In the depths of a dark and silent dimensional space, a lone figure floated in mid-air.
His eyes were closed, yet his body radiated an overwhelming aura, like a raging tide threatening to swallow everything. The momentum surged outward, rattling the unstable barriers of the dimension and spilling into the world beyond.
Everything Kaito had placed within this isolated space shattered under the crushing pressure. The dimension itself, less than a hundred meters across, groaned as if it were being squeezed by the weight of an ocean. Cracks split open in the fabric of space, one widening into a rift as wide as a man's waist.
On the other side of the rift lay the Senju residence, where Ayanami Kaito lived.
At that very moment, Hinata was at home, training diligently in secret. She had been pushing herself harder and harder, determined not to be a burden to Kaito. Suddenly, the pressure burst from the dimensional crack, sweeping through the house like a storm.
Hinata's expression froze. Her knees buckled under the suffocating weight. It felt as if her body had been trapped in mud, every breath squeezed out of her lungs, as though she carried a mountain on her back.
"That direction… it's where Kaito is!" Her eyes filled with worry.
Mustering her strength, she let her chakra surge and began forcing her way forward, step by step. The closer she came, the heavier the pressure became. Were it not for her recent advancement to Kage-level and her focus on strengthening her body, it would have been impossible for her to advance at all.
Her legs felt like lead, her face glistening with sweat as she finally pushed open the door. Inside, the rift in space loomed before her, and through it she could faintly see Kaito's form.
Realizing that he was unharmed and that the destructive aura was merely leaking unconsciously, Hinata sighed with relief. She turned quickly and hurried outside—she knew that the entire village must already be in turmoil.
Indeed, Konoha had erupted like boiling water.
The pressure radiated outward across the village. For most Jōnin, the effect was tolerable, but for those closer to Kaito's home, the crushing aura was nearly unbearable.
Thump! Thump!
Civilians and Genin collapsed under the sudden force, unable to move. Chūnin struggled to remain standing, trembling as though their bodies might give out at any moment.
Inside the Hokage's office, Shikaku Nara—acting as Tsunade's temporary stand-in—stumbled against his desk as the oppressive force struck.
"What's happening?" he demanded.
"We're still investigating, Shikaku-sama," an Anbu reported, his voice strained, his body clearly struggling against the unseen weight. "But the pressure seems to be coming from the residence of Lord Kaito. The closer we get, the heavier it becomes."
Shikaku's sharp eyes flickered. Just as he moved to rise, a figure appeared before him—Hatake Kakashi.
"Don't bother," Kakashi said, his expression grim. "It's Kaito. I just went there myself."
Shikaku's breath caught. "How is he? Is something wrong?"
"You don't understand," Kakashi shook his head. "I couldn't even get past the doorway. That pressure isn't ordinary. I barely made it back here."
Shikaku's eyes widened. Kakashi was one of Konoha's strongest Elite Jōnin, and if not for the toll of his Sharingan, he might already stand among the Kage. If even Kakashi could not step inside Kaito's home, just how terrifying was the power radiating from within?
"Then we need to act," Shikaku muttered, his voice steady despite the sweat on his brow. "Send for Guy. If anyone can push through, it's him. And if he can't, call Jiraiya-sama."
They moved swiftly toward Kaito's residence. By the time they arrived, a number of Konoha's strongest shinobi were already gathered outside—Might Guy, Asuma Sarutobi, Shibi Aburame, and Tsume Inuzuka among them.
All of them were drenched in sweat, their legs trembling as they forced themselves to remain standing. Only Guy appeared steady, though even his brow was damp.
"Shikaku, you're here!" Inoichi Yamanaka gritted out between clenched teeth, his body trembling under the pressure.
Shikaku nodded. "Guy, among us, only you specialize in pure taijutsu. Use the Eight Gates, push through, and see what's happening inside."
Guy's eyes burned with determination. "Understood!"
With a mighty shout, his chakra surged. The First Gate opened, then the Second, then the Third, until the Fourth—Pain's Gate—burst open. Green energy engulfed his body, the crushing pressure around him lessening under the raw force of his aura.
He braced himself to charge forward—when the door suddenly swung open.
Hinata stepped out, her face pale but composed. She froze, startled by the gathered crowd of Konoha's strongest, but quickly collected herself, bowing respectfully.
"Seniors, please don't worry," she said, her voice steady despite her exhaustion. "Kaito is fine. The pressure is only leaking out while he's in deep training. Once he awakens, it will subside."
Shikaku exhaled heavily, relief softening his face. "I see. That's enough for now. Thank you, Hinata."
As the others nodded, the crushing pressure abruptly vanished.
Inside the dimension, Kaito's eyes snapped open, dark and deep like a void that seemed to pierce through time and space itself. He exhaled slowly.
"Finally… I've mastered it."
His gaze shifted toward the rift in the air. With a thought, his immense aura receded, and the crack began to mend itself until the space stabilized once more.
His figure blurred, and in the next instant he stood outside, before the gathered shinobi.
"Sorry to have troubled you, Shikaku," Kaito said calmly as the air rippled around him.
"It's nothing," Shikaku waved off, signaling the others to disperse.
One by one, the assembled Jōnin gave respectful nods to Kaito before leaving. Though none spoke their thoughts aloud, all of them knew this incident would not be forgotten—it was now etched firmly in their memories.
After the crowd dispersed, Kaito returned home with Hinata at his side. In the quiet of the living room, he pulled her into his arms, breathing in the faint fragrance of her hair.
"Did Tsunade take Kushina to the Land of Iron?" he asked softly.
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