Naruto：Immortality and the Eight Inner Gates[Double agent]

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At the entrance of the small orphanage building, Rinjin sat quietly on the steps, while an elderly woman with snow-white hair stood beside him.

"Excuse me, are you Rinjin-kun?" The old woman's voice was frail but kind.

"Just Rinjin is fine. I'm Sakuhō Rinjin."

"Alright, good child. I often hear Yako and the others mention your name. They said that without you, they wouldn't have made it."

Hearing this, Rinjin shook his head with a faint smile. "That's not true. Even without me, they would have survived, though it might have been a bit harder."

"Even so, we must thank you for saving them," the old woman said as she leaned on her cane and slowly lowered herself to sit beside Rinjin.

Hearing her words, Rinjin shook his head again.

"It was just something I did out of interest."

"Well, well, doing something out of interest is good."

As they exchanged a few more words, Rinjin learned that this elderly woman was the director of the orphanage, and the children here affectionately called her Granny Mai.

Her late husband had been a jōnin from a subordinate clan of the Senju, but he had lost his life in the war.

Her two children had been separated from her during the turbulent Warring States period.

Devastated, Granny Mai had prayed for kind-hearted people to find her children and raise them.

Later, when the Konoha Orphanage was established, Granny Mai, who came from a respectable lineage, applied to become its director.

As they continued chatting, Granny Mai slowly turned her head to look at Rinjin.

"Rinjin, I heard from Yako that both you and Rie-chan are orphans too?"

"To be precise, not entirely. We still have each other," Rinjin replied, his gaze softening as he looked at Rie in the distance, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

Hearing this, Granny Mai glanced at him in surprise, her wrinkled face breaking into a chrysanthemum-like smile.

What an extraordinary child!

Such words were beyond her expectations. Granny Mai had never thought that a child who had lost his family could speak with such positivity.

"May I ask, how do you manage to live with Rie-chan?" she inquired.

"By forging metal," Rinjin replied with a slight smile. A kunai flew out from his ninja pouch at his waist.

"Look, *Magnet Release*."

The kunai danced nimbly in Rinjin's hand, like a swift swallow.

"I'm not sure if this counts as a kekkei genkai, but it's quite handy for forging."

As he finished speaking, Rinjin noticed a fleeting look of disappointment on Granny Mai's face, and he sighed inwardly.

In truth, when Granny Mai had asked him this question, Rinjin had already discerned her intention from the faint longing in her eyes.

Perhaps this old woman wanted Rinjin to teach his skills to the children in the orphanage, helping them secure a better future.

If Rinjin were just an ordinary villager of Konoha, he wouldn't have refused.

But! He was an undercover agent, akin to a pawn that had crossed the river in a game of shogi.

He couldn't retreat, could only move step by step, advancing cautiously while being closely watched by the opponent.

Thus, he could only carefully reveal his harmlessness and capabilities.

Bestowing favors, especially to orphans, to win their hearts, was a path to ruin.

Looking at Rie, who was playing happily with her little friends not far away, an audacious idea began to take shape in Rinjin's mind.

Rie was only four years old.

No one would guard against a four-year-old child! Even the most cautious adults couldn't muster vigilance against a chubby little human cub.

With this thought, an almost imperceptible smile appeared on Rinjin's lips.

"Granny Mai, it's getting late. I should head back now," he said, standing up and bowing respectfully to Granny Mai before walking over to Rie, who was saying goodbye to her friends.

As they walked home under the setting sun, Rie seemed a bit downcast.

"What's wrong?" Rinjin asked.

As soon as he spoke, he felt the little girl stiffen, her chubby hand gripping his more tightly.

"Not even to your brother?" he asked gently.

Rie immediately looked up, shaking her little head vigorously.

"No, it's not that. It's just... it's just..." she stammered, lowering her head and mumbling softly.

"It's just that I feel so useless. I only know how to use the things you give me to help my friends. I can't even... do anything on my own..."

Her once clear and crisp voice grew softer, and the setting sun cast a thick shadow over her small face.

Rinjin felt a surge of relief in his heart.

This child hadn't gone astray after all! His efforts—scolding her every three days and giving her a proper beating every five—hadn't been in vain. Rie's mother, you can rest in peace!

"Ahem..." Rinjin cleared his throat, suppressing the upward curve of his lips, and put on a typical parental expression.

"You silly child, what are you talking about? There's no need to be so formal with your brother!

You're still young now, but when you grow up, I'll be counting on you to take care of me in my old age!"

Hearing this, Rie nodded earnestly, looking at Rinjin with a serious expression.

