

To Kazuo it was a rather funny sight, seeing tens upon tens of people jumping from one tree branch to the other.

Like this, hours passed and soon the night gave way to the morning and the afternoon.

After thirteen hours of traveling, he finally saw the familiar sight once more.

The giant gates of the leaf, with a long row of what appeared to be merchants at the door, getting their identification checked and then slowly passing through the gates and into the large military village.

Shikaru didn't waste time as he quickly headed to the front and in less than a minute, the gates fully opened, letting the entire camp forces inside.

Immediately after their entry, the roads cleared up as the villagers lined themselves close to the edges and gave the shinobi way, their eyes filled with emotion as they looked at the bloodied group of ninjas.

"Mommy is the war over?" A kid asked what looked to be his mother.

The woman didn't answer the kid besides giving him a shallow smile and a rub on the head.

At this moment, a shinobi walked close to the kid.

It was a young shinobi with chin-length black hair and black eyes, with a soft smile on his face.

The young ninja crouched down to the kid's level and ruffled his hair.

"Don't worry, even if the war isn't over, we will protect you and your momma, so be strong kid." 

His words seemed to encourage the kid as his eyes gleamed in excitement as he gazed at the handsome ninja.

"Thank you!" The woman said immediately as she gave a bow to Kazuo who had come to reassure her son.

The Villagers around them who had heard his words also seemed to get better moods as they looked at the young ninja with pride.

Pride that they were part of this village and had ninja-like Kazuo to protect them.

After a small nod, Kazuo straightened up and headed back to the march of ninjas who were heading to the Hokage tower.

When such a large amount of ninjas came back at the same time, they had to first assemble before the Hokage tower where the Hokage would come out and personally give them a speech.

'A speech so that he can make sure the manipulation is as ingrained into everyone as it can be.' Kazuo thought inwardly with distaste though he held up his smile and kept giving waves to any kid he found on the road looking at them.

'Kids are the most easily influenced, its easier to spread my image amongst them, however they also forget faster, so ill have to keep surpassing expectations and continue to increase my fame if i want the next generation to remember me.' Kazuo thought, his smile slightly widening.

'Soon enough, I just need a few years and then we shall see whose side the village takes, Danzo.' Kazuo thought as images of a rebellion flashed through his mind.

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