Just after finishing their meal, Tsunade pulled a sealing scroll from her sleeve and handed it to Kaito.

"This is for you," she said with a smirk.

"What is it?" Kaito asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

"Open it and see. I think you'll find it useful," Tsunade replied, her tone laced with mystery.

Kaito let out a quiet snort, unimpressed. "You're always so dramatic."

He unsealed the scroll, and with a poof, a large cylindrical scroll appeared in front of him.

"What is this?" His eyes narrowed, clearly stunned. "The Book of Seals?"

"Wrong. This isn't just the Book of Sealing. Technically speaking, this is the original Sealing Scroll. The one in the Hokage's office is merely a copy," Tsunade explained, her expression turning serious.

"You mean… this is the real one?" Kaito asked, disbelief in his voice.

"Exactly. Think of it this way—there are two versions of the Sealing Scroll. One is in the Hokage's office for official use, and the other is this one. The techniques are the same, but this copy was entrusted to the Slug Sage in the Shikkotsu Forest for safekeeping by my grandfather. No one else knows about it… except me," she added proudly, patting her chest.

"Alright, enough talk. I didn't show you this just to hear myself speak." Tsunade opened the large scroll, revealing a smaller one tucked inside. She handed the smaller scroll to Kaito.

"What's this?" he asked, already suspecting the answer.

"These are all the Wood Release techniques my grandfather developed. They're all here. I noticed your life force is incredibly strong, so I'm giving this to you early. You may awaken the Wood Release one day," Tsunade said offhandedly.

Kaito frowned. "But I've already awakened Lightning Release as my Kekkei Genkai. Trying to balance both would be inefficient. I'd rather focus on Lightning Release."

"So, you haven't awakened it yet?" Tsunade's eyes lit up with curiosity.

"No, I'm just telling you what I think," Kaito clarified.

"Suit yourself. If you don't want to practice it now, I'll give it back to the Slug Sage. You can sign a summoning contract with the Shikkotsu Forest. If you change your mind, just tell the slug," Tsunade said with a shrug.

"But there's one jutsu in that scroll I need to see."

"Let me guess. The Flying Thunder God or some kind of sealing technique?"

"No. It's the Spirit Transformation Technique."

Tsunade blinked, puzzled. "Why would you want to learn that?"

"I'll explain later," Kaito replied, avoiding her gaze.

"Fine. Just sign the contract with the Shikkotsu Forest. When you're done learning, the slug will return the scroll."

She paused, then glanced away sheepishly. "By the way, do you have any money? I need to go into town for a few things."

Kaito sighed and handed her a thick wad of ryo. "Here. Ten notes of a hundred thousand each. I already know where this is going."

With Tsunade gone, Kaito's eyes sharpened. "Persistent, aren't you?"

In an instant, he vanished.

He had sensed three static electromagnetic fields since morning. Through electromagnetic induction, he had identified one of them: Uchiha Go, the Anbu operative he had previously spared.

So they had come again—so soon after his return. He doubted they were here for him. More likely, their target was Tsunade.

Appearing behind the trio, Kaito placed a hand on Uchiha Mu's shoulder.

"What a surprise," he said coldly. "I let you go last time because you're from the Uchiha clan. But now you come back?"

Uchiha Mu froze, his body trembling. That voice… it haunted him. He had sworn never to return to the Land of Whirlpools.

"Ka–Kaito-sama! We're not here for you. We're acting under orders from the Hokage, sent only to find Lady Tsunade!" Uchiha Go replied shakily.

The other two Anbu, sensing the danger, abandoned their aggressive stance. They knew his name well. Among the Anbu, he was infamous.

A saying had spread: If you encounter someone like Kaito, don't fight. Run—and pray.

"What does Hiruzen want with Tsunade? Is he asking her to return to the battlefield and heal the wounded?" Kaito asked mockingly.

"Yes, exactly!" Uchiha Mu quickly replied. "Nothing escapes your insight."

"I'm in a good mood today, so I'll spare you," Kaito said flatly. "But pass this on to Hiruzen. I don't want to see a single Konoha ninja stepping foot in the ruins of the Land of Whirlpools. If I do, I won't hold back."

He paused, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "And tell him I'll visit Konoha myself in a few days. He should prepare everyone. Otherwise, the game won't be any fun."

With that, Kaito vanished without waiting for a response.

Uchiha Mu's face drained of color. He understood the implications of Kaito's words. This wasn't just a threat. It was a declaration.

"Let's go," he muttered. "We must report to the Hokage immediately."

---

Back at the ruins, Kaito stood still, deep in thought. He began studying the Spirit Transformation Technique from the scroll.

Ever since unlocking the Seventh Gate, a voice deep within had warned him not to attempt the last gate. But Kaito wasn't one to accept limits easily. He had tried to open it—only to be overwhelmed by excruciating pain the moment he used his Lightning Release to simulate the activation.

Now he understood. Opening the last Gate required more than chakra or physical strength. It demanded something spiritual.

There weren't many spiritual techniques in the world of shinobi. The only one that came to mind was the Spirit Transformation Technique, once used by Kato Dan.

Originally, Kaito had planned to confront Hiruzen and force him to hand over the Sealing Scroll. But thanks to Tsunade's unexpected gift, he could begin training immediately.

The Spirit Transformation Technique allowed the user to separate their spirit from their body, forming a spiritual entity capable of independent action. It could possess enemies, fight from a distance, or even kill silently.

To the world, it was a ghost technique—terrifying, elusive, and beyond ordinary ninjutsu.

---