Yuan Long's mind churned with disbelief as he exited the Mizukage's office, his steps heavy with unease. Is this really the decision of our wise Lord Mizukage? The order to "train" Ye Liangnai with deadly missions seemed utterly nonsensical, a move that reeked of folly rather than strategy. How can such a reckless choice inspire loyalty or maintain the village's respect?
His heart was a tangle of confusion, but questioning Yagura Karatachi, the Fourth Mizukage, was beyond his courage. With a heavy sigh, he retreated, unaware of the shadowed figure materializing behind Yagura as the door closed.
The masked man, his orange spiral mask glinting faintly in the dim light, spoke with a voice like sharpened ice. "As long as I'm here, Kirigakure will never birth another genius. This is your punishment—a village doomed to decay, never to thrive."
His words were a venomous vow, his hatred for Kirigakure a palpable force. Ye Liangnai, oblivious to the storm his brilliance had stirred, had just earned himself a death sentence wrapped in the guise of "training."
At that moment, Ye Liangnai was far from the Mizukage's schemes. He bolted out of the house, his clothes thrown on in a frantic rush, his face twisted with self-reproach. Mei watched, bewildered, as he darted into the misty streets, her voice trailing after him. "Ye, what's got you so worked up?"
He didn't answer, his mind consumed by a single, urgent thought. How could I forget something this critical? His heart pounded as he weaved through Kirigakure's shadowed alleys, berating himself. Kaguya Kimimaro, you better not have gone with Orochimaru! A talent like you, lost to the village? That's a crime I can't allow.
The realization had hit him like a kunai while soaking in the hot spring, the warmth doing little to ease his sudden panic. Kimimaro, the Kaguya clan's prodigy, had been caged like a monster, excluded from the clan's doomed rebellion. If he was still alive, Ye Liangnai couldn't let him slip away—not to Orochimaru, not to anyone. To revive Kirigakure, I need talent. And Kimimaro? He's a cornerstone.
Kaguya Clan Grounds
Ye Liangnai's breath steadied as he reached the desolate Kaguya compound, its silence a grim echo of the clan's annihilation. Following memories from the original story, he navigated the ruins until he found it—a rusted cage tucked in a shadowed corner. Inside, a pale boy with striking features sat, cradling a single flower with delicate care.
Kaguya Kimimaro.
Relief flooded Ye Liangnai. He's still here. Kimimaro's white hair gleamed faintly, his face a blend of ethereal beauty and quiet sorrow. Even as he noticed Ye Liangnai, his voice was a low growl, laced with warning. "Who are you? Get out—now! I… I might lose control and kill you!"
His words were fierce, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of fear, not for himself but for the stranger before him. Despite his menacing tone, Ye Liangnai couldn't see a monster—only a boy burdened by his clan's rejection. Handsome doesn't even cover it, he thought, a wry chuckle suppressed. Justice is in the looks, huh?
"I'm Ye Liangnai," he said, his voice steady as he sliced through the cage's bars with his katana, the metal parting like paper. "Kimimaro, let's be friends."
Kimimaro's eyes widened, the flower trembling in his hands. "Friends? Really? You're not… afraid I'll go berserk and kill you?"
The hope in his voice was raw, a spark in the darkness of his isolation. His clan had shunned him, branding him a beast, yet here was someone offering companionship. His heart stirred, a fragile warmth blooming.
Ye Liangnai's smile was warm, confident. "Not worried. I've got the skills to stop you if you lose it. More importantly, I trust you wouldn't hurt a friend."
He flashed a grin, channelling the infectious optimism of Might Guy. "Living just for the sake of it? That's meaningless. But keep going, and you might find people worth meeting, things worth seeing—like that flower you're holding, or me standing here. Kimimaro, come with me. A bigger world's waiting."
Kimimaro's gaze hardened with resolve, his voice firm. "You're right. I'll live—for you, my friend."
Ye Liangnai's heart soared. Kaguya Kimimaro, secured! The boy's loyalty was his, a crucial step toward his vision for Kirigakure. As for Kimimaro's blood disease, Ye Liangnai wasn't fazed. He recalled a rare herb, the Twin Lotus Fruit, found in a small nation—capable of treating Kimimaro's condition. I'll keep him alive, no matter what.
But bringing Kimimaro back to Kirigakure now was suicide. The village was a powder keg, and a Kaguya survivor would be a target. "Three years," Ye Liangnai told him. "Lay low around the Land of Water. I'll come for you when the time's right."
Kimimaro nodded, no trace of doubt in his eyes. His trust was absolute.
Fate, however, had more surprises in store. As Ye Liangnai moved cautiously, wary of Orochimaru's presence, he stumbled across another ghost of Kirigakure's past—Haku of the Yuki clan, the androgynous prodigy clad in a kimono, his beauty as striking as Kimimaro's. Ye Liangnai's mind raced. Haku's a Yuki? The original story never clarified his clan, but if reality says so, I'm not complaining.
Haku's eyes were clouded with doubt, his voice soft but heavy. "Why do I exist? Is my life… a mistake?"
Ye Liangnai recognized the lost soul before him, a mirror of Kimimaro's despair. With a mix of logic and empathy, he wove a tale of purpose and belonging, his words kindling a spark in Haku's heart. Another talent in the bag. Haku's loyalty followed, cemented by Ye Liangnai's warmth.
Kimimaro and Haku, both outcasts, bonded instantly, their shared pain forging a quiet camaraderie. Ye Liangnai couldn't help but grin. Two for the price of one. Not bad.
His mood shifted as a chill ran down his spine. "Hope Uchiha Obito didn't catch wind of this," he muttered, wiping cold sweat from his brow. Smuggling two high-profile survivors out of Kirigakure was no small feat, even with his ANBU clearance to a lesser gate. The Kaguya clan's fall had left the village in chaos, attention scattered, but Obito's eyes were everywhere.
Unbeknownst to Ye Liangnai, his plan had teetered on the edge of disaster. Obito's surveillance blanketed Kirigakure, and an 80% chance existed that he'd have been caught. But fate intervened in the form of Orochimaru, the Sannin infiltrating the village to exploit the chaos for resources. His presence drew Obito's focus, giving Ye Liangnai the window he needed.
At Kirigakure's main gate, Yagura faced Orochimaru, flanked by elite Mist shinobi. "Orochimaru, you've got some nerve sneaking into my village," Yagura snarled, his purple eyes glinting with menace. "Since you're here, you're not leaving. Take him!"
Though controlled by Obito's genjutsu, Yagura's power as a perfect Jinchuriki was undeniable. He could match Orochimaru alone; with reinforcements, the Sannin was outmatched. Orochimaru hissed, retreating in a flurry of snakes and shadows. One ninja against a village was a losing bet.
Yagura's voice was ice as he issued orders. "Tighten security at all entrances. This cannot happen again. Kirigakure, one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, will not be breached so easily!"
"Yes, sir!" the shinobi chorused, their voices ringing with obedience.
Yagura's command wasn't just posturing. There was a reason—a shadow looming over the village, one he couldn't ignore.