"Brother, don't worry. When I grow up, all the money I earn will be yours, and I'll take you out for barbecue every day!"

Pfft!

This child, she's too honest!

Pinching his nose to suppress his laughter, Rinjin nodded solemnly.

"It's a deal then."

But inwardly, he was delighted. Rie's mother, look! This is your daughter's own promise, not something I forced her to say! When I use Rie's money to roam Kabukichō, don't blame me!

With this thought, Rinjin asked again.

"So, Rie, what did you want to tell me earlier?"

Now that her emotional burden had been lifted, Rie's bright smile returned. She grabbed Rinjin's hand and began chattering away.

"Brother, I want to help Yako and the others."

"Oh? What's wrong with them? Are they not getting enough to eat or having trouble sleeping?"

"Neither. Yako and the others aren't starving, but... the kids in the orphanage stick together too much. Since they're newcomers, they're always being bullied."

Hearing this, Rinjin felt a headache coming on.

Such things weren't unique to Konoha, let alone the ninja world. Even in his previous life, they were all too common.

It was human nature to oppress one's kind—a fact that couldn't be changed.

If even adults couldn't resist such tendencies, how could children, whose minds were not yet fully developed, be expected to?

And Granny Mai couldn't be blamed for this either. At her age, just keeping the children fed was already a remarkable feat.

Thinking of this, Rinjin turned to look at Rie, who was gazing at him with anticipation.

"Rie, do you want the bullying in the orphanage to stop altogether?"

Hearing her brother's question, Rie shook her little head firmly.

"No, I just want Yako and Big Guy to stop being bullied.

After all, my ability to help my friends comes from you, Brother, and I don't want to trouble you too much."

Rinjin felt a warmth in his heart.

Rie, you're so thoughtful!

If only you were this sensible and obedient when learning arithmetic!

With this thought, an idea struck Rinjin—a bold one he had considered earlier.

"Rie, you're such a good girl. But you're already a big kid now, so you should come up with your own ways to help your friends.

How about this: every time you come up with a good idea that I approve of, I'll give you 1,000 ryō. And it'll be yours to spend however you like, okay?"

Hearing that her brother was going to give her money, Rie's little eyes lit up with excitement, her inner miser awakening.

"Brother! It's a deal!" she exclaimed, holding out her chubby pinky finger.

Seeing this, Rinjin smiled and hooked his pinky finger with hers. "It's a deal!"

As they walked home, the little girl began muttering to herself, her mind clearly racing with ideas.

The sky grew darker, and the last rays of the setting sun disappeared behind the treetops.

On the streets, colorful lanterns were being hung.

Huh?

What's going on today?

There seem to be so many more lanterns than usual!

Stopping a cheerful-looking lady, Rinjin asked with an innocent expression, "Auntie, what's happening today? Why are there so many beautiful lanterns?"

The lady, far from annoyed, beamed with joy.

"The war is over! We've pushed back Kumogakure! We've won!"

Nearby, a jubilant middle-aged man chimed in.

"That's right! We've won! Just now, Second Hokage Tobirama-sama announced the end of the war. It's wonderful—my child is coming home."

Beside him, a young woman with delicate features wiped tears of joy from her eyes.

"My husband is finally coming home too!"

Releasing the lady's hand, Rinjin looked at the jubilant crowd with a complex expression.

Those with surviving family members had taken to the streets, while those who had lost loved ones could only weep in the darkness of their homes. But at last, the war was over!

Back home, Rinjin sat on the veranda, gazing at the bright moonlight with an unreadable expression.

The First Shinobi World War was over.

And next... it would be time for Tobirama Senju's death, wouldn't it?

In truth, Rinjin had always been puzzled. Tobirama Senju, who had mastered the space-time jutsu *Flying Raijin Jutsu*, was capable of offense, defense, retreat, and kiting. How could he have been killed so easily by Kinkaku and Ginkaku?

Even if the brothers had devoured the Nine-Tails' chakra, even if they possessed the body of a Sage, they shouldn't have been able to kill Tobirama, who was at the peak of his power!

After all, this was the man whose jutsu—aside from Water Release—were all forbidden techniques!

To be honest, Rinjin had mixed feelings about Tobirama Senju.

On the one hand, he had been waiting for this man, whose strength and intellect were unparalleled, to die so he could implement his plans.

On the other hand, he felt it was a great pity for such a stabilizing figure to perish.

Although they had met no more than three times, Rinjin deeply respected the Second Hokage.

Building an empire was easy; maintaining it was hard.

And with his elder brother, Hashirama Senju, being so overwhelmingly powerful and famous, Tobirama's task as the Second Hokage must have been unimaginably difficult.