Shortly after, Naruto returned home.
The sun had almost disappeared beneath the horizon, and night was gently falling.
In front of his door, he came across two visitors:
Yūhi Kurenai, dressed in an elegant winter coat.
Nonō Yakushi, clad in a nun's robe.
With her new outfit, Nonō radiated a maternal and sacred aura.
But beneath that gentle appearance hid... a body with outrageous curves.
As if an angel above was hiding a demon below.
A metaphor for the choice between heaven and hell.
"..."
Naruto narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Nonō closely.
"Clothes make the man," as the saying goes—and it was true.
In just a few days, this former spy had transformed into a saintly woman.
"Naruto..."
Kurenai, beaming, explained Nonō's new situation:
She had found a job at the Konoha Orphanage.
Only people with spotless records could care for children.
That had earned her Kurenai's trust.
After all, how dangerous could someone approved by the village really be?
"I now work at the orphanage, helping take care of the children..."
Nonō smiled as she added to the explanation.
But the more she lied, the more her heart twisted with guilt.
Deceiving Naruto, such a kind-hearted child, was a sin.
"Kami-sama... please forgive me..."
"That's really awesome~!"
Naruto gave a big, sincere smile—so sincere that Nonō wished she could disappear.
And yet, she was going to have to use her job at the orphanage as a cover to keep manipulating him.
"When I was little, I lived at the orphanage too."
Naruto scratched his head, looking a bit shy.
"Little" meant two years ago.
"Those are good memories. I'll come visit you sometime..."
"..."
To Nonō, Naruto's innocence was disarming.
Without her even pushing, he was walking straight into the lion's den.
"Yakushi-san?"
Kurenai was still a former ANBU.
And no one could stay flawless forever.
After years of espionage, Nonō's soul was riddled with scars.
She had seen so many colleagues fall into madness, betray others, or even take their own lives under the weight of guilt...
She was tired... So very tired...
"Oh, I was just thinking about how to welcome Naruto-kun when he visits..."
Nonō gave a professional smile, erasing any trace of doubt in an instant.
After a few more polite exchanges, she announced she had to get back to the children.
Kurenai accompanied her, while Naruto remained at his doorstep, eyes locked on Nonō's silhouette...
And on what her nun's robe was hiding.
…
At Konoha's gates.
As the gate guards were preparing to close the entrance, a group of visitors delayed them by a few seconds.
"Phew... We made it just in time..."
Seven ninjas in blue uniforms, with shark-like teeth, stepped through.
This delegation was clearly foreign, immediately putting Konoha's guards on high alert.
But the Fourth Hokage had warned them: these guests were not enemies.
The Chunin Exam invitation sent to Kiri hadn't raised much hope.
That village, isolated and secretive, was known for its constant border skirmishes.
No one really believed they'd accept the invitation.
"Six genin, one jōnin instructor..."
The Konoha ninja checking the invitation nodded.
The document bore the seal and signature of the Fourth Mizukage.
This team had indeed come from Kiri to participate in the exam.
It was a major diplomatic breakthrough.
"Friends from Kiri, please follow us!"
Quickly housed, the seven Kiri ninjas moved away.
"Report this to the Hokage immediately."
After the false alliance with Kumo, no one was naive anymore.
Surveillance would be tightened.
After all, six genin and a jōnin posed no real threat.
But no one knew that a member of the Akatsuki had infiltrated their ranks...
---
That night.
The Kiri ninjas' lodging, on the edge of Konoha, was surrounded by forest.
A clear separation from the rest of the village—meant as much to protect them as to contain them.
ANBU were monitoring the area.
Yet in the winter calm, schemes were unfolding.
"I never wanted to return to this bloody village, let alone work with you... But the leader's orders are absolute."
Removing his hat, the man revealed a scarred face:
Sparse black hair.
No eyebrows.
Bandages around his ears and neck.
Red scars around his mouth.
Razor-sharp teeth like a shark.
"Momochi... Zabuza..."
A name whispered with hatred.
One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, wielder of Kubikiribōchō... and a traitor!
The Seven Swordsmen were the most powerful ninjas in Kiri, second only to the Mizukage.
Their legendary blades were the stuff of dreams for every young ninja.
And yet, this monster had deserted, becoming a nukenin hunted by all.
"Ironic... Even after joining this Akatsuki, I still have to work with you..."
Zabuza chuckled, highlighting the absurdity of his fate.
Was this the destiny of all Kiri ninjas?
Even after fleeing the Bloody Mist Village, one always ended up returning.
This mission had been assigned to him by Pain, leader of the Akatsuki.
Reuniting with his former comrades brought him no joy.
"Zabuza! When are you going to act?!"
One of the Kiri ninjas growled.
Zabuza was bound to Akatsuki.
They were bound to the Mizukage's orders.
Their mission: to steal secret documents from Konoha.
With the war against Kumo, Konoha's defenses were weakened.
Once the documents were secured, they were to flee and hand them to the decryption team.
"Not so fast..."
Despite the tension, Zabuza remained calm.
Even if some of those so-called "genin" were actually elite jōnin, they couldn't match him.
Such was the confidence of one of the Seven Swordsmen